Bright Magazine: Environment 2023 by NorthWesternEnergy

VOL 03 DECEMBER 2023 ENVIRONMENT

Thompson Falls Dam

gets new timber flashboards Renaming of Rowe Dam The Future of Blue Suckers Ingenuity and Passion in Yellowstone Yule Log Recipe

A PUBLICATION OF NORTHWESTERN ENERGY BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 1

BRIGHT MAGAZINE is published by NorthWestern Energy. The publication is free with postage paid by NorthWestern Energy. It is printed and published by the Communications & Creative Services Department, 11 E. Park St., Butte, MT 59701. Although Bright Magazine is copyrighted, permission to reprint articles is available by contacting our office. NorthWesternEnergy.com/Bright For address changes or subscription information, call or email: (888) 467-2669 bright@northwestern.com

2 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

VOL 3 // ISSUE 3 // ENVIRONMENT Editor in Chief: Bobbi Schroeppel Managing Editor: Erin Madison Creative Director: Brandy Powers Designer: Cassie Scheidecker Jeanne Bowman

Production Support: Joanie Powers Gary Robinson

POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Bright Magazine, NorthWestern Energy, 11 E. Park St. Butte, MT 59701 Preferred periodicals postage paid.

Photographers: Jo Dee Black Jason Boeckel Alissa Byrd Matt Fettig Amy Grisak Kristi Hager The History Museum, Great Falls, MT Brett Jones Erin Madison Susan Malee Zach Miller Brandy Powers Craig Putchat Cassie Scheidecker Zach Shattuck Ben Sorensen Bill Thompson Eric Thorsrud Andy Welch

Contributing Writers: Jo Dee Black Bruce Bugbee Alissa Byrd Amy Grisak Erin Madison Brandy Powers Mary Gail Sullivan Eric Thorsrud

Printed responsibly

VOL 03 DECEMBER 2023 ENVIRONMENT

CONTENTS /

26 New Boards for Thompson Falls

New flashboards will allow Thompson Falls Dam to operate more efficiently.

BRIGHT STORIES

Rowe Dam

Century-old dam gets a new name to honor retired NorthWestern Energy CEO Bob Rowe.

& Passion 24 Ingenuity NorthWestern Energy’s Yellowstone manager finds creative, low-cost solution to protect the landscape.

and Fixing Leaks Faster 30 Finding To reduce methane emissions, we have a new program to find and fix leaks more quickly at our natural gas compressor stations.

a Legacy 34 Capturing Photos for the Library of Congress’ Historic American Engineering Record document engineering and infrastructure for the future.

His Lens 38 Through NorthWestern Energy compliance coordinator finds perfect hiking companion – his camera.

SECTIONS COVER ART Foggy morning in Thompson Falls By Andy Welch, NorthWestern Energy Manager of Hydro License Compliance “This photo was captured on a cold, foggy morning in Thompson Falls, just as the sun was rising above the horizon and peeking through the clouds. Foggy mornings at our hydro facilities are magical and conjure warm feelings of isolation and calmness while doing our work. I’m lucky that I get to spend a lot of time at our hydro facilities, which are some of the most beautiful places in the state.”

On a Bright Note

The Bright Side

Bright Spots

Bright Stories

We are NorthWestern Energy

Bright Idea

NorthWest Corner

Bright Flavors

By the Numbers

Can You Find It? BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 3

\ ON A BRIGHT NOTE

We appreciate it when our customers take the time to extend a thank you to our employees. Here’s what some of our customers have said recently:

We love hearing from our readers. We welcome all your comments, questions and letters to the editor. We’ll edit letters as needed for accuracy, style and length, and we will feature letters in future issues. Write us at: Bright Magazine NorthWestern Energy 11 E. Park St. Butte, MT 59701 Or email us at: bright@northwestern.com

A bookkeeper for a property management

The Western Sugar Cooperative recently sent us this thank you: “We all here at Western

company was having trouble tracking down

Sugar Cooperative in Billings, Montana, would like to thank NorthWestern Energy for going above

information on one of the properties. After she

and beyond in our time of need. We had blown a fuse on one of our main lines to our cooling

called NorthWestern Energy, she shared this

tower. This resulted in a complete factory shutdown. The fuse that had blown was on a part of the

kind feedback: “Angie was a joy to work with,

line we are responsible for, and without my main E & I supervisor in town, I did not know this, nor

was explicit, communicated with a clear voice,

who to call. A gentleman from NorthWestern Energy came out and helped us get back online. His

was cheerful, very efficient, joyful to work with,

effort and the graciousness of NorthWestern to allow him to help us out does not go unappreci-

marvelous.”

ated. We cannot say enough ‘Thank yous’ on this matter. Kudos to the whole team, thank you all.”

Need Volunteers? Our employees are always looking for opportunities to volunteer their time and strengthen our communities. Do you have a project that needs volunteers? Let us know about it, and maybe we can help. Email us at custserv@northwestern.com. How can we help your organization? Our goal is to be a strong corporate citizen in each of the communities we serve. Our charitable giving fund provides year-round support for qualified 501(c)(3) and 170(c) (2) nonprofit organizations that directly serve our communities. To review qualifications and submit a grant request, visit NorthWesternEnergy.com/grants.

4 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

THE BRIGHT SIDE / at the end of the year as NorthWestern’s Director of Environmental & Lands Permitting & Compliance, I was involved with hundreds of power projects that affected the land, water, air and wildlife. In every case, my goal was to try to find a balance between the need to provide energy and protect the environment. I am proud of the times we were able to do this, from changing the location of a power line to avoid an important cultural site to installing secondary containment to ensure oil in the substations didn’t leak. From permitting gas compressor stations responsibly to recycling thousands of street lights being replaced with more efficient ones. There were much bigger projects, too. Our bird biologists led the electric utility industry in preventing eagles from being electrocuted by writing new design standards for power poles. Together, our team developed recreation sites up and down the Missouri and Madison rivers, financed by a trust fund established when the dams were relicensed. We reclaimed critical wetlands along O’Dell and Moore creeks, and operate the fish ladder at Thompson Falls to enable tens of thousands of fish to complete their migration to spawn. Those team efforts are among the high points of my career. But when I think back on what I am most proud of, it was to work alongside the smart, commitDear Readers,

ted environmental professionals who care so much

As a little girl growing up in Butte, Montana, hiking to Saddle Rock

about Montana’s future: Bill Thompson, Sady Babcock, Ben Sorenson,

on the East Ridge with a bunch of neighborhood kids was the highlight

Beth Stimatz, Marco Restani, Andy Welch, Jon Hanson, Joe Hagengru-

of our summer. Scrambling over downed trees and rocks, we’d get to

ber, Grant Grisak and Jordan Tollefson, not to mention Roy Ishkanian and

the top and sit on the boulders beneath what is now Our Lady of the

the lands team, and my bosses Dusty Rhodes and John Hines. I’m also

Rockies. We’d eat our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, share a Shasta

grateful to those in operations responsible for compliance and others

root beer and look out over the city amazed at how high we were and

who’ve moved on. It has been a pleasure working with all of you. As I

how far we could see. Before us lay 100 years of mining activity and the

look forward to having more time to hike the Continental Divide Trail

growing Berkeley Pit. We never thought about what that Butte hillside

(since the hike to the Saddle Rock is probably beyond me these days), I

was like before; it was the way it was, no big deal. Then, when I was 13,

trust you will continue to make sure NorthWestern produces energy in a

the first Earth Day was celebrated, and I began to understand that what

way that respects the environment and our home.

we do to the Earth is a big deal and there are long-term consequences

My best wishes to you all,

for our actions. This awareness stayed with me as I graduated from the University of Montana School of Forestry and returned to Butte to start my career at Montana Power, which later became NorthWestern Energy. I wanted to work with salt-of-the-earth people and together, try to make a difference for Montana’s future. Over the next 40-plus years of my career, from which I will retire

Mary Gail Sullivan Director of Environmental & Lands Permitting & Compliance

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 5

\ BRIGHT SPOTS

We had a busy fall attending events across our service territory (shaded in dark gray). We loved getting to see so many people in person! Here are some highlights of events, sponsorships and more.

Huron – Our NorthWestern Energy crew in Huron had a great time handing out treats from our haunted bucket truck at Trunk or Treat for Halloween.

Huron – Our employees, board of directors and executive team celebrated our centennial in Huron with an employee breakfast. We partnered with the Huron High School and Culinary Arts students to provide breakfast.

6 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

We celebrated our centennial with sweet treats in our walk-in offices. Thanks to all the customers who stopped by and joined in the celebration with cookies or cake!

Huron – We hosted an evening gathering at South Dakota State Fairgrounds to celebrate 100 years of NorthWestern Energy. NorthWestern Public Service Co., as it was originally known, was founded in 1923.

Mitchell – Every fall, Mitchell Technical College announces its Platinum Employer list, recognizing those employers who have hired the greatest numbers of new graduates into their first-destination careers from the college’s three most recent graduating classes. NorthWestern Energy was proud to be named a Platinum Employer.

Sioux Falls – We presented the history of NorthWestern Energy at our pop-up exhibit in the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 7

\ BRIGHT SPOTS

Helena – Louie the Lightning Bug and Sniffy the Sniffasaurus had a great time handing out candy at Little Tykes Trick or Treat in downtown Helena.

Missoula – Twenty-two NorthWestern Energy natural gas crew members traveled to northcentral Idaho and eastern Washington to help restore natural gas service to 37,000 Avista customers after a third party damaged a gas pipeline, causing a service disruption.

Butte – We sponsored Treat Street at the World Museum of Mining, handing out candy and reminding parents about scam awareness.

Butte – About 70 crew leaders from across the company gathered in Butte for a Crew Leaders’ Seminar in October.

Butte – Engineers from across NorthWestern Energy gathered in Butte for the 2023 NorthWestern Energy Engineer Seminar. During this three-day seminar, our engineers learned about the major changes and overhaul to the National Electric Safety Code. The seminar also included some friendly competition with

Butte – Our employees dedicated their time

an egg drop in the stairwell of the Butte

and effort to help insulate new Habitat for

General Office.

Humanity homes, making them more energy

8 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

efficient and helping to keep costs down.

Great Falls – NorthWestern Energy is honored to provide $2,000 to the Great Falls Rescue Mission to use toward the purchase of a commercial-capacity washer and dryer for the Cameron Family Center.

Laurel – We were honored to be named the best overall float in the Laurel Christmas Stroll. The amazing float featured the Grinch as a lineman, along with Louie the Lightning Bug and Sniffy the Sniffasaurus. Employees from the Billings Division created the float, which also appeared in the Billings Holiday Parade.

