A developer is betting Montana's wind and sun can power the region's next chapter. Montana's economy is changing fast, and a new generation of leaders is steering the shift.

Ford's firm develops wind projects across Montana's high plains.

What sets it apart

He sees ranchers as key partners in the energy transition. That detail is easy to overlook, but it helps explain the pull this place has on Montanans and visitors alike.

The company reinvests lease income into rural communities.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern Rockies and the people drawn to them. Their bets on Montana may well shape the state's next chapter.