Montana Governor Schweitzer: Economic and Energy Meetings in Spain and Israel

Governor Brian Schweitzer will meet with companies and government officials in Israel and Spain October 4-16. The Governor and First Lady are travelling as part of a delegation with the Solomon Project that regularly takes government officials and business and academic leaders to Israel on educational missions. The Solomon Project, a non-profit organization, is funding the trip.

"This is an opportunity to build and grow business in Montana and create more high paying jobs for workers in our state," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "I have been actively recruiting companies to Montana and this is a great opportunity to bring more business to our state."

The Governor will spend 2 days in Madrid. Meetings in Spain include: Alan Solomont, U.S. Ambassador to Spain; Elecnor SA and Enerfin (these two companies are working with Grasslands Renewable Energy LLC, a Montana firm, on renewable energy transmission line development, pump storage and the Sweet Grass/Coyote Wind Farm); Grupo NaturEner SA and NaturEner USA LLC (NaturEner is the largest wind farm developer in Montana with Glacier wind farm, a 210 megawatt wind farm located between Shelby and Cut Bank. The company is also moving forward on the Rimrock project, a 309 megawatt wind farm which will utilize the Montana Alberta Tie Line when construction of both projects is complete).

The delegation will be in Israel for a week of meetings including: Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel; Salam Fayyad, Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority; Department of Agriculture; Eyal Erlich (interested in purchasing Montana cattle); Moshe Bornstein, President/CEO of National Coal Supply Corporation (interested in purchasing Montana coal); Dan Meridor, Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy; James Cunningham, U.S. Ambassador to Israel; Ormat Technologies, Inc. (geothermal energy company); Zenith Solar and Better Place (electric vehicle networks and services).

More information on the Solomon Project can be found at http://www.thesolomonproject.org