Billings – Crews from NorthWestern Energy helped hang lights on the Hospice Tree of Life at Riverstone Health. The annual lighting of the tree helps remember loved ones and reconnect with those who cared for them.

Ennis – A big

Bozeman – Employees from Boze-

shoutout to Josh

man and Livingston volunteered at the

Edwards,

Ennis

Fork & Spoon in November. The Fork &

Town Manager, for

Spoon is Montana’s first pay-what-you-

lending a hand in

can restaurant. Each person who walks

hanging the beau-

in receives a great meal and a wel-

tiful lights on the

coming experience, regardless of how

Community Christ-

much they pay. Employees helped plate

mas Tree in Ennis.

meals, serve and do dishes. NorthWestern Energy also paid for all the meals served the night we volunteered.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 9

 NorthWestern Energy’s Butte General Office lobby was a hub of activity during the 2023 Mining City Christmas Stroll. Bottom right: Santa made some special visits via Zoom.

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER By Brandy Powers

year memorable – it’s the traditions wrapped in nostalgia and seeing the

To kick off the holiday season in Butte, Montana, NorthWestern

appeal across generations that gives me joy.”

Energy enlisted some special talent!

When COVID-19 was at its worst and people could only see and

Tom Alexander, Human Resources Generalist, and Pamela Han-

talk to Santa through the glass in NorthWestern Energy’s Butte General

son-Burch, Demand Side Management Specialist, volunteered to

Office, an elderly mother and daughter came to the window and the

become two of the biggest stars from the North Pole: Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

mom pointed to the chair that was used for Santa at the old Hennessy’s

During the annual Mining City Christmas Stroll, the dynamic duo brought

department store in Butte and asked if the daughter remembered going

jolly smiles to strollers who were delighted to find the special guests in

there to see Santa. The daughter said she did and had a tear running

a new lighted display that was unveiled inside NorthWestern Energy’s

down her cheek. She wrote a note to show Santa, and it said, “Mom has

Butte General Office lobby during the event.

dementia and this is one of the few things she has remembered lately.”

Tom kept up the good times by surprising kids with virtual visits from his office the following weekend.

How can you see that and not believe? Special thanks to all the employees who made the evening a

“For me, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa….

success – Cassie Scheidecker, Eric Thorsrud, Rick Schelin, Kelly How-

Santa Claus transcends across all cultures and captures the wonder and

ery, Ciera Hess, Brandy Powers, Gary Robinson, Scott Stearns and

hearts of girls and boys each year and is a powerful symbol for childlike

Brian Swartz.

intrigue and magic regardless of your age,” Tom said. “Children marvel at

It was one of the most highly attended Strolls our office has ever

how Santa can magically find their house and parents recall their mem-

hosted, with more than 500 cookies from Marlyn of Butte Cookies dis-

ories of when they were children. And Santa coming to their house via

tributed in less than two hours. Joan from Martin’s Masks offered face

Zoom is even more personal because Santa is at their house on their

painting to hundreds of strollers throughout the evening.

computer. It’s not just the gifts that Santa brings that make this time of 10 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

 The Aberdeen Generating Station

GUARDIANS OF THE GRID

NorthWestern’s compliance coordinator plays a crucial role. By Eric Thorsrud

compliance tasks across the board. He values long-standing relation-

NorthWestern Energy is a steadfast contributor to the energy

ships with local, state and federal agencies, emphasizing trust-based

landscape in South Dakota, ensuring a reliable power supply while pri-

collaboration and quick access to information.

oritizing compliance with laws, regulations and industry standards. Mike

The ECO system software used by NorthWestern Energy helps

Stucke, serving as the Compliance Coordinator in the Thermal Gen-

Mike and his team track permits, federal and state requirements and

eration Department at the Aberdeen Generating Station since 2011, is

generates tasks. Since 2011, the software has enabled increased track-

instrumental in maintaining the company’s integrity and ensuring strict

ing and awareness, especially in areas such as market optimization and

adherence to regulatory frameworks.

environmental compliance.

Mike’s responsibilities span across a diverse range of power gener-

NorthWestern Energy is gearing up for potential changes through

ation sites in South Dakota, including the Aberdeen Generating Station,

the ECO system, post-pandemic collaboration with the internal audit

Bob Glanzer Generating Station, Clark Generating Station, Faulkton Gen-

group and increased internal auditing on the compliance side. Environ-

erating Station, Yankton Generating Station, Beethoven Wind Farm and

mental health and safety audits catch little things and make sure best

10 South Dakota mobile generating units. In his pivotal role, he oversees

practices are employed and processes are streamlined, Mike explained.

key aspects that contribute to NorthWestern Energy’s commitment to

Mike and his team play a pivotal role in maintaining operational

compliance.

integrity, fostering a culture of compliance and ensuring legal and ethical

Mike emphasizes the collaborative nature of compliance work.

obligations are met in the dynamic regulatory framework of the energy

Timely and accurate data sharing, along with the internal ECO system, an

industry. His commitment ensures that NorthWestern Energy continues

environmental maintenance software, play a crucial role in streamlining

to be a guardian of compliance in South Dakota’s energy landscape.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 11

BRINGING SOLUTIONS TO THE SURFACE NorthWestern employee helps keep our commitment to the environment with manufactured gas plant cleanup. By Eric Thorsrud

Bill has been working in cooperation with the South Dakota Depart-

For more than 25 years, Bill Thompson, Senior Technical Advisor

ment of Agriculture & Natural Resources for several years characterizing

at NorthWestern Energy, has been involved in managing environmental

the environmental impacts due to the former Aberdeen MGP and imple-

characterization and remediation projects at historic manufactured gas

menting remedial actions.

plants for NorthWestern Energy. One such plant is the former Aberdeen Manufactured Gas Plant in South Dakota.

NorthWestern Energy’s commitment to environmental responsibility at the former plant is illustrated by the successful implementation of

From the early 1800s until the 1950s, prior to the availability of nat-

remedial actions such as the installation of a water treatment system to

ural gas, communities relied on manufactured gas – or town gas – to

prevent coal tar discharge to the storm sewer; lining a nearby section of

produce fuel for street lamps, cooking, heat and lights. Energy compa-

the sanitary sewer to prevent coal tar from entering the sewer system;

nies throughout the United States commonly manufactured gas from

removing contaminated sediment from a nearby creek; and installing col-

coal using technology of the day. At least 1,500 manufactured gas plants

lection trenches and recovery wells to remove coal tar from the ground.

(MGPs) operated within the U.S. at the time, including several in South

Looking ahead, NorthWestern Energy is considering new

Dakota. The Aberdeen Gas Company operated a plant in Aberdeen from

approaches in order to enhance coal tar recovery in 2024 and 2025 and

1888 until 1926 when it was sold to NorthWestern Energy. NorthWest-

will be continuing its ongoing operation, maintenance and ground water

ern Energy ended the MGP operations in 1948 as natural gas pipelines

monitoring responsibilities.

installed in Aberdeen replaced the need for the plant.

NorthWestern Energy’s dedication to environmental stewardship

Coal tar is a byproduct of the gas manufacturing process. Coal tar is

is unwavering and is encapsulated in our overall environmental policy

a black liquid similar in appearance and consistency to driveway sealer

statement. Through collaborative efforts with resource agencies and

and has different industrial uses. Environmental impacts from coal tar due

stakeholders, the company integrates compliance into daily operations,

to historical MGP operations are common.

balancing energy needs and environmental responsibility.

12 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

 Initial construction of the engineered cap.

 Thermal oxidation unit and vapor extraction pipe connections.

 Passive vapor extraction units.

Remediated site returned to original grade.

REMEDIATION: 2014 NATURAL GAS ODORANT SPILL SITE WORK COMPLETE By Jo Dee Black

ing along the perimeters of NorthWestern Energy’s natural gas facility.

NorthWestern Energy, working with the Montana Department of

“Proactive measures to handle any detected odor were part of our

Environmental Quality, completed remediation in October 2023 at the

site remediation plan to prevent a nuisance for the public and calls about

site of a 2014 spill of the odorant added to natural gas.

suspected natural gas leaks to local officials,” said NorthWestern Energy

The odorant is not toxic but contains mercaptan, which has a strong,

Project Engineer Ben Sorensen. “Odorant, which contains mercaptan, is

skunk-like odor. It is added to natural gas to make it easy to detect leaks.

added to natural gas to signal a leak in order to reduce the chances that

The spill was at NorthWestern Energy’s natural gas facility east of

the leak causes safety or health-related issues. It is extremely effective,

Cut Bank, Montana. When the spill occurred, crushed rock, a specially manufactured liner and other materials were used to construct an engineered cap and vapor extraction system over the spill site. Vapor mitigation took place for the next nine years, after which it

but that meant our remediation work needed to include processes to mitigate any residual odor remaining from the 2014 spill.” Common household bleach is used to neutralize mercaptan odor and was on hand and used when the remediation crew encountered residual odors in the soil around the location where the leak began.

was determined in consultation with Montana Department of Environ-

“We worked closely with the Montana Department of Environmental

mental Quality that the cap could be removed, the final step of the site’s

Quality for a plan to contain the odors from the spill, utilize methods to

remediation.

mitigate the non-toxic vapors and, after an appropriate amount of time,

Monitoring for odors took place at the site during the work, includ-

remediate the site,” Ben said.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 13

\ BRIGHT STORIES

Rowe Dam Century-old dam gets a new name to honor retired NorthWestern Energy CEO Bob Rowe.

14 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Retired NorthWestern Energy CEO Bob Rowe stands on Rowe Dam after a renaming ceremony for the hydro facility at Mystic Lake.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 15

By Erin Madison

along with 10 other hydro

Many

North-

facilities in Montana, Bob

Western Energy’s hydro

and Brian took a tour

facilities in Montana bear

of Mystic.

the names of pioneering

“I remember talking

power company leaders. Cochrane

to Bob about how cool this

Dam,

is,” Brian said of that visit

Morony Dam and Ryan

nine years ago.

Dam were all named after

So when Bob retired

leaders who shaped Mon-

in December 2022, he

tana Power Co. and later

was presented with a sur-

NorthWestern Energy into

prise – Mystic Dam would

the company it is today.

Now a century-old dam

Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake.

with a new name is added

Just like Hauser Dam,

to that list – Rowe Dam at

Hebgen Dam and Holter

Mystic Lake.

