The results of a three-year effort were finally revealed last Thursday night when Lauren Casey presented a 113-page report about preparing the Flathead Valley for an economy based around new energy opportunities.
The report was produced under the direction of a steering committee made up of local business, energy and educational leaders, including Flathead Electric Cooperative, F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co., Citizens for a Better Flathead and Flathead Valley Community College. The final version of the report was released at an event held in the Arts and Technology Building at FVCC.
“The project is important because it’s driven by the community and I think people are calling for new energy opportunities because of the current economy,” Casey, a 2006 graduate of Stanford University and native of Somers who joined the project through the Montana Energy Corps, said.
The report was compiled through interviews and community focus groups and summarizes projects that have taken place in the last few years and ways renewable energy projects could stimulate the local economy and curb unemployment numbers. Casey said she hopes the report can serve as a guide for the future.
“I hope it’s an informational tool that helps people connect with resources to harvest energy opportunities,” she said.
Following Casey’s presentation, local officials were invited to speak about recent renewable energy projects across the valley, including the restoration of a hydroelectric facility owned by the city of Whitefish. City Manager Chuck Stearns said it was one of many ways people could focus on energy alternatives and the report would only aid in that effort.
“Part of what tonight shows is that there are all sorts of important projects in the valley, from a solar panel on a house to industrial projects like what we’re doing,” he said.
A digital version of the report is now available online at www.repoweringtheflathead.org.