Out-of-state companies are eyeing Montana as a place to put data centers for the artificial intelligence revolution, and those centers will require massive amounts of power. Pretty much everyone agrees on that fact.

But what's up for debate, and what was discussed at the City Club Missoula meeting on Monday, was where all the power will come from, who will pay for the costs of new generation and transmission infrastructure, and whether Montana's existing customers will benefit or be harmed by the choices made over the next few decades.

In short, the energy industry in Montana is at a crossroads and the decisions made now will be extremely consequential for the state.

Rick Edwards, the director of community connections for NorthWestern Energy, took part in the panel to explain the positi

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