Sustainable Energy
Current Projects
Mission Statement
The Mission of AERO’s Sustainable Energy Program is to create, support, and promote the adoption of an efficient, sustainable energy economy in Montana. Toward this end, AERO will provide educational opportunities, resources, and materials to members, agencies, organizations, and the general public; support and coordinate with other organizations working on sustainable energy solutions in Montana and the Pacific Northwest; and demonstrate models of workable, household and community-scale, regionally appropriate, sustainable energy solutions.
Vision Statement
AERO aims to help bring about, within five years, a wider and deeper awareness among citizens of Montana and the Pacific Northwest of the urgent need to tap into this region’s abundant clean renewable energy sources, and of practical cost-effective ways of doing this in our households, communities and bioregions.
In the Summer of 2007, the AERO Blueprint for Home Grown Energy Self-Reliance was released. AERO hired Ben Brouwer to be the Renewable Energy and Conservation Program Manager.
The following is a statement from Ben on his background, and what he would like to see happen with the program during the next few years:
"As AERO’s Renewable Energy and Conservation Program Manager I am utilizing my wide ranging experience as an organizer and facilitator to help AERO realize its full potential as an advocate of energy conservation and renewable energy production in Montana.
Projects I have organized include a “Yellow Bike” cooperative allowing members to use publicly distributed bicycles, a college endowment socially responsible investment campaign, and the 2007 Helena Step-it-Up rally, which was part of a national campaign calling for action on global warming. I’m someone who takes pride in seeing a bold vision through to fruition. In the case of my work at AERO I look forward to using my experience as a community organizer and my passion for building vital communities to promote positive changes in our energy system, here in Montana.
In the 1970s when AERO was originally created, renewable energy and energy conservation were the twin foci of the young organization. After a long period of dormancy, AERO’s energy program is re-emerging with the recent publication of Repowering Montana: A Blueprint for Home Grown Energy Self-Reliance. The plan laid out in the Blueprint is a practical vision for Montana’s future, rooted in energy conservation and new renewable energy production.
In the coming years, I hope to see AERO become an effective and unique force among the range of government agencies, non-profit organizations and businesses working to promote energy conservation and renewable energy. Drawing on its history as a grassroots, solutions-oriented, membership-driven organization, the AERO energy program can best help to create energy self-reliant communities in Montana by working from the ground up.
Specifically, I would like to see the following components of AERO’s Blueprint implemented in Montana’s energy economy:
- Demand-side energy management that champions the consumer benefits (financial and environmental) of energy conservation and efficiency
- Renovation of existing buildings to include efficient energy conservation measures
- ENERGY STAR standards and integrated design principles applied to all new construction
- Growth in decentralized, Montana owned, renewable energy production
- Construction of farmer-owned biofuel cooperatives utilizing Montana-grown crops
- Expansion of efficient public transportation networks
- Deliberate reduction of our energy footprint at every scale: state, county, city, neighborhood, business, organization, residential and personal
I am admittedly new to Montana but am looking forward to meeting the many Montanans it will take to build a clean energy future. Our program will be all the stronger from your input, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me."
Sustainable Energy Program Background
AERO was started in 1974 by people who wanted to do more than say “no” to massive coal development in eastern Montana; they wanted to say “yes” to clean renewable energy alternatives. AERO became the first citizen membership renewable energy organization in the u.s. and from the start took a hands-on approach, demonstrating to members and the general public through workshops and a traveling energy show that a variety of practical, on-the ground energy conservation strategies and renewable energy technologies existed today, and developing them intelligently could lead us toward a sustainable future in Montana. AERO promoted, and continues to support, local alternative energy solutions, sustainable agriculture, and low-tech transportation solutions.
By the early 1980’s, as oil prices fell, interest in conservation and renewable energy began to wane. The Reagan administration drastically cut federal funding for such programs while pumping up subsidies for the fossil and radioactive fuel industries. With citizen, foundation and state government support also waning, AERO shifted its focus to its agriculture and transportation programs, and developed the same level of credibility and support that its earlier energy programs had enjoyed. Now the time appears to be right for AERO to return to its roots in renewable energy.
Several breakout groups at the 2001 AERO annual meeting addressed what involvement AERO should have with energy issues and how AERO could use its resources most effectively without duplicating other efforts. Many of the ideas and issues raised during those breakout sessions were considered in the development of this strategic plan.
At AERO’s fall 2002 annual meeting a presentation by a group of AERO members who had been researching climate and energy issues and their solutions helped keep AERO members interested in renewing AERO’s energy program.
During the fall of 2003 AERO mailed postcard questionnaires to its members to determine whether there was enough interest to revive the alternative energy program within AERO. The response was very positive, so the issue was raised at the AERO annual meeting at Chico in October, and participants were eager to ‘get going’ as soon as possible. Interested members met in Helena on November 17 to hash out a tentative mission statement and to develop a list of issues that an AERO energy program could effectively address.
Funding such a program is the biggest hurdle. As of the end of 2003 there was no budget and no staff for this program, though the National Environmental Trust (nNET) had donated time and money for a mailing and helped AERO write and distribute some energy related op-ed pieces and KUFM-radio commentaries. All of the work done by AERO members to get this project rolling in 2003 depended on the voluntary commitment of many hours by a number of AERO members.
In January, 2004, a generous AERO member donated a matching grant to fund initial program development.
AERO decided to hire a professional consultant to confer with AERO members and develop a strategic plan and fundraising strategy for the program.
A planning committee developed guidelines for the strategic plan and a request for proposals (RFPs). RFPs were sent out in March to AERO members and to several potentially interested parties. In April, a contract was awarded to draw up the strategic plan and fundraising strategy.
Those asked to advise AERO in this effort include the AERO planning team, AERO staff, other interested AERO members, and a number of other organizations that are working on alternative energy issues within Montana. A questionnaire was sent to each AERO planning committee member, with a follow-up phone call to solicit specific responses. Phone calls were also made to outside organizations for their suggestions.
All non-AERO parties contacted were enthusiastic about AERO ’ s re - entry into promoting sustainable alternative energy in Montana. All stressed the importance of AERO‘s image as non-confrontational, and the importance of utilizing and sustaining the organization’s long-standing agricultural and rural small-town ties.