A new alternative route for NorthWestern Energy's 500 kilo-volt electric transmission line, known as "MSTI", will be presented at a public meeting in Butte on Thursday evening.  

Representatives of the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service will be on hand to provide information on the route.

The current plan calls for the electric transmission line to be between 390 and 430 miles long, crossing private, state and federally managed land.

The grassroots group "Move MSTI" is opposed to the project, citing health hazards and property devaluation.

But, NorthWestern Energy officials say the line is intended to meet the growing energy demands of the West particularly for wind energy. Officials add that the line is to be built for energy export, not for use by Montana customers and may lower supply costs for our customers.  Energy supply is at its lowest cost in several years.

A meeting will be held at Montana Tech Auditorium on Thursday at 6:00 in the evening.

On Wednesday evening, Dave Gates of NorthWestern Energy will argue his side of the debate about the MSTI project before Butte Silver Bow County Commissioners.

He is responding to a recent presentation made by Public Service Commissioner Brad Molnar who believes the project will drive up rates.

Molnar has requested the council of commissioners to act as late interveners and to request a commitment from Northwestern that rates would not go up.