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Learn How You Can Benefit from the Wind and Solar Marketplaces

September 19, 2022

What a whirlwind of a summer, no pun intended! From flash floods to drought and everything in between, the saying wait 5 minutes and the weather will change is so true.  Montana is definitely a state that thrives on keeping us all guessing.

But there are two constants we can always count on – wind and plenty of sunshine. For these two reasons and that Montana is an untapped market, Scout Clean Energy, a privately owned and operated company from Colorado, is looking to expand.

And because one of WSE’s pillars of work is to open market opportunities, we felt dedicating a Bull Session to the wind and solar marketplace was a no-brainer. Like the carbon market, it is another passive enterprise landowners can tap into and still maintain the wide-open landscape and ranching way of life.

So, on Monday, September 26th, at 7 p.m., WSE is hosting representatives from Scout Clean Energy to give you an overview of the market, explain their programs, and answer any questions you may have.

Topics being discussed, but definitely not limited to, include:

  • How renewables can be complementary to ranching with a focus on income diversification, land improvements, and wildlife protection
  • Wind and solar timelines and processes, including how sites are selected, what happens during the development period and what studies are undertaken, the construction period, and what happens when a project is operational
  • Overview of different income structures and rates that are currently paid in the U.S. and how those rates are determined
  • Testimonials from ranchers in the WSE network about their experience with wind and solar

Scout will also be providing links to available resources that would be beneficial for landowners considering renewable energy generation.

To join in on this discussion, sign up for the free Rancher Network, a secure place to connect with like-minded producers, share information, and utilize an array of regenerative resources. Once logged in, you will see the link to this Bull Session on your Rancher Network homepage. But don’t wait until the last minute to register. The process takes roughly 24 hours.  If you have any issues or questions, please contact Holly at 406-229-0279 or hstoltz@wsestaff.org.

Scout Clean Energy is a US-based company dedicated to transforming its energy mix to renewable sources. Its roots are in the early days of US wind energy. Its mission is to develop renewable energy as a cost-competitive and proven solution to climate change, air pollution, energy security, and rural economic development. The Scout team has extensive experience developing and operating projects that have involved dozens of communities and thousands of property owners, including family farmers, ranchers, business owners, and retirees.  Founded in 2016, Scout is based in Boulder, Colorado, with several local offices at project locations. Scout has a diverse portfolio of wind and solar projects that span the United States, including 20 operating projects under management and over 12 GW of projects under development. Scout can proudly say that these projects represent over 900 executed leases with landowners across 13 states.

To learn more about Scout Clean Energy, visit their company website or connect with them on their LinkedIn page.

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Holly Fretwell conservation econoimist in Montana

Holly Fretwell is president of Montana Connections, LLC where she does economic conservation consulting and hospitality management, is co-owner of the Jammin Jackalope camping and cabins, and is a research fellow at PERC, the Property and Environment Research Center. For nearly three decades Fretwell’s research has focused on public lands policy, private conservation, property rights, and markets. Her passion is helping others understand how free markets and trade can help enhance conservation and environmental quality.

Fretwell holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in resource economics from Montana State University. An educator at heart, Fretwell taught economics at Montana State University for 15 years, provided tools and curriculum for high school teachers to motivate economic thinkers, and has authored two books.

Malou Anderson-Ramierz resides on her family ranch in Tom Miner Basin, Montana, where she and her husband Dre live and work while raising their two daughters, Esme and Hasell. Aside from working on the ranch and learning about holistic management systems, she has psychology, social work, and equine-assisted therapies background. Malou enjoys working in community-building and land-based practices. Helping people and communities reconnect to themselves through restoring landscapes, coexisting with wildlife, and creating strong and thriving communities for both human and the more-than-human. When she’s not on the ranch or tending to kiddos, animals, or listening to lands, she loves exploring newfound communities- both urban and rural, reading, riding her horse, and sitting next to the ocean.

Holly Stoltz, Communications Manager

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Montana ranch-raised and marrying into a family ranch, agriculture has always been a part of her life.  Because of this, her degree in marketing, writing experience, and seeing the need to shift away from traditional ag practices, Holly has become a vocal supporter of regenerative agriculture as the only way to secure this legacy for future generations.

