An Earth Day Letter from Northstone Solar

Today is a day to celebrate our planet, showcase support for environmental activism and continue the progress that we have been striving for worldwide in both climate adaptation and mitigation. But as we prepare to celebrate the 53rd annual Earth Day celebration, for us at Northstone it is impossible not to have an strong sense of gratitude. This afternoon we will be joining so many environmentally conscious Flathead Valley residents, as we celebrate Earth Day at the Citizens Climate Lobby Flathead Valley Chapter’s event at the Northwest Montana History Museum. Seeing the sheer passion that our community has for environmentalism and renewable energy is truly inspiring. 

In the past year, our company has more than doubled in number of installs; a true reflection of the growing appetite for renewable energy systems here in Montana. We have installed solar arrays from Polebridge to Libby and none of it would be possible without the community around us, both near and far. 

Current federal government leadership has re-emphasized a need to invest in renewable energy systems (still not nearly enough is being done on this front) which has had a massive impact on our ability to market solar systems in Montana. Federal Tax Credit extensions and increases for residential and commercial property owners choosing to invest in renewables has been a game changer for us. An increase in funding to the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) has served as a huge incentivizer for rural small business owners and agricultural producers to pursue solar for their commercial properties. 

Here locally, we cannot say enough about the community that supports us. Most of our business comes from community members recommending us to their patrons, friends and family members. Local organizations such as Nelson’s Ace Hardware and Go Local Magazine have helped us spread our wings and spread the word about what we are doing in the valley. Additionally, a recent change to Flathead Electric Cooperative’s net metering policy further incentivizes prospective solar customers to take the plunge. 

While there is so much work to be done on the climate front, we wanted to take a second to look at the positives. In March, the federal government announced a 315 million dollar investment in bringing clean renewable energy access to rural and tribal communities across the nation. While the leadership in Montana may not be unanimously interested in further investment in renewables, Montana currently ranks 10th among states with the largest share of renewable electricity generation. So while progress can be slow, it is still important to recognize when we are moving forward. As a renewable energy company, these steps forward mean the world to us. 

We Cannot Thank You Enough, 

Your Friends at Northstone Solar