Yellowstone Bend Citizens Council

Yellowstone Bend Citizens Council is a volunteer organization that uses the power of grassroots community organizing to create a healthier, happier community by increasing renewable energy, decreasing waste, and protecting the quality and biodiversity of life in Park County. We hold ourselves and our government accountable to ensuring our natural surroundings remain intact for future generations. Yellowstone Bend uses the immense power that community organizing can wield to promote local engagement in critical decisions that affect present and future generations. 

We are currently fundraising for solar installation projects including those that will directly decrease emissions and lower energy costs for rural, low income families in Park County, and help maintain the pool of affordable, single family homes that we currently have in our community.

Founded in 2013, Yellowstone Bend Citizens Council is an affiliate of Northern Plains Resource Council. We've initiated and fundraised for a number of important community solar projects: The Carnegie Library (2016) the Senior Center (2018), the City Water Reclamation Facility (2019), the Gateway Museum (2020), the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts (2020), the Head Start Center (2021), Winans Elementary School (2022), Park County Fairgrounds, (2024), the Sherwood Building (2024), Bluebunch Apartments (2025), and the Livingston Food Resource Center (2026).

Through Northern Plains we take part in statewide legislative and grassroots campaigns including C-PACE (Property Assessed Commercial Enhancements), which passed in our 2021 session, and the Montana Solar Shares Act, which would open up more opportunity for our county and state.

Testimonials

I have been a member of YBCC since their inception. YBCC plays an integral and valuable role in our community. I especially appreciate their engagement on energy issues and was more than happy to lend my support in the campaign to make C-PACE become law in the most recent Montana legislative session, a very important victory. I expect to make use of this new law to get solar on my store, Dan Bailey's Outdoor Co.! -Dale Sexton, owner, Dan Bailey's Outdoor Co.