Uncommon Knowledge
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HELENA — Electric vehicles have been in national headlines, but where does Montana stand when it comes to EVs and infrastructure for them? According to data from the US Department of Energy, there are about 60,500 public access EV charging stations across the country and about 120 of them are located in Montana. Currently the state and local governments are working to bolster EV infrastructure.
Two of the newest EV charging stations in Montana are in Helena—one at Bill Roberts Golf Course and one at the Jackson Street parking garage.
“Right now, these are kind of our pilot projects,” City of Helena sustainability and recycling coordinator Miranda Griffis said. “We’re going to see how well the go, how well-receipted they are by the city, how well-used they are by residents. And then, if there is a need for more of them, we could plan to expand that.”
The two charging stations were funded a Charge Your Ride grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Money for the grant is from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Settlement.
The Charge Your Ride grant also helped fund a charger at the Mountain View Meadows subdivision. Like the chargers installed by the city, the one at Mountain View Meadows is a level 2 charger.
“This type of charger would probably take a few hours to fully charge your vehicle,” Montana DEQ energy resource professional Neal Ullman said. “But for my car right now, which is mostly charged, I could probably top it off in a couple of minutes.”
Ullman said level 2 chargers are helpful for people driving locally, but not ideal for long-distance travel.
“In terms of fast charging to mimic that long-distance travel experience of gas stations, there are 19 fast charging locations that would work on vehicles like mine—non-Teslas,” Ullman said.
There are about 16 Tesla super chargers across the state, and more fast chargers for Teslas and non-teslas planned across the state.
The federal government sent goals to make half of all new vehicles sold in the US in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, and create a network of 500-thousand chargers to make EVs more accessible for travelers.
According to the most recent data from the US Department of Energy, EVs make up just a small percentage of vehicles in Montana. In 2022, there were 999,600 light duty vehicles registered in the state and 3,300 were EVs. To put that number in perspective, 765,400 were gasoline vehicles.
Those numbers could change as more infrastructure is built for EVs in Montana. The Montana DEQ and Montana Department of Transportation have plans to do just that with funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Ullman said the goal is to create a “statewide network of fast-charging locations along certain designated alternative fuel corridors,” including all interstates, Highway 2 and Highway 93.
The city of Helena is also planning for more EV infrastructure.
“With the push for more electric both with residential and city-use vehicles, we do need the infrastructure in place for these EVs to support them,” Griffis said.
The US Department of Energy has an online map of EV chargers, and a smartphone app to locate chargers.
Affordable living in Montana. Now that may sound like something that seems impossible, especially if you are looking to move to certain areas like Bozeman, Kalispell, or Missoula. Thankfully, there are still towns/cities that are making national news for being the most affordable/cheapest to live in, in the United States.
A top name in finance, Kiplinger Personal Finance, has come out with a list of the 25 cheapest cities to live in throughout the U.S. and one Montana city has made the list. This city came in at #16!
It really wasn’t a surprise when reading the list to see this city on it. There are so many things to do in and around this city, it’s no wonder people are starting to flock there.
Great Falls
Great Falls has over 60 parks and 52 miles of River’s Edge Trail along the scenic Missouri River. Not only that, but when you are walking the land in Great Falls, you are walking among the history of the Blackfeet Indians and Lewis and Clark.
With a population of a little over 60k, Great Falls is actually the third largest city in Montana. Great Falls is ideal for any outdoor enthusiast that loves hiking, mountain biking, camping, fishing, skiing and more.
GREAT FALLS BAR NAMED BEST ON PLANET EARTH BY GQ
You will find yourself within driving distance to both Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park.
Full of local restaurants and cafes, you will have some of the most delicious food all while supporting the community. Do yourself a favor and give Great Falls a visit, you will most likely understand how it made the list of top 25 cheapest cities to live in, in the U.S.
cc: Kiplinger Personal Finance
Safety Town 2024 Great Falls, Montana
Gallery Credit: Tammie Toren
Restaurants That Serve Breakfast The Whole Time They’re Open, Great Falls, Montana
Gallery Credit: Tammie Toren
Residents of Montana could be hit by unseasonably cold weather and snow starting on Sunday, the National Weather Service (NWS) has reported.
Montanans in some parts of the state can expect chilly temperatures and snow throughout Sunday and into early next week. Winter weather advisories are in place across numerous areas currently, while temperatures are expected to drop close to or below freezing.
