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In Montana, the BLM has given the green light to NorthWestern Energy’s proposal to build a 74-mile natural gas pipeline from Helena to Three Forks. The approval was expedited through a 14-day environmental review process in response to the national energy emergency declared by President Donald J. Trump. The pipeline will traverse approximately nine miles of BLM-managed public lands and will follow an existing utility corridor to minimize new ground disturbance and ecological disruption. Construction is set to occur in phases between spring 2026 and fall 2029, with preparatory activities beginning in 2025.
Simultaneously, the BLM has approved three geothermal energy projects in Nevada under an accelerated timeline. These include the Diamond Flat Geothermal Project, where Ormat Technologies plans to drill test wells and conduct geothermal resource confirmation activities; the McGinness Hills Geothermal Optimization Project, which aims to upgrade and expand three existing geothermal power plants; and the Pinto Geothermal Project, where Ormat will conduct exploratory drilling and geothermal resource evaluation. These projects align with the BLM’s mission to support responsible energy development on public lands, ensuring a reliable domestic energy supply and reducing dependence on foreign resources.