Dam, Rowe Dam honors

At a ceremony in August,

Mystic

Dam,

 A group of NorthWestern Energy employees hiked to Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake to celebrate the renaming.

located about 75 miles southwest

officially

renamed

Bob’s incredible impact on NorthWestern Energy and Montana.

Billings,

“Those

people

Montana, was renamed

were all influential in the

to honor recently retired

development of energy in

NorthWestern

Montana,” Brian said.

Energy

CEO Bob Rowe.

In order to rename

Bob served at the helm

the

dam,

NorthWest-

NorthWestern

ern Energy had to file a

Energy for 14 years, mak-

request with the Federal

ing him the longest-serving

Energy Regulatory Com-

CEO in the company’s

mission and consult with

history. During his tenure,

the U.S. Forest Service.

Bob took a company that

Rowe Dam is located in

had just emerged from

a truly stunning spot, just

bankruptcy and rebuilt it

outside

to responsibly serve the

Wilderness Area. Mystic

people of Montana, South

Hydro Plant was brought

Dakota and Nebraska. He

into service on March 20,

also rebuilt the culture and

1925. The powerhouse is

employees’ trust in the company. In return, Bob

 Joe Ruprecht, Journeyman Maintenance Operator, gives a tour of the Mystic Powerhouse.

was loved and respected by employees at all levels of the company. “It’s a huge job; it’s a stressful job,” said current NorthWestern Energy CEO Brian Bird, who took over after Bob retired. “We never knew he was stressed out. Bob was always happy and kind to us.”

the

Beartooth

located alongside West Rosebud

Creek.

Rowe

Dam sits 1,130 feet above the powerhouse at the tail of Mystic Lake, at an elevation of 7,673 feet. The two-unit plant has a generating capacity of 12 megawatts. “I was absolutely flabbergasted when they shared the news,” Bob said. “I could not have imagined anything like that.”

The best thing Bob did during his tenure with the company was

On the day of the dam renaming ceremony, Bob walked across

leading the purchase of NorthWestern Energy’s hydro assets in 2014,

Rowe Dam for the first time since it was renamed, the sun shining on Mys-

Brian said.

tic Lake and the high peaks of the Beartooth Mountains jutting toward

“What do you do for a guy who had that kind of impact on the company?” Brian asked during the Rowe Dam dedication. Not long after NorthWestern purchased the Mystic Hydro Plant, 16 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

the blue sky in the distance. In one direction, he could see some of Montana’s peaks; in the other, he could see the chain of lakes far below. “This feels pretty incredible,” Bob said.

The Names on the Dams Of NorthWestern Energy’s 11 hydro facilities, seven are named for pioneering leaders who helped shape Montana’s energy future. Cochrane Dam – Named for Harry H. Cochrane, who helped design dams and transmission lines and became Montana Power Co.’s chief engineer when the company was formed in 1912. He held that position until 1949, when he became a consulting engineer for the company, a post he maintained until his retirement in 1962. Hauser Dam – Named for Samuel T. Hauser, an entrepreneur and governor of the Montana Territory from 1885 to 1887. Hauser was involved in an array of business ventures ranging from ranching and mining to railroads and banks. Hauser was a key promoter and minor investor in the first Canyon Ferry Dam, led the construction of his namesake dam north of Helena and had plans for another project downstream near Wolf Creek. Hebgen Dam – Named for Max Hebgen, who around the age of 20 began working as a lineman in Butte, Montana, and went on to become nationally known in the growing field of electricity development. Hebgen played a large role in the development of several hydroelectric dams and saw the potential of using electricity to serve Montana’s cities and towns. Holter Dam – Named for Anton Holter, known as the “father of the lumber business in Montana,” with lumberyards in Virginia City, Nevada City, Helena, Great Falls, Sun River and Fort Benton. He founded the A.M. Holter Hardware Company and became involved in a variety of mining, agricultural and real estate ventures. Morony Dam – Named for John Morony, a leader of the Great Falls Water Power and Townsite Company and a key advocate for the purchase of the nearby Missouri River dam sites. Later, he went on to be one of the first directors of the Montana Power Co. Rowe Dam – Named for Bob Rowe, who served as CEO for NorthWestern Energy from 2008-2022. During his tenure, Bob led the acquisition of 11 hydro facilities from PPL Montana for $870 million. Prior to working at NorthWestern Energy, Bob served on the Montana Public Service Commission from 1993-2004. Ryan Dam – Named for John D. Ryan, who played a large role in developing what would become the Montana Power Co. hydroelectric system. Starting before Montana Power Co. was formed in 1912, Ryan, who also led the Amalgamated Copper Co. (and later the Anaconda Company), first saw the value of electricity to mining and smelting operations. Later, he embraced the broader financial value of electric production. Source: “Golden Kilowatts: Water Power and the Early Growth of Montana,” by James E. “Butch” Larcombe

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 17

IT’S ELECTRIC By Erin Madison

Mystic Hydroelectric crew converts an old diesel train to electric. Reaching Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake is no small task for our crews who work at the remote hydroelectric facility. The Mystic Hydro Plant is nestled below the rugged snow-capped peaks of the Beartooth Mountains, 75 miles southwest of Billings, Montana. The powerhouse sits at the valley floor, while Rowe Dam is perched on a mountain side, 1,130 feet above the powerhouse.

to run on electricity. It’s hard to reach the upper train, but it was even harder to get the train down to the powerhouse where the crew could work on it. “We had to helicopter it out,” Joe said. Since there’s not a premade electric conversion kit to turn an old diesel mining train into an electric train, Joe and the crew had to get

For crews to reach the dam, they take a tram up a steep slope.

creative. They worked with an electric motor sports company to pur-

Then they transfer to a train that contours around the mountainside.

chase an electric motor and battery bank, and then fabricated parts to

That train ends at a gully where the tracks once washed out. From

make the new motor and battery fit into the train’s frame.

there, they get on another train that takes them the rest of the way to Rowe Dam. The second train was originally installed in 1978 or ’79 and was an old mining locomotive that ran on diesel fuel. “It was noisy, smelly and hard to start,” said Joe Ruprecht, Journeyman Maintenance Operator at Mystic. This past winter, the Mystic hydro crew converted the diesel train

18 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

“We all brainstormed on how to put it together,” Joe said. The train now has an onboard generator to charge the motor. They also installed a solar charging system. Joe estimates they can run the train for about a week without needing to charge it. The retrofitted train is about 25 to 30 decibels quieter than it used to be, plus it’s easier to start and can haul more passengers and cargo. “It makes it way more convenient to get up to the dam,” Joe said.

Our Mystic hydro crews recently converted one of the trains used to reach Rowe Dam at Mystic Lake to run on electricity.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 19

Electricity and natural gas power our daily lives, but ensuring a safe

With a comprehensive system in place, maintenance activities oper-

and reliable energy supply requires diligent management of vegetation

ate on a seven-year cycle, with inspections conducted every 18 months.

near power lines and infrastructure.

This approach follows a systematic cycle, focusing on specific areas

Since joining NorthWestern Energy as Vegetation Management

and substations, ensuring maximum coverage across service territories.

Coordinator in 2016, Zach Miller has dedicated himself to vegetation

“I focus on one substation at a time to trim all the circuits connected

management across South Dakota and Nebraska. His extensive knowl-

to it,” Zach said. “While I may not complete the whole town in one year,

edge of arboriculture plays a pivotal role in maintaining a safe and

everything is rotated through eventually.”

reliable power distribution system.

For instance, in some regions, such as Kimball, South Dakota, an

Embracing a proactive approach, Zach and his team prioritize

entire town may only have two circuits from one substation, whereas in

regular tree trimming and maintenance to minimize service disruptions

Mitchell, South Dakota, four or five distribution substations are present.

caused by tree-related incidents. “We’re mainly trimming to help prevent trees from growing into power lines and identifying trees or parts of trees that could potentially fall onto the lines,” Zach said. Despite occasional tree-related outages due to weather, Zach’s proactive approach helps identify potential risks beforehand, reducing the likelihood of outages caused by trees. “We’ve established a cycle for our vegetation management system. We start with a substation and work through all the circuits connected to it to ensure nothing is missed,” he said.

By prioritizing one substation at a time and trimming all the circuits connected to it, Zach’s team ensures that every inch of a region becomes more dependable and resilient in the face of unforeseen events. Environmental concerns play a significant role in vegetation management. The team schedules trimming activities at appropriate times. “We’re not going to go in there and disturb someone’s property, whether it be a farm field, their lawn, or just a regular field. We’re going to wait until the ground’s solid,” Zach said. Zach strives to approach tree trimming as an arborist, prioritizing both the energy system requirements and the visual appeal of the tree.

Northwestern takes a strategic approach to vegetation management for a resilient energy infrastructure. 20 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

The focus is on ensuring that the tree looks good after

tenance. His hands-on experiences in grinding stumps and

the trimming or removal process whenever possible.

climbing trees laid the foundation for his future endeavors.

However, in cases where aesthetics cannot be maintained

Moving to Madison, Wisconsin, Zach further honed his

due to safety and infrastructure concerns, homeowners

skills by fearlessly ascending towering trees and skillfully

are informed beforehand, ensuring they have a say in the

shaping and maintaining them. His passion for working at

final decision.

heights cultivated his understanding of tree growth patterns

Vegetation management goes beyond just tree

and visual aesthetics when trimmed.

trimming – managing invasive plant species is equally crit-

In 2014, Zach embraced a new challenge in energy

ical to protecting infrastructure. One significant challenge

systems agriculture, coordinating tree-trimming efforts

faced at gas and electric sites is the invasive species Kochia, commonly known as tumbleweed.

Zach Miller, Vegetation Management Coordinator

“What it does is it grows into our gas sites or electric sites. So it’s harder for our crews to get in there and do what they need to do safely,” Zach said.

for a northern Illinois energy company. This experience acquainted him with the unique demands and constraints

of the electric and natural gas industry, making him a natural fit for NorthWestern Energy. As an arboriculture enthusiast, he constantly seeks to enrich his

The plant’s ability to die and blow into equipment exacerbates the problem.

understanding of trees and environmental conservation by attending conferences and staying up-to-date with industry developments.

In Nebraska, our focus is on controlling weeds in gas sites and lay-

From hands-on tree care to vegetation management, Zach’s

down yards. While NorthWestern Energy doesn’t work with trees in this

journey has equipped him with remarkable expertise, making him an

region, preventing vegetation growth in these areas is crucial.

invaluable asset for NorthWestern Energy and a dedicated advocate for

Zach’s arboriculture career began in his hometown of Anchorage,

resilient energy infrastructure.

