List of power stations in Montana
Sources of Montana utility-scale electricity generation:
full-year 2022
Coal (42.4%)
Hydroelectric (38.1%)
Wind (14.9%)
Natural Gas (2.5%)
Petroleum (1.7%)
Solar (0.3%)
Biomass (0.1%)
This is a list of electricity-generating power stations in the U.S. state of Montana, sorted by type and name. In 2021, Montana had a total summer capacity of 6,067 MW through all of its power plants, and a net generation of 27,266 GWh in 2022. The corresponding electrical energy generation mix was 42.4% coal, 38.1% hydroelectric, 14.9% wind, 2.5% natural gas, 1.7% petroleum, 0.1% biomass and 0.3% solar. Small-scale solar, including customer-owned photovoltaic panels, delivered 53 GWh to the state's electrical grid.
During 2019, Montana exported about one-half of the electricity generated by its power plants to other states. Montana has the largest recoverable deposits of coal in the nation, accounting for 30% of U.S. reserves. In recent years three-quarters of the coal mined in Montana has been exported, with over one-third going to Asia via western Canada.
Nuclear power stations
Montana had no utility-scale plants that used fissile material as a fuel in 2022.
Fossil-fuel power stations
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference.
Coal
A useful map of coal generation plants is provided by the Sierra Club.
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) |
Year Opened |
Scheduled Retirement | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colstrip Steam Electric Station | Rosebud County | 45.8831°N 106.614°W / 45.8831; -106.614 (Colstrip Coal Plant) | 1480 | 1975 (Unit 1- 340MW) 1976 (Unit 2- 340MW) 1984 (Unit 3- 740MW) 1986 (Unit 4- 740MW) |
2020 (Unit 1- closed) 2020 (Unit 2- closed) 2027 (Unit 3) 2027 (Unit 4) |
|
| Colstrip Energy LP Plant | Rosebud County | 45.9752°N 106.6547°W / 45.9752; -106.6547 (Colstrip Energy LP Plant) | 38 | 1990 | TBD | |
| Hardin Generator Project | Big Horn County | 45.7578°N 107.6000°W / 45.7578; -107.6000 (Hardin Generator Project) | 107 | 2006 | TBD | |
| Lewis & Clark Station | Richland County | 47.6785°N 104.1566°W / 47.6785; -104.1566 (Lewis & Clark Station) | 53 | 1958 | 2021 (closed) | |
| Sidney Sugars Plant | Richland County | 47.7172°N 104.1356°W / 47.7172; -104.1356 (Sydney Sugars Plant) | 4.0 | 1950 | TBD |
A The Hardin facility was mostly idle and is re-ramping to service cryptocurrency mining.
Natural Gas and Petroleum
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) |
Fuel Type |
Generation Type |
Year Opened |
Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basin Creek Generation Plant | Silver Bow County | 45.9293°N 112.5194°W / 45.9293; -112.5194 (Basin Creek Plant) | 54 | gas | Reciprocating Engine (x9) | 2006 | |
| Culbertson Generation Station | Roosevelt County | 48.2100°N 104.3917°W / 48.2100; -104.3917 (Culbertson Generation Station) | 85 | gas | Simple Cycle | 2010 | |
| Dave Gates Generating Station | Deer Lodge County | 46.1047°N 112.8766°W / 46.1047; -112.8766 (Dave Gates Generating Station) | 150 | gas | Simple Cycle (x3) | 2011 | |
| Glendive Gas Turbine | Dawson County | 47.0539°N 104.7400°W / 47.0539; -104.7400 (Glendive GT Plant) | 75 | gas | Simple Cycle (x2) | 1979/2003 | |
| Miles City Gas Turbine | Custer County | 46.4112°N 105.7953°W / 46.4112; -105.7953 (Miles City GT Plant) | 24 | gas | Simple Cycle | 1972 | |
| OREG 1 & 2 | Roosevelt County | 48.2141°N 104.3975°W / 48.2141; -104.3975 (OREG 1/2) | 40 | waste heat from gas compressor turbine | ORC Generator (x8) | 2006/2009 | |
| Phillips 66 Billings Refinery | Yellowstone County | 45.7769°N 108.4911°W / 45.7769; -108.4911 (Billing Refinery) | 1.5 | petroleum gases | Steam Turbine | 2007 | |
| Yellowstone Energy | Yellowstone County | 45.8117°N 108.4278°W / 45.8117; -108.4278 (Yellowstone Plant) | 52 | petroleum | Steam Turbine | 1995 |
A formerly Mill Creek Generating Station
Renewable power stations
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference.
