On Monday, May 20th the Montana Land Board will consider allowing the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to conduct an environmental impact analysis of a possible solar project north of Dillon, MT.
The Land Board and DNRC need to hear from you! Use the tool at the right to send a message. The full message is below.
Called the “Apex Solar” project, it would be located on state trust land and therefore – in addition to generating new tax revenue, new jobs, and more clean energy – would also generate new revenue for Montana’s school trust system.
In fact, it is estimated to generate almost 200 times more revenue for state trust beneficiaries than the current two grazing leases using the land.
To be clear, the Land Board is not giving final approval to the project on May 20th. It is deciding whether to allow DNRC to move forward with an environmental impact analysis. A “final” decision would only be made at the end of that public process, which MEIC would participate in.
Use the tool at the right to tell the Land Board to move this solar project forward!
To learn more about this solar project check out this DNRC website, which includes a map with the proposed location:
http://dnrc.mt.gov/divisions/trust/real-estate/commercial-leasing/proposed-solar-development-lease
Message Sent to Land Board Members
Dear Land Board Members,
I am writing to ask that you please allow DNRC to move forward with conducting an environmental impact analysis of the Apex Solar project near Dillon.
This solar project potentially would create new jobs, new tax revenue, and new clean energy for Montana. The estimated revenue from the solar project is almost 200 times more than the current two grazing leases using the land.
Solar projects create no air pollution, water pollution, or noise pollution. Additionally, because SB 93 from the 2019 legislative session has become law, solar projects like this are required to bond to make sure funding is available to decommission the facility at its end of life. However, it is of course prudent to conduct an environmental impact analysis to make sure relevant information is known about the project when it comes time to make a final approval/denial decision.
Please make the prudent decision to allow DNRC to move forward with an environmental impact analysis of this solar project.
Thank you.
