List of power stations in Montana

Sources of Montana utility-scale electricity generation in gigawatt-hours, full-year 2024: ^[1]

1. Coal: 9,754 (37.0%)
2. Hydroelectric: 8,616 (32.7%)
3. Wind: 5,853 (22.2%)
4. Natural gas: 1,096 (4.16%)
5. Petroleum: 394 (1.49%)
6. Solar: 367 (1.39%)
7. Biomass: 24 (0.09%)
8. Other: 256 (0.97%)

This is a list of electricity-generating power stations in the U.S. state of Montana , sorted by type and name. In 2023, Montana had a total summer capacity of 6,698 MW through all of its power plants, and a net generation of 26,895 GWh. ^[2] In 2024, the electrical energy generation mix was 37% coal, 32.7% hydroelectric, 22.2% wind, 4.2% natural gas, 1.5% petroleum, 1.4% solar, 0.1% biomass, and 1% other. Small-scale solar, including customer-owned photovoltaic panels, delivered and additional 107 GWh to the state's electrical grid in 2024. ^[1]

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. ^[3]

Montana power grid

Montana electricity generation by type

Nuclear power stations

Montana had no utility-scale plants that used fissile material as a fuel in 2022. ^[1]

Fossil-fuel power stations

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference. ^[4]

Coal

A useful map ^[5] of coal generation plants is provided by the Sierra Club.

Name	Location	Coordinates	Capacity (MW)	Year opened	Scheduled Retirement	Refs
Colstrip Energy LP Plant	Rosebud County	45°58′31″N106°39′17″W / 45.9752°N 106.6547°W / 45.9752; -106.6547 (Colstrip Energy LP Plant)	38	1990	TBD	[6] [7]
Colstrip Steam Electric Station	Rosebud County	45°52′59″N106°36′50″W / 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)	[8] [9] [10]
Hardin Generator Project	Big Horn County	45°45′28″N107°36′00″W / 45.7578°N 107.6000°W / 45.7578; -107.6000 (Hardin Generator Project)	107	2006	TBD [A]	[11]
Lewis & Clark Station	Richland County	47°40′43″N104°09′24″W / 47.6785°N 104.1566°W / 47.6785; -104.1566 (Lewis & Clark Station)	53	1958	2021 (closed)	[12] [13] [14] [15]
Sidney Sugars Plant	Richland County	47°43′02″N104°08′08″W / 47.7172°N 104.1356°W / 47.7172; -104.1356 (Sydney Sugars Plant)	4.0	1950	TBD	[16]

^A The Hardin facility was mostly idle and is re-ramping to service cryptocurrency mining. ^[17]

Natural gas and petroleum

Name	Location	Coordinates	Capacity (MW)	Fuel type	Generation type	Year opened	Refs
Basin Creek Generation Plant	Silver Bow County	45°55′45″N112°31′10″W / 45.9293°N 112.5194°W / 45.9293; -112.5194 (Basin Creek Plant)	54	Gas	Reciprocating engine (x9)	2006	[18] [19]
Culbertson Generation Station	Roosevelt County	48°12′36″N104°23′30″W / 48.2100°N 104.3917°W / 48.2100; -104.3917 (Culbertson Generation Station)	85	Gas	Simple cycle	2010	[20]
Dave Gates Generating Station [A]	Deer Lodge County	46°06′17″N112°52′36″W / 46.1047°N 112.8766°W / 46.1047; -112.8766 (Dave Gates Generating Station)	150	Gas	Simple cycle (x3)	2011	[21]
Glendive Gas Turbine	Dawson County	47°03′14″N104°44′24″W / 47.0539°N 104.7400°W / 47.0539; -104.7400 (Glendive GT Plant)	75	Gas	Simple cycle (x2)	1979/2003	[22]
Lewis & Clark 2	Richland County	47°40′45″N104°09′36″W / 47.6791°N 104.1600°W / 47.6791; -104.1600 (Lewis & Clark 2 Station)	19	Gas	Internal combustion (x2)	2015	[23] [24]
Miles City Gas Turbine	Custer County	46°24′40″N105°47′43″W / 46.4112°N 105.7953°W / 46.4112; -105.7953 (Miles City GT Plant)	24	Gas	Simple cycle	1972	[25]
OREG 1 & 2	Roosevelt County	48°12′51″N104°23′51″W / 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	[26]
Phillips 66 Billings Refinery	Yellowstone County	45°46′37″N108°29′28″W / 45.7769°N 108.4911°W / 45.7769; -108.4911 (Billing Refinery)	1.5	Petroleum gases	Steam turbine	2007
Yellowstone Energy	Yellowstone County	45°48′42″N108°25′40″W / 45.8117°N 108.4278°W / 45.8117; -108.4278 (Yellowstone Plant)	52	Petroleum	Steam turbine	1995	[27]

