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
Wind turbines in the foreground with the Pryor Mountains in the background.
Pryor Mountain Wind Farm
Six turbines of the Two Dot Wind Farm in the mid-ground, with rolled bales of hay in the foreground and a ridgeline in the background.
Two Dot Wind Farm

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] Thousand megawatt-hours of Wind Generation[13][14][15]

Wind Farms
Turbines of the Gordon Butte Wind Farm sit atop the plateau, as seen from the east, with brown rolling prairie in the foreground.
Gordon Butte Wind Farm
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.[16] 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.[17]

Wind generation
Montana Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2006434474832383429252434214656
2007496724453363524192835473766
2008594696756464537293627526268
200981910758817764403620497513082
201093081559210485696260608110180
20111,2631501088411210284765973113138164
20121,263163871309498110575854121127164
20131,755206189140164132110885785127197259
20141,97325917217418898126100101108202237208
20152,17425816723814710182132117141166209207
20162,139197263223162140150125113168150205243
20172,155200195206204195147122132137208198211
20182,153178169214216161179141148149177211210
20192,373221192191212189177171161209219211220
20202,992273286234265215233164161220257371313
20212,823286212275236197193138186222241350287
20224,035472411390345317234185188210289526468
20231,399457573369

  Teal background indicates the largest wind generation month for the year.

  Green background indicates the largest wind generation month to date.

Source:[18]

See also

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wind power in Montana.
  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. Wind Energy in Montana
  12. WINDExchange: U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation
  13. "AWEA 4th quarter 2012 Public Market Report" (PDF). American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). January 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  14. "Electricity Data Browser". U.S. Energy Information Administration, Department Of Energy. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  15. Wind Energy in Montana
  16. LeAnne Kavanagh (October 28, 2009). "Glacier Wind Farm is state's biggest wind energy project". Shelby Promoter.
  17. Tom Lutey (2020-08-07). "Bridger wind farm could be finished by end of year". Billings Gazette.
  18. EIA (January 23, 2013). "Electric Power Monthly". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
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