Article Summary –
Montana will receive $700 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to support the North Plains Connector, a $3.6 billion high-voltage transmission project bridging the eastern and western energy grids, enhancing energy reliability across multiple states. This project, involving NorthWestern Energy, Grid United, and Allete, aims to modernize Montana’s electrical infrastructure, facilitate renewable energy distribution, and is partially funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester emphasized the project’s potential to create jobs, protect the energy grid, and lower energy costs, while the project faces strict greenhouse gas regulations limiting current market access for the Colstrip power plant.
Montana will receive $700 million to advance the nation’s first transmission project bridging the eastern and western grids, a critical step for U.S. energy reliability.
The U.S. Department of Energy grant, announced by Gov. Greg Gianforte, will advance the North Plains Connector, a 415-mile, high voltage, direct-current line between Montana’s Colstrip substation and Center, North Dakota. This 525-kilovolt line will be the first high-voltage line in the country bridging the eastern and western energy grids, allowing power to move from Portland to Minnesota and connecting over 20 state energy markets.
The North Plains Connector is a $3.6 billion project. Several utilities, including NorthWestern Energy, expressed gratitude to the DOE for investing in a project expected to enhance energy reliability across multiple states.
“NorthWestern Energy collaborated with Grid United and the Montana Department of Commerce on the grant application for the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership,” said Jo Dee Black, a NorthWestern spokesperson. “We are pleased with the DOE grant, which will reduce project costs and ultimately lower customer expenses.”
Among the utilities signing the letter was Portland General Electric, a 40-year investor in Montana energy, owning a share of the Colstrip power plant and Montana’s largest wind farm, the 770 MW Clearwater Wind project. In May, Portland General Electric announced plans to use the connector to balance its renewable energy supply. The utility will exit Colstrip by 2030 to comply with Oregon’s climate-change law.
Portland General Electric reserved a 20% capacity share in the North Plains Connector this spring.
The North Plains Connector is being developed by Grid United and Minnesota energy company Allete, which holds a 35% development share. Grid United is set to apply for federal environmental review this fall and begin facility siting in Montana and North Dakota.
“Access to affordable and reliable energy is vital for communities across Montana and the U.S.,” said Gianforte in a press release. “This investment upgrades Montana’s electrical transmission infrastructure to power homes, schools, and businesses.”
Project developers, policymakers, and think tanks say a new Montana-North Dakota high-voltage transmission line could be a game changer for the American West’s power grid, marking the first major expansion since the 1980s.
In addition to the $700 million grant, Montana received $46 million for roads, sewer, and water services along the transmission route to support the North Plains workforce during construction. The funds come from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“This project will create good-paying jobs in Eastern Montana, protect our energy grid from natural disasters, and expand our energy portfolio to lower energy costs for Montanans,” said U.S. Sen Jon Tester. “I’m proud to have secured this funding and will ensure this project is completed efficiently.”
Tester, a Democrat, was the only Montana delegate to vote for the infrastructure bill, which will spend $1.2 trillion on infrastructure over 10 years.
The North Plains Connector has been in development for several years, identified early as a potential route to new markets for coal power from the Colstrip power plant. Greenhouse gas regulations in Oregon and Washington are closing energy markets that currently represent 70% of the plant’s 1480 megawatts capacity.
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