The Policy Institute, based in Helena, Montana, blends authoritative research and hands-on political engagement to create public policy based on economic justice, fair taxation, corporate accountability and environmental responsibility.

Environmental Responsibility

Economic Report Pushes Pennsylvania Power's PR Agenda

Recently Paul Polzin and Richard Barkey published a defense of an economic study they completed as "independent contractors" for PPL Montana (Pennsylvania Power). Barkey is director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, a University of Montana-affiliated research and education organization. Polzin is director emeritus of the bureau. The report they wrote attempts to quantify the historic impact of the coal plants at Colstrip. It quickly drew criticism from other economists. Read more

The Commodity Bubble Collapse

As the Bush Administration's time in office quickly winds down, it is frantically working to embed its controversial natural resource and environmental policies in long lasting federal regulations. One dramatic example is the effort to open up the land around the Grand Canyon to uranium mining. Read more

A Response to the EQC's Solicitation of Public Input on the Climate Change Draft Report and Draft Legislation

We write in response to the Environmental Quality Council's solicitation of public input on the EQC's draft report, "Climate Change: An analysis of climate change policy issues in Montana," and the draft legislation that accompanies the report. All of the organizations listed as signatories to this letter believe that climate change is a subject of utmost importance that must be addressed quickly, strongly, and comprehensively by all people and by the governments that represent them, including the State of Montana. Most signatories have attentively followed the EQC's deliberations on climate change and have engaged with the EQC whenever possible to advocate for public policy solutions that measure up to the challenge posed by climate change. Read more

Interim Legislative Committee Plays Penny Ante in Large Stakes Game

The Environmental Quality Council, a bi-partisan, bi-chamber committee that meets between regular sessions of the Montana Legislature, has asked for public comment on its proposals for how Montana should address the issue of climate change. Measured against the quickly unfolding, ever-increasing severity of global warming and the related need for human mobilization on an unprecedented scale, the EQC's spit-in-the-wind offering should be rejected by Montanans as grossly insufficient to the task. Read more

Climate Change Survey is a Wonk Way to Go

Public input is a noble and necessary element of democratic government. But beware what follows from a cherished idea turned awry. Thus skepticism is warranted for the public opinion survey on climate change recently launched by Montana's Environmental Quality Council. The Environmental Quality Council (EQC) is comprised of 12 legislators, four public members, and a representative of the governor's office. It meets between regular legislative sessions to address pressing environmental issues of the day. Read more

Pick that Low Fruit! A Proposal of The Policy Institute for a Montana Office of Energy Conservation

The Policy Institute proposes the establishment of an Office of Energy Conservation, to be part of the Montana Department of Commerce. The office is needed to address the state's inexorably growing energy challenges, to complement the state's current policy emphasis on increased energy production, and to aggressively pursue the significant economic benefits possible through energy conservation initiatives. The Office of Energy Conservation would have an annual budget of $500,000-$750,000, employ 6-8 people, and would be funded by legislative rescission of the oil and gas production tax "holiday," enacted in 1999. Read more