Click on the town names for examples of renewable energy projects.

Montana Green Power

Your Guide to Renewable Energy in Montana

GREEN POWER HEADLINES

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WIND POWER NEWS

High Resolution Wind Map Posted
Zeal for Wind Energy High, Hurdles Remain
Big Timber Rancher Hopes to Lasso Wind

NCAT Begins Anemometer Loan Program
Wind Grant System Installation Complete

Wind Workshop Presentations Now On Line
Sage Mountain Releases USB Progress Report  
Map Shows Renewable Energy Sources
Helena Couple Achieve Solar Independence
Pair Uses Renewable Energy to Live Lightly  
Survey Finds People Making Homes More Efficient

OTHER NEWS...

Diesel Never Smelled Like This  
Landowners Need to Know Value of Wind Resource  

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High Resolution Montana Wind Map Posted 
The much anticipated high-resolution map of Montana's wind resources showing tremendous potential is now posted at www.windpowermaps.org. In addition, updated versions of the Washington map images are posted showing all tribal lands, and we are now taking orders for color prints and posters.

According to Heather Rhoads-Weaver of Northwest SEED (Sustainable Energy for Economic Development), web GIS developers are busy working on the interactive zoom-in tools and other navigational features that will be beta tested next week and released publicly at the Harvesting Clean Energy conference Feb. 26 in Pasco, WA. Other upcoming release dates are:

A more detailed project schedule along with updated information on becoming a sponsor can be found at www.nwseed.org/maps.htm

Project Background
Under contract with the NW Cooperative Development Center, TrueWind Solutions and NW Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (SEED) are working produce new wind maps and an interactive website that will allow landowners to "zoom in" and view wind resource details down to a 40-acre grid scale. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and five independent meteorologists are verifying the model's wind speed predictions using data collected at dozens of sties throughout the region. Wind maps for Washington, Montana, Oregon and northern California will be completed over the next month, and the National Center for Appropriate Technology will be assisting with the formal website launch. The wind map for Wyoming plus additional "Stats Pages" with time series graphs and data tables, along with a simple payback calculator, will be available by early March.

NWSEED is working with the Land & Water Fund of the Rockies to develop a larger Renewable Energy Atlas of the West covering wind, solar, biomass and geothermal resources (www.energyatlas.org).

For more information, contact:
Heather Rhoads-Weaver
Northwest SEED
(Sustainable Energy for Economic Development)
2724 S. Elmwood Place
Seattle, WA 98144
206-328-2441 / eFax: 925-889-3911
[email protected]


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Whitehall Newspaper Offers 
Perspective on Wind Project

By Glenn Marx, Whitehall Ledger Publisher
Nearly four decades ago Bob Dylan told us the answer was blowing in the wind. Right now, in Montana, answers might indeed be blowing in the wind ... answers to concerns about environmentally friendly power, affordable power, additional power supply and the possibility of some minor local economic development. More...

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Sage Mountain Center Releases
2001 USBC Progress Report

Sage Mountain Center of Whitehall has submitted its progress report on projects it accomplished in 2001 under Montana Power Company's Universal System Benefits fund.

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Shields Valley Site Studied for Wind Farm
Billings Gazette
LIVINGSTON (AP) - Officials of Montana Wind Harness are looking at the Bonhomme Ranch in the Shields Valley as a possible site for building a wind farm. "It's a pretty decent site," Jim Carkulis, company president, said Friday. "The wind resource in that area was sufficient and the transmission lines through the property were a plus."
More...

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Montana Power Announces Agreement 
with Montana Wind Harness LLC

BUTTE (December 4, 2001) Montana Power has signed a contract with Montana Wind Harness to purchase 150 total megawatts of wind power for default supply customers. The agreement also calls for the construction of a wind turbine assembly plant and operations and maintenance facility that will initially create as many as 65 new jobs in Montana. 

News Release (7KB PDF)

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Zeal for Wind Energy High, Hurdles Remain
October 4, 2001
By Tom Lutey
Bozeman Chronicle
BIG SKY – The "gold rush" is on among Western states scrambling to develop wind energy, and although Montana is rich in bluster, it lacks the power lines to cash in, according to energy experts.
More...

