Montana’s biggest county has finally enabled C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Capital Enhancements), creating immense opportunity for businesses in Yellowstone County – including non-profits and farms – to invest in energy efficiency upgrades.
The Yellowstone County Commission voted to enable C-PACE in late December, after a long effort by local organizations and businesses and after an earlier vote to table it back in October. Members of Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council, our local affiliate in Yellowstone County, played a key role in pushing the Commission to enable C-PACE, as did Big Sky Economic Development Association, the Downtown Billings Alliance, former Senator Mary McNally, and the Montana Facility Finance Authority.
As YVCC member and chair Kris Glenn wrote in a letter to the Billings Gazette, “Whether using C-PACE to replace an HVAC system, upgrade lighting, install solar or something else, it’s a great option for helping local businesses reduce their energy costs.” Thank you, Yellowstone County Commissioners, and way to go, YVCC!
Do you own a local business in Yellowstone County that would benefit from cutting your energy costs? You can apply for C-PACE financing here, or contact our Yellowstone County organizer, Caitlin, at caitlin@northernplains.org or (406) 248-1154 for more info.