Alaska, where he immersed himself in all aspects of tree care and main-

BRANCHING By Alissa Byrd

OUT

A substation and transmission line outside Aberdeen, South Dakota.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 21

The future of

BLUE SUCKERS By Erin Madison

NorthWestern Energy and our partner agencies are studying why juvenile blue suckers seem to be missing from the population. Photo by Z. Shattuck, Montana FWP

It’s likely that some of the blue sucker fish found in Montana’s Missouri River could be nearly 70 years old. However, young blue suckers seem to be missing. “In the last 23 years, we have not observed any young blue suckers,” said Grant Grisak, Biologist with NorthWestern Energy. Blue suckers are considered a species of special concern in Mon-

netting, seining and trawling. We’ve also surgically implanted radio transmitters in adult fish to follow their movements throughout the year. “We look at their behavior and try to make some determinations about what those fish are responding to during the winter time, during the summer or during their spawning season,” Grant said. “We’re building a picture of what their behavior is like.”

tana and are specifically listed in our fisheries monitoring plan, part of

However, through all of those monitoring techniques, biologists are

the federal license that allows us to operate dams on the Missouri and

not finding any juvenile blue suckers. That could be because the pop-

Madison rivers. Blue suckers are found in the Missouri River, downstream

ulation is so low that there aren’t enough adult fish to get together and

of Morony Dam, our most-downstream dam on the Missouri.

spawn, Grant said, or the conditions in the river aren’t allowing young

For more than 20 years, biologists with NorthWestern Energy, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and other agencies have been monitoring these fish through a variety of techniques designed to sample a broad

fish to survive. “We don’t know where this bottleneck might be,” Grant said. “That’s the question we’re trying to answer.”

range of habitats and sizes from newly hatched fish to adults. We’ve

NorthWestern Energy and Fish, Wildlife & Parks are now using a fish

surveyed the blue sucker population through electrofishing, trammel

aging technique that was used to determine the age of several bigmouth

22 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

NorthWestern Energy biologists are studying the rare blue sucker in the Missouri River to help increase the population.

 Top and bottom: NorthWestern Energy Biologist Grant Grisak holds blue suckers in the Missouri River. buffalo fish populations in the central United States. “Blue suckers are believed to be a very old fish, just like the bigmouth buffalo,” Grant said. To get a better understanding of age structure of the bigmouth buffalo, biologists in Minnesota used radio isotope aging looking at the boney

The major flood-control dams in the Missouri River watershed were constructed almost 70 years ago – Canyon Ferry Dam in 1954 and Tiber Dam in 1956. “We believe some of these fish were born before some of the major flood-control dams were put on the river,” Grant said.

structure of the fish. Through their studies, they determined bigmouth buf-

Grant believes the age data on blue suckers may lead to a sim-

falo in the study area ranged in age from 3 to 92 years old. They also found

ilar recovery plan as pallid sturgeon. The pallid sturgeon population

that 82% of the fish population was greater than 75 years old.

dropped so low that it required moving the few remaining wild fish into

NorthWestern and FWP began a similar study this spring to deter-

hatcheries. The nearly 4,900 pallid sturgeon that are now in this same

mine the age of blue suckers. Grant hopes this data can help biologists

reach of river are the result of fish raised in hatcheries and released into

see which years were the most successful for blue sucker spawning.

the river. NorthWestern has played a significant role in those recovery

Then, they can study the river conditions from those years – what were

efforts and our funding has been vital for the project.

the river flows? And the water temperature? “If we could determine the years fish were born, we could associate those years with a particular environmental event,” Grant explained.

“We’ve done that with a very high degree of success,” Grant said. “We think that could be a very similar path for the future of blue suckers.” BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 23

NorthWestern Energy’s Yellowstone manager finds creative, low-cost solution to protect the landscape.

24 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Ingenuity Passion &

By Jo Dee Black

The prototype worked well, and now the

Visitors to Yellowstone National Park expe-

crew in Yellowstone Park has about a dozen of the

rience unique natural features and extraordinary

mats, which were rolled out this summer.

wildlife while exploring the park’s more than 2 mil-

“We have to go across some really wet land-

lion acres.

scape, especially in the spring, and these mats

Stewardship of this country’s first national

helped us avoid getting our machines stuck,”

park is the paramount priority for NorthWest-

Brett said. “When you need it, you are really glad

ern Energy, which provides electric service for

you have it.”

Yellowstone.

Steep embankments along creeks are

Power lines are located out of sight when

another challenge because of the risk of rolling

possible, allowing uninterrupted views of Yellow-

over equipment and making some areas impas-

stone Park’s incredible vistas.

sible. Detouring equipment around the hazards

But access to those out-of-sight power lines for patrols, repairs and upgrades requires travel

 NorthWestern Energy Yellowstone Town Manager Brett Jones

over meadows, wet ground and creeks. NorthWestern Energy Yellowstone Town Manager Brett Jones came up with a solution to prevent equipment needed to access power lines from disturbing the landscape, with some creativity and common materials.

could leave tracks on the landscapes. “Working with the Park Service, we installed

temporary bridges so that we can cross creeks safely and stay in the right-of-ways under the power lines,” Brett said. The solutions are proactive and cost-effective, said NorthWestern Energy Division Manager Matt Fettig.

Using scrap conduit – the plastic pipe that houses underground

“Brett has always been a forward thinker who loves the outdoors

power lines – and rope, Brett crafted a lightweight mat prototype to lay

and cares about the resources in our service area, especially in Yel-

down over sensitive areas that equipment can drive over.

lowstone,” Matt said. “He came up with great new ways to mitigate the

“The mat needed to be light enough for two people to be able to

effects our work has on the land.”

load on a trailer and roll out over the ground,” Brett said.

  Using scrap conduit – the plastic pipe that houses underground power lines – and rope, our Yellowstone crew crafted lightweight mats to lay down over sensitive areas to protect vegetation.

 Working with the Park Service, NorthWestern Energy installed temporary bridges to allow us to stay in the right-of-ways under our power lines. BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 25

By Erin Madison

Thompson Falls

For

NEW FLASHBOARDS WILL ALLOW THOMPSON FALLS DAM TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY

In order to replace the flashboards at Thompson Falls Dam, we had to lower the reservoir elevation by about 16 feet. 26 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Until recently, the water in the Thompson Falls Reservoir was held back by boards that were about a half-century old. Overtime, those boards became worn from the water. “The wooden flashboards on the main dam had been in place for about 50 years,” said NorthWestern Energy Hydro Foreman Noel Jacobson. “The boards were leaking water, which requires a high level of maintenance and frequent repairs.” In October, our crew at Thompson Falls removed the flashboards and replaced them with all new boards. The project was no small task. There are about 175 boards along the face of the main dam, all 24 feet in length. Many of the boards our crew removed had small holes in them. Others were worn in the spots where they sit against the steel I-beams of the dam. Those small leaks can add up to a lot of lost energy generation. A 250-cfs (cubic feet per second) water leak through the dam, about 1,870 gallons per second, equals almost a megawatt of power, enough energy for about 650 homes a year. In order to replace the boards, we had to lower the reservoir elevation by about 16 feet. “In my 25 years here, I’ve never seen the reservoir this low,” Noel said. The low water did uncover some rarely seen artifacts in Thompson Falls Reservoir. The most noticeable was an old set of train tracks dating back to 1915 that were used when the dam was under construction. The tracks run along the bank before falling off into what is now the reservoir. There are also two piers that can be seen rising above the low water. Those piers allowed the tracks to reach the dam. “It’s surprising they didn’t at least remove the tracks,” Noel said. Instead, when construction of the dam was finished in 1916, the tracks were flooded by the newly formed reservoir and are still there today. Crews also found some other items in the river, such as chains, pipes and an old rock foundation. While the reservoir was drained, NorthWestern Energy conducted a LiDAR flight. LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, will allow us to create a detailed map of the bottom of the reservoir. “The LiDAR provides a high-resolution snapshot of the entire reservoir shoreline and exposed reservoir bed paired with aerial photography,” said Andy Welch, Manager of Hydro License Compliance at NorthWestern. “This data will enable NorthWestern to evaluate such things as habitat complexity, location of shoreline infrastructure, bank stability, and reservoir bed slope and provides something to compare changes to those characteristics with in the future.” Once the boards were all replaced, Thompson Falls reservoir returned to its normal level. The new boards will likely be in place for another 50 years. “Replacing the boards will reduce maintenance and make the dam perform more efficiently,” Noel said.

 Top: Crews remove old flashboards at Thompson Falls Dam. Middle: The old flashboards at Thompson Falls Dam had become worn and cracked after about 50 years of use. Bottom: There were about 175 boards along the face of the main dam that all needed to be replaced. BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 27

Saving the Big Sky By Erin Madison and Bruce Bugbee

Book chronicles the history of private land conservation in Montana and the impact it’s had on the state.

The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness is part of what makes Missoula special. However, its creation was far from certain. Back in the 1970s, Bruce Bugbee explored the watershed with other University of Montana graduate students, wondering how this amazing resource could be conserved. In the early 1980s, Bruce was hired by the Montana Power Company (now NorthWestern Energy) to negotiate the sale of 21,000 acres of corporate land in the Rattlesnake to the U.S. Forest Service. The City of Missoula, Friends of the Rattlesnake and Congressman Pat Williams were strongly on board. In 1980, the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness was established by Congress. It would never have happened without the company’s commitment to the people of Montana and the state’s natural environment. It was Bruce’s experience in the Rattlesnake that inspired his career in land conservation and now his book on the history of private land conservation in Montana. Bruce is the co-author of the upcoming book, “Saving the Big Sky: A Chronicle of Land Conservation in Montana.” The book looks at the 6 million acres that have been voluntarily

28 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

protected in Montana over the past 50 years and includes information on the role of NorthWestern Energy played in that conservation. “They deserve to be recognized and thanked,” Bruce said. The Alberton Gorge is a whitewater rafting treasure on the Clark Fork River. Years ago, the Montana Power Company owned the right to develop a dam site at the lower end of the gorge and flood adjacent lands. Bruce, on behalf of the Montana Power Company, worked with Five Valleys Land Trust to craft a land exchange project that protects riverside lands from development and keeps a dam from being built. The company worked with Bruce in a similar way to conserve Mesa Falls on the Snake River in Idaho. Power generation is NorthWestern Energy’s core mission, but its projects can affect the people and landscapes of Montana. When operations at Kerr Dam, now Selis Ksanka Qlispe Dam,

The Alberton Gorge on the Clark Fork River

impacted shoreline ecosystems around Flathead Lake, the Montana Power Company, which then owned the dam, purchased land to create Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge west of Kalispell. This is called “off-site mitigation,” making up for habitat losses in one place by protecting similar habitats elsewhere. In 1997, the Missouri-Madison River Fund was established to mitigate the effects of the company’s Madison and Missouri river dams.

