Solar is a ten above all other forms of energy. It needs no powerlines for transmission, has no moving parts, blends in well on roofs, is safe to work around, and produces power at the time of peak demand. Environmental impacts of solar are low.
In Western Montana, wind isn't that great, however, the Eastern Montana winds are a different story. We recommend starting with a good solid solar system and adding wind at a later date if there is sufficient energy gain in winter wind at your site.
The best opportunity for a great amount of power for the dollar spent is hydro. The problem being that not many places have a good hydro site. If yours does, then you can look at the potential for hydro before all other resources. Small hydro is fun and rewarding.