Tavenner Files for PSC District 4

ISSOULA - Lee Tavenner of Missoula has filed for Public Service Commission (PSC) for District 4 as a Democrat. Lee filed on March 11.

Tavenner is co-owner of Solar Plexus, a solar installation company in Missoula. Tavenner and Mary Hamilton started Solar Plexus in 1994 and have done numerous solar and small hydro installations since then. Son Rip Hamilton joined the company in 2000. The company remains active in the solar installation business in Missoula.

Tavenner also owns the Little Gold Project, a 500 KW small hydroelectric project in Granite County near Maxville that was built in 1988. This project runs water through a mile–and-a-half-long 15-inch pipeline to drive a pelton turbine and 600 horsepower motor to produce electricity that is fed into the western utility grid. The project has sold power to Montana Power and NorthWestern Energy.

Tavenner is seeking the PSC position in order to help shape the coming transition to renewable energy. Tavenner feels rooftop solar is one of the most promising and valuable sources of electricity for Montana and the nation's future.

Having devoted his life to the furtherance of renewable energy, Tavenner feels he would add balance to the PSC. Tavenner believes we can find solutions that preserve the clean air and water of our beautiful state, solutions that can be good both economically and environmentally for Montana.

Tavenner grew up on a ranch near Deer Lodge, Mont. He went to high school at Verde Valley School in Sedona, Ariz., and went to college at Harvard University and Antioch College. He holds a degree in communications.

Tavenner returned to Montana after college and lived in the Philipsburg Valley in Maxville.

Tavenner has also been active with solar education and training in the Missoula area.