Green energy development in Montana slow – Small wind projects get better price in Idaho

Since 2004, Idaho has seen 21 new small wind-power projects and a half-dozen other small independent power projects gain contracts to sell their output to local utilities, boosting rural development in the state.

In Montana, it’s a different picture: During that same time, only a few small, renewable-power projects have been able to obtain contracts with local utilities and get off the ground.

State and federal laws require utilities such as NorthWestern Energy to buy power from qualifying independent small projects that churn out renewable power, like wind, hydro, geothermal or solar. The power becomes part of the electricity that NorthWestern sells to its 320,000 retail customers.

But the state Public Service Commission must enforce those laws and set prices the utilities pay for the power. Developers say that isn’t happening with any consistency in Montana.

By MIKE DENNISON IR State Bureau

Full Story: http://helenair.com/news/local/article_7d7b163a-a59a-11de-9945-001cc4c03286.html

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Small wind projects get better price in Idaho

By MIKE DENNISON Missoulian State Bureau

In Idaho, small wind power projects can sell their electricity to the local utility at prices that are higher and more predictable than in Montana. Those prices are set by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_2c38a600-a5a1-11de-aa21-001cc4c03286.html