In the state of big skies and open land, coal mining is expanding.

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A coal-fired power plant towers over the town of Colstrip, Montana. A conveyor belt (foreground) carries coal directly from the nearby Rosebud coal mine. Credit: Stephen Smith for Reveal

Hi Revealer,

In The Battle for Clean Energy in Coal Country ([link removed]) , the newest episode of Reveal, I share my investigation on what the U.S. is up against as it tries to shift away from fossil fuels and pivot toward renewable energy.

My investigation started in August, as gas prices were rising and the war in Ukraine was accelerating. I began wondering whether there were places in the United States where coal mining was still expanding – and I ended up in Montana, where state agencies were signing off on several coal mining expansions.

Montana has other options for energy production. It’s the state of big skies, vast open land and an abundance of natural resources, including wind and solar, that could be harnessed into renewable energy. Climate scientists say the world needs to rapidly phase out coal-fired power plants to avert worsening climate change. And coal is, by far, the single dirtiest emitter – not just in terms of greenhouse gases, but also in terms of other pollutants that kill people, like particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, lead, mercury and arsenic.

As I examined what was driving coal mining expansions, I started looking into the state’s single largest utility company, NorthWestern Energy. I learned about Montana’s history of extracting natural resources like copper and coal and how energy companies have made a lot of money from exporting them out of state. And I also learned about the state’s rich history of grassroots efforts to protect the environment and fight back against the exploitation of the state.

After devoting more than six months to this research, I’m excited to finally share it with you, especially in the context of recent events. It really dives into what’s standing in the way of a clean energy transition in the western United States. I hope it gives you a taste of what it’s like to be on the ground in that beautiful state and how the town of Colstrip, a new gas plant and the state’s largest utility company play a role in what’s happening there.

I think what happens in Montana speaks to what’s happening in other states across the nation. But in some ways, what’s happening there is also unique. In May, the governor signed what’s been called the most aggressive anti-climate law ([link removed]) in the country. It bars the state from calculating the climate impacts of major projects. Additionally, a state judge has ruled that a first-of-its-kind lawsuit testing whether Montana’s constitution requires the state to combat climate change will go to trial in mid-June.

This episode highlights both the potential for just transitions for coal communities, as well as the failures and pitfalls lurking ahead for those advocating for phasing out fossil fuels.

Sometimes, investigative reporting is about pointing out fraudulent or criminal behavior. But other times, it’s simply about pointing out something that entrenched interests don’t want you to know and is in the public interest to bring to light. And those subjects are also worth investigating.

If you haven't already, please listen to the newest episode of Reveal: The Battle for Clean Energy in Coal Country ([link removed]) . I hope it resonates with you as much as it did with me.

Thank you for your support.

Jonathan Jones
Investigative Reporter and Producer
The Center for Investigative Reporting
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