Montana Has High Renewable Generation Potential

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Montana has the potential for more than 116,000 megawatts (MW) of additional wind generation in which to provide citizens and businesses electricity, as well as move a lot of renewable wind generation to nearby western states that could use it, according to the advocacy group Renewable Northwest (Portland, Oregon).

The Bonneville Power Administration (Portland), Montana Governor Steve Bullock, electric utilities and renewable energy developers are looking at finding ways to remove the obstacles preventing the construction of windfarms and transmission lines required to move the electric power to the areas that need it.

An action plan by representatives in the Pacific Northwest energy industry is being studied in order to address ways to open up the potential for developing and delivering renewable energy due to the recently announced closure of one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the region. The 2,272-MW Colstrip Power Plant in Montana will close two of its generating units by 2022, and the remaining two will close between 2037 and 2046, which would leave a large gap in electrical generation in the region that must be filled by a combination of natural gas generation, battery energy storage, and renewable wind and solar generation.

Montana has 665 megawatts of wind generation, and Industrial Info is currently tracking seven wind projects valued at $1.04 billion in development with eight transmission and distribution projects valued at $121 million. In the Rocky Mountains market region, which includes Montana, Industrial Info is tracking 62 wind generation projects valued at $26.89 billion and 258 transmission and distribution projects valued at $21.2 billion. For more information, see December 7, 2017, article - Rocky Mountains Region Plans More Than $66 Billion in 2018 Project Starts.

The plans for major transmission lines to move generation across and out of the state faces the known hurdles of environmental permitting, financing approvals and opposition from local residents who do not want the new windfarms or transmission lines near them or their properties. Transmission congestion due to a lack of high-voltage lines prevents low-cost power from reaching the areas where it is most needed and has been an issue for Montana as the electricity sector evolves away from coal-fired generation.

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