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From 6 p.m. on Sunday, those in Big Belt, Bridger and Castle Mountains, Elkhorn and Boulder Mountains, Little Belt and Highwood Mountains, Gallatin and Madison County Mountains and Centennial Mountains, and Northwest Beaverhead County can expect up to 7 inches of “heavy, wet snow,” particularly at higher elevations above 6,000 feet, according to a winter weather advisory issued by the NWS.
“Travel could be difficult, especially on backcountry roads. Those in the backcountry should ensure they have appropriate knowledge and gear and may want to consider alternate plans,” the advisory reads. “The heavy, wet nature of snow can bring down tree limbs and power lines.”
GETTY
Another advisory warns of 6 inches of snow for those in the East Glacier Park Region and along the Southern Rocky Mountain Front, particularly in areas between 6,000 and 8,000 feet. Both advisories are currently in place until Tuesday evening.
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Those in Missoula and Bitterroot Valley are also subject to a winter storm watch advisory, with 3 inches of heavy, wet snow expected to fall on Sunday night through to Monday morning. During the same period, 1 to 5 inches of snow is forecast at Georgetown Lake, Macdonald Pass and along Highway 12, with five to 12 inches possible in the highest terrain.
6/13: Winter Storm Watches are in effect along the Divide Monday into Tuesday, June 17-18, where heavy wet snow is possible. The main concern is for hazardous backcountry conditions and an increased risk for power outages as snow loads onto vegetation and infrastructure. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/KKAnBan35m
— NWS Missoula (@NWSMissoula) June 14, 2024
Similar conditions are also expected overnight on Sunday along several roads, including the I-90 East Missoula to Bearmouth, Highway 200 from Bonner to Greenough, and Highway 83 from Seeley Lake to Condon. Motorists are encouraged to “slow down and use caution” while on the road.
Residents of the areas covered by the warnings are warned of the risk of hypothermia if heading out unprepared, with temperatures expected to drop to the low 30s. Overnight, the NWS X, formerly Twitter, account said “temperatures will be dropping into the 30s tonight across valley areas,” which could also have an adverse effect on plants as frost forms.
6/15: Temperatures will be dropping into the 30s tonight across valley areas! Frost is a concern for sensitive plants, especially along the divide! The graphic below shows probabilities for temperatures to drop to 36F or colder, which is typically when frost develops. #mtwx #idwx pic.twitter.com/ON9Q0PDI14
— NWS Missoula (@NWSMissoula) June 15, 2024
While Montanans feel the chill, other parts of the U.S. are expecting more predictable warm weather for this time of year. Excessive heat watch warnings are in place in the Midwest, and also Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Further south in Texas and New Mexico, heat advisories are also in place.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
MISSOULA, Mont. — The Montana Food Bank Network announced a new partnership with Albertsons and Safeway grocery stores.
The partnership will put advertisements in 40 Albertsons and Safeway grocery stores statewide to assist with fundraising for MFBN, the only statewide food bank.
This comes after MFBN launched its Campaign for Bigger Impact over a month ago, with the goal of raising $15 million. The organization is $3 million short of meeting the goal.
To learn more about the campaign, or to donate, click here.
The Montana Food Bank Network sent out the following:
Across the state, 1 in 9 Montanans don’t have enough food, including 1 in 6 children, and the need is only getting greater. As Montana’s only statewide food bank, Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) has a network of 360 partners statewide, including community food banks, pantries, schools, senior centers, shelters, and tribal centers. This summer, MFBN is partnering with Albertsons Companies, which has 40 Albertsons/Safeway grocery stores statewide—a fitting and timely partnership, as MFBN officially announced its Campaign for Bigger Impact just a little over one month ago. Through the campaign, MFBN will build a new facility that will allow it to source, store, and distribute more fresh, nutritious, and locally sourced food to its statewide partners.
“We are grateful for the ongoing partnership from Albertsons/Safeway stores in Montana,” said Bill Mathews, Chief Development Officer at MFBN. “Everyone has a part to play in ending hunger in Montana, and the support of Albertsons and their shoppers will have an impact in our communities across the state.”
Come early June, shoppers will find every Albertsons/Safeway store in the state of Montana supporting and advertising to help spread the word and raise funds towards the $3 million still needed to complete MFBN’s $15 million campaign.
“Hunger relief is the number one priority for Albertsons Companies,” said Kathy Holland, Communications and Public Relations for Albertsons Companies Intermountain Division. “Helping support individuals and families having access to food and helping support the programs at Montana Food Bank Network is just so incredibly important for us.”
To learn more about MFBN’s Campaign for Bigger Impact, visit www.mfbn.org/campaign-for-bigger-impact.
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