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Walking the walk: 
Sage Mountain Uses Renewable Energy
to Live Lightly, Helps Others Do Same

By Roberta Forsell Stauffer
The Montana Standard
Their dream car is an SUV that could run on either gas or electricity. The sport utility vehicle would start in 40-below zero weather and be equipped with four-wheel drive to navigate the rough roads along the Continental Divide. One deep charge of batteries would be power enough for the 40-plus-mile round trip to Butte. 

For Chris Borton and Linda Welsh of Sage Mountain Center, that dream car represents a major "missing link'' in their quest to live with little impact on the planet and help others do the same.
 More...

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Big Timber Rancher Hopes to Lasso 
Area's High Winds for Power

BIG TIMBER – North of Big Timber, where the only thing more persistent than the strong winds are the high power bills, rancher Tom Agnew is harnessing the former to tame the latter. 
More...

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DEQ Sustainability Fair Survey Finds
People Making Homes More Efficient

HELENA – A survey by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality at the 2001 Sustainability Fair in Livingston, August 25, found the majority of the people interviewed believe their energy bills will be increasing. An estimated 2,500 people attended the fair.
More...

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NCAT Begins Anemometer Loan Program
The National Center for Appropriate Technology, in cooperation with the Denver office of the Department of Energy and Montana Department of Environmental Quality, is providing anemometer systems to rural landowners in Montana. Landowners will be responsible for a small fee and damage deposit. 

The systems consist of a 20-meter tower, anemometer, and wind vane. NCAT personnel will install the systems, and the equipment will stay in place for one year. Data collected will be made available to the public through NCAT's website. Contact John Walden at 1 (406) 494-8641 or [email protected].

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Montana AgSolar Project Report
Now Available Online

With its strong agricultural sector set in one of the least-populated areas in the country, Montana intuitively represents an ideal candidate to embrace solar-electric technology. Indeed, more and more farm and ranch producers are turning to solar electric for a variety of uses, including water pumping, fencing, and powering remote outbuildings, among others. Current users recognize that today’s solar-electric technology has advanced significantly over the last 10 to 15 years and is now cost-effective in many more applications, especially as an alternative to power-line extensions.

Solar users also value the technology’s improved performance and reliability, as well as its portability. These results are encouraging, but in fact only a small proportion of the agricultural producers operating in Montana today have experienced the benefits of solar-electric technology. Believing in the technology’s potential, Montana Power Company agreed to use a portion of its Universal System Benefits Charge monies to support the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s Montana AgSolar Project. Download the 86-page (807KB) report on the project.

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Consumer's Guide Answers Questions
about Small Wind Electric Systems

Can you use wind energy to power your home? Spir

  • Is there enough wind where you live?
  • Do they allow tall towers in your neighborhood or rural area?
  • Do you have enough space?
  • How much electricity do you need or want to produce?
  • Do you want to connect to the utility grid or be grid independent?
  • Can you afford a wind energy system?
  • What does it take to install and maintain a system?

These are just a few of the questions you need to answer before you can determine if a wind energy system will work for you. Download Small Wind Electric Systems – A U. S. Consumer’s Guide (774KB). The guide provides basic information you need to answer those questions and to address the many factors you need to consider to successfully install a small wind energy system and get maximum production.

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Consumer Energy Information
Just what do we mean by "energy efficiency" and "renewable energy"? Energy-efficient products take less energy to operate and save energy — and money — by reducing heating, cooling and lighting requirements in buildings. Renewable energy comes from resources that are easily replenished such as the sun, wind, and water. Get energy information for your home, business or workplace, school or transportation.

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DEQ Sustainability Fair Survey Finds
People Making Homes More Efficient

HELENA – A survey by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) at the second Annual 2001 Sustainability Fair in Livingston, MT, August 25, found the majority of the people interviewed believe their energy bills will be increasing. An estimated 2500 people attended the fair.

The Sustainability Fair is a project of the Corporation for the Northern Rockies, a non profit organization based in Livingston, promoting sustainable land management, fostering sustainable economies, and preserving local traditions. The survey also found about two-thirds of people had done something at their home to save energy. Installing compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs was the most popular action taken, with 33% of the persons installing an average of four bulbs per home. The CFL bulbs have been improved in the last few years, now fitting almost all fixtures. They are about four times more energy efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, and last about 10 times longer. An average Montana home that replaces a 60 watt incandescent light with a 15 watt CFL will save about $4.50 a year on a light that is on for 4 hours a day.

