Montana Green Power News

Carter County Students Win National Energy Competition

Cathy — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has announced that a team of Montana students was chosen as the national winner of the America’s Home Energy Education Challenge, a national student competition designed to encourage students and their families to take action to start saving money by saving energy. The winning students are from five schools in rural Carter County, Montana – Alzeda Elementary School, Carter County High School, Ekalaka Elementary School (K-8th grade), Hammond School (K-8th grade) and Hawks Home School. They successfully reduced their home energy use by 3.4 percent, worked with local utility companies and the community, and kept students engaged throughout the process. The five schools will share the $15,000 they won as both a regional winner and as the national champion. Read the full story at www.doe.gov/articles/energy-secretary-chu-announces-montana-schools-win-national-student-efficiency-competition.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Mineral County Hospital Home to New Biomass Heating System

Cathy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:30:00 +0000

The Mineral Community Hospital in Superior has installed a new biomass energy system that will rely on pellets to provide heating to its primary facility. The biomass system replaces an aging fuel-oil system and is expected to reduce heating and cooling costs by nearly $50,000 each year. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held April 25 to unveil the new system. Montana Lt. Governor John Bohlinger is scheduled to speak at the event. Read the full story at http://www.mineralcommunityhospital.com/mineral-community-hospital-announces-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-for-new-biomass-system-lt-governor-plans-to-attend.html

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Butte COT Instructor Granted Biodiesel Patent

Cathy — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:27:00 +0000

John Jackam, an instructor at the Montana Tech College of Technology, has recently secured a patent on a new process for producing biodiesel. According to a press release from Montana Tech, the US Patent and Trademark Office granted patent number 8,088,183 to Mr. Jackam and his co-inventors Joel Pierce and Jeffrey Jones. The patent is titled “Production of biodiesel and glycerin from high free fatty acid feedstocks.”

“We focused on the idea of producing diesel fuel from fatty byproducts left over subsequent to the slaughter of feedstock cattle,” said Mr. Jackam. “We used some sophisticated chemical processes and proved that these byproducts could be harvested and recycled to produce diesel fuel – or as we call it ‘biodiesel.’” Read the press release at http://go.mtech.edu/page.aspx?pid=258

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Biofuels Plant Secures Air Quality Permit

Cathy — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:51:00 +0000

Montana Advanced Biofuels has received an air quality permit from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which marks a milestone in the company’s efforts to build a plant just outside of Great Falls. According to a report by KRTV News, the proposed wheat and barley biofuels plant has been in the planning phase for almost 20 years. The project is expected to create up to 700 construction jobs and will employ about 100 people when complete. Read the full story at
www.krtv.com/news/montana-advanced-biofuels-gets-green-light-for-great-falls-facility/

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Baucus Urges Consideration of Wind Energy Tax Credit Phaseout

Cathy — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:54:00 +0000

Senator Max Baucus is advising the wind energy industry to think “very seriously” about backing a proposal to phase out a tax credit for building more energy-generating turbines, according to a report in Bloomberg Business News. Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in an interview that phasing out the credit might be the most realistic way to keep it from expiring altogether at the end of the year. The credit is scheduled to sunset the end of 2012. Read the full article at www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-20/wind-industry-should-consider-tax-credit-phase-out-baucus-says.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Locally Produced Biofuel Hits the Market in Havre

Cathy — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Ezzie’s Wholesale in Havre recently held a special celebration as it began selling biodiesel made with locally grown camelina. According to a report in the Havre Daily News, the B5 blend is a petroleum diesel mixed with 5-percent biodiesel, produced with camelina from Earl Fischer Biofuels in Chester. In conjunction with the launch, more than 60 local diesel technicians received special biodiesel training. Read the full story at http://www.havredailynews.com/news/story-435165.html.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

Helena Group Announces Weatherization Loan Program

Cathy — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Helena-based Career Training Institute has established a new loan program to help moderate-income Montanans pay for home weatherization measures. According to a report in the Independent Record, the Home Energy Fitness Program was launched with $80,000 in seed money from the Montana Attorney’s Office. The funds will be used to leverage low-interest loans to help qualified Montana homeowners undertake costly weatherization efforts, such as replacing windows or increasing insulation levels. To learn more about the project and its requirements, read the full story at http://helenair.com/news/local/cti-launches-loan-program/article_96886d02-61d7-11e1-a216-0019bb2963f4.html

Original post blogged on b2evolution.

First U.S. Solar-Powered Cheese Factory Underway in Polson

Cathy — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:42:00 +0000

Joe and Wendi Arnold will soon begin production of artisanal cheese at their new factory in Polson. The factory is powered by solar energy–the first U.S. cheese factory to do so, according to a report in the Missoulian. While there is a backup propane boiler, the goal is for solar to provide as much of the plant’s energy needs as possible. And, to further increase sustainability, most items in the plant are reused or recycled products.
Read the full story at http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/polson-couple-starting-solar-powered-artisanal-cheese-factory/article_4b10789a-5c48-11e1-b129-0019bb2963f4.html.

Original post blogged on b2evolution.