Issues

Public Lands and Wildlife

The Great American Outdoors Act funded projects in Custer-Gallatin National Forest.

• Custer Gallatin GAOA Cabins Project
• Bridgers And Bangtails Trail Facility Renovations

Elsewhere, the Yellowstone Gateway Protection Act protects jobs, clean water, public access, and wildlife migrations in and out of our nation’s first national park and the river that bears its name, Yellowstone National Park.

The Montana Headwaters Legacy Act, when passed, will protect 384 river miles across 20 of the state’s most iconic waterways. These rivers include the Yellowstone, Madison, Gallatin, and Smith.

Energy Freedom

Phillips Excavation LLC, in Billings received a $17,213 Rural Development Investment to purchase and install a 12.3 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system. This project will result in this small business seeing a $1,498 annual cost savings and will conserve approximately 14,020 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year, which is enough electricity to power one home.

Hi-Ball Trucking, Inc., in Billings received a $48,050 Rural Energy for America Program grant to purchase and install a 24-kilowatt (kW) solar array system. This project will result in this small business seeing a projected annual energy cost savings of more than $4,400 and an annual energy savings of more than 49,000 kilowatt hours.

Brian Barnhart of Belgrade received a $16,250 grant to purchase and install a 19.5-kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system for his business. The project is expected to save this rural small business more than $2,900 per year and reduce energy use by 25,226 kilowatt hours (kWh).

Sharbert Enterprises Inc. in Belgrade received a $68,606 grant to purchase and install a 42.93 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the Montana Gift Corral office building. The project is expected to save this small business more than $7,300 per year and lower its energy use by more than 53,000 kilowatt hours (kWh).

Cows for Cabins, LLC, a short-term rental company in Belgrade received a $20,555 Rural Energy for America Program grant to purchase and install a 24-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system. This project will result in this small business seeing a projected annual energy cost savings of more than $3,600 and an annual energy savings of more than 33,000 kilowatt hours.

Moss Mountain Inn in Columbia Falls received a $22,372 Rural Energy for America Program grant to install a 30-kilowatt solar array. This project will result in this small business seeing a projected annual energy cost savings of more than $10,000 and produce more than 26,000 kilowatts in electrical power – approximately 63% of its annual electrical consumption.

Clean Air and Water

Downtown Billings is benefitting from a $1 million investment in funding to clean up and revitalize pollution sites downtown, including City Hall, the old Billings Gazette building, and the YesterYears Antique Mall.

$500,000 in funding to clean up and revitalize pollution sites in the Flathead Valley, including Wisher’s Wrecking Yard and the Evergreen Kmart in Kalispell and Larry’s Post & Pole and Glacier Gateway School Buildings in Columbia Falls.

Long-overdue support is being provided for veterans who’ve been exposed to toxic waste.

• Over 3,800 PACT Act-related claims have been filed in Montana, and more than 1,700 veterans have enrolled in VA health care as a result.
• The PACT Act included historic veterans infrastructure investments. Building off those efforts, a new, expanded facility in Kalispell is coming to better serve the Flathead Valley’s growing veteran population. It will offer expanded health care services—including primary care, mental health, pharmacy services, and women’s health—to an estimated 5,800 veterans in the area.

Democracy

The MCV Education Fund is protecting democracy and the Montana Constitution. Learn more about our recent efforts and take a look at the video below.