From January 6 to 7, Alberta’s Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Nathan Neudorf, will travel to Helena, Montana, to take part in the Montana Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Days at the Capitol. The visit comes at a time when electricity systems across North America are facing rising demand, aging infrastructure, and growing pressure to remain both affordable and reliable.
While in Helena, Minister Neudorf is scheduled to deliver a keynote address and meet with elected officials, business leaders, and policy experts. The focus of those discussions will be on strengthening cooperation between neighbouring jurisdictions, particularly when it comes to power grid reliability and shared energy infrastructure.
Alberta’s electricity system does not exist in isolation. Interties with neighbouring regions play a critical role in managing supply during peak demand, responding to unexpected outages, and keeping costs stable for consumers. Montana, which shares both geographic proximity and long-standing economic ties with Alberta, is seen as a key partner in addressing cross-border power challenges.
Discussions at the Capitol are expected to explore a range of issues, including how to improve existing interties, modernize shared infrastructure, and collaborate on innovative approaches to grid resilience. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and electricity demand continuing to grow, coordination between jurisdictions is increasingly viewed as a necessity rather than a choice.
The trip is also an opportunity for Alberta to promote itself as a destination for investment and innovation in the energy sector. The province’s competitive electricity market has long been a draw for private capital, and provincial officials are now highlighting emerging industries that could shape the next phase of energy development. These include large-scale data centres, which require stable and significant power supplies, and nuclear energy, which is gaining renewed attention as a low-emissions, baseload option.
By engaging directly with business and policy leaders in Montana, Alberta hopes to position itself as a reliable partner for cross-border energy projects while reinforcing its reputation as a jurisdiction open to new ideas and technologies.
Minister Neudorf emphasized that meeting future electricity needs will require collaboration that extends beyond provincial boundaries. “Meeting rising electricity demands means looking beyond our borders,” he said. “Powering up our electrical ties with Montana is about building a strong foundation for shared energy security, while ensuring that the electricity Albertans depend on remains reliable and affordable for generations.”
For Alberta, affordability remains a central concern. Electricity costs directly affect households, small businesses, and major industries alike. Strengthening regional cooperation can help reduce volatility by providing access to additional supply during high-demand periods and improving overall system flexibility.
The visit to Helena signals a broader approach to energy planning, one that recognizes the interconnected nature of modern power grids. As Alberta continues to balance affordability, reliability, and sustainability, partnerships with neighbouring jurisdictions like Montana are expected to play an increasingly important role.
By engaging in dialogue now, provincial officials aim to lay the groundwork for long-term energy security—ensuring that as demand grows and technologies evolve, Albertans continue to have access to dependable and reasonably priced electricity well into the future.
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