Page 33 - Flathead Beacon // 3.26.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM BUSINESS MONTHLY MARCH 26, 2014 | 33

ENERGIZING THOUGHTS Mark Johnson
Building Permits

A Great Story to Tell

Building permits issued in Kalispell and Whiteish in February

W
E WANT TO HELP OUR newable sources of energy, particularly KALISPELL
Value: $179,000
Vista Dr.
members recognize some- wind. This has played prominently in Contractor: North Valley Con-
Recipient: DA Real Estate; 175 struction
thing that has been a part of the media and given rise to a perception Recipient: Crown Enterprises; 145 Commons Loop Ste. 300 For: Single-family residence
the Northwest way of life for more than that these newer non-hydro technolo- Hutton Ranch Rd.
Contractor: Hammerquist and Value: $281,745
75 years, yet is often overlooked: how hy- gies are the only renewable generating Contractor: Swank Enterprises Casalegno
dropower dams and the incredible pow- resources out there – while hydropower For: Addition
For: Remodel Recipient: Brad and Shirley
er of the Northwest’s rivers beneit our has been consistently overlooked.
Value: $2,800,000
Value: $61,771
Chacalias; 20 Marina Crest Ln.
daily lives.
These reasons are why we continue Contractor: Ping Construction
A public education campaign, called to actively tell the incredible story of our Recipient: 1st National of Ka- WHITEFISH
For: Single-family residence
lispell; 215 Second Ave. E Value: $999,000
CleanHydro, is being coordinated by dams and hydropower through Clean- Contractor: Swank Enterprises
Northwest RiverPartners, an alliance Hydro.
For: Remodel
Recipient: Lone Star Partners Recipient: Cam Clark; 940 Birch
of utilities, ports and farming organiza- Last year, the campaign demon- Value: $11,183
LLC; 5051 Portage Way Point Dr.
tions that advocate for a balanced ap- strated its value to the Northwest’s envi- Contractor: General One Inc Contractor: Lost Creek Construc-
proach to managing the federal hydro- ronment and economy. In polling done Recipient: Bighorn Development; For: Single-family residence tion
power system in the Northwest. We at following the campaign, 77 percent of 330 Bismark St.
Value: $252,625
For: Remodel
Flathead Electric, members of North- Northwest residents identiied hydro- Contractor: Bighorn Development Value: $275,000
west RiverPartners, are proud to be sup- power as a clean, renewable source of en- For: Single-family residence Recipient: Jef and Amy Mow;
Value: $189,900
388 Sawtooth Dr.
Recipient: Phil Harris; 100
porting this efort, now in its second ergy, up from 72 percent. Public support Contractor: Old MT Building Co. Huckleberry
year.
for Congress and state legislators to oi- Recipient: Bighorn Development; For: Single-family residence Contractor: Denman Construction
Did you know that hydropower ac- cially (legally) identify hydro as a renew- 343 Bismark St.
Value: $310,000
For: Remodel
counts for 90 percent of the Northwest’s able resource increased by 6 percent. Contractor: Bighorn Development Value: $100,000
renewable energy?
And the campaign showed residents For: Single-family residence
Recipient: Brett Campbell; 102
Hydropower is clean; it doesn’t burn want to see more hydro in their future.
any fossil fuels and remarkably keeps But our work is not done, which

our regional carbon footprint about is why it is so important for Flathead
half that of other parts of the country. Electric to be a part of the public educa-
Rounding out the hydropower narrative tion campaign again this year. While so
are the many other beneits that it pro- many other utilities across the country
vides the Northwest, namely employing struggle to ind a clean, reliable and af-
thousands of our friends and neighbors fordable power supply, we continue to
and transporting billions of dollars of reap the beneits of hydropower by en-
agricultural and other products out to joying rates that are among the lowest in

the world.
the region.
In recent years, hydropower has CleanHydro is about re-joining the
faded into the background of public conversation and bringing hydropower
awareness. The kind of understanding back into the mainstream dialogue. It’s
and appreciation for the tremendous about reminding people of the tremen-
economic and environmental values of dous energy, economic and environ-
this resource simply isn’t what it once mental beneits these resources bring to
was. The reasons are twofold: First, the
their everyday lives. Telling that com-
demographics of the Northwest have prehensivestorywillhelppeopleappre-
changed. Many people have moved into ciate and understand why hydropower
the Northwest from other areas where makes the Northwest the envy of the
they didn’t grow up with dams and hy- rest of the country.
dropower. And younger generations We hope you’ll take a moment to visit
aren’t being educated about the bene- CleanHydro.com, which features ad-
its of hydropower as much as they used ditional factual information about the

to be. Second, the energy industry has Northwest’s hydropower and river sys-
changed dramatically in recent years. tem.
We’ve seen huge growth in other re-

Mark Johnson is the Flathead Electric Co-op general manager

Introducing your construction loan team
As one of the largest lenders in the region, we’re ready to help you open the door

to your new home.

DANIEL JAMES
BRIAN PELC
Loan Originator ID 806895
Loan Originator ID 707819
[email protected]
[email protected]
406-751-2573
406-751-2574

2 MAIN STREET | KALISPELL
visit your local branch or irstinterstate.com

Arliss Macfarlane, of Macfarlane Framing and Construction, works on framing a second-story wall
while at a home under construction south of Whiteish. FIE PHOTO BY LIDO VIZZUTTI | FLATHEAD BEACON

Name: Beacon Business - Construction Loans
Size: 4.74” x 2.87”