Founded in 2013, Yellowstone Bend Citizens Council is an affiliate of Northern Plains Resource Council. We are a volunteer organization that uses the power of grassroots community organizing to create a healthier and happier community by increasing renewable energy, decreasing waste, and protecting the quality and biodiversity of life in Park County. We have four main working groups: Energy Equity, Rail Watch, Less is More, and the Park Electric Co-op.

We are currently fundraising for our Energy Equity group which drives renewable energy projects that decrease emissions and lower energy costs for our community.

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), and Sherwood Building (2024). We are currently working to advance solar projects on other important community buildings in town!

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 became a district in Park County (MT's first). This bill makes energy efficiency and solar upgrades on our commercial buildings possible with no upfront or monthly costs!

YBCC lives the principles of community organizing. We provide the opportunity for people to learn the core skills that keep our democracy alive-public speaking, taking leadership roles, running successful meetings and working with others to choose issues and pathways to move forward.