List of power stations in Montana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Coal: 10,024 (35.2%)
- Hydroelectric: 9,791 (34.4%)
- Wind: 6,252 (21.9%)
- Natural gas: 1,319 (4.63%)
- Petroleum: 468 (1.64%)
- Solar: 348 (1.22%)
- Biomass: 38 (0.13%)
- Other: 261 (0.92%)
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 7.2 GW through all of its power plants, and a net generation of 26,873 GWh.[2] In 2025, the electrical energy generation mix was 35.2% coal, 34.4% hydroelectric, 21.9% wind, 4.6% natural gas, 1.6% petroleum, 1.2% solar, 0.1% biomass, and 0.9% other. Small-scale solar, including customer-owned photovoltaic panels, delivered and additional 148 GWh to the state's electrical grid in 2025.[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 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″N 106°39′17″W / 45.9752°N 106.6547°W | 38 | 1990 | TBD | [6][7] |
| Colstrip Steam Electric Station | Rosebud County | 45°52′59″N 106°36′50″W / 45.8831°N 106.614°W | 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″N 107°36′00″W / 45.7578°N 107.6000°W | 107 | 2006 | TBD [A] | [11] |
| Lewis & Clark Station | Richland County | 47°40′43″N 104°09′24″W / 47.6785°N 104.1566°W | 53 | 1958 | 2021 (closed) | [12][13][14][15] |
| Sidney Sugars Plant | Richland County | 47°43′02″N 104°08′08″W / 47.7172°N 104.1356°W | 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″N 112°31′10″W / 45.9293°N 112.5194°W | 54 | Gas | Reciprocating engine (x9) | 2006 | [18][19] |
| Culbertson Generation Station | Roosevelt County | 48°12′36″N 104°23′30″W / 48.2100°N 104.3917°W | 85 | Gas | Simple cycle | 2010 | [20] |
| Dave Gates Generating Station[A] | Deer Lodge County | 46°06′17″N 112°52′36″W / 46.1047°N 112.8766°W | 150 | Gas | Simple cycle (x3) | 2011 | [21] |
| Glendive Gas Turbine | Dawson County | 47°03′14″N 104°44′24″W / 47.0539°N 104.7400°W | 75 | Gas | Simple cycle (x2) | 1979/2003 | [22] |
| Lewis & Clark 2 | Richland County | 47°40′45″N 104°09′36″W / 47.6791°N 104.1600°W | 19 | Gas | Internal combustion (x2) | 2015 | [23][24] |
| Miles City Gas Turbine | Custer County | 46°24′40″N 105°47′43″W / 46.4112°N 105.7953°W | 24 | Gas | Simple cycle | 1972 | [25] |
| OREG 1 & 2 | Roosevelt County | 48°12′51″N 104°23′51″W / 48.2141°N 104.3975°W | 40 | Waste heat from gas compressor turbine | ORC generator (x8) | 2006/2009 | [26] |
| Phillips 66 Billings Refinery | Yellowstone County | 45°46′37″N 108°29′28″W / 45.7769°N 108.4911°W | 1.5 | Petroleum gases | Steam turbine | 2007 | |
| Yellowstone Energy | Yellowstone County | 45°48′42″N 108°25′40″W / 45.8117°N 108.4278°W | 52 | Petroleum | Steam turbine | 1995 | [27] |
A Formerly Mill Creek Generating Station