^A Formerly Mill Creek Generating Station

Renewable power stations

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference. ^[4]

Biomass

Name	Location	Coordinates	Capacity (MW)	Fuel	Generation type	Year opened	Refs
Stoltze CoGen1	Flathead County	48°23′16″N114°14′27″W / 48.3877°N 114.2409°W / 48.3877; -114.2409 (Stoltze Cogen)	3.0	Wood/wood waste	Steam turbine	2013	[28]

Hydroelectric

See also: List of dams and reservoirs in Montana

Additional Montana hydroelectric general references: ^{[29] [30]}

Name	Location	Coordinates	Capacity (MW)	Number of turbines	Year opened	Refs
Bigfork Hydro	Flathead		4.5	3	1908
Black Eagle Hydro	Cascade County	47°31′17″N111°15′41″W / 47.5213°N 111.2614°W / 47.5213; -111.2614 (Black Eagle Hydro)	21	3	1927	[31]
Broadwater Power Project	Broadwater County	46°07′14″N111°24′27″W / 46.1206°N 111.4076°W / 46.1206; -111.4076 (Broadwater Power Project)	9.7	1	1989	[32]
Canyon Ferry Powerplant	Lewis and Clark County	46°38′56″N111°43′40″W / 46.6490°N 111.7279°W / 46.6490; -111.7279 (Canyon Ferry Powerplant)	57.6	3	1953-1954	[33]
Cochrane Hydro	Cascade County	47°32′15″N111°11′42″W / 47.5375°N 111.1950°W / 47.5375; -111.1950 (Cochrane Hydro)	62	2	1958	[31]
Flint Creek Hydro	Granite County	46°13′39″N113°17′41″W / 46.2275°N 113.2947°W / 46.2275; -113.2947 (Flint Creek Hydro)	2.0	1	2013	[34]
Fort Peck Hydropower Plant	McCone County	48°00′44″N106°24′44″W / 48.0122°N 106.4123°W / 48.0122; -106.4123 (Fort Peck Hydropower Plant)	218	5	1943/1948/ 1951/1961	[35]
Hauser Hydro	Lewis and Clark County	46°45′57″N111°53′14″W / 46.7659°N 111.8873°W / 46.7659; -111.8873 (Hauser Hydro)	18.2	6	1911	[31]
Holter Hydro	Cascade County	46°59′29″N112°00′17″W / 46.9915°N 112.0047°W / 46.9915; -112.0047 (Holter Hydro)	53.2	4	1918	[31]
Hungry Horse Powerplant	Flathead County	48°20′29″N114°00′52″W / 48.3415°N 114.0144°W / 48.3415; -114.0144 (Hungry Horse Hydro Powerplant)	427	4	1952-1953	[36]
Libby Hydro Plant	Lincoln County	48°24′35″N115°18′51″W / 48.4098°N 115.3143°W / 48.4098; -115.3143 (Libby Hydro Plant)	525	5	1975-1976/ 1984	[37]
Madison Hydro	Madison County	45°29′16″N111°38′02″W / 45.4879°N 111.6338°W / 45.4879; -111.6338 (Madison Hydro)	8.0	4	1906/1908	[31]
Morony Hydro	Cascade County	47°34′54″N111°03′39″W / 47.5817°N 111.0609°W / 47.5817; -111.0609 (Morony Hydro)	49	2	1930	[31]
Mystic Lake Hydro	Stillwater County	45°13′33″N109°45′45″W / 45.2257°N 109.7625°W / 45.2257; -109.7625 (Mystic Lake Hydro)	12	2	1925	[31]
Noxon Rapids Hydro	Sanders County	47°57′38″N115°44′01″W / 47.9605°N 115.7336°W / 47.9605; -115.7336 (Noxon Rapids Hydro Plant)	580	5	1959-1960/ 1977	[38]
Rainbow Hydro	Cascade County	47°32′04″N111°12′16″W / 47.5344°N 111.2045°W / 47.5344; -111.2045 (Rainbow Hydro)	64	1	2013	[31]
Ryan Hydro	Cascade County	47°34′12″N111°07′21″W / 47.5699°N 111.1225°W / 47.5699; -111.1225 (Ryan Hydro)	69.5	6	1915-1916	[31]
Seli's Ksanka Qlispe' Hydro (formerly Kerr Dam Hydro)	Lake County	47°40′40″N114°14′02″W / 47.6777°N 114.2339°W / 47.6777; -114.2339 (Seli's Ksanka Qlispe' Hydro)	206	3	1938/1949/ 1954	[31]
South Dry Creek Hydro	Carbon County	45°12′23″N109°09′55″W / 45.2063°N 109.1652°W / 45.2063; -109.1652 (South Dry Creek Hydro)	2.0	1	1985	[39]
Thompson Falls Hydro	Sanders County	47°35′36″N115°21′30″W / 47.5932°N 115.3582°W / 47.5932; -115.3582 (Thompson Falls Hydro)	94	7	1915-1917	[31]
Tiber Dam Hydro	Liberty County	48°19′05″N111°06′06″W / 48.318°N 111.1018°W / 48.318; -111.1018 (Tiber Dam Hydro)	7.5	1	2004	[29]
Turnbull Hydro	Teton County	47°36′19″N112°05′49″W / 47.6053°N 112.0969°W / 47.6053; -112.0969 (Turnbull Hydro)	13	2	2011	[40]
Yellowtail Powerplant	Big Horn County	45°18′27″N107°57′27″W / 45.3074°N 107.9575°W / 45.3074; -107.9575 (Yellowtail Powerplant)	278	4	1966	[41]

