Solar Power

Fire Station Solar Electric Demonstration Project

With funding from NorthWestern Energy's Universal Systems Benefits (USB) fund, fire stations in Montana are recieving gried-connected solar electric systems at no cost. All systems installed under this project include a battery bank to provide un-interruptible power supply (UPS). The UPS is an important feature of the system because it stores backup power that can be used for critical operations during a power outage-opening overhead doors and power computers, for example.

Each grid-connected system is capable of generating two kilowatts of electricity and will provide a portion of the building's electricity needs, thus saving money for the community. Any excess electricity produced by the system is fed into the utility grid through a net metering agreement.

The project was established in 2003. Nineteen stations received systems during the first three years.

2003 Participants
2004 Participants
2005 Participants

2003 Participants

Augusta VFD 404 Manix Street Augusta, MT 59410	Lost Creek VFD 3000 Lost Creek Road Anaconda, MT 59711
Sourdough RFD 10200 Cottonwood Road Bozeman, MT 59718	Elk Park VFD 570 East Elk Park Road Butte, MT 59701
West Helena Valley VFD 1151 Forestvale Road Helena, MT 59602	Great Falls Fire Rescue 105 9th Street South Great Falls, MT 59401

2004 Participants

Baxendale Fire Department P.O. Box 5841 Helena, MT 59604	Big Timber VFD P.O. Box 1287 Big Timber, MT 59011
Bridger Canyon VFD 6600 Tepee Ridge Road Bozeman, MT 59705	Dillon VFD 635 So. Washington St. Dillon, MT 59725
Station 6 815 Avenue C Billings, MT 59102	Townsend Fire Hall P.O. Box 410002 Radersburg , MT 59641

2005 Participants

Billings Fire Station #3 1928 17 th St. West Billings, MT 59102	Columbus Fire Rescue 944 E. Pike Columbus, MT 59019
Dutton VFD Main & Legion Streets Whitehall, MT 59759	Jefferson Valley RFD 570 East Elk Park Road Butte, MT 59701
Loma Fire Hall 211 3rd Avenue Loma, MT 59460	Madison Valley RFD #1 5035 Hwy 287 North Ennis, MT 59729
Red Lodge RFD 115 South Broadway Red Lodge, MT 59068

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