Biomass
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) |
Fuel | Generation Type |
Year Opened |
Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoltze CoGen1 | Flathead County | 48.3877°N 114.2409°W / 48.3877; -114.2409 (Stoltze Cogen) | 3.0 | wood/wood waste | Steam Turbine | 2013 |
Hydroelectric
Additional Montana hydroelectric general references:
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) |
Number of Turbines |
Year Opened |
Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigfork Hydro | Flathead | 4.5 | 3 | 1908 | ||
| Black Eagle Hydro | Cascade County | 47.5213°N 111.2614°W / 47.5213; -111.2614 (Black Eagle Hydro) | 21 | 3 | 1927 | |
| Broadwater Power Project | Broadwater County | 46.1206°N 111.4076°W / 46.1206; -111.4076 (Broadwater Power Project) | 9.7 | 1 | 1989 | |
| Canyon Ferry Powerplant | Lewis and Clark County | 46.6490°N 111.7279°W / 46.6490; -111.7279 (Canyon Ferry Powerplant) | 57.6 | 3 | 1953-1954 | |
| Cochrane Hydro | Cascade County | 47.5375°N 111.1950°W / 47.5375; -111.1950 (Cochrane Hydro) | 62 | 2 | 1958 | |
| Flint Creek Hydro | Granite County | 46.2275°N 113.2947°W / 46.2275; -113.2947 (Flint Creek Hydro) | 2.0 | 1 | 2013 | |
| Fort Peck Hydropower Plant | McCone County | 48.0122°N 106.4123°W / 48.0122; -106.4123 (Fort Peck Hydropower Plant) | 218 | 5 | 1943/1948/ 1951/1961 |
|
| Hauser Hydro | Lewis and Clark County | 46.7659°N 111.8873°W / 46.7659; -111.8873 (Hauser Hydro) | 18.2 | 6 | 1911 | |
| Holter Hydro | Cascade County | 46.9915°N 112.0047°W / 46.9915; -112.0047 (Holter Hydro) | 53.2 | 4 | 1918 | |
| Hungry Horse Powerplant | Flathead County | 48.3415°N 114.0144°W / 48.3415; -114.0144 (Hungry Horse Hydro Powerplant) | 427 | 4 | 1952-1953 | |
| Libby Hydro Plant | Lincoln County | 48.4098°N 115.3143°W / 48.4098; -115.3143 (Libby Hydro Plant) | 525 | 5 | 1975-1976/ 1984 |
|
| Madison Hydro | Madison County | 45.4879°N 111.6338°W / 45.4879; -111.6338 (Madison Hydro) | 8.0 | 4 | 1906/1908 | |
| Morony Hydro | Cascade County | 47.5817°N 111.0609°W / 47.5817; -111.0609 (Morony Hydro) | 49 | 2 | 1930 | |
| Mystic Lake Hydro | Stillwater County | 45.2257°N 109.7625°W / 45.2257; -109.7625 (Mystic Lake Hydro) | 12 | 2 | 1925 | |
| Noxon Rapids Hydro | Sanders County | 47.9605°N 115.7336°W / 47.9605; -115.7336 (Noxon Rapids Hydro Plant) | 580 | 5 | 1959-1960/ 1977 |
|
| Rainbow Hydro | Cascade County | 47.5344°N 111.2045°W / 47.5344; -111.2045 (Rainbow Hydro) | 64 | 1 | 2013 | |
| Ryan Hydro | Cascade County | 47.5699°N 111.1225°W / 47.5699; -111.1225 (Ryan Hydro) | 69.5 | 6 | 1915-1916 | |
| Seli's Ksanka Qlispe' Hydro (formerly Kerr Dam Hydro) |
Lake County | 47.6777°N 114.2339°W / 47.6777; -114.2339 (Seli's Ksanka Qlispe' Hydro) | 206 | 3 | 1938/1949/ 1954 |
|
| South Dry Creek Hydro | Carbon County | 45.2063°N 109.1652°W / 45.2063; -109.1652 (South Dry Creek Hydro) | 2.0 | 1 | 1985 | |
| Thompson Falls Hydro | Sanders County | 47.5932°N 115.3582°W / 47.5932; -115.3582 (Thompson Falls Hydro) | 94 | 7 | 1915-1917 | |
| Tiber Dam Hydro | Liberty County | 48.318°N 111.1018°W / 48.318; -111.1018 (Tiber Dam Hydro) | 7.5 | 1 | 2004 | |
| Turnbull Hydro | Teton County | 47.6053°N 112.0969°W / 47.6053; -112.0969 (Turnbull Hydro) | 13 | 2 | 2011 | |
| Yellowtail Powerplant | Big Horn County | 45.3074°N 107.9575°W / 45.3074; -107.9575 (Yellowtail Powerplant) | 278 | 4 | 1966 |
