Montana Rural Solar Access Project coming to Havre

Press release

Havre is on a tour this week of a presentation on solar energy development, with a presentation set for Thursday 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the District 4 Human Resources Development Council Fireside Room at 2229 Fifth Avenue.

This summer and fall, the Montana Renewable Energy Association will host community meetings across the state as part of their Montana Rural Solar Access Project to engage Montanans in discussions about small-scale solar development. The goal of the project is to identify ways that MREA and their network of partners can support interested Montanans in accessing the independence, cost savings, and resiliency that solar offers. The meetings are a chance for community members to share the opportunities and challenges they run into when considering installing small-scale solar.

“Most of the solar development in the state has happened in Montana’s bigger communities,” said Evora Glenn, Program Coordinator with the Montana Renewable Energy Association. “Rural communities have a lot to gain from solar, but their opportunities and challenges are very different. We want to learn about their experience.”

Some of what Montanans have to gain is financial, with the potential for home and business owners to save significantly over the life of the system and beyond. Glenn notes that many also like the independence that comes with producing their own energy, the security of having a resilient power supply in the case of outages, and the benefit of bringing jobs to the state. Montana is still considered an emerging solar market. According to the Solar Foundation, Montana ranks 49th — or 43rd per capita —in total solar jobs, lagging behind neighboring Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

 “There are so many benefits of small-scale solar that directly improve our day-to-day lives. It’s important that Montanans all across the state have access to those benefits,” Glenn said.

By meeting directly with community members, Glenn hopes to gain the on-the-ground perspective that will help guide solutions to address local challenges and create more opportunities for solar development and economic growth in rural Montana, he said.

The meetings kick off in Fort Benton Wednesday and then continues in Havre, White Sulphur Springs, Red Lodge, Hamilton, Dillon, Forsyth, Glasgow then Columbia Falls and will finish up in Shelby in late September.

The full schedule is:

• Wednesday, July 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Wake Cup Coffee House in Fort Benton.

• Thursday, July 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the District 4 HRDC Fireside Room in Havre.

• July 28, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Meagher County Senior Center in White Sulphur Springs.

• July 29, 5:30-6:30 p.m., at the Roosevelt Center Conference Room 519 in Red Lodge.

• Aug. 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m., in Dillon — location to be announced.

• Aug. 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m., in Hamilton — location to be announced.

• Sept. 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Rosebud County Library in Forsyth.

• Sept. 9, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Cottonwood Inn in Glasgow.

• Sept. 29, 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Columbia Falls — location to be announced.

• Sept. 30, 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Marias Electric Cooperative in Shelby.

For more information about the Montana Rural Solar Access Project and upcoming meetings, people can visit http://www.MontanaRenewables.org/MRSAP .