“Saving the Big Sky: A Chronicle of Land Conservation in Montana,” by Bruce Bugbee, Robert Kiesling and John Wright. The book will be published by Oregon State University Press in the spring of 2025.

Nearly $20 million in NorthWestern Energy and public sector funds have been leveraged to improve the quality of public recreation access along these prized waterways. “The Missouri-Madison River Fund has been a huge factor in land conservation and public access,” Bruce said. “This collaborative process has been highly successful.” When Bruce reflects on his 50-year career in land conservation, he sees relationships, finance and reciprocity as key ingredients. “When we treat each other with respect, the public and the land benefit in the long run,” Bruce said.  Bruce Bugbee holds a draft copy of his book “Saving the Big Sky: A Chronicle of Land Conservation in Montana.”

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 29

Fi n d

ng xi

& Fi g in

LEAKS

ster

 Our Leak Detection and Repair Program uses an optical gas imaging camera to find leaks in our natural gas compressor stations.

The leaks found during our surveys are small, but they can add up. by Erin Madison

optical gas imaging camera that can show natural gas leaks and where

In spring 2022, NorthWestern Energy announced our commitment

they’re coming from so our crews can fix them.

to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, which also includes a plan to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030 and ultimately achieve net-zero methane emissions by 2050. One of the ways we’re working to reach that goal is through a new Leak Detection and Repair, or LDAR, program. The goal of the LDAR program is to find and fix leaks more quickly at our natural gas compressor stations. Compressor stations change the pressure of natural gas in our pipelines. That process creates a lot of

“For the most part, we get them fixed right away,” said Beth Stimatz, Environmental Compliance Specialist at NorthWestern Energy. Each compressor station has about 6,000 components that could be leaking. In 2022, we found 82 leaks. “If we weren’t doing the surveys, those leaks would continue to leak gas to atmosphere,” Beth said. The leaks found during the LDAR survey are small, but they can still add up.

vibration, which can cause nuts and bolts and connectors to come loose

“We don’t want to waste that product, and we also don’t want it

and cause leaks. Extreme temperatures also cause parts to expand and

going into the environment,” she said. “Our goal is to reduce the number

contract, which can lead to leaks.

of leaks we see each year.”

Every quarter, we do an LDAR survey, which involves using an 30 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Asset Retirements & Replacements

Renewable Natural Gas Renewable natural gas (RNG), a pipeline-quality gas derived from

We will continue to evaluate all natural gas assets for effectiveness in operations as well as for their impact on the environment. For example, our maximum allowable operating pressure, MAOP, reconfirmation program is slated to spend approximately $15 million per year through 2035 to replace assets that will no longer meet the recently enacted, more stringent requirements

biomass or other renewable sources, is a critical part of achieving our goal of having net zero methane emissions. We currently are participating in two RNG projects that will have a minimum annual obligation of 225,750 mmbtu. Several additional projects are planned that would add at least 1,034,000 mmbtu of minimum annual obligation to our system.

of federal regulations.

Compressor Station Air Starters

NorthWestern Energy’s Natural Gas Emissions Reduction Plan

Currently, natural gas is used to start our compressor engines, however, we will evalu-

Control Valve Replacement We are expanding a program in

By achieving our 30% reduction goal by 2030, we’ll reduce our methane emis-

ate the possibility of using air instead. This involves installing large air compressors, dryers and volume tanks along

sions by more than 4,000 metric tons — that’s the equivalent of removing about 22,000 vehicles from the road for a year or preserving more than 122,000 acres of forest.

for

decades

replace

obsolete

control

valves

metering and regulating stations

throughout

our service territory. This program extends into natural

In addition to LDAR testing, here are some other

with some infrastructure modifica-

place

gas compression as well.

ways we plan to meet our goal:

tions and changes.

Compressor Engine Rod Packing

Compressor Station Emergency Testing

Compressor station engines help pull gas from storage fields and

We conduct annual tests of the fire gate systems at our compressor

push the gas through our system. Each compressor engine and

stations that simulate the venting of natural gas from a compres-

associated cylinders are fitted with piston rods and required “pack-

sor station upon detection of an ignition source. Fire gate testing

ing systems” that maintain a seal around the piston rod to prevent

causes methane to be released to the atmosphere. We will evaluate

high‑pressure gas from leaking. Even in new condition, however,

the best management practice of installing block valves that func-

packing systems have some small leaks. As these systems age and

tion as a bypass system. This could significantly reduce emissions

engine alignment changes, more leaks tend to occur. We will con-

to the atmosphere during testing. We will evaluate which compres-

tinue to evaluate how best to align rod replacement schedules with

sor station sites are best suited for the technical feasibility of similar

packing replacements to reduce emissions. We will use emission

technologies.

monitoring equipment to quantify and reduce emissions associated with compressor stations.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 31

First Student brings electric buses to Billings schools. By Alissa Byrd First Student is the largest student transportation company in North America, transporting 2.7 million children to school every morning and

ment, a global settlement due to Volkswagen’s diesel emissions scandal. States received prorated percentages of the settlement and had a number of options for what they could do with that funding.

almost the same number back home at the end of the day. Some stu-

“One of those was purchasing clean school buses for operations in

dents also take the buses to band practice, soccer tournaments and

their state,” said Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Student..

other activities. About four years ago, First Student made the decision to add electric

Montana received funding from this settlement and chose to use some of it to purchase electric school buses.

school buses to its fleet, driven by its commitment to safety and creating

“On top of that, our good friends at NorthWestern Energy, after we

a zero-emission environment for students and communities. Recently,

won the dollars, we went to you all and explained what was going on and

First Student began using electric school buses in Billings, Montana.

you assisted us on the charging infrastructure,” he said.

With the support of the Billings School District, First Student secured funding through a grant opportunity issued by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality as part of the Volkswagen mitigation trust settle-

32 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Kevin emphasized that the support from NorthWestern Energy was crucial to the success of the project.

E N D T U T S

T R A O T P I S O N N A R T “Without that support, this project would’ve

opportunity for First Student to learn more about

been dead in the water,” Kevin said.

operating in cold weather and dealing with longer

First Student operates 108 school buses in Bill-

routes and topography with hills and elevation gain.

ings, eight of which are electric, and will add more

The buses are scheduled to start running in

electric buses over the next several years.

January 2024.

“I give full credit to NorthWestern Energy by

As First Student embraces the switch to electric

saying let’s not just think about how we’re going to

buses, its primary commitment remains the same.

do these eight; let’s do installation now that we don’t

“As excited as we are about electricity and

have to undo once we’re starting to bring more buses

going electric, our primary job is to safely and reli-

in. And that’s really led to a solid program,” Kevin said.

ably take children to and from school every day,”

The project in Billings was completed on time and within budget. Now, First Student is applying for

 Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Student

additional funds at the federal level.

Kevin said. “Nothing else supersedes that. Nothing.” Before First Student deploys an electric school bus, it thoroughly evaluates whether the bus

“Because of the work we’ve done right now, that’s really help-

can operate within the parameters required. This evaluation includes

ing us move forward and bring more electric buses to

assessing 27 factors, such as distance, route length, terrain and weather

Billings,” he said.

conditions.

First Student began testing the buses in

“We don’t look at the average low temperature,” Kevin said. “We

mid-December after all eight units were deliv-

look at the absolute coldest day that Billings is likely to face,” ensuring

ered. The company learned valuable lessons from its experience in Quebec, where First Student had to deal with extremely cold weather, showing that the buses in Billings would meet the operational needs in cold climates. The move to Billings also provides an

the buses can operate even in extreme conditions. All 27 factors must turn green for the project to proceed. If any of these factors turn red, the project will not move forward. Kevin emphasized that people often overlook the significance of the school bus industry. He compared it to the airline industry, stating that on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the airline industry set a record by transporting 3 million people. “We do 2.7 million every day as a single company,” Kevin said. “Making it the largest people-moving company in North America.” In addition to providing transportation services, First Student offers consulting services to school districts interested in transitioning to electric buses. “If there is another school district that wants to go electric and wants to work with an entity that knows what they’re doing, they can bring First Consulting in and we’ll consult with them on the process and provide guidance,” Kevin said.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 33

CAPTURING A

LEG Photos for the Library of Congress’ Historic American Engineering Record document engineering and infrastructure for future generations. By Erin Madison

A few hundred years from now, people may want to look back and see how a 1900s powerhouse worked or how a bridge was constructed at the turn of the century. For this reason, the Library of Congress keeps a photo collection called the Historic American Engineering Record. “They want a historic record of our engineering accomplishments,” explained Photographer Kristi Hager. “Otherwise, there’s very little recorded.” Many of NorthWestern Energy’s dams are listed on the National Historic Register, so when we do maintenance or upgrades, we often have to photograph our old equipment for the Historic American Engineering Record. For about 25 years, Kristi was NorthWestern Energy’s primary HAER photographer. She subcontracted with a historic preservation firm and photographed nearly all of NorthWestern’s hydro facilities and some other structures. She also worked with the Montana Department of Transportation to photograph bridges and other infrastructure. Kristi, who retired in 2019, has some 1,200 photos archived in the Library of Congress, but she fell into the line of work somewhat by chance. “I have a background in photography,” Kristi said. “I’m a painter and photographer, and I used to teach photography.” When Kristi moved to Montana from California, her studio was located above a historic preservation firm. “I supported my painting by doing drafting,” said Kristi, who has an undergraduate degree in architecture. The firm had a large-format camera that she was allowed to borrow to photograph her artwork. When the employee who did historic preservation photography left the firm, they asked her to take it over since she knew how to use the large-format camera.  Before the Rainbow Powerhouse near Great Falls, Montana, was razed, Photographer Kristi Hager captured 140 photos of the powerhouse. 34 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Kristi ended up starting her own historic preservation photography business.

ACY

The bulk of her work was with the Montana Department of Transpor-

tation, photographing century-old bridges that needed to be replaced. She also worked frequently with Montana Power Company and then NorthWestern Energy to capture our hydro facilities. “These power plants were a major accomplishment in terms of what it brought to the community and engineering-wise,” Kristi said. Kristi’s largest project was documenting the original Rainbow Powerhouse near Great Falls before it was razed. “The whole building and everything in it was going to go away,”

 Photographer Kristi Hager uses a large-format camera to capture images for the Historic American Engineering Record.

