More Than 3,600 Megawatts of Renewable Energy Projects Under Way in Montana

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Montana currently has 5,650 megawatts (MW) of operational power generation capacity at 31 power plants. Of this, 51.1% of the state's power comes from carbon-based fuels. Coal, accounting for 2,643.5 MW of generation capacity, is the most-used fuel, which is not surprising as Montana is the fifth-largest coal-producing state behind Wyoming, West Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Montana produced 20 million short tons of coal in the first half of 2009. The remainder of the state's carbon-based fuel sources are natural gas (173 MW), petroleum coke (68 MW) and fuel oil (2 MW). The other 48.9% of generated power come from renewable energy sources: hydroelectric (2,490 MW), wind (271.5 MW) and landfill gas (2 MW).

Click on image at right for a breakdown of power generation projects currently under development in Montana.

Currently, Montana has 4,673 MW of new generation in active development, the majority of which involves renewable energy sources. Wind leads the way with 2,515.5 MW, and hydroelectric follows with 1,111 MW. Together, these account for 77.6% of the new generation in development. Conventional natural gas and diesel-oil-fired units complete the new generation development picture. The majority of the units will be added to four existing plants, while 19 units will be part of new facilities.

Certain coal-fired power projects were previously being considered, but air-quality permitting issues and opposition from environmental groups forced these projects off the table. Of the coal projects that had reached the planning stages, five projects, accounting for a possible 3,590 MW of capacity, were cancelled, while one 500-MW project remains on indefinite hold.

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