Montana’s Untamed Power: From 1980s Wind Whispers To Today’s Energy Revolution

Almost every Montanan has noticed the change. Wind turbines dot the eastern plains where once there was nothing but grassland and sky. Solar farms glint in the sunlight near Billings and Dillon. It’s a different Montana than thirty years ago, that’s for sure.

The numbers tell the story. Wind power now cranks out nearly 1,800 megawatts across the state, powering three of Montana’s ten largest generating plants. Not bad for an energy source that didn’t even exist here until 2005. Eastern Montana, with its wide-open spaces and consistent breezes, turned out to be prime real estate for spinning blades.

Solar was practically non-existent until 2017. Now? Eight utility-scale solar farms pump out 177 megawatts. The capacity jumped sevenfold in just one year. One percent of Montana’s electricity now comes from the sun – a record high. Small but growing.

Still, let’s not get carried away. Coal remains king in Big Sky Country, generating 45% of the state’s electricity in 2023. The dinosaurs aren’t extinct yet. NorthWestern Energy is even increasing its stake in the Colstrip plant to 55% by 2026. Talk about doubling down on the past.

But change is coming, whether the old guard likes it or not. Montana now ranks among the top 10 states for renewable electricity production, hitting approximately 50% in 2023. Not too shabby for a state known more for cowboys than clean energy. The strong growth in Montana’s renewable energy aligns with the nationwide trend where electricity generation from wind and solar has more than tripled over the past decade.

New projects keep sprouting up. The massive Clearwater wind farm came online in 2022, adding 366 megawatts to the grid. Another 400 megawatts of wind and related battery storage are expected by 2025. This expansion mirrors the national historic milestone reached in March 2025 when renewables supplied 50.8% of U.S. electricity for the first time. The proposed North Plains Connector would stretch 420 miles from Colstrip to North Dakota, creating an energy superhighway.

Montana’s energy transformation matters. With the highest per capita residential energy consumption of any state – blame those brutal winters and scorching summers – Montanans need reliable, affordable power.

The environment is changing. The transformation is here. No turning back now.