Wind power in Montana

Wind power in Montana is a growing industry. Montana had over 695 MW of wind generation capability by 2016, responsible for 7.6% of in-state electricity generation.[1]

Judith Gap

History

At a nameplate capacity of 210 megawatts (MW),[2][3] the $500 million[4][5] Glacier Wind Farm, which is located in Toole and Glacier counties,[2] became Montana's largest in October 2009,[4] surpassing the 135 MW Judith Gap Wind Farm in Wheatland County.[4]

Rim Rock Wind Farm, brought online in September 2012, is located about 25 miles due north of the Glacier project. The wind farm has 126 wind turbines of 1.5 megawatts each, to be supplied by Acciona.[6] The project had been delayed due to issues with the Montana-Alberta Tie Line, which connects wind farms in the area to Lethbridge, Alberta.[2][7][8] Montana added two significant wind projects in 2012. The Gordon Butte Wind Farm, 9 MW, was completed early in the year and the Rim Rock Wind Project, 189 MW, was completed in September.

Installed capacity growth
Montana Wind Generation Capacity by YearMontana Wind Generation by Year
Megawatts of Wind Capacity[9][10][11][12][13][14] Thousand megawatt-hours of Wind Generation[11][15][16]

Wind Farms
See also: List of power stations in Montana § Wind

Glacier Wind Farm became Montana's largest wind farm with completion of the first 106.5 MW stage in late 2008, then nearly doubled in size to a 210 MW capacity when joined by the second stage in 2009.[17] Numerous smaller farms were constructed during the following decade. Glacier will be surpassed by the 240 MW Pryor Mountain Wind Project upon its completion in late 2020.[18]

Wind generation
Montana Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
20121,262160881309699108585837121127164
20131,755206189140164132110885785127197259

Source:[19] EIA - Electricity Data Browser

See also

References
  1. "Montana Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. "NaturEner plans another massive wind farm in Glacier, Toole counties in Montana". San Francisco Examiner. 2009-09-15.
  3. "U.S. Wind Energy Projects - Montana". American Wind Energy Association. 2009-12-31. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  4. "210-Megawatt Glacier Wind Farm Becomes State's Largest" (PDF). Great Falls Tribune. 2009-10-22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  5. "NaturEner shows off $500 million Glacier Wind farm". Cut Bank Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  6. Acciona gets contract for nacelles
  7. "NatureEner Wind Farm project a go; construction underway". Cut Bank Pioneer Press. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  8. Rim Rock Wind Farm near Cut Bank hosts welcoming ceremony
  9. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2010-03-05). "U.S. Installed Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  10. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2010-02-04). "Installed Wind Capacity by State". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  11. "AWEA 4th quarter 2012 Public Market Report" (PDF). American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). January 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  12. "AWEA 4th quarter 2014 Public Market Report Summary" (PDF). American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). January 2015. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  13. Wind Energy in Montana
  14. WINDExchange: U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation
  15. "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Energy Information Administration, Department Of Energy. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  16. Wind Energy in Montana
  17. LeAnne Kavanagh (October 28, 2009). "Glacier Wind Farm is state's biggest wind energy project". Shelby Promoter.
  18. Tom Lutey (2020-08-07). "Bridger wind farm could be finished by end of year". Billings Gazette.
  19. EIA (January 23, 2013). "Electric Power Monthly". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
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