Transmission line a reality, work to begin this fall
By John Adams, GFT Capital Bureau
Officials with the U.S. Department of Energy have reached a financing deal with a Canadian energy company, paving the way for construction of the $213 million Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL).
According to the DOE, Tonbridge Power Inc. of Toronto will receive up to $161 million in federal stimulus loans to construct the 230-kilovot transmission project, which will be delivering 300 to 600 megawatts of mostly wind-generated energy to markets outside Montana.
The Western Area Power Administration will use borrowing authority under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus package, to help build the project between Great Falls and Lethbridge, Canada.
A large part of the transmission line will run through Pondera County. It is estimated that between 45-52 miles of transmission line poles will be in the county.
County Commission Chairman Sandy Broesder told the I-O on Thursday, “This (news) is fantastic!” The commissioners as a whole noted that road department funds that were lost when the missiles were pulled out will be boosted by taxes.
Pondera County may be the big winner in the tax benefits over Cascade, Glacier, and Teton counties with an estimated range of between $1,038,970 and a high of $1,182,684 coming to the county.
Almost two-thirds of the 214-mile transmission line will be located on U.S. soil, crating for the continued expansion of renewable energy production, according to the DOE.
“By integrating renewable energy onto the electrical grid now, we are helping to shape America’s economy, powered by clean, secure and affordable electricity,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
He went on to say, “This project will help put Americans to work and build the transmission networks needed to bring renewable energy to consumers across the West.”
Bob Williams of MATL Ltd., a Tonbridge subsidiary, said the financing deal allows the company to move forward with final construction preparations.
“We are ready to get going on the next phase of the project, which really involves getting the rest of the work that has to be done before the construction finished up,” Williams said.
Some of the work includes conducting legal surveys along the transmission corridor and performing geothermal analyses to determine tower placements.
Construction should begin this fall, Williams said.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Energy have reached a financing deal with a Canadian energy company, paving the way for construction of the $213 million Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL).According to the DOE, Tonbridge Power Inc. of Toronto will receive up to $161 million in federal stimulus loans to construct the 230-kilovot transmission project, which will be delivering 300 to 600 megawatts of mostly wind-generated energy to markets outside Montana.
The Western Area Power Administration will use borrowing authority under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus package, to help build the project between Great Falls and Lethbridge, Canada.
A large part of the transmission line will run through Pondera County. It is estimated that between 45-52 miles of transmission line poles will be in the county.
County Commission Chairman Sandy Broesder told the I-O on Thursday, “This (news) is fantastic!” The commissioners as a whole noted that road department funds that were lost when the missiles were pulled out will be boosted by taxes.
Pondera County may be the big winner in the tax benefits over Cascade, Glacier, and Teton counties with an estimated range of between $1,038,970 and a high of $1,182,684 coming to the county.
Almost two-thirds of the 214-mile transmission line will be located on U.S. soil, crating for the continued expansion of renewable energy production, according to the DOE.
“By integrating renewable energy onto the electrical grid now, we are helping to shape America’s economy, powered by clean, secure and affordable electricity,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
He went on to say, “This project will help put Americans to work and build the transmission networks needed to bring renewable energy to consumers across the West.”
Bob Williams of MATL Ltd., a Tonbridge subsidiary, said the financing deal allows the company to move forward with final construction preparations.
“We are ready to get going on the next phase of the project, which really involves getting the rest of the work that has to be done before the construction finished up,” Williams said.
Some of the work includes conducting legal surveys along the transmission corridor and performing geothermal analyses to determine tower placements.
Construction should begin this fall, Williams said.
Centennial aluminum can drive
By Adam Jerome, I-O Reporter
Start saving your cans, because the Pondera County Recycling Coalition (PCRC) is at it again. Starting on Sept. 28 and through Oct. 4 the PCRC is sponsoring another aluminum can drive.
The last aluminum drive held over Whoop-Up days was largely a success. PCRC collected over 600 pounds of aluminum. This time they want to eclipse that mark, so they need your help.
On Sept. 28 there will be a large trailer parked at the Pondera Village Shopping Center for you to take your bagged-up cans. It does not matter if they are crushed or not.
Mike Townsend of Conrad Salvage and Recycling has agreed to buy the cans as the PCRC has made its mission to keep recycling local. Townsend has also provided the trailer free of charge.
Along with the trailer there will be seven recycling cans lined up and down the streets during the parade on Saturday. PCRC can’t stress enough that these are not garbage cans and only aluminum is to be deposited in the receptacles.
Then on Sunday these same cans will be out at the motocross track during their event to help decrease some of the clean-up that goes on after the races.
All proceeds go to the PCRC to purchase permanent recycling receptacles for the County.
The Conrad landfill continues to accept five tons of garbage a week over what the city is being assessed. This aluminum drive is a great way to get the assessment closer to what it should be.
Another successful PCRC sponsored event was the pesticide disposal program. Nearly 2,900 pounds of unwanted chemicals and containers were collected. Joel Farkell, Manager, Mountain View Fertilizer was generous enough with his time to deliver all these unwanted products to the main collection site in Great Falls last Tuesday.