Wind

See also: Wind power in Montana

Name	Location	Coordinates	Capacity (MW)	Number of turbines	Year opened	Turbine mfg spec	Refs
Big Timber Wind Farm (Greycliff)	Sweet Grass County	45°51′19″N109°38′57″W / 45.8554°N 109.6492°W / 45.8554; -109.6492 (Big Timber Wind)	25	14	2018	GE 1.8MW	[42]
Diamond Willow Wind Facility	Fallon County	46°16′31″N104°11′01″W / 46.2753°N 104.1836°W / 46.2753; -104.1836 (Diamond Willow Wind)	30	20	2008	GE 1.5MW	[42]
Fairfield Wind	Teton County	47°43′24″N111°57′55″W / 47.7233°N 111.9653°W / 47.7233; -111.9653 (Fairfield Wind)	10	6	2014	GE 1.6/1.7MW	[42]
Glacier Wind I&II	Glacier County Toole County	48°32′00″N112°11′05″W / 48.5333°N 112.1847°W / 48.5333; -112.1847 (Glacier Wind)	210	140	2008	Acciona 1.5MW	[43]
Gordon Butte Wind	Meagher County	46°24′43″N110°20′16″W / 46.4119°N 110.3378°W / 46.4119; -110.3378 (Gordon Butte Wind)	17.7	9	2012 2018	GE 1.6MW GE 2.7MW	[42]
Greenfield Wind	Teton County	47°43′23″N111°57′47″W / 47.7230°N 111.9630°W / 47.7230; -111.9630 (Greenfield Wind)	25	13	2016	GE 2.3MW	[42]
Horseshoe Bend Wind Park	Cascade County	47°29′54″N111°26′21″W / 47.4983°N 111.4392°W / 47.4983; -111.4392 (Horseshoe Bend Wind Park)	9.0	6	2006	GE 1.5MW	[42]
Judith Gap Wind Energy Center	Wheatland County	46°34′21″N109°45′11″W / 46.5725°N 109.7531°W / 46.5725; -109.7531 (Judith Gap Wind)	135	90	2006	GE 1.5MW	[22]
Musselshell Wind Project I&II	Wheatland County	46°16′31″N109°28′58″W / 46.2753°N 109.4827°W / 46.2753; -109.4827 (Musselshell Wind)	20	14	2013	GE 1.5MW	[42]
Pryor Mountain Wind Project [A]	Carbon County	45°08′05″N108°41′12″W / 45.13472°N 108.68667°W / 45.13472; -108.68667 (Pryor Mountain Wind)	240	114	2020	Vestas 2.0/2.2MW GE 2.3MW [44]	[45] [46]
Rim Rock Wind Farm	Glacier County Toole County	48°49′13″N112°06′12″W / 48.8202°N 112.1033°W / 48.8202; -112.1033 (Rim Rock Wind)	189	126	2012	Acciona 1.5MW	[47] [48]
South Peak Wind	Judith Basin County	47°19′48″N110°36′53″W / 47.3299°N 110.6146°W / 47.3299; -110.6146 (South Peak Wind)	80	29	2020	GE 2.3/2.5MW	[49]
Spion Kop Wind Farm	Judith Basin County	47°20′00″N110°38′21″W / 47.3333°N 110.6392°W / 47.3333; -110.6392 (Spion Kop Wind)	40	25	2013	GE 1.6MW	[42] [50]
Stillwater Wind	Stillwater County	45°51′57″N109°28′36″W / 45.8658°N 109.4766°W / 45.8658; -109.4766 (Stillwater Wind)	80	31	2018	Siemens-Gamesa 2.3/2.6MW	[51]
Two Dot Wind Farm	Wheatland County	46°26′58″N110°05′14″W / 46.4494°N 110.0872°W / 46.4494; -110.0872 (Two Dot Wind)	9.7	6	2014	GE 1.6MW	[42] [50]

