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Butte, Mont. – Jan. 10, 2023 – NorthWestern Energy’s Efficiency Plus (E+) team members are recipients of the 2022 Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).

NEEA recognizes standout teams and individuals in energy efficiency for outstanding collaboration, innovative solutions and career-long contributions to advancing energy efficiency in the northwest.

NorthWestern Energy’s E+ manager Danie Williams, engineers Whitney Jurenic and Tucker Kramer, specialist Shawn Fredrickson and recent retiree Deb Young, along with Natalie Meyer, City of Bozeman; BJ Moghadam, Emily Rosenbloom, Anu Teja and Amy Webb, NEEA; Jeff Mitchell, Resource Innovations (formerly NEEA staff); Christine Walker, Navigate, LLC; were honored for their work on a new, affordable, sustainable housing development in Bozeman. NEEA’s Leadership in Energy Efficiency Award for Innovative Collaboration recognizes the Bridger View Market Research Project team.

Bridger View is a new housing development in Bozeman that boasts innovative designs with highly efficient homes, shared greenspaces and pathways that will improve walkability to downtown. Half of Bridger View homes are priced below market rate, possible because of private philanthropy and public investment.

Bridger View homes include technologies such as cold climate heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, heat pump dryers, triple pane windows, and other advanced building practices. Its cold-climate location and diverse owner pool provide a unique opportunity for research.

Through collaborative partnerships with NEEA, NorthWestern Energy, the City of Bozeman, and Navigate LLC, a research design was developed to maximize learnings from this unique opportunity - truly an innovative collaboration.

“We welcomed the opportunity to use our extensive experience and expertise with energy efficiency for the Bridger View housing development project in Bozeman,” said NorthWestern Energy Manager of Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management Services Danie Williams. “We will gain valuable data that will assist us in providing our customers additional innovative, energy efficiency options to meet their budget and sustainability demands.”

Deb Young, who recently retired from NorthWestern Energy, received the 2022 Chairperson’s Award.

“Over the last two plus decades, Deb has been an advocate for the alliance ensuring that rural markets and Montana realize the value of Market Transformation initiatives,” said Susan E. Stratton NEEA’s recently retired Executive Director. “Energy efficiency in Montana and the Northwest would not be where it is today without Deb Young’s commitment and expertise.”

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of more than 13 million energy consumers. NEEA is dedicated to accelerating both electric and gas energy efficiency, leveraging its regional partnerships to advance the adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices.

 NorthWestern Energy has performed energy audits and offered services to assist customers with the wise and efficient use of energy for more than 40 years through our Efficiency Plus (E+) programs. Over the last 15 years, energy savings have totaled almost 877,078 MWh. That is enough to power more than 97,400 homes for a year.

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About NorthWestern Energy (Nasdaq: NWE)

NorthWestern Corporation, doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services that enrich lives and empower communities while serving as long-term partners to our customers and communities. We are working to deliver safe, reliable, and innovative energy solutions that create value for customers, communities, employees, and investors. This includes bridging our history as a regulated utility safely providing low-cost and reliable service with our future as a globally-aware company offering a broader array of services performed by highly-adaptable and skilled employees. We provide electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 753,600 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Yellowstone National Park. We have provided service in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and in Montana since 2002. More information is available on the company's Web site at www.northwesternenergy.com.

Media Contacts:

Jo Dee Black

866-622-8081

jodee.black@northwestern.com