Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M 109 MONTANA RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 673; Missoula, MT 59806 www.montanarenewables.org 406-214-9405 ABOUT: Nonprofit advocacy group founded in 2000 to expand the use of renewable energy — including, solar power, wind power, geothermal energy, and micro-scale hydropower—through demonstration, education, and policy work DIANA MANETA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: "e excitement we're seeing today is about solar energy. e price of solar panels has plummeted, cutting the installed cost of rooftop solar in Montana by half since 2008. For an average 4KW home so- lar array, current tax credits cut the installed cost of about $12,000 by more than third, with a typical 10-year to 15-year payback in energy savings. For a product with a life of 25 years or more, that's not bad. "Making solar even more accessible are net metering and community solar. Net metering allows consumers who generate their own electricity to feed excess back into the grid for credit, eliminating a need for backup battery power when solar generation falls short. In use by three electric cooperatives in Montana but not yet available to Northwestern Energy customers, community solar allows individuals or businesses to share the benefits of a single solar installation. "By mid-summer, Missoula will have about 50 new solar arrays, mostly rooftop residential, installed under Solarize Missoula, an MREA program we hope to roll out in other cities. According to research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the installations are likely to translate directly into higher home values in the eyes of future buyers. at's great news for people thinking about investing in solar." Small solar arrays like this one on Gary Hawk's Missoula woodwork- ing shop add up to big savings when replicated across a com- munity. Installed by SBS Systems of Hamilton under the Montana Renewable Energy Association's Solarize Missoula program, Hawk's 6.5-KW system went online on March 16, 2006 and contributes excess energy to the grid through net metering. MONTANA RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION CONTINUED Amy Wilson Glacier Sotheby's International Realty Serving Western Montana (406) 370-9101 awilson@glaciersir.com • glaciersir.com Extraordinary Living. • Turnkey Estate • View of Glacier National Park • 200 ft. of Shoreline on Flathead Lake • 2 Custom Homes Included • Gorgeous Landscaping • Private Beach and Dock Offered at $6,399,000. Qualified buyers contact Amy Bain-Wilson 406.370.9101 or awilson@glaciersir.com today.

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