^A Formerly Mud Springs Wind

Solar

See also: Solar power in Montana

Project name	Location	Coordinates	Capacity (MWAC)	Year opened	Refs
Black Eagle Solar	Cascade County	47°32′51″N111°15′14″W / 47.5475°N 111.2540°W / 47.5475; -111.2540 (Black Eagle Solar)	3.0	2017	[52]
Great Divide Solar	Lewis and Clark County	46°48′21″N112°14′56″W / 46.8057°N 112.2490°W / 46.8057; -112.2490 (Great Divide Solar)	3.0	2017	[53]
Green Meadow Solar	Lewis and Clark County	46°41′40″N112°03′49″W / 46.6945°N 112.0636°W / 46.6945; -112.0636 (Green Meadow Solar)	3.0	2017	[54]
Magpie Solar	Golden Valley County	46°17′29″N108°56′16″W / 46.2914°N 108.9379°W / 46.2914; -108.9379 (Magpie Solar)	3.0	2017	[55]
River Bend Solar	Stillwater County	45°42′14″N109°33′55″W / 45.7038°N 109.5652°W / 45.7038; -109.5652 (River Bend Solar)	2.0	2017	[56]
South Mills Solar	Big Horn County	45°43′48″N107°37′57″W / 45.7301°N 107.6326°W / 45.7301; -107.6326 (South Mills Solar)	3.0	2017	[57]

Storage power stations

Montana had no utility-scale storage power stations in 2019. ^[4] A proposed facility is the 400MW/1300MWh Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Project. ^[58]