PESTICIDE DISPOSAL PROGRAM Homeowners in Pondera County were able to deliver, along with landowners, nearly 2,900 pounds of unwanted chemicals and containers at mini-collection sites at CHS in Valier and Mountain View Coop Fertilizer. Mountain View Fertilizer Manager Joel Farkell delivered all the pictured pesticides to the main collection site in Great Falls. The Waste Pesticide Program is administered by the Montana Department of Agriculture and is held in the region every three years. This local effort was sponsored by the Pondera County Recycling Coalition, Pondera County Extension Office, Mountain View Coop Fertilizer and CHS. Photo Courtesy of Joel Farkell
The last aluminum drive held over Whoop-Up days was largely a success. PCRC collected over 600 pounds of aluminum. This time they want to eclipse that mark, so they need your help.
On Sept. 28 there will be a large trailer parked at the Pondera Village Shopping Center for you to take your bagged-up cans. It does not matter if they are crushed or not.
Mike Townsend of Conrad Salvage and Recycling has agreed to buy the cans as the PCRC has made its mission to keep recycling local. Townsend has also provided the trailer free of charge.
Along with the trailer there will be seven recycling cans lined up and down the streets during the parade on Saturday. PCRC can’t stress enough that these are not garbage cans and only aluminum is to be deposited in the receptacles.
Then on Sunday these same cans will be out at the motocross track during their event to help decrease some of the clean-up that goes on after the races.
All proceeds go to the PCRC to purchase permanent recycling receptacles for the County.
The Conrad landfill continues to accept five tons of garbage a week over what the city is being assessed. This aluminum drive is a great way to get the assessment closer to what it should be.
Another successful PCRC sponsored event was the pesticide disposal program. Nearly 2,900 pounds of unwanted chemicals and containers were collected. Joel Farkell, Manager, Mountain View Fertilizer was generous enough with his time to deliver all these unwanted products to the main collection site in Great Falls last Tuesday.
Monahan spearheads recycling at schools
By Adam Jerome, I-O Reporter
Ever since she retired from teaching, Carey Monahan has wanted to bring recycling to the Conrad area. After sitting in on a recycling roundtable sponsored by the Pondera County Recycling Coalition in late August, Monahan decided that it was time.
After learning that 33 percent of all waste in the landfills nationwide is made up of paper products and noticing the recycling efforts at UMS she decided that she would like to bring paper recycling to all the schools in Conrad.
Monahan explained her decision, “After I found out that our landfill is sending 200 tons of waste a year over what the city is being assessed I realized what an important part the school system could play in reducing that amount.”
After receiving generous donations from Kenny and Jackie Wheeler of Frontline Ag and Mayor John Shevlin, she was able to purchase receptacles for every classroom in the elementary schools and the high school.
Monahan explains her effort in the schools, “I believe if we can instill recycling values in our kids at an early age they will be lifelong recyclers.”
Every week there will be a pick-up at the Meadowlark School. Ron and Juanita Prewett have donated their time to transport the paper to Front Line Ag where it will be picked up by Pacific Steel and Recycling and taken to Great Falls.
In another development, the community will be allowed to bring their old newspapers to recycle at Meadowlark on the first Friday of every month. Watch the I-O for more details on the newspaper recycling.
Monahan also wants to point out that there are other recycling efforts in dire need of volunteers, including for yard waste pick-up. If anyone is willing to help, contact Adam Jerome at The Independent-Observer.
LITTLE RECYCLERS Last Friday was the first pickup day of paper recycling at the Meadowlark School. A student from each class was chosen to dump their first weeks paper collections. From the left in front are Caitline Bonser, Audrey Taylor, Braden VandenBos and Tatyana Rohrer. In the second are Jonna Myre, Shaylar MacGillivray and Natalie Broesder. Third Row- Aaron Kleinsasser, Max Richey and Tristin VandenBos. In the back are Jayleen Harris, Brandon Philipps, Bethany Grubb, Front Line Representative Joe Flesch and of Prewett Excavating and Construction, Juanita and Ron Prewett. I-O Photo by Adam Jerome
After learning that 33 percent of all waste in the landfills nationwide is made up of paper products and noticing the recycling efforts at UMS she decided that she would like to bring paper recycling to all the schools in Conrad.
Monahan explained her decision, “After I found out that our landfill is sending 200 tons of waste a year over what the city is being assessed I realized what an important part the school system could play in reducing that amount.”
After receiving generous donations from Kenny and Jackie Wheeler of Frontline Ag and Mayor John Shevlin, she was able to purchase receptacles for every classroom in the elementary schools and the high school.
Monahan explains her effort in the schools, “I believe if we can instill recycling values in our kids at an early age they will be lifelong recyclers.”
Every week there will be a pick-up at the Meadowlark School. Ron and Juanita Prewett have donated their time to transport the paper to Front Line Ag where it will be picked up by Pacific Steel and Recycling and taken to Great Falls.
In another development, the community will be allowed to bring their old newspapers to recycle at Meadowlark on the first Friday of every month. Watch the I-O for more details on the newspaper recycling.
Monahan also wants to point out that there are other recycling efforts in dire need of volunteers, including for yard waste pick-up. If anyone is willing to help, contact Adam Jerome at The Independent-Observer.