Governor Greg Gianforte this week signed an executive order creating a new Energy Task Force charged with developing strategies to expand affordable, reliable energy production in Montana.
“With increasing demand on our energy grid, we must meet the challenge head-on to ensure affordable, reliable power for Montanans now and into the future,” Gianforte said. “After four years of failed Biden energy policies that drove up energy costs, we need innovative ideas to unleash American-made energy in our state. Montana is ready to lead, and this task force will build on our natural strengths as a state rich in energy resources.”
The task force will deliver both short- and long-term recommendations by September 15, 2026. Its first meeting is scheduled for September 22, and members will be announced in the coming days.
Gianforte appointed Department of Environmental Quality Director Sonja Nowakowski to chair the group. “Montana has a long history of responsible energy development,” Nowakowski said. “This task force will convene leaders in Montana’s energy sector to identify barriers and build strategies to deliver affordable, dependable energy for Montana families and businesses.”
The governor directed the task force to consider a range of priorities, including regulatory efficiency, grid stability, greater certainty for producers and consumers, and eliminating litigation that delays responsible energy development.
The initiative comes amid rising energy demand. A recent Western Electricity Coordinating Council report projects electricity use will climb 20 percent over the next decade—a sharp increase from the 9 percent projection issued just two years ago.