Montana has 71 power plants in the EIA (Energy Information Administration) database, with a combined installed capacity of 7,173 MW. Renewables (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass) account for 79% of plants in the state. The largest single facility is Colstrip, a Coal plant with 1,480 MW of capacity.
Use the interactive Montana power plants map below to explore every generating facility, color-coded by fuel type. Click any plant for its name, utility operator, capacity, technology, and location — or view the full US Power Plants Interactive Map to compare Montana to every other state.
[PASTE MONTANA MAP SNIPPET HERE — Custom HTML block, data-state=”Montana”]
Montana Power Plants by the Numbers
- 71 total power plants in Montana (EIA (Energy Information Administration))
- 7,173 MW total installed generating capacity
- 79% of plants use renewable energy sources
- Dominant fuel type: Hydroelectric
Montana Power Plants by Fuel Type
- Hydroelectric: 23 plants (2,825 MW capacity)
- Wind: 22 plants (1,890 MW capacity)
- Solar: 9 plants (179 MW capacity)
- Natural Gas: 7 plants (554 MW capacity)
- Coal: 4 plants (1,626 MW capacity)
- Other: 3 plants (42 MW capacity)
- Biomass: 2 plants (6 MW capacity)
- Petroleum: 1 plants (52 MW capacity)
The 15 Largest Power Plants in Montana
The largest power plant in Montana by installed capacity is Colstrip at 1,480 MW. The 15 largest Montana power plants from the EIA (Energy Information Administration):
| # | Plant Name | Utility | Capacity | Fuel Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colstrip | Talen Montana LLC | 1,480 MW | Coal | Colstrip, Rosebud |
| 2 | Noxon Rapids | Avista Corp | 581 MW | Hydroelectric | Noxon, Sanders |
| 3 | Libby | USACE Northwestern Division | 525 MW | Hydroelectric | Libby, Lincoln |
| 4 | Hungry Horse | U S Bureau of Reclamation | 428 MW | Hydroelectric | Columbia Falls, Flathead |
| 5 | Clearwater Wind I | Clearwater Energy Resources LLC | 366 MW | Wind | Miles City, Rosebud |
| 6 | Yellowtail | U S Bureau of Reclamation | 288 MW | Hydroelectric | Hardin, Big Horn |
| 7 | Pryor Mountain Wind | PacifiCorp | 240 MW | Wind | Bridger, Carbon |
| 8 | Selis Ksanka Qlispe | Energy Keepers Inc | 228 MW | Hydroelectric | Polson, Lake |
| 9 | Fort Peck | USACE-Omaha | 218 MW | Hydroelectric | Fort Peck, McCone |
| 10 | Clearwater Wind East | Clearwater Wind East, LLC | 208 MW | Wind | Miles City, Custer |
| 11 | NaturEner Rim Rock Energy | NaturEner Rim Rock Energy LLC | 185 MW | Wind | Kevin, Toole |
| 12 | Yellowstone County Generating Station | NorthWestern Energy (MT wind/thermal) | 166 MW | Natural Gas | Laurel, Yellowstone |
| 13 | Judith Gap Wind Energy Center | Invenergy Services LLC | 135 MW | Wind | Harlowton, Wheatland |
| 14 | Dave Gates Generating Station | NorthWestern Energy (MT wind/thermal) | 132 MW | Natural Gas | Anaconda, Deer Lodge |
| 15 | Hardin Generator Project | Heorot Power Management | 107 MW | Coal | Hardin, Big Horn |
Energy Regulation in Montana
Power generation in Montana is overseen by the Montana Public Service Commission, in coordination with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). All generating facilities above 1 MW are required to report to the EIA, which maintains the official database used in this map.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many power plants are in Montana?
Montana has 71 power plants according to the EIA (Energy Information Administration). The dominant fuel type is Hydroelectric, and total installed capacity is 7,173 MW.
What is the largest power plant in Montana?
The largest power plant in Montana is Colstrip, a Coal facility with 1,480 MW of generating capacity.
What percentage of Montana power plants use renewable energy?
79% of power plants in Montana use renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, or biomass).
Who regulates power plants in Montana?
Power generation in Montana is regulated by the Montana Public Service Commission at the state level, with federal oversight from FERC and NERC.
