Our offset projects
are energy projects such as distributed wind generation from relatively small
wind farms near rural communities that could supplement power requirements for
schools and governmental facilities. An advantage for supporting
alternative energy projects for schools and local governments is that of making
entire communities aware of the cumulative effects of power generation on global
climate change.
Existing programs such as Fuels
for Schools and Solar for Schools are examples of projects that we are
interested in funding in Montana. The Fuels for Schools program is a partnership between the U.S. Forest Service's State and Private
Forestry Division, the State Foresters of Montana, North Dakota, Idaho, Nevada,
and Utah, and the Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development Area (RC&D),
that encourages the use of forest biomass waste for heating public buildings.
Current Montana Fuels for Schools projects include the new Glacier High School in Kalispell, Thompson
Falls Elementary and Jr. High School, Darby's whole district, Philipsburg and
Victor schools. The Solar for Schools demonstration program is a partnership
between NCAT and NorthWestern Energy for 27 middle schools and high schools in
the NorthWestern Energy service area. This project is both a power
supply and an educational tool.
Agriculture and forestry projects that help neutral carbon sequestration are
also examples of Green House Gas reduction projects that we will consider for
funding.
