Bucket #2: RENEWABLE ENERGY
Snapshot: Renewable energy reduces the amount of GHG emissions associated with fossil-fuel sources.
Most often, developing renewable energy is thought of as a mitigation strategy to climate change, while
this is true, it is also an adaptation strategy. Already the site of the largest solar photovoltaic array in the
state of Montana, opportunities abound within the Missoula community for additional renewable energy
implementations. Large-scale projects and accompanying state policy changes are necessary. When
combined with energy conservation and efficiency measures, renewable energy projects can significantly
reduce – and ultimately eliminate - the portion of Missoula’s energy generation tied to coal.
Summit #2 Facilitators: Molly White
(Greenhouse Gas Management Institute),
Bryan von Lossberg (Missoula City Council).
Group Members Bryce Bennett
(MontPIRG), Bradley Layton (University of
Montana), Diana Maneta (Montana
Renewable Energy Association), Donovan
Power (Power Consulting), Doug Coffin
(Montana State Legislator), Steve Running
(University of Montana), Tom Beers
(Attorney/Community Member), Brian
Kerns (University of Montana).
Top strategies identified:





Develop large renewable energy project to showcase (solar, biomass, wind…)
Enact policies that promote distribution of energy within neighborhoods (roof-top solar, net
metering, etc.)
Encourage pro-Renewable energy Public Service Commission and Northwestern Energy Policy
Pilot a next generation technology (solar thermal, algae carbon sequestration, etc.)
Energy transmission optimization
Next steps: (Note: Despite the higher rankings given to specific renewable energy projects, the group
determined transmission optimization and political and corporate energy realignment were necessary
precursor first-steps.). Immediate next steps to align in that direction:





Legislative change
 Identify specific net-metering project to showcase during next legislative session
 Target moderates
 Educate and/or tell energy stories to legislature
 Increase cap on net metering
 Neighborhood net metering
 Rollover and aggregate metering
Experiment with 20-megawatt projects at UM (solar, wind, co-generation, etc.)
Improve marketing of renewable energy technology
Solar-leasing bank or co-op comes on during peak hours
Legalize crowd-funding (i.e. Mosaic) in Montana to aid fundraising efforts
Climate Action Strategies discussed:


Develop and implement Community Renewable Energy Loan Fund program.
Expand technologies for micro-hydropower.










Streamline permitting processes for renewable energy production. Provide incentives and remove
barriers. Work with existing alternative energy groups to achieve goals.
Develop a financing mechanism such as a renewable energy tax credit.
Invest in wind projects as a carbon offset.
Hydrogen production and storage
Develop Smart Grid prototype – ‘feed-in’ feed-out’ capacity, i.e. co-op partnership, including
transmission
Solar roadways
Micro-nuclear
Waste water or landfill methane co-gen system
Geothermal home heating and cooling, ground source heat pump
Legislative (State) Renewable Portfolio Standard, 15-30% (minus hydro)
Challenges:
State policy changes are needed to permit for large-scale (>50KW) generation projects and aggregated (i.e.
neighborhood, community) net-metering installations.
Additional financing tools are needed to lower upfront capital investment requirements and enable
broader implementation of renewable energy projects by businesses and homeowners.
The community needs to attract significant capital investment from the private sector for large-scale
renewable energy projects.
Biomass power generation is challenging within the Missoula community due to air quality requirements
and concerns.
Without a Smart Grid implementation throughout the Missoula community, clear and readily available data
regarding Missoula’s energy use and generation profile is extremely difficult to monitor and use
strategically.
Hopes:
We strive to generate enough energy through renewable sources to supply the entire Missoula
community’s electrical energy needs.
Contact Persons: Molly White at mollykwhite@gmail.com or Bryan von Lossberg at
bryan_von_lossberg@yahoo.com