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.

History

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

Rim Rock Wind Farm, brought online in September 2012, is located about 25 miles due north of the Glacier project. It has 126 wind turbines of 1.5 megawatts each, to be supplied by Acciona.Acciona gets contract for nacelles The project had been delayed due to issues with the Montana-Alberta Tie Line, which connects wind farms in the area to Lethbridge, Alberta.

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 year Montana wind generation by year Megawatts of wind capacityWind Energy in MontanaWINDExchange: U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and GenerationThousand megawatt-hours of wind generation

Wind farms

Glacier Wind Farm became Montana's largest wind farm. Its first 106.5 MW stage was completed in late 2008, and it nearly doubled in size to a 210 MW capacity when the second stage was completed in 2009. Numerous smaller farms were constructed during the following decade. Glacier was surpassed by the 240 MW Pryor Mountain Wind Project upon its completion in late 2020.

Wind generation Montana wind generation (GWh, million kWh) Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec2006 434 47 48 32 38 34 29 25 24 34 21 46 562007 496 72 44 53 36 35 24 19 28 35 47 37 662008 594 69 67 56 46 45 37 29 36 27 52 62 682009 819 107 58 81 77 64 40 36 20 49 75 130 822010 930 81 55 92 104 85 69 62 60 60 81 101 802011 1,263 150 108 84 112 102 84 76 59 73 113 138 1642012 1,263 163 87 130 94 98 110 57 58 54 121 127 1642013 1,755 206 189 140 164 132 110 88 57 85 127 197 2592014 1,973 259 172 174 188 98 126 100 101 108 202 237 2082015 2,174 258 167 238 147 101 82 132 117 141 166 209 2072016 2,139 197 263 223 162 140 150 125 113 168 150 205 2432017 2,155 200 195 206 204 195 147 122 132 137 208 198 2112018 2,153 178 169 214 216 161 179 141 148 149 177 211 2102019 2,373 221 192 191 212 189 177 171 161 209 219 211 2202020 2,992 273 286 234 265 215 233 164 161 220 257 371 3132021 2,823 286 212 275 236 197 193 138 186 222 241 350 2872022 4,035 472 411 390 345 317 234 185 188 210 289 526 4682023 1,399 457 573 369

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

Green background indicates the largest wind generation month to date.

Source:

See also

Solar power in Montana Wind power in the United States Renewable energy in the United States

References