From Valley to Vanguard: Ravalli County’s Path to Trade Sovereignty by 2040

The Bitterroot Valley has always been a place of quiet strength. We grow what we eat, fix what we break, and help our neighbors before they ask. But beneath that self-sufficiency lies a hidden imbalance: every year, Montana imports billions in fossil fuels — and Ravalli County bears the cost in fuel bills, trade deficits, and economic leakage.

What if we flipped the script?

The 2040 Trade Balance Transition Plan is a bold, locally grounded roadmap to make Ravalli County a net contributor to Montana’s economy — not just through resilience, but through leadership. It’s about reducing fossil fuel imports, electrifying personal transport, expanding renewable exports, and deploying autonomous mobility that works for everyone, especially our seniors and rural families.

The Problem We Can Solve

  • Montana’s trade deficit: ~$5 billion/year

  • Ravalli’s fuel dependency: nearly total for personal transport

  • Fixed-income households: burdened by car ownership costs

  • Export potential: untapped in organic agriculture and solar energy

The Plan in Four Phases

Phase I (2025–2028):

  • EV pilots in Hamilton and Stevensville

  • Waymo autonomous shuttles for seniors and veterans

  • Local fuel sourcing audit begins

Phase II (2029–2032):

  • Rural charging corridors along US-93 and MT-38

  • Waymo expands to Darby and Florence

  • County fleet begins transition to local fuel

Phase III (2033–2036):

  • Full EV adoption in valley towns

  • Organic barley and lentil exports scaled

  • Carbon credits monetized through regenerative practices

Phase IV (2037–2040):

  • Fossil fuel import phase-out for personal transport

  • Ravalli becomes a net contributor to Montana’s trade balance

  • Waymo normalized as public mobility infrastructure

Why This Works for Ravalli

  • Local fuel sourcing: Partnering with in-state refineries to supply ag and freight

  • EV + Waymo: Reduces household costs, expands access, and eliminates the need to drive for many residents

  • Organic exports: Ravalli’s farms already lead in quality — now we scale for global demand

  • Solar potential: Eastside benches and Darby flats offer ideal conditions for micro-export zones

Who Benefits

  • Seniors: Safe, autonomous mobility without the cost of car ownership

  • Farmers: Lower fuel costs, new revenue from carbon credits and exports

  • Youth: Shared EV access and Waymo school routes

  • Tribal neighbors: Co-owned fleets and export partnerships

  • Everyone: A stronger local economy, cleaner air, and energy independence

The 2040 Vision

Imagine Ravalli County where:

  • Our seniors ride safely without driving

  • Our crops feed a warming world

  • Our energy powers other states

  • Our trade ledger is in the black

  • Our economy is sovereign, resilient, and future-ready

This isn’t about mandates. It’s about mobility without burden, energy without imports, and exports without compromise.

Let Ravalli lead.

Want to get involved? Reach out to your county commissioner, Ravalli Electric Co-op, or BitterrootValley.org. The future isn’t waiting — and neither should we.