Insulating attics, wrapping water heaters, adjusting water heater to 120 degrees, making the home more air tight and replacing windows were the other popular actions taken in the homes. Paul Tschida of the DEQ said these measures were good considering that a recent Department of Energy study found only 20% of homes built before 1980 were well insulated. He was surprised more people had not done things that would significantly reduce their energy cost such as insulating crawlspaces, basement walls, exterior walls, sealing and insulating heating duct work and installing new furnaces, boilers and set back thermostats.

Other responses from the survey included:

  • 10% of the people responded they had used the $150 Montana tax credit for investments in energy conservation installations.
  • 33% expected to perform some energy conservation work within the next two years and almost all expected to use the new $500 Montana energy conservation tax credit available January 1, 2002.
  • 50% responded they recently purchased or will be purchasing a new appliance, a refrigerator being most commonly mentioned.
  • 58% will use the Energy Guide label, a yellow and black label on all major appliances showing the average annual energy consumption for that model compared to others in that class.
  • 75 % said they would pay extra for energy saving features that would pay for themselves within 5 years.
  • 55% would pay extra for energy saving features that would pay for themselves within 10 years.
  • 82% stated they were recycling at home, with newspaper, aluminum cans and glass being the most common items recycled.

As an incentive to participate in the survey, DEQ and U.S. Department of Energy staff offered Fair attendees their choice of a radon test kit, wood stove thermometer or coffee mug. Twenty-nine persons responded to the survey.

For more information: Paul Tschida (406/ 444-6864)

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Renewable Energy Makes Economic Sense, 
Says Sage Mountain Founder 

Chris Borton and partner Linda Welsh have owned and operated Sage Mountain Center, located in the Toll Mountain area west of Whitehall, since 1991. Sage Mountain Center offers training in personal inner growth, physical health and sustainable living. The sustainable living portion of the Sage Mountain experience offers a wide variety of advice and courses on a range of topics, including solar home design, alternative building materials, solar electricity and more. Borton, a Georgia native, is the fourth generation of his family to work in construction. Read Borton's views on energy conservation and renewable energy in a two-part interview with the Whitehall Ledger weekly newspaper.

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Montana Law Requires Green Pricing
Montana Governor Judy Martz has signed into law an omnibus energy bill (HB 474), which includes a requirement that regulated electric utilities offer their customers an opportunity to purchase "a separately marketed product composed of power from renewable resources," defined as biomass, wind, solar, or geothermal resources. The product may be priced differently from the standard electricity product. The law also extends the state's universal system benefits program funding through 2005. 

From Green Power Network

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Preaching the Green-Power Gospel 
Evangelists for renewable energy sources 
coming out of the wilderness

MSNBC

SEATTLE, July 24 — Mike Nelson broke free of the power grid 22 years ago, and he didn’t have to become a Luddite survivalist to do it. His solar/wind/gas-powered houseboat boasts all the consumer conveniences, including a microwave oven, a VCR and even a Web server. What sets him apart from his neighbors is that he’s operating on homemade electricity. Nelson’s not kidding himself about the difficulties most Americans face in following his lead. But like other green-power prophets, he believes that time and economics are on his side. More...

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Solar Electric Program Lets 
Homeowners Generate Green Power
 

Homeowners connected to Montana Power Company’s electric distribution service may be eligible to participate in an exciting solar electric demonstration projects that will save money and protect the environment by generating "clean" energy from a free resource—the sun.

The National Center for Appropriate Technology, through Montana Power Company’s universal system benefits fund, will provide $4,500 incentive payments to selected homeowners who install a solar electric system. The systems must be at least 1 kilowatt in capacity. The owner will choose a solar dealer who will supply and install the system. NCAT will approve the system design and inspect the installation.

The grid-connected solar electric (often called photovoltaic, or PV, systems) will be installed on as many as 15 homes this year. Twenty-four homeowners installed solar electric systems through a similar incentive program in 2000.

The solar electric systems will be utility-intertied, which means the electricity they produce can be fed into the utility grid, in effect running the meter backward.

Solar electric systems are easy on the environment. They help reduce the use of fossil fuels and resulting greenhouse gas emissions.

A 1-kW solar electric system, for example, will eliminate the emission of more than 1,750 pounds of carbon dioxide and nearly a half-pound of nitrogen oxides annually. And solar electric systems save money by generating their own "clean" electricity from a renewable energy resource.

