Current Projects

Wind Turbine owned by Cascade County at the new Road Department

The $6.4 million Cascade County road and bridge facility opened this summer adjacent to Interstate 15, near Vaughn. The County replaces a complex plagued by environmental damage with a modern energy efficient facility. The Board of Commissioners decided to reduce the county's energy expenses and the county's carbon footprint, by designing a highly energy efficient building and installing renewable and alternative energy systems. The facility hosts an Entegrity Wind Systems 50-kilowatt wind turbine at one end of the property and a 2-kilowatt solar energy system at the other. Inside the building, waste oil from the maintenance shop fuels Lanair HI-260 Waste/Used Oil Heaters, that produce 260,000 BTUH and cut the shop's heating bill by half. The wind turbine will produce an estimated 85% of the county shop's electrical needs and can generate as much power as 12 households would need for one year. The solar panel is mainly constructed to operate the sewer pumps for the sewer district. By installing these renewable energy sources, the county has taken a step towards fossil energy independence and serves as a role model for Cascade County's residents and industry. The County operates its turbine in conjunction with a Northwestern Energy net metering agreement, which is available to every NorthWestern Energy customer. Cascade County is proud of its new energy systems and energy efficient shop complex. It is a step into a new energy future for Cascade County.

Horseshoe Bend

In January 2006, the county’s first commercial scale wind park started producing energy. The Horseshoe Bend Wind Park is owned and operated by United Materials, a local aggregate and highway construction company. Cascade County was able to provide a direct assistance link to the developer, Exergy Development Group, lowering early costs by borrowing an industrial grade meteorological tower from the state of Montana. The 40 meter tower gathered wind speed and wind power data at the commercial level for more than one year. Furthermore, Exergy is actively investigating other opportunities in the County due primarily to the County’s technology and established protocol for wind park development. Exergy’s James Carkulis expounds, “The number one concern associated with all business ventures is how to mitigate risk. Cascade County has led Montana and the nation in assuring continuity between business, community, and government in wind resource development.”

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Vanadium Redox Battery System

The Cascade County Commission is pleased to support efforts by a Virginia corporation to test a battery fuel cell. The research will be performed at the Entegrity Wind System 50 kw turbine located at the

county’s new road and bridge department in Vaughn. The Ashlawn Group, LLC, seeks to prove its technology, a vanadium redox battery, can

capture and store wind generated electrical power in a cost effective manner. Other partners lining up to support the project with technical and or financial contributions include Entegrity Wind Systems and

Northwestern Energy. The project is in the planning phases, but Cascade County Commissioners

believe it is worthy of support for several reasons. Advancement of battery technology is one likely scenario to even out the natural power generation fluctuations inherent in the wind, enhancing the value of

wind energy. The stand alone 50 kw county turbine, located at a secure, accessible facility is an ideal platform to conduct research on the vanadium battery. Early support of emerging technology can lead to

economic benefits if testing leads to manufacturing. The County is ready to capture those opportunities as it supports efforts to establish wind energy technician training programs at Montana State University College of Technology in Great Falls.The Cascade County Road and Bridge facility, which opened in July 2008

is a model of energy efficiency and alternative energy. The facility boasts state of the art energy saving measures such as enhanced insulation, triple pane windows, radiant heating, sensor activated high

efficiency lighting and waste oil heaters. The facility has a 1.9 kw solar panel and 50 kw wind turbine generating electricity to offset up to 85% of the building’s electrical load.

Current Projects