WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 Federal Clean Renewable Energy bonds totaling $31.7 million were awarded to the Green Electricity Buying Cooperative.

The Montana co-op announced it will use the funds to build two wind farm projects in McCone and Yellowstone Counties that will produce approximately 20 megawatts of clean power.

The money comes from a provision in the 2005 U.S. Energy Policy Act that allots $800 million in grants over two years for small renewable energy projects.

These bond grants open the door for everyday Montanans to get a piece of the green energy boom, said Russ Doty, executive director of GEBCO. We expect that these farm projects will be the first of many new clean energy profit centers for struggling Montana farmers and land owners.The hope is that the farmers and land owners will be able to sell the wind powered electricity as a cash crop.Only members of the co-op will be able to buy the renewable power, but Doty said membership is open. Any resident who is a customer of an investor-owned utility, qualifies under the law in Montana to become a member of GEBCO. As a result of increases in the cost of other fuel sources, 'green' power from wind in Colorado is now cheaper than 'black' energy from coal and oil, said board member Steve Corrick. GEBCO leaders hope these new projects will bring those economic benefits back to the local people.