A solar electric system produces direct current electricity, which is converted by an inverter into alternating current (AC) electricity at the utility's voltage and frequency. The AC electricity is fed into the building’s main electric breaker panel.

AC electricity produced by the solar electric system is consumed in the building and any excess electricity produced by the system goes back into the utility grid. MPC will install electric meters that turn backward whenever excess power generated by the solar electric system is fed into the utility grid. The homeowner must sign a net metering agreement with MPC for this project.

Qualifying homeowner applicants must meet basic requirements such as having an acceptable solar installation site. A qualified dealer must install the system. NCAT will inspect each system before the homeowner will be reimbursed. Participants will be randomly selected from the pool of qualifying applications.

Funds for the project come from the universal system benefits charge, or USBC paid by all Montana Power Co. customers.

Complete applications must be submitted to NCAT by May 31, 2001. To request a homeowner application packet, contact John Walden at (406) 494-8641 ([email protected]) or Ray Schott at (406) 494-8668 ([email protected]).

Download an application packet in PDF format.

Download free Acrobat Reader software to view PDF files. 

NCAT, a national non-profit organization headquartered in Butte, promotes sustainable technologies and community-based approaches that protect natural resources and assist people in becoming more self-reliant.

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Solar Electric Program Enables Schools to Generate Electricity
Schools connected to Montana Power Company’s electric distribution service may be eligible to participate in an exciting solar electric demonstration project that will save money and protect the environment by generating "clean" energy from the sun. The National Center for Appropriate Technology will install grid-connected solar electric (often called photovoltaic, or PV, systems) at no cost on five schools in MPC’s electric distribution area. Each system will be two kilowatts in size and have a value of about $18,000. The solar electric systems will be utility-intertied, which means the electricity they produce can be fed into the utility grid, in effect running the meter backward.

A solar energy curriculum developed for participating schools is available online at www.montanagreenpower.com. A copy of the curriculum will be provided to each participating school and to other schools that request it. Each school PV system will generate about 3,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. All middle and high schools that are MPC electric distribution customers are eligible to apply.

Solar electric systems are easy on the environment. They help reduce the use of fossil fuels and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. A 2-kW solar electric system, for example, will eliminate the emission of more than 3,500 pounds of carbon dioxide and nearly a half-pound of nitrogen oxides annually. And solar electric systems save money by generating their own non-polluting electricity from a renewable energy resource. A solar electric system produces direct current electricity, which is converted by an inverter into alternating current (AC) electricity at the utility's voltage and frequency. The AC electricity is fed into the building’s main electric breaker panel.

AC electricity produced by the solar electric system is consumed in the building and any excess electricity produced by the system goes back into the utility grid. MPC will install electric meters that turn backward whenever excess power generated by the solar electric system is fed into the utility grid. Participating schools must sign a net metering agreement with MPC for this project. Funds for the project come from the Universal System Benefits Charge, or USBC, paid by Montana Power Co. customers.

Complete applications must be submitted to NCAT by May 31, 2001. To request an application packet, contact Cathlene Svejkovsky at (406) 494-8667; [email protected]. NCAT, a national non-profit organization headquartered in Butte, promotes sustainable technologies and community-based approaches that protect natural resources and assist people in becoming more self-reliant.

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Wind Program Encourages Small-Scale Power Generation
Montana Power Company electric customers may be eligible to participate in a wind energy demonstration project that will save money and protect the environment by generating "clean" energy. The National Center for Appropriate Technology, headquartered in Butte, will administer the program funded by the Montana Power Company universal systems benefits charge. The systems must be installed in the Montana Power Company electric service area. Only wind machines 10 kilowatts and smaller will be eligible. The goal of the project is to install 80 kilowatts of wind electrical generation.

An incentive of $1.25 per watt of the manufacturer’s capacity rating will be paid to the owner. If an owner installs a 10-kilowatt system, for example, the incentive will be $12,500, which will cover about a third of the total installed cost of the system. All of the wind systems must be utility-intertied, which means the electricity they produce can be fed into the utility grid – in effect running the meter backward. The owner may also choose to install batteries and controllers to provide an uninterrupted power supply.

