What's New

Students stand by wind turbine blades (click to enlarge) Map of Energy Projects in Northcentral Montana (click to enlarge)

Montana State University, Bozeman
Sustainable Food & BioEnergy Systems (BS)
sfbs.montana.edu

MSU Northern, Havre
Industrial and Energy Technology* (CAS)
www.msun.edu/academics/cots/program-IndustEnergyTech.htm

MSU Great Falls COT, Great Falls
Sustainable Energy Technology* (CAS, AAS) – Starting Fall 2010
Contact: Natalie Nefzger, (406) 771-5132

MSU Billings COT, Billings
Welding for Energy Technology (CAS)
Power Plant Technician (AAS)
Process Plant Technician (AAS)
www.msubillings.edu/cot/Programs.htm

University of Montana COT, Missoula
Energy Technology (AAS – online program)
ace.cte.umt.edu/programs/energy.html

Montana Tech of UM COT, Butte
Pre-Apprentice Line Program (Certificate-1 semester)
Sustainable Energy Technology* (CAS, AAS)
www.mtech.edu/cot/trade_tech/

Miles Community College, Miles City
Energy Technoloy (AAS)
Biofuels (AAS)
Biofuels Emphasis (AS)
milescc.edu/DegreesPrograms/BiofuelsEnergy/

Fort Peck Community College
Electrical Line Worker (Certificate-1 year)
Hazardous Materials/Waste Management Technology (AAS, AS, Certificate-1 year)
www.fpcc.edu/degrees_certificates.html

* via the Wind Montana project. Programs will and continue to be offered if approved by the Board of Regents.

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On January 18, NCMT started using a 5% biodiesel-95% diesel blend in the two Sprinters leased from Glacier National Park Shuttle. NCMT also recently started using the biodiesel blend in its new 15-passenger Sprinter, acquired from the Montana Department of Transportation January 27. Soon it will be using the same biodiesel blend in the two 21-passenger buses awarded to NCMT that are expected to arrive this quarter and in the 23-passenger Optima bus that is also leased from Glacier National Park. “I think this is a great move,” says Ray Tinkey, Glacier National Park Shuttle lead operator. He adds “we are very much interested in having our own biodiesel processor so that we can have biodiesel in our buses too.”

The biodiesel that NCMT is using is produced and blended at MSU Northern’s Bio-Energy Center using a 50-gallon complete biodiesel processor that the Center acquired in July. Opportunity Link, lead operating agency of NCMT, is a partner of the Center in the provision of training in the region using the biodiesel processor. “We produce biodiesel during trainings held in October and the oil used was already paid for by the Montana Agro-Energy Program, Growth through Agriculture Program, NorthWestern Energy and Opportunity Link as part of the training,” said Jon Soriano, lead research scientist of the Center. The Bio-Energy Center also has the capacity and equipment to ensure that biodiesel and biodiesel blend produced are up to ASTM D6751 fuel quality standard.

The initial use of biodiesel was promoted as part of the National Day of Service celebration by Opportunity Link, NCMT and the Montana Energy Corps Project on January 18. AmeriCorps members and volunteers from the communities promoted energy efficiency, use of renewable and alternative energy, with volunteerism and community service (See article below).

Jim Lyons, director of NCMT, is very excited about the possibilities. He says, “The best thing is that this is all produced here in the Hi-Line – the oilseed was grown in Malta, pressed and cleaned in Chester, and the biodiesel was produced and blended in Havre. This is a move towards becoming energy-independent.” Barbara Stiffarm, executive director of Opportunity Link adds, “We’d like to believe that we can create our own demand in the region if only more agencies, companies and individuals are willing to trust using and start producing Montana biodiesel. This is the first step.”

For more information, you can visit www.opportunitylinkmt.org, www.ncmtransit.org, and www.bioenergytestingcenter.com or call Opportunity Link at (406) 265-3699.

Keep updated on Opportunity Link news, events and, yes, opportunities! Be a fan of Opportunity Link on Facebook by clicking on the link below:

The new Opportunity Link team (click to enlarge)

Not only did Opportunity Link start a bus system in 2009 but it also acquired new members to its team.

Opportunity Link is proud to introduce its hard-working and very capable team of people. In the back row from left: Rebecca Farr, Star Perkins, Barbara Stiffarm and Sue Crowe. Seated from left: Jim Lyons, Day Soriano, Carla Johnson and Tom Tucker.

Jim is our transit director and makes sure that the buses are running smoothly and efficiently. Rebecca and Day continues to work on partnerships for implementing sustainable programs within Opportunity Link. Star coordinates our soft-skills training Workin' It Out as well as the Community Service Program implemented together with the Hill County and Havre Justice Courts. Tom and Carla improves our working environment by making sure that everything, including our finances, is in order. Sue is our AmeriCorps*VISTA and is assisting with energy priorities in our communities. Barb is the executive director who ensures that we do our work and oversees the organized chaos that is Opportunity Link.

We invite you to read the Staff page of this website to know more about us and for our individual contact information. You can also call us anytime at (406) 265-3699 or toll free at 1-877-332-3699.