Building Energy Economies in Rural Montana Event
June 25-26, 2026
Registration Cost? Zero Dollars.
Target Audience: Commissioners, County Attorneys, Planners
Please register so we have a headcount for lunch on June 26th.
Join us for the inaugural Building Energy Economies in Rural Montana Event, June 25th and 26th at the Custer County Event Center in Miles City. In partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo), we aim to equip Montana counties with the knowledge and strategies needed to successfully navigate the coming wave of energy development and rising energy demands across the state.
This two-day event features sessions on energy trends, rural energy perspectives, Montana policy updates, grid status, and community readiness, with presentations and discussions led by experts from the MACo, Rural Energy Academy, utilities, and other stakeholders. Topics include land use, solar, wind, batteries, nuclear energy, workforce development, and case studies from various counties and states.
See below for housing options.
Venue/Location
42 Garryowen Rd
Miles City, MT
Agenda Highlights
June 25 | 12:00 - 5:00 PM
- Energy Trends & the Impact on Rural Communities
Land Use, Solar, Batteries, Wind, Economics, and Community Benefits - Lay of the Land
An update on Montana policy and what is allowed - State of the Grid: An Export Story
NW Energy, Core Power, and Montana Dakota Utilities providing their perspectives on energy development, demand, data centers, and best practices for counties facing increased demand for siting/permitting new energy and new demands for energy (data centers). They will discuss their power supply and transmission capabilities, how they interface with current alternative energy, how they are planning to interface with future alternative energy development, how they are planning to adapt to an increased demand for power and particularly how they are responding to the pressure from data centers.
June 26 | 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- Tech Talk & Best Practices for Energy Development
A discussion on technology basics, emerging practices, example ordinances, incentives, safety, workforce, and community benefits - Community Readiness
A panel on county collaboration and benefits, workforce, and views through the lens of the developer - Peer Exchange Breakout Session
Breakout sessions on case Studies from various Montana Counties and facilitation, which will cover zoning and its impacts and how to structure formal and informal mitigation agreements. - Data Center Development: A Story from Peers
Folks from Texas and Iowa tell their story.
FULL AGENDA LINKED ABOVE
Accommodations
Accommodations
There are several hotels available in Miles City. Below you will find those that have rooms set aside for the event. Please reference the MACo room block when booking.
Miles City Hotel & Suites
Rooms Blocked: 50
Rate: King or Double Queen Deluxe $159, Standard King or Double Queen $129
Cutoff date: 5/8/26
Phone: 406-234-1000
Address: 1720 S. Haynes Ave., Miles City, MT 59301
Reference MACo room block to book
Fairbridge Inn & Suites
Rooms Blocked: 20
Rate: $139
Phone: 406-232-3661
Address: 3111 Steel Street, Miles City, MT 59301
Reference MACo room block to book
Sleep Inn & Suites
Rooms Blocked: 15
Rate: King Suite Rooms $154
Phone: 406-232-3000
Address: 1006 S. Haynes Ave., Miles City, MT 59301
Reference MACo room block to book
Location Info
Location
Map to Custer County Event Center
(click here for directions)
42 Garryowen Rd | Miles City, MT 59301
Contact Info
Event Contact Information
Main Contact
Meagan Gallagher
Phone: 406-441-5481
mgallagher@mtcounties.org
Secondary Contact
Shantil Siaperas
Phone: 406-449-4360
shantil@mtcounties.org