Colin McClure is a proud Bobcat Fan and a 3rd generation graduate from Montana State University in Soil and Water Science. As a 4th generation Montana descendant with ties to active farming and ranching operations in the Flathead as well as central Montana, Colin was raised in and around agriculture. Colin is strongly rooted in both traditional and regenerative agricultural practices focusing on improving the livelihood of all Montanans.

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Roger Indreland, together with his wife Betsy, own and manages Indreland Angus, north of Big Timber, Montana. Roger is a third-generation rancher with a Farm & Ranch Management degree from Montana State University and forty-four years in the registered Angus business. Roger has found his niche in the grass-fed bull business, hosting an annual bull sale each December.

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In 2020, the Sweet Grass Chamber of Commerce honored them as “Ag Persons of the Year” and were nominated in 2021 as “Tow Rope Heroes” by the Northern Ag Network

Brittany Masters is the co-founder of Go Roam Free, a regenerative bison ranch and food business. As a first-generation rancher, Brittany brings her brand marketing and strong business sense to the world of sustainable animal agriculture. Brittany is passionate about developing brands and premium health products. Brittany spent 9 years as a Marketing Director at the Boeing Company, where she focused on reviving the Boeing brand and serving as a brand consultant to airline customers. During that time, she launched a startup food brand in the Middle East and finished her MBA at Seattle Pacific University. As WSE’s Secretary, Brittany hopes to help family-scale ranches transition to regenerative agriculture while improving their profitability in order to preserve the best of the west.

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Andrew Anderson, manager of J Bar L Ranch in Montana

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Rebecca Kurnick of Montana Aleworks

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Joel Henry, Lawyer headshot

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Lill Erickson, the ecosystem services program director of Western Sustainability Exchanage

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Lauren Dillon received her B.S. in Visual Communications from the University of California, Davis. Lauren became passionate about working with missional companies that dared to challenge the status quo after a few years spent working for Patagonia. In 2012 Lauren seized an opportunity to move to Wyoming and consequently spent eight years working seasonally across the West as a photographer–each year becoming more interested in the intersection of ranching and conservation. Lauren made her way to Montana in 2017 to manage the guest program at J Bar L Ranch–a regenerative, grass-fed beef operation and one of WSE’s partners–where she quickly became fascinated by learning about soil health ranch’s land management and conservation projects. Lauren is excited to continue supporting land stewardship and regenerative producers through her work on the Communications and Farmers’ Market teams.

WSE livingston farmers market manager Shannan Mascari

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Matt Skoglund of North Bridger Bison, WSE board

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Lauren Dillon received her B.S. in Visual Communications from the University of California, Davis. Lauren became passionate about working with missional companies that dared to challenge the status quo after a few years spent working for Patagonia. In 2012 Lauren seized an opportunity to move to Wyoming and consequently spent eight years working seasonally across the West as a photographer–each year becoming more interested in the intersection of ranching and conservation. Lauren made her way to Montana in 2017 to manage the guest program at J Bar L Ranch–a regenerative, grass-fed beef operation and one of WSE’s partners–where she quickly became fascinated by learning about soil health ranch’s land management and conservation projects. Lauren is excited to continue supporting land stewardship and regenerative producers through her work on the Communications and Farmers’ Market teams.

Tyrrell Hibbard enjoyed an upbringing in agriculture and conservation and today serves as a producer coordinator and senior advisor for WSE. Tyrrell is a rancher by day and distiller by night. He manages a seasonal custom grazing operation on his family’s multi-generational ranchland on the Continental Divide west of Helena. He also owns and operates Gulch Distillers in downtown Helena, producing award-winning spirits from Montana grains and fruits. When not actively engaged in agriculture or adding value to agricultural products, Tyrrell pursues conservation goals through WSE and Prickly Pear Land Trust. He serves on the board of directors. Tyrrell earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Duke University. He lives in Helena with his wife and two daughters.