Wind
| Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MW) |
Number of Turbines |
Year Opened |
Turbine Mfg Spec |
Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Timber Wind Farm (Greycliff) | Sweet Grass County | 45.8554°N 109.6492°W / 45.8554; -109.6492 (Big Timber Wind) | 25 | 14 | 2018 | GE 1.8MW | |
| Diamond Willow Wind Facility | Fallon County | 46.2753°N 104.1836°W / 46.2753; -104.1836 (Diamond Willow Wind) | 30 | 20 | 2008 | GE 1.5MW | |
| Fairfield Wind | Teton County | 47.7233°N 111.9653°W / 47.7233; -111.9653 (Fairfield Wind) | 10 | 6 | 2014 | GE 1.6/1.7MW | |
| Glacier Wind I&II | Glacier County Toole County |
48.5333°N 112.1847°W / 48.5333; -112.1847 (Glacier Wind) | 210 | 140 | 2008 | Acciona 1.5MW | |
| Gordon Butte Wind | Meagher County | 46.4119°N 110.3378°W / 46.4119; -110.3378 (Gordon Butte Wind) | 17.7 | 9 | 2012 2018 |
GE 1.6MW GE 2.7MW |
|
| Greenfield Wind | Teton County | 47.7230°N 111.9630°W / 47.7230; -111.9630 (Greenfield Wind) | 25 | 13 | 2016 | GE 2.3MW | |
| Horseshoe Bend Wind Park | Cascade County | 47.4983°N 111.4392°W / 47.4983; -111.4392 (Horseshoe Bend Wind Park) | 9.0 | 6 | 2006 | GE 1.5MW | |
| Judith Gap Wind Energy Center | Wheatland County | 46.5725°N 109.7531°W / 46.5725; -109.7531 (Judith Gap Wind) | 135 | 90 | 2006 | GE 1.5MW | |
| Musselshell Wind Project I&II | Wheatland County | 46.2753°N 109.4827°W / 46.2753; -109.4827 (Musselshell Wind) | 20 | 14 | 2013 | GE 1.5MW | |
| Pryor Mountain Wind Project | Carbon County | 45°08′05″N 108°41′12″W | 240 | 114 | 2020 | Vestas 2.0/2.2MW GE 2.3MW |
|
| Rim Rock Wind Farm | Glacier County Toole County |
48.8202°N 112.1033°W / 48.8202; -112.1033 (Rim Rock Wind) | 189 | 126 | 2012 | Acciona 1.5MW | |
| Spion Kop Wind Farm | Judith Basin County | 47.3333°N 110.6392°W / 47.3333; -110.6392 (Spion Kop Wind) | 40 | 25 | 2013 | GE 1.6MW | |
| Stillwater Wind | Stillwater County | 45.8658°N 109.4766°W / 45.8658; -109.4766 (Stillwater Wind) | 80 | 31 | 2018 | Siemens-Gamesa 2.3/2.6MW | |
| South Peak Wind | Judith Basin County | 47.3299°N 110.6146°W / 47.3299; -110.6146 (South Peak Wind) | 80 | 29 | 2020 | GE 2.3/2.5MW | |
| Two Dot Wind Farm | Wheatland County | 46.4494°N 110.0872°W / 46.4494; -110.0872 (Two Dot Wind) | 9.7 | 6 | 2014 | GE 1.6MW |
A formerly Mud Springs Wind
Solar
| Project Name | Location | Coordinates | Capacity (MWAC) |
Year Opened |
Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Eagle Solar | Cascade County | 47.5475°N 111.2540°W / 47.5475; -111.2540 (Black Eagle Solar) | 3.0 | 2017 | |
| Great Divide Solar | Lewis and Clark County | 46.8057°N 112.2490°W / 46.8057; -112.2490 (Great Divide Solar) | 3.0 | 2017 | |
| Green Meadow Solar | Lewis and Clark County | 46.6945°N 112.0636°W / 46.6945; -112.0636 (Green Meadow Solar) | 3.0 | 2017 | |
| Magpie Solar | Golden Valley County | 46.2914°N 108.9379°W / 46.2914; -108.9379 (Magpie Solar) | 3.0 | 2017 | |
| River Bend Solar | Stillwater County | 45.7038°N 109.5652°W / 45.7038; -109.5652 (River Bend Solar) | 2.0 | 2017 | |
| South Mills Solar | Big Horn County | 45.7301°N 107.6326°W / 45.7301; -107.6326 (South Mills Solar) | 3.0 | 2017 |
Storage power stations
Montana had no utility-scale storage power stations in 2019. A proposed facility is the 400MW/1300MWh Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Project.