Flathead Electric Cooperative completed a $700-per-panel solar project with a utility-scale battery backup.

This third community Flathead Electric solar array in Whitefish represents a strategic integration of renewable energy with storage, designed to lower peak demand costs and extend benefits to low-income households.

The facility on Monegan Road features 448 solar panels, including roughly 80 panels reserved for low-income residents qualified through the state’s LIHEAP program. The 200-kilowatt system uses a battery to store electricity and discharge during high demand, a first for FEC’s community solar projects. Member-purchased panels are fully subscribed except for about a dozen low-income units, while FEC retains ownership under USDA REAP grant conditions. Engineering challenges due to the site’s elevation were met with driven steel piles. The project aligns with the city of Whitefish’s 2018 Climate Action Plan and benefits from $50,000 in Bonneville Environmental Foundation funding plus $463,307 from USDA’s REAP program. Early results show the array is meeting output projections and shaves peak costs, saving roughly $5,000 in one evening.

FEC is not currently planning a fourth phase but maintains an interest list for future community solar opportunities.

Montana’s mix of rural communities and variable terrain could make such battery-backed solar projects appealing for reducing peak utility costs and supporting low-income households in other parts of the state. The collaboration between public agencies and nonprofits here could model approaches for balancing infrastructure challenges with energy equity in Montana’s diverse markets.

Flathead Electric Cuts Ribbon on Newest Community Solar Array, First Paired With Battery Storage
By Tristan Scott, Flathead Beacon