Kristi said. Kristi captured the interior of the powerhouse, the exterior and all the equipment. “Everything that went into making that power plant operational,” she said. The project, which included 140 photos of the powerhouse, took her two years to complete. “We came up with a complete list of every photograph that needed to be taken,” she said. The large-format camera used for historic preservation documentation is not easy to use. It weighs about 30 pounds and shoots sheets of negatives that are 4 inches by 5 inches. Everything about the camera is manual and has to be adjusted by hand. Because it’s so slow to set up the camera, Kristi only took about 10 photos per day. She spread the Rainbow Powerhouse shoot over two summers, spending a week in Great Falls to gather photos, and then coming back again several weeks later. “It’s heavy, physical work,” Kristi said. The Library of Congress requires a minimum negative size of 4 inches by 5 inches. “The bigger the negative, the finer the detail is of the imagery,” Kristi explained. “The image can be blown up quite large without losing detail.” The photos have to be captured on black-and-white film. “The Library of Congress wants something that is stable for 500 years,” Kristi said. Black-and-white film is the most archivally stable medium, more stable than digital photography. The photos also can’t be taken in the winter because snow would obscure details and information. Occasionally, Kristi thinks about what people who are looking at these photos 100 years from now might think. “These things that are familiar to us will probably look very exotic and from a bygone time that no one ever experienced,” she said. “There is a legacy that you can’t anticipate.”

“For the Record” Exhibition Photos for the Library of Congress’ Historic American Engineering Record are required to show infrastructure clearly so that future generations can understand how it worked and the context in which it existed. However, the photos are also supposed to be as aesthetically beautiful as possible. “They don’t want you to just take the equivalent of a mug shot,” Kristi said. “They want you to use the lighting and the composition in a way that enhances the beauty of the structure.” Kristi doesn’t consider her historic preservation photography to necessarily be a work of art, but some of the photographs she took over the years really did rise to the level of art. The HAER collection is publicly available online but is not often viewed. “It’s in the public record but it isn’t really seen publicly,” Kristi said. For that reason, Kristi worked with Brandon Reintjes, Senior Curator at Missoula Art Museum, to organize the exhibition “For the Record: Montana’s Historic Bridges, Powerhouses, And Missile Sites, Inside and Out” with funding from the Foundation for Montana History. The exhibition features 28 of Kristi’s photos and will travel around the state under the auspices of the Montana Art Gallery Directors Association. “For the Record: Montana’s Historic Bridges, Powerhouses, And Missile Sites, Inside and Out” • Explore the Arts, Hamilton, Montana Jan. 29 - March 7, 2024 • Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana May 31 - July 12, 2024 • MonDak Heritage Center, Sidney, Montana Oct. 2, 2024 – Jan. 8, 2025 BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 35

BUILDING HABITAT WITH HIGH FLOWS

 NorthWestern Energy and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks work together to capture aerial images of the Madison River near Ennis in late May 2023. 36 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Our Madison River Flushing Flow Program helps improve spawning habitat for fish.

By Erin Madison At the end of May, flows on the Madison River were higher than normal. This was due to NorthWestern Energy increasing the volume of water released from Hebgen Dam. When snowpack allows, NorthWestern Energy implements our Madison River Flushing Flow Program. The program is designed to augment natural river flows with surplus water. The goal of sending the extra water down the river is to flush fine sediments from Madison River gravel to enhance the quality of spawning gravels that support the healthy wild trout fishery. High spring runoff flows, which the flushing mimic, are a natural occurrence in undammed rivers. These high flows help create spawning habitat for fish by clearing out fine particles from the river bottom where fish spawn. It also helps distribute food for fish and improves the quality of the river’s insect community. While the water was at its peak, NorthWestern Energy conducted a drone flight to capture aerial footage of the river at high water. This allowed us to see how wide the river channel expanded. When a river channel reaches its floodplain, it has the opportunity to deposit fine sediment onto gravel bars and streambanks, which helps provide fresh soil for new cottonwood and willow seedlings to grow. The 2023 flushing release from Hebgen Dam is a cooperative effort planned by NorthWestern Energy; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; Montana Department of Environmental Quality; the U.S. Bureau of Land Management; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the U.S. Forest Service. BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 37

Through

his lens

NorthWestern Energy compliance coordinator finds perfect hiking companion – his camera. By Jo Dee Black

Photography is now Jason’s art, and he’s built

NorthWestern Energy Compliance Coordina-

an expansive inventory of images, including scenery

tor Jason Boeckel lived at Georgetown Lake after

and black-and-white photos of old machinery, trucks

he started working at Dave Gates Generating Sta-

and ghost towns.

tion near Anaconda, Montana. During the week,

Wildlife and scenery are his preferred subjects,

moose and eagles were the neighbors he saw

although he did do prom photos and senior portraits

most often, especially in the spring and fall.

at the request of a friend.

It was those neighbors that sparked a

“Teenagers are just a different kind of wild-

renewed interest in a former hobby – photography.

life,” he said.

“I started taking photos back in high school

Right now, his images are gifts for friends

in the film days to get ideas for paintings,” said

and family and posted on social media and online

Jason, who grew up in Glendive, Montana, and

birding sites.

took art classes in high school. “Now in the digital camera era, you can take high quality images easily, and affordably. I don’t know who said it, but the

Jason uses a compact Panasonic Lumix  Jason Boeckel, NorthWestern Energy Compliance Coordinator

quote ‘For $200, you too can be Ansel Adams’ really is true.”

camera, has worn out several others - and broken a couple.

“The technology in these point-and-shoot cameras is impressive

A lifelong hiker, Jason’s frequent trips in the Lee Metcalf National

and you don’t feel as bad when you drop them,” he said. “The key is to

Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville, Montana, provide ample opportunities

get as much optical zoom capacity and pixels as you can. One day I’ll

to photograph birds and other wildlife.

probably buy a more expensive camera, but I’m probably not packing it

“There was a great horned owl nest near the trail one year, and I think they were the most photographed owls in the state ... maybe the country,” he said. “But there are also birds others don’t get to see very much. There were some Virginia Rail (marsh bird) babies in the refuge that I was lucky enough to watch and photograph last summer.”

up a mountain.” He may also launch a side business in the future with his images. For now, photography is the perfect complement for Jason’s hiking pursuits. “Hiking has always been my way to get outside in the wilderness

Mountain goats, moose, elk and bears are sometimes on the other

and get away from things,” he said. “There is nothing so satisfying as

side of Jason’s camera lens, but he finds himself pursuing waterfowl, rap-

working your tail off to get up a drainage, thinking, ‘Why am I doing this?’

tors and small birds most often.

then getting to the top, turning around, looking back and you know, ‘Yep,

“I probably used to make fun of birders, but I’ll be hiking, hear a bird and stop and sit to watch for it,” he said.

38 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

this is why.’”

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 39

\ WE ARE NORTHWESTERN ENERGY

REBU

G N ILDI

BL A Y D CK SAN

40 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

 Before and after the bank stabilization project at Black Sandy State Park. By Erin Madison

Last April, about 30 volunteers gathered at Spring Meadow Lake

In the peak of summer in 2019, a bank at Black Sandy State Park

State Park in Helena to help cut willows that were then planted on the

eroded and sloughed into Hauser Reservoir. The erosion cut into the tent

shoreline at Black Sandy State Park. Nine NorthWestern Energy employ-

camping area at the state park and nearly took out a tent pitched nearby.

ees were among the volunteers helping with the willow gathering efforts.

The tent camping sites at Black Sandy were already fairly small,

NorthWestern Energy made a $900 TEAM Grant donation to Montana’s

and the bank erosion diminished them further, said Craig Putchat, Helena

Outdoor Legacy Foundation in acknowledgment of the employees’ vol-

Area Recreation Manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

unteer time.

To build back the camping area and stabilize the bank, Montana

The willows will help stabilize the bank and prevent future bank

State Parks received a Missouri-Madison River Fund Grant, supported

erosion from wave action and ice, Craig said. Among the willows, engi-

with matching funds from NorthWestern Energy. The grant paid for the

neered steps will limit future impacts to the bank while providing public

work to stabilize the eroding shoreline.

access to the waterway. The project was completed last summer.

The River Fund Trust and NorthWestern Energy have funded 160

The Missouri-Madison River Fund trust for public recreation, valued

public recreation improvement projects on the Missouri and Madison

at $7 million, was created through the collaborative efforts of North-

rivers with $6 million in funding by the trust and $1.6 million in matching

Western Energy; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; U.S. Forest Service; U.S.

funds from NorthWestern Energy in the past 17 years.

Bureau of Land Management; Madison, Gallatin, Broadwater, Lewis and

“The Missouri and Madison rivers offer a wide variety of public recreation facilities and opportunities,” said Andy Welch, Hydropower

Clark, Cascade and Chouteau counties; and numerous other public and private partners.

License Compliance Manager with NorthWestern Energy. “Continued

“NorthWestern Energy and its employees are proud to continue to

improvements at these sites will ensure that those opportunities exist for

support this collaborative private-public effort to improve recreation facil-

future generations.”

ities and opportunities on these great rivers,” Andy said.

 NorthWestern Energy employees volunteered to cut willows at Spring Meadow Lake State Park. The willows were then planted on the shoreline at Black Sandy State Park.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 41

\ BRIGHT IDEA

THE UPSIDES OF

By Amy Grisak

UPCYCLING

Create new life for old objects and keep trash out of the landfill through upcycling. We throw out a lot of stuff. According to a

she recently created a fence out of the large industrial spools used to

2018 report from Environmental Pro-

transport plastic pipe or wire. Sometimes people use these spools for

tection Agency (EPA), we toss

outdoor tables, but utilizing the wood in this way is another excellent way

292.4 million tons of waste

to not waste perfectly good materials.

per year, or 4.9 pounds

Yet, not everything is a major outdoor project.

per person per day.

“I do a lot of different things with windows,” Connie said.

The truth is, with a

One of her beautiful projects involves gluing brightly colored glass

bit of creativity we

to the panes in old windows, creating a stained glass effect. Or, for a very

can reuse, and often-

practical piece, she adds a blackboard to the back of a glassless window

times

improve,

what

frame for a beautiful space to write notes.

typically ends up in the landfill.

One of Connie’s favorite project involves using windows that she

“It’s scary to go to the dump and see how

found in New Mexico that latch together in the center as the showpiece

much is going in there every day,” said Connie

doors in the cabinet she built around it.

