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Members of the public interested in joining the task force to identify and evaluate alternatives for re-purposing the Rainbow Powerhouse are encouraged to attend a meeting on Thursday, February 23 at 1:30 p.m. in the Gibson Room of the Civic Center, 2 Park Drive South.

Since the initial meeting in January, PPL Montana has provided additional information including hazardous materials studies and building site plans to help in formulating potential reuses for the powerhouse.

Lisa Perry, PPL Montana community affairs manager, will open the session and provide background on the Rainbow Powerhouse retirement and the status of the current project.

Ellen Sievert, the City-County Historic Preservation Officer, says that "examples highlighting many successful powerhouse and industrial building adaptive reuse projects have been pouring in from around the country and they will be shown at the meeting, along with strategies used in the creative adaptive reuse projects."

Next steps in the process will also discussed, along with the establishment of a working group to focus on the potential repurposing of the powerhouse. For more information regarding the meeting contact Ellen Sievert at 455-8435.

(November 30, 2011) The Rainbow Dam powerhouse is about to be retired, but many people hope it's only the start of something new for the historic site.

That was the consensus at a public meeting held in Black Eagle on Tuesday night.

The six-month public comment period opened this week.

PPL Montana, which owns the structure, tossed around the idea of tearing the building down, selling or donating it, or a combination of both.

They also pointed out challenges for the structure and the land surrounding it, including high voltage equipment, foundation and structural integrity, possible asbestos, and its location on a flood plain.

Community members shared several different ideas for the building, with most agreeing that it should stay standing and be re-developed for a new purpose.

PPL says others have suggested turning the structure into a micro-brewery, while another group requested a generator to use for training purposes.

PPL will accept ideas for the building until May 31st.

People in interested in submitting proposals, or requesting more information about the site and the building for a proposal, should email Carrie Harris at rainbowretirement@pplweb.com.