title: "Solar on a Rural Property in Montana" summary: "Ground-mounted solar on a cattle ranch 15 miles from the nearest town — how rural solar works when you're off the beaten path." storyType: solar state: MT savingsMonthly: 120 systemSize: "12.0 kW ground-mount" date: "2026-03-20" tags:
- solar
- montana
- rural
- ground-mount
- agriculture
Our Setup
Our property is a 160-acre cattle ranch outside of Billings, Montana. The house is a 2,800 sq ft 1990s ranch-style, heated with propane and cooled minimally (Montana doesn't need much AC). We also run a well pump, shop equipment, and various farm loads.
Monthly electricity: ~$180 (NorthWestern Energy, ~1,500 kWh/month). Monthly propane: ~$200 average (more in winter). Combined: $380/month.
Why Ground-Mount
Two reasons:
- Roof condition. Our roof is older (metal, but showing its age). Mounting panels on it would complicate future roof replacement.
- Space. On 160 acres, we have plenty of room. A ground-mount system placed in the pasture near the barn is easier to install, maintain, and expand.
System Design
| Component | Detail | |---|---| | Panels | 30 × Longi Hi-MO 6 400W | | Total capacity | 12.0 kW DC | | Inverter | SolarEdge SE10000H + optimizers | | Mounting | Ground-mount, fixed tilt (45°), south-facing | | Array location | 200 ft from house (trenched conduit) | | Annual production (est.) | ~16,000 kWh |
Why Fixed Tilt (Not Tracking)
Single-axis trackers can boost production by 15–25%, but:
- Much higher cost ($0.30–$0.50/W additional)
- Moving parts = maintenance (a concern in Montana winters with snow and ice)
- Our straight south orientation at 45° tilt already captures excellent production for our latitude
We optimized the tilt for year-round production rather than summer peak, since winter electricity is most valuable (longer nights, more lighting, heating load).
Installation
Ground-mount installation took 3 days:
- Day 1: Augured posts into ground, set racking foundations. Our soil (clay/loam) was straightforward. Some rock required a rock bit but nothing unusual.
- Day 2: Installed racking, panels, optimizers. Trenched 200 ft of conduit from array to electrical panel in the house.
- Day 3: Completed wiring, installed SolarEdge inverter in garage, connected to panel, NorthWestern Energy net meter installed.
Total installation disruption: minimal. No roof work, no scaffolding, no interior access needed.
Costs
| Item | Amount | |------|-----:| | 12 kW ground-mount system | $32,000 | | Trenching (200 ft) | $1,800 | | Federal 30% ITC | -$10,140 | | Montana alternative energy credit | -$1,000 | | Net cost | $22,660 |
Ground-mount is typically $0.15–$0.30/W more expensive than roof-mount due to the racking structure and trenching. On our system, that was about $2,000–$3,500 extra.
First Year Results
Production
Annual production: 16,450 kWh (103% of estimate — Montana's clear skies and high altitude deliver excellent solar irradiance).
| Season | Monthly Avg Production | Monthly Avg Consumption | |--------|:-:|:-:| | Winter (Nov-Feb) | 750 kWh | 1,800 kWh | | Spring (Mar-May) | 1,600 kWh | 1,300 kWh | | Summer (Jun-Aug) | 2,000 kWh | 1,100 kWh | | Fall (Sep-Oct) | 1,300 kWh | 1,300 kWh |
Bill Impact
Under NorthWestern Energy's net metering:
- Spring/summer: bank significant credits (export 500+ kWh/month)
- Fall: roughly break even
- Winter: draw down banked credits + small grid purchase
| Period | Before | After | |--------|:-:|:-:| | Annual electricity | $2,160 | $720 | | Annual savings | — | $1,440 |
Monthly savings average: $120/month.
The Snow Question
"But what about snow on the panels?" We get asked this constantly.
Our panels are tilted at 45° — a steep enough angle that snow slides off relatively quickly (usually within 24–48 hours after a storm, assisted by dark panel surfaces warming slightly even in winter). For the occasional heavy, sticky snow:
- We leave it alone. A few days of reduced production isn't worth the effort or risk of climbing on a ground-mount array.
- Ground-mount makes clearing possible with a soft-bristle broom on an extension pole — something you can't easily do on a roof.
- Total production loss from snow: estimated 3–5% annually.
Livestock Compatibility
The panels sit in a fenced section of pasture. We fenced around the array with standard field wire to keep cattle from rubbing against panels (they would — cattle scratch on everything). Some ranchers use solar arrays as shade structures for livestock, which is fine as long as:
- Panels are high enough (6+ ft clearance minimum)
- Animals can't damage wiring
- Grazing keeps vegetation from shading panels
We let sheep graze under our array in summer — natural vegetation management.
Payback
$22,660 net cost ÷ $1,440/year = 15.7-year payback.
Longer than urban installations due to lower electricity rates and higher ground-mount costs. But:
- The system produces for 25+ years, generating net savings for a decade beyond payback
- NorthWestern Energy has been requesting rate increases — each increase improves our return
- The system adds property value (particularly important for rural property sales)
What We'd Tell Other Rural Property Owners
- Ground-mount is your advantage. Land is your biggest asset — use it. No roof constraints, better airflow for panel cooling, easier maintenance.
- Trenching costs vary. Rock, distance from house, and your soil all matter. Get a site assessment before committing.
- Snow isn't a dealbreaker. Montana, Wyoming, Colorado — all excellent solar states despite winter weather. Steep tilt handles most snow naturally.
- Check your utility's net metering. NorthWestern Energy offers net metering in Montana, but policies vary. Cooperative utilities may have different rules.
- Agricultural exemptions. Some counties have property tax exemptions for renewable energy installations on agricultural land. We pay zero additional property tax on our solar array (Montana exempts renewable energy equipment from property tax for 10 years).
- Plan for expansion. We left space in our ground-mount array for another 6 kW if we add a heat pump or EV in the future. Easy to extend a ground-mount system.