Klingaman, the gardener extraordinaire and over-

An easy project for any skill level that is still equally eye-catching is

all highly talented woman who turns trash into

painting an old door, or part of one, and screwing hooks into it for a coat

treasure at her Helena, Montana, home.

or tool rack. Whether it’s hung on a wall and leaned up against one, it

Creating Treasure from Trash

provides functionality combined with its unique character.

Instead of recycling, which is when specific

Connie certainly has a knack for building, but you don’t have to

products are reprocessed to make something

share this same level of talent to upcycle myriad items in your garden or

new, upcycling often involves giving an item a

home. One of my favorite outdoor lighting options is using mason jars

completely new use. It might be as simple as using

with lights to illuminate a garden space. Another friend even wired lights

a plastic container from berries or other vegetables

into antique bottles she found on her property to create an enchanting

as a seed-starting tray or weaving plastic grocery bags into a tote, to far more involved projects such as creating furniture from rejected items. “I call it functional art,” Connie explained. “It’s fun. It keeps my brain occupied. I have to create something.” Knowing Connie for over a decade, one of my favorite projects of hers was turning an old grain silo from the early 1900s into an adorable and spacious guest house. Too often, we see these old structures collapsing in the fields, but she and her husband, Lyle, gave it a new purpose. Keeping in mind this concept of functional art, 42 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

dining area. Garden Art The garden is a terrific place for all sorts of repurposed items. Old

bags, work aprons, quilts and denim rugs. The ubiquitous T-shirt also has plenty of options for new life beyond being cut up for rags. The cotton or blended fabric can be braided into

boots and shoes make terrific planters.

baskets, used for headbands or, for special

These could be worn out cowboy boots or

keepsakes, turned into memorable pillows.

plastic ones that no longer fit the kids. If you

Not to be outdone, fleece is equally

have beat-up dump trucks and worn-out

as valuable and can be used to create a

toys, add soil and a couple of flowers for a

no-sew fleece blanket, make a warm hat, or,

unique display, as well.

for those with more advanced sewing skills,

A rickety ladder with wooden planks

fashion a pair of cozy gloves.

used as shelves are perfect to hold plant

One of the most versatile fabrics for

displays. And don’t forget the furniture! Old

reuse is wool. With its reputation for durabil-

iron beds become garden beds, and chairs

ity, it’s used for everything from rugs to hats

with their seats torn out look beautiful hold-

to gaiters to protect your lower legs from

ing planters. Aged wheelbarrows, which

snow and cold to balaclavas or neck gaiter

might not roll anymore or are rusting, can be

that last for years.

incorporated into the garden design either

Taking

holding flowers or tipped over and half

cial Scraps

planted with blooms spilling out of its side.

Advantage

Commer-

Repurposing fabric doesn’t only hap-

Even a leftover section of gutter makes

pen when clothes wear out. One example

a creative planter. Close off both ends and

is how craft-oriented people recognize the

drill holes in the bottom to allow water to

opportunity to use scraps from some com-

drain before filling it with a soil medium and

mercial production processes.

planting annuals, particularly flowers that

Lisa Wilson of Great Falls, Montana,

cascade, such as “wave” petunias, nemesia

explained, “When (the Pendleton Com-

or sweet potato vines, for an eye-catching

pany) weaves their blankets, they cut off the

addition to the landscape.

edges. There are leftover strips of fuzzy stuff

For those looking for ways to reuse plastic waste, yogurt and sour cream con-

that they sell by the pound from the factory in Oregon.”

tainers are perfect for starting seeds, as

Lisa weaves the remnants on her floor

long as you poke holes in the bottom. Or cut

loom, creating salvaged rugs using a spe-

off the bottoms of gallon milk jugs to create

cific weaving style with a self-finished edge

simple garden cloches to protect transplants

that doesn’t unravel.

during the cool spring nights. Don’t Toss Those Old Clothes What we do with clothing or fabrics when something is worn or no longer fits is also a significant problem. After we purge our closets or dressers, many of us take the used clothes to a charitable organization thinking it will gain a new life, but the EPA reports that roughly 84% still

“They’re really cushy under your feet,” she said. And these otherwise unusable pieces of wool don’t end up in the trash. Upcycling

beautifully

demonstrates

how one person’s trash is another’s treasure. Finding ways to keep what we no longer need out of the landfill is something everyone can do.

ends up in landfills, or incinerators, depending on the location. There has to be a better way to utilize this valuable resource. A favorite of moms everywhere, handing down clothes to family or friends with younger children is a popular option, as long as there aren’t holes in the knees or stains on the shirts. But this still leaves plenty of fabric ready for a new use. Denim jeans are easily sewn into handy tote

Amy Grisak is an avid gardener and writer. Her writing appears in everything from the Farmers’ Almanac to Popular Mechanics, along with her books, “Nature Guide to Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks” and “Found Photos of Yellowstone.” Amy lives in Great Falls, Montana, with her two sons and her husband, Grant, who is a biologist with NorthWestern Energy.

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 43

NORTHWEST CORNER

THOMPSON FALLS, Montana By Erin Madison

The motto for the city of Thompson Falls, Montana, is “genuine in

fish species was not fully appreciated. Almost 100 years later through

nature,” which could not be more fitting for a small town surrounded by

a series of studies, it was determined that construction of a fish lad-

millions of acres of public land. Thompson Falls is nestled in the Clark

der would be beneficial to connect more than 274 miles of

Fork River valley with pine trees and mountains in every direction.

upstream Clark Fork River habitat. Fish ladders are com-

Thompson Falls, population 1,400, was officially established in

monly constructed on dams that block the passage

1910. The city is named after fur trader, surveyor and cartographer David

of Pacific salmon and other anadromous species

Thompson, who mapped about 1.9 million square miles of North Amer-

– those that migrate from the sea to spawn in

ica. David Thompson established the Saleesh House trading post near

rivers. However, Thompson Falls is upstream of

what is now Thompson Falls. However, the exact site of the trading post

the range of anadromous fish. The Clark Fork

remains a mystery.

River at Thompson Falls is home to native bull

Thompson Falls is a great place for hiking, fishing, boating and camp-

trout, a federally listed threatened species,

ing. The town also has a charming main street with shops and eateries.

and westslope cutthroat trout, as well as

Visit Thompson Falls Dam and see the fish ladder – NorthWest-

other sport and native fish. Fish managers

ern Energy is proud to own

concluded that connecting migratory habi-

and operate the 94-mega-

tat by constructing a fish passage facility for

watt Thompson Falls Hydro

bull trout would help lead to the recovery of

Plant, which produces more

the native species.

electricity than any other NorthWestern Energy hydro facility.

overlook on Thompson Falls Island.

It is also home to our only fish

Play on the water – Rent a kayak,

ladder, which allows fish to

canoe or paddleboard from Crazy Moose Kayak

travel upstream of the dam.

and Paddleboard Rentals. They offer tandem kay-

When Thompson Falls

44 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

You can view the fish ladder from an

aks, single kayaks, fishing kayaks, three-person canoes and

Dam was built in 1915, the

stand-up paddleboards. They’ll even deliver to campsites, cabins and

migratory nature of native

homes. Crazy Moose is open April to September. 511 Main St.

Sample

north-

iff’s office and sheriff’s

west-style ale – Pull up a

residence. The sheriff’s

barstool at Limberlost Brew-

residence was located

ing Company, which prides

downstairs, with the jail

itself on brewing ales “that

upstairs, and non-vio-

are experimental, well bal-

lent inmates often ate

anced and just plain awesome

with the sheriff and his

to drink.” Try the Bearfoot

family,

Blonde, Epiphany Marzipan

the Clark Fork Valley

Imperial Dessert Stout or the

Press.

Spruce

Ghost

also features numer-

Hard Seltzer. Limberlost also

ous photographs taken

offers a house-made root

from

beer. Food offerings include

negatives. Open daily

paninis, barbecue and Sun-

Memorial Day through

day brunch. 1017 Main St.

Labor Day. 109 South

limberlostbrews.com.

Madison St.

Trap

Snow

according The

museum

original

glass

Don’t skip breakfast or dessert – Walking into Minnie’s Montana

Dine with a view – Big Eddy’s features an enclosed patio overlook-

Café feels a bit like stepping back in time to an old-time diner from the

ing Thompson Falls Reservoir. The menu includes a variety of burgers,

past. Take a seat at the counter or pick a booth. The breakfast menu

chili and soup, salads, sandwiches and more. 219 W Main St.

features options including steak and eggs, corned beef hash and eggs

Shop for Montana gifts – Linda’s Montana Gifts Gallery offers a

Benedict, plus a wide variety of options for lunch and dinner. We recom-

great selection of gifts, including T-shirts and sweatshirts, candles, mugs,

mend the scramblers or French toast. Be sure the check out the spinning

books, home décor, toys, jewelry and more. Whether you’re shopping

display of desserts. Try the blackberry pie or chocolate peanut butter

for yourself or for someone else, you’re sure to find something great.

cake. 921 W Main St.

913 Main St.

Support local artists – The Sunflower Gallery is an artists’ co-op, featuring artwork from northwestern Montana artists. You’ll find wood ornaments from Libby, huckleberry chocolates from Thompson Falls, ceramics, soaps, paintings and more. Each artist has a designated space in the store to display their wares as they wish, making for a very fun and varied shopping experience. 301 W Main St. Sip coffee by the fireplace – Scotchman’s Coffee offers delicious coffees, teas and baked goods in a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere. Sip your latte on a big comfy couch in front of the fire, or gather with your friends around a large table. 925 W Main St. Learn about the history of Sanders County – The Old Jail Museum features everything from Native American artifacts and children’s toys to, as the name suggests, an old jail. The museum is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Sanders County, which originally served as the county jail, sher-

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 45

Walk across the High Bridge – In the early 1900s, those needing

that’s perfect for relaxing on a park bench or watching

to cross the Clark Fork River near Thompson Falls used small boats and

waterfowl on the river. The Power Park Pavilion is also

ferries. As the town grew and construction started on the Thompson Falls

a great place for a picnic. The pavilion was rebuilt in

Dam, these boats were not up to the task of hauling large loads of equip-

2022 after it was destroyed by arson. The new pavil-

ment and materials. In 1911, Sanders County built two bridges to help move

ion offers picnic tables, a sink and outlets. Power Park

people and supplies across the river. The bridges span the river

Explore the Community Trails – After you visit

on either side of Thompson Falls

the High Bridge and picnic in Power Park, continue

Island and were a main transpor-

on to explore the rest of the Thompson Falls Commu-

tation thoroughfare until 1928.

nity Trails. From Power Park, you can follow a trail all

They were closed to use in the

the way to Thompson Falls State Park. North of town,

late 1970s but were restored

you’ll find the Mule Pasture Trail System, which offers

and reopened for pedestrians

2.3 miles of trails.

and cyclists in 2010. Take a walk

Camp, hike, swim or fish – Thompson Falls

from the Gallatin Street Trailhead

State Park sits on the banks of the Clark Fork River

across the Gallatin Street Bridge

and offers a wide variety of activities. There are 18

on to Thompson Falls Island.

campsites to enjoy and a boat launch. You’ll also find

Continue on to the High Bridge,

a fishing pond with an accessible fishing pier, along

located on the south side of

with a new picnic shelter. The park is open March

the island.

through October. fwp.mt.gov/thompson-falls.