Wind generating systems are easy on the environment. They help reduce the use of fossil fuels and resulting greenhouse gas emissions. And wind systems save money by generating their own "clean" electricity from a renewable energy resource. A wind electric system produces direct current electricity, which is converted by an inverter into alternating current (AC) electricity at the utility's voltage and frequency. The AC electricity is fed into a main electric breaker panel.

AC electricity produced by the system is consumed by a building or other electrical load, and any excess electricity generated by the system flows back into the utility grid. MPC will install electric meters that turn backward whenever excess power generated by the wind system is fed into the utility grid. The homeowner must sign a net metering agreement with the utility. Additionally, the program will monitor wind energy potential at a potential site to qualify a particular project.

To be eligible, a homeowner must install a system that meets NCAT’s minimum specifications, allow NCAT to inspect the installed system, and sign a net meter agreement with MPC. Funds for the project come from the Universal System Benefits Charge, or USBC – paid by all Montana Power Co. customers.

Complete applications must be submitted to NCAT by May 31, 2001. To request an application packet, contact John Walden at (406) 494-8641; [email protected]. Or click here to download an application packet in PDF format.

Download free Acrobat Reader software to view PDF files. 

NCAT, a national non-profit organization headquartered in Butte, promotes sustainable technologies and community-based approaches that protect natural resources and assist people in becoming more self-reliant.

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Energy Efficiency Today Far Cry 
from Conservation Images of Past, 
Says Alliance to Save Energy

It's not your mother's energy conservation

Washington DC, April 19 – Does energy conservation bring to mind graphic memories of the OPEC oil embargo, energy shortages, gas lines in the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter sitting in a cardigan asking Americans to turn down their thermostats, and other images of sacrifice, deprivation, and discomfort? Welcome instead to today's world of energy efficiency mixed with basic energy consciousness.

Energy efficiency, notes the Alliance to Save Energy, is a far cry from the energy conservation images and practices of old – of doing with less or doing without, of being uncomfortable or less comfortable. Not unlike the tremendous technological strides on the computer, electronics, and other fronts, energy efficiency takes advantage of advances in technology to provide significantly better, smarter services with less energy.

As energy prices skyrocket and electricity reliability issues take center stage, the Alliance urges consumers and businesses to take charge of their energy costs and energy futures by employing energy-efficiency technologies and products so that the nation gets the most productivity from every unit of energy.

"We're not saying forget the conservation voice of your mother/grandmother – 'What do you think we own shares in the power company!?'" – says the Alliance. "It's smart, basic energy consciousness (conservation) to use natural resources wisely and to turn off anything that you're not using that uses energy – lights, TV/VCR, heating, air conditioning, appliances, computer. And, it's even smarter to use compact fluorescent lights, programmable thermostats, and ENERGY STAR labeled (symbol for energy efficiency) TVs, VCRs, appliances, air conditioners, and computers to help you reduce energy use and energy bills." 

Full Story...

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Sun4Schools Project Installs PV Systems in 11 Montana Towns
The Sun4Schools project, funded by the Universal System Benefits Charge, resulted in the installation of 2-kW photovoltaic (PV) systems at 12 schools within the Montana Power Company service territory. The main objective of the project was to demonstrate the benefits of solar energy while providing a unique educational opportunity for students and their communities. (Click here for a photo album of the schools.) More...

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Montana Homeowners Produce Green Energy from the Sun
Two dozen homeowners tied to Montana Power Company's electric grid are generating their own electricity from the sun and returning to the utility any extra power they don't consume. (Click here for a photo album of the PV homes.) The homeowners have each received a 1-kilowatt (1000 watt) solar electric system that converts solar energy into electricity they can use to power their televisions, refrigerators and light bulbs. The National Center for Appropriate Technology in Butte sold the $10,000 solar electric, also known as photovoltaic, systems to the homeowners for only $3,000, or less than a third of the retail cost. Funds for the "buy down" project come from the Universal System Benefits Charge paid by all Montana Power Co. customers. Only homes served by MPC’s electric distribution system were eligible.

Independent Power Systems of Bozeman installed the systems in 10 Montana cities between August and November. Six systems were installed in Bozeman, four in Anaconda, three each in Billings and Helena, two each in Butte and Livingston, and one each in Clancy, Dillon, Great Falls, and Townsend. More...

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Montana Green Power

National Center for Appropriate Technology
(406) 494-4572
Toll free 1-800-275-6228 (ASK-NCAT)
Fax (406) 494-2905

E-mail: [email protected]

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