InMONTANA

DEQ report updated for ETIC 2017-2018 Report originally prepared for EQC 2001-2002

understanding

inMONTANA

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... i Introduction ...................................................................................................................iii Comments on the Data ............................................................................................... iv Glossary ......................................................................................................................... v Executive Summaries ...........................................................................................Sum 1

Electricity Supply and Demand in Montana .............................................................. 1 Utility Deregulation in Montana................................................................................. 10 Hydropower in Montana ............................................................................................ 18 Coal-fired electric generation In Montana............................................................. 23 Wind Energy in Montana ............................................................................................ 25 Solar Power in Montana ............................................................................................. 29 Biomass, Methane and Landfill Generation in Montana ...................................... 33 Distributed Generation in Montana ......................................................................... 35 Energy Effeciency in Montana .................................................................................. 39

Montana's Electric Transmission and Distribution Grid ............................................ 43 Coal Production in Montana...................................................................................... 69 Natural Gas in Montana ............................................................................................. 79 Petroleum and Petroleum Products in Montana ...................................................... 97

Prepared by the Department of Environmental Quality

for the 2017-2018 Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee

Section Authors: Jeff Blend ? Electricity Supply and Demand

Sonja Nowakowski ? Utility Deregulation Kyla Maki ? Hydropower

Dan Lloyd ? Coal-Fired Generation Kyla Maki ? Wind Energy

Ben Brouwer ? Solar Power Kyla Maki ? Biomass, Methane, and Landfill Generation

Ben Brouwer ? Distributed Generation Kyla Maki ? Energy Efficiency

Jeff Blend ? Montana's Electric Transmission Grid Jeff Blend ? Coal Production Jeff Blend ? Natural Gas Dan Lloyd ? Petroleum

ETIC Project Coordinator: Trevor Graff

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Introduction

Montana energy issues continue on a dynamic course of change, garnering significant public scrutiny in the state. In the more than 20 years since the decision to deregulate Montana's electricity supply, consumers have witnessed the bankruptcy and reemergence of NorthWestern Energy (NWE), the Baaken Shale boom, growth in renewable energy resources, a changing coal industry, changing electric generation portfolios, and heightened discussion of climate change's effect on the environment. The Environmental Quality Council first prepared this guide in 2002. It was revised in 2004, 2010, and 2014. The Energy and Telecommunications Interim Committee (ETIC) in 2017 agreed to again revise the guide to provide the most up-todate background information available to the policymakers and citizens of Montana. The 20172018 guide includes a restructured electricity section to better reflect the current nature of electricity generation in the state. Special thanks should be extended to the DEQ, particularly Jeff Blend, Dan Lloyd, and the section authors listed at the front of this guide. Their work in preparing information and compiling statistics was integral to the publishing of this document. The guide focuses on recent and historical trends in energy supply and demand. It is divided into five sections. The first is an overview of electricity supply and demand in Montana. The section is further divided into chapters concerning each of the generating resources in the state. The second section details the electric transmission grid, how it works and the future of transmission capacity in the state. A third section addresses natural gas supply and demand. The fourth section covers the coal industry in Montana, detailing the mining history of the state and the future of coal in Montana. The final section of the book addresses the state's petroleum production and refining industry in the state. The revised guide provides readers both historical and current perspective on the energy sector in Montana. Emerging resources like distributed generation and energy efficiency programs are discussed along with conventional generation in an effort to provide a holistic look at the changing industry.

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Comments on the Data

Data for this guide comes from several sources, which don't always agree. This is due to slightly different data definitions and methods of data collection. The reader should always consider the source and context of specific data.

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