As a not-for-profit, member-owned utility, Flathead Electric Cooperative is always looking for affordable ways to improve the reliability and safety of the electric distribution system, while keeping rates as low as possible. Recently, your Co-op has applied for several federal and state grants that will greatly assist with these goals. Grants help your Co-op to maintain and improve the system at little or no to cost to members, and to the benefit of all, whether directly impacted or not. Here’s a look at grants awarded and what they are doing in your community.
A shared grant with Montana West Economic Development and Flathead National Forest, this $10M grant provides funding to mitigate wildfire by funding much-needed vegetation management around power lines, both within the Cooperative’s right of way and for private landowners.
CWDGA $4.2M+ federal grant will provide Cooke City members with upgraded meters, vegetation management, and a battery energy storage system.
CARED
This $2,611,779 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will enhance wildfire protection and resilience in the communities it serves by making critical upgrades to its electric system in the Essex area, including vegetation management around power lines and a utility-scale battery.
WARNCIDER is a $4 million project led by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and funded by the Department of Energy (DOE). Amongst other initiatives like our recent energy survey, grant funding will provide a distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) and home energy optimization or “virtual battery” software.
CIDERThe $495,535 grant will help fund the Co-op’s third community solar project, along with a $50,000 grant from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF).
Community Solar Phase III
Grant funds will go towards project to work in the Essex area, improving the reliability of its radial electric distribution system in a heavily forested area that is frequently challenged by tree-caused power outages which have the potential to ignite a wildfire.
Opportunities are available for interested landowners to be assisted with property assessments and creation of defensible space around structures.
Community Solar III is a little bit late getting started due to grant-related delays. The delays are beyond our control, but we have awarded the bid and the contractor is confident that they will be able to break ground this fall. Weather will determine how far construction will progress this year, but we are looking forward to a summer 2025 launch of Community Solar III.
Update: construction will begin fall 2024 and the project is expected to begin generating electricity in summer 2025.
Early summer start date anticipated, solar panel generation for sale soon.