Have a picnic at the Power

Browse the aisles of the local hardware store

Park Pavilion – NorthWestern

– There’s nothing like a small-town hardware store,

Energy maintains a public park

and Doug’s True Value Hardware on Main Street

near the Thompson Falls Dam.

offers a little of everything, plus helpful expert advice.

Power Park was once the site

You’ll find everything from power tools to dog food.

of employee housing when the

And if you’re looking for fishing supplies or camping

dam was under construction.

supplies, you’ll find that, too. 901 Main St.

Today, it’s an open piece of land 46 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

is located on Maiden Lane near Pond Street.

BRIGHT FLAVORS /

DIRECTIONS

Whisk the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside. Using a mixer, whisk the egg whites and

½ cup sugar together on high speed for 4-5 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Transfer to another bowl. In the same mixing bowl, beat together the egg yolks, remaining sugar, oil and vanilla extract for 3-4 minutes.

YULE LOG CAKE

Originating from Germanic and Scandinavian culture, many parts of the world celebrate Christmas, the winter solstice and other winter holidays by burning a Yule log for good luck and fortune. Stemming from that tradition, the French created a cake called a Buche de Noel, or Yule log. The cake is similar to a Swiss roll – a soft sponge cake rolled up with whipped cream filling and decorated to look like a section of tree. Thompson Falls has deep roots in the timber industry, so a Yule log seems particularly fitting for a winter adventure in northwest Montana.

INGREDIENTS

Fold half of the whipped egg whites into the egg yolk mixture with a spatula. Repeat with remaining egg whites. Fold half of the flour

mixture into the eggs with a spatula until combined. Repeat with remaining flour mixture. Avoid overmixing and deflating the egg whites.

3 4

Spread batter into 12x17-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Gently tap the pan on the counter. Bake for 15-16 minutes at 350°. Avoid

overbaking cake. As the cake bakes, place a tea towel flat on the counter. Dust towel with 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder. When cake comes out, run a

knife around the edges to loosen it. Immediately invert it onto the towel. Peel off the parchment paper. Starting with the narrow end, slowly begin

Cake

tightly rolling the hot cake up with the towel. Allow the cake to cool com-

1 ⅓ cups cake flour

pletely rolled up in the towel.

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 6 large eggs, separated and at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar, divided 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract Whipped cream filling 1 ½ cups cold heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla ¼ cup confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

5 6 7

Whip the heavy cream, vanilla, confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder on medium-high speed 2-3 minutes. Gently and slowly unroll the cake. Spread whipped cream evenly on top, leaving a ½ inch border. Gently roll the cake back up without

the towel. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it begins to simmer. Pour over chocolate, then let sit for 2-3

minutes. Stir until completely combined and chocolate has melted. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour to thicken.

Remove cake from the refrigerator. Diagonally slice a 3-4 inch section off one end. Place the cake on a serving platter. Place the

angled side against a side of the roll, forming a branch. Slowly pour and

Ganache

spread thickened ganache all over the cake. Use a fork to make textured

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped

lines resembling tree bark. Optional: decorate with sugared cranberries,

¾ cup heavy cream

sugared rosemary, merengue mushrooms or a dusting of powdered sugar. BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 47

\ BY THE NUMBERS

Our Electric Generation Portfolio Our current energy supply portfolio is built on a balanced mix of carbon-free resources, including hydro, wind and solar, and traditional thermal resources. In 2022, 55% of our electric generation came from carbon-free resources, with our Montana hydroelectric system contributing 26%.

NORTHWESTERN ENERGY 2022 ELECTRIC GENERATION PORTFOLIO BASED ON MWH OF OWNED AND LONG-TERM CONTRACTED RESOURCES Wind Owned 5.9% Contracted CELP & YELP 8.9%

Wind Contracted 21.6%

Natural Gas/Other Contracted 1.7%

55% Carbon-Free

Natural Gas/Other Owned 6.1%

Coal Owned 28.0%

Hydro Owned 26.1%

Solar Contracted 0.4%

MONTANA 2022 ELECTRIC GENERATION PORTFOLIO

BASED ON MWH OF OWNED AND LONG-TERM CONTRACTED RESOURCES

Wind Owned 2.4% Contracted CELP & YELP 10.9%

Wind Contracted 21.3%

58% Carbon-Free

Hydro Contracted 1.3%

SOUTH DAKOTA 2022 ELECTRIC GENERATION PORTFOLIO

BASED ON MWH OF OWNED AND LONG-TERM CONTRACTED RESOURCES

Natural Gas/Other Owned 6.6%

Natural Gas Contracted 2.1%

Wind Owned 21.9%

45% Carbon-Free

Wind Contracted 22.8%

Natural Gas/Other Owned 5.9%

Hydro Owned 31.9%

Coal Owned 23.4%

Hydro Solar Contracted Contracted 1.6% 0.5%

48 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Coal Owned 48.7%

Our Net-Zero Vision Over the past 100 years, NorthWestern Energy has maintained our commitment to provide customers with reliable and affordable electric and natural gas service while also keeping our commitment to environmental sustainability front and center. In early 2022, we took our commitment a step further and announced our plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. As we transition to a net-zero portfolio, we will continue to focus on supplying our customers with reliable energy at the most affordable rates possible. Over the last 10 years, nearly all the owned electric generation we have put into service in Montana and South Dakota are carbon-free resources. Over time, we expect to close our coal plants at the earlier of depreciable life or when the plant is no longer cost effective. Until longer duration carbon-free resources are available and cost effective, we are likely going to need natural gas-fired generation to supplant the output and capacity provided by our coal resources. Learn more at NorthWesternEnergy.com/NetZero.

At NorthWestern, we understand that almost everything we do to produce and deliver energy to our customers impacts the environment. That’s why caring for the environment is one of our SERVICE values.

Additions2

Projected Owned and Contracted Resources Yellowstone County (2020 RFP) Colstrip 175 MW (Pending (160 MW Capacity Acquisition)5 Various Resources1 Contribution) (IRP/RFP) 1,205 MW 222 MW

Various Resources (IRP/RFP) 525 MW

Various Resources (IRP/RFP) 230 MW

2023-2035

2036-2043

2044-2050

Expirations3

2021-2022

Various Retirements4 397 MW

60% Carbon-Free Generation

Colstrip Neal 222 MW 56 MW Coyote (444 MW Various 43 MW pending Retirements4 acquisition) 766 MW

Big Stone 111 MW

Various Retirements4 80 MW

80% Carbon-Free Generation

Net Zero

1. Includes resources from the 2020 Montana RFP PowerEx contract. Resources from the RFP are currently under construction and total 325 MW 2. Additions: owned resources = 397 MW (175 Yellowstone + 222 Colstrip acquisition)/contracted resources = 564 MW/unknown resources = 1,396 MW 3. Expirations: owned resources = 432 MW (654 MW pending Colstrip acquisition)/contracted resources 1,243 MW 4. These include long-term contracted resources, many of which are carbon-free, whose contract ends during the timeline presented above. Contracts may be renewed if they are cost effective and meet strategic goals and/or portfolio needs at the time of contract expiration 5. Pending Colstrip acquisition is 111 MW of Colstrip Unit 3 & 111 MW of Colstrip Unit 4 from Avista Corportation for zero dollars, with an effective transfer date of January 1, 2026.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Investments We are developing turnkey installation of new charging infrastructure along highway corridors at commercial customers’ properties in Montana and South Dakota. In addition, we are conducting an in-depth analysis to design programs for business customers to ensure our electric infrastructure is adequate and efficient for significant EV charging growth.

2500

Electric Vehicle Charger Usage by Year

kilowatt hours

2000 1500 1000 500 0

16 2017 2018

19 020 021 022 2 2 2

BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 49

\ CAN YOU FIND IT?

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE LOCATION OF THESE PHOTOS? Do you recognize the location of any of these photos? Send us your guesses to be placed in the drawing for a prize. Guesses should be specific, such as naming a feature in the photo or giving the exact location. Send your guesses to bright@northwestern.com. Be sure to include your name, mailing address and phone number so we can contact you if you’re a winner.

SOUTH DAKOTA 50 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

MONTANA Answers from the Community issue Montana: Several readers recognized the penguin in Cut Bank, Montana, marking the coldest spot in the nation. We drew Erica J. of Whitefish, Montana, as the winner.

South Dakota: As many of you correctly guessed, this photo was taken in Redfield, South Dakota. Several readers vouched for the excellent food at Leo’s. We chose Tony E. of Huron, South Dakota, as the winner. Tony informs us that Leo’s used to be a bank.

NEBRASKA

Nebraska: The Great Platte River Road Archway Monument stretches over Interstate 80, just outside Kearney, Nebraska. Several readers correctly identified the photo, and, of those, we drew LaVere T. of Huron, South Dakota, as the winner. BRIGHT MAGAZINE Environment Edition | 51

A publication of:

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Prefer digital? No problem! Subscribe or read online at NorthWesternEnergy.com/Bright 52 | BRIGHT MAGAZINE Vol. 3

Bright Magazine: Environment 2023

Articles inside

Through His Lens

New Boards for Thompson Falls

The Future of Blue Suckers

Remediation: 2014 Natural Gas Odorant Spill Site Work Complete

Student Transportation: First Student brings electric buses to Billings schools

Building Habitat with High Flows

Rebuilding Black Sandy

Branching Out

Guardians of the Grid

Ingenuity & Passion: NorthWestern Energy’s Yellowstone manager finds creative, low-cost solution to protect the landscape

Mystic Hydroelectric crew converts an old diesel train to electric

Fixing and Finding Leaks Faster

Saving the Big Sky

Rowe Dam

Bringing Solutions to the Surface