NorthWestern Energy - Sun4Communities

Summary

NorthWestern Energy is recruiting ten Montana communities to participate in its new Sun4Communities project. The Sun4Communities project enables secondary schools and city and county government buildings to qualify for free solar energy systems. Sun4Communities is an expansion of NorthWestern Energy's popular Sun4Schools project, which installed photovoltaic (solar electric) systems on 27 middle and high schools in Montana between 1999 and 2003. Sun4Communities draws on the strengths and popularity of Sun4Schools but adds city- and county-owned buildings, such as local government, courthouses, and libraries to the eligible types of buildings. Middle and high schools are still eligible to participate. The program has been developed and is administered, by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). The project is funded by NorthWestern Energy's Universal Systems Benefits (USB) charge paid by the Company's electric customers. NCAT will install grid-connected photovoltaic systems, at no cost, on the rooftops of participating buildings. Each system will be capable of generating two kilowatts of electricity and will provide a portion of the building's electricity needs. Any excess electricity produced by the system will be fed into the utility grid through a net metering agreement. Completed applications must be submitted to NCAT by April 23, 2004.