• Energy portal
• United States portal
• Montana portal

References

1. "Electricity Data Browser, Net generation for all sectors, Montana, Fuel Type-Check all, Annual, 2001–24". www.eia.gov. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
2. "Montana Electricity Profile". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
3. "Montana Electricity Profile Analysis". U.S. EIA. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
4. Energy Information Administration (September 15, 2020). "Form EIA-860 detailed data with previous form data (EIA-860A/860B)". eia.gov. Archived from the original on September 18, 2020.
5. Sierra Club-Beyond Coal
6. "Colstrip Energy LP Plant". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
7. "Colstrip Energy LP, monthly electricity data". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
8. "Colstrip Steam Electric Station - Colstrip, Montana". Talen Energy. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
9. "Colstrip Steam Electric Station Units 1 and 2 to Retire". prnewswire.com. June 11, 2019.
10. "Colstrip Steam Plant - Global Energy Monitor". Global Energy Monitor. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
11. Tom Lutey (March 1, 2019). "Hardin coal-fired power plant sells to possible cryptocurrency company". Billings Gazette.
12. "Lewis & Clark Station". Montana-Dakota Utilities. September 26, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
13. Tom Lutey (February 19, 2019). "MDU to shutter Eastern Montana coal power plant in 2020". Billings Gazette.
14. "Eastern Montana coal plant closes". Montana Standard. March 31, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
15. [e-mail], Renée Jean (December 30, 2020). "Lewis and Clark Station could find new life in a world class way". Sidney Herald. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
16. "Sidney Sugars - Facility Information". American Crystal Sugar Company. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
17. Brian Spegele and Caitlan Ostroff (May 21, 2021). "Bitcoin Miners Are Giving New Life to Old Fossil-Fuel Power Plants". Wall Street Journal.
18. "Basin Creek 51.8 MW Generation Plant". ITG Henneman Engineering Inc. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
19. Tim Trainor (February 27, 2010). "The little power plant that could". Montana Standard.
20. "Culbertson Station". Basin Electric Cooperative. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
21. "NWE electricity generation - Dave Gates Generating Station at Mill Creek". Northwestern Energy. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
22. "Glendive gas turbine". Montana-Dakota Utilities. August 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
23. "Montana-Dakota Utilities To Add Generation At Lewis And Clark Station Site". Montana-Dakota Utilities. January 27, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
24. "Montana-Dakota Utilities Lewis & Clark Closure & Post Closure". Montana-Dakota Utilities. September 26, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
25. "Miles City gas turbine". Montana-Dakota Utilities. August 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
26. "Recovered Energy Generation". Ormat Technologies, Inc. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
27. "Yellowstone Energy Oil Plant". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
28. "Montana Biomass Energy Projects". Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
29. "Montana's Hydroelectric Portfolio". Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
30. "Hydroelectric projects in Montana". Foundation for Water and Energy Education. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
31. "NWE Hydroelectric Facilities". Northwestern Energy. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
32. "Toston Dam (Broadwater-Missouri) Factsheet" (PDF). Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. October 31, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
33. "Canyon Ferry Dam". U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
34. George Plaven (September 5, 2011). "Turning on the juice: Flint Creek dam to resume producing hydroelectric power in Granite County". The Montana Standard.
35. "USACE Hydropower at Fort Peck". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
36. "Hungry Horse Powerplant". U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
37. "Libby Dam and Lake Koocanusa". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
38. "Clark River Project - Noxon Rapids". Avista Corp. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
39. "South Dry Creek Hydro Plant". Global Energy Observatory. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
40. "Project aims to turn irrigation ditch into power". Northwest Renewable News. November 9, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
41. "Yellowtail Dam". U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
42. "MSU Wind Applications Center - Active Wind Project". Montana State University. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
43. LeAnne Kavanagh (October 28, 2009). "Glacier Wind Farm is state's biggest wind energy project". Shelby Promoter.
44. "Pryor Mountain Wind Project" (PDF). Rocky Mountain Power. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
45. Tom Lutey (August 7, 2020). "Bridger wind farm could be finished by end of year". Billings Gazette.
46. Tom Lutey (January 12, 2020). "Wind farm projects lining up to call hills around south-central montana town home". Billings Gazette.
47. Paula Moore (June 17, 2013). "Rim Rock Wind Farm Is Largest-Capacity Wind Site in Montana". ENR Mountain States. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
48. "Rim Rock Wind Farm, Montana". Power Technology. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
49. "Renewable energy sites - South Peak". Allete Clean Energy / Allete Inc. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
50. "Wind Generation". Northwestern Energy. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
51. "Pattern's Stillwater Wind Comes To Life In Montana". North American Windpower. November 19, 2018.
52. Jo Dee Black (June 1, 2017). "Construction on Black Eagle Solar well underway". Great Falls Tribune. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
53. "Great Divide". OneEnergy Renewables. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
54. "Green Meadow Solar". Renewable Northwest. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
55. "Magpie Solar Project". Solar Energy Resources. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
56. "River Bend Solar". Renewable Northwest. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
57. "South Mills Solar". Renewable Northwest. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
58. "Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Project". Gordon Butte Energy Park LLC. Retrieved April 2, 2021.