Hi Revealer,

What’s the common obstacle the energy transition faces? It's all about the money.

Last spring, I visited Colstrip, Montana, a community that has become the epicenter of the battle over clean energy and coal. I looked at what was driving a big coal mining expansion; a decision by Montana's single largest power utility company to expand its stake in the Colstrip power plant, the single biggest emitter of greenhouse gas in Montana; and the subsequent pushback by green energy advocates. I shared my findings in the Reveal episode The Battle for Clean Energy in Coal Country.

The battle over fossil fuels and clean energy isn’t ending anytime soon. Earlier this year, young activists sued Montana over its fossil fuel energy policy in defense of the constitutional right to a “healthful environment” for future generations. As these young Montanans mounted their climate campaign, Republican lawmakers in the state sought to ban government agencies from considering carbon emissions altogether. 

As the country transitions to renewable energy, it is critical to follow the money. We need to know where the money is coming from, where it’s going and how it's shaping public policy. 

We cannot do it without your help. 

Unlike the obstacles the energy transition faces, it’s not all about the money for us. As a nonprofit, our investigations are not tied to corporate interests or powerful politicians. We investigate the most important issues of our time and reveal the secrets that powerful interests prefer to hide.

But I’ll be frank: It’s a scary time to work in journalism – especially nonprofit journalism. We survive – and thrive – off donations from people like you, and we use that money to provide a vital public service.