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NorthWestern Energy has entered a power purchase agreement with Apex Solar LLC. For 80 megawatts of generation from a solar facility being developed in Beaverhead County near Dillon. The facility is required to begin delivery of generation in November 2022. When it comes online NorthWestern Energy expects to have 177 megawatts of solar generation serving…
NorthWestern Energy filed details with the Montana Public Service Commission this week about new power resources including consumer costs of a proposed gas-fired power plant in Laurel. NorthWestern says the facility would add nearly $80 a year to the average residential power bill. The 7.6% increase equals about $6.64 per month for a residential customer…
After 20 years Northwestern Energy is replacing its electric meters for its customers across the Treasure State and the upgraded meters will offer improved remote readings at no extra cost. The new meters will provide faster connections. Butte and Whitehall should be completed by the end of the year and then NorthWestern will move on…
Members of the House Energy Committee tabled Senate Bill 379 Wednesday which was intended to shield NorthWestern Energy from future financial losses associated with the Colstrip Power Plant. Only one House committee member supported the bill which had cleared the Senate on mostly party lines. House Lawmakers could revive it though by blasting it out…
NorthWestern Energy will build a $250 million 175-megawatt gas fired power plant in Laurel as part of a plan to add 325 megawatts of dispatchable power to its Montana portfolio. It will include a 50-megawatt battery storage project and a five-year agreement to buy 100 megawatts of hydropower. Montana State University College students as part…
A bill to spend $2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief money inched forward in the Senate on Thursday passing a preliminary vote in the same form as it emerged from a budget panel last week. House Bill 632 appropriating money coming to the state from the federal American Rescue Plan Act passed second reading 32…
Montana health officials have temporarily halted administering the single dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine until an investigation into whether the vaccine is linked to an exceptionally rare type of blood clotting is complete. Montana has utilized far more Pfizer and Moderna vaccines in immunizing residents than the Johnson and Johnson vaccines. A new poll…
Senate Republicans moved forward Tuesday with a bill shielding NorthWestern Energy from financial losses associated with the Colstrip Power Plant. Senate Bill 379 obligates customers of the utility to pay off the undepreciated book value of the power plant regardless of whether it continues to operate. The bill also provides a formula for determining the…
