Spion Kop Wind Farm — Plant Summary
- EIA Plant ID
- 58218
- Capacity
- 40 MW
- Primary Fuel
- Wind
- Technology
- Onshore Wind Turbine
- Status
- Operating
- Location
- Judith Basin, MT
- Operating Since
- 2012
- Generators
- 1
- Operator
- NorthWestern Energy (MT wind/thermal)
- Parent Company
- NorthWestern Energy Group
- Annual Generation
- 110,819 MWh
- Capacity Factor
- 31.6%
- Balancing Authority
- NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
- ISO/RTO
- —
- NERC Region
- WECC
Spion Kop Wind Farm
OperatingWind
Ranked #15 of 25 Wind plants in MT#989 of 1442 nationally
40 MW Wind operating in Judith Basin, MT — NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
EIAGEMWD
40 MW
Nameplate Capacity
1
Generators
unit
Onshore Wind Turbine
Technology
2012
Operating Since
Location
Ownership & Operator
Owner data does not fully agree across sources.
EIA typically reports the operating utility, while GEM resolves to the financial owner or parent corporation. Both can be correct.
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | NorthWestern Energy (MT wind/thermal) | NorthWestern Energy Group | — |
| Owner(s) | NorthWestern Energy (MT wind/thermal) | NorthWestern Energy Group | — |
| Status | Operating | operating | — |
Ownership Chain
About
Spion Kop Wind Farm is a 40 MW wind power facility located in Judith Basin County, Montana. The plant, which began operating in 2012, utilizes a single onshore wind turbine generator. The primary fuel source is wind (WND). The facility is owned and operated by NorthWestern Energy Group, specifically NorthWestern Energy (MT wind/thermal), and falls within the NorthWestern Energy (NWMT) balancing authority and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) NERC region. The wind turbine has a hub height of 80 meters and a rotor diameter of 82.5 meters. The turbine was manufactured by GE Wind and is model GE1.6-82.5.
In the most recent year of data, Spion Kop Wind Farm generated 110,819 MWh, achieving a capacity factor of 31.6%. The plant's installed cost was $2,153.66 per kW, according to FERC data. Spion Kop Wind Farm ranks as the 15th largest wind farm out of 25 in Montana, and 980th out of 1424 nationally.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Engineering & Generators
Grid Context
NERC Region
WECC
Balancing Authority
NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
Grid Voltage
100 kV
Regulatory Status
RE
Entity Type
Investor-Owned Utility
Sector
Electric Utility
Generation
14.3K MWh
Latest Month
110.8K MWh
Annual Generation
31.6%
Capacity Factor
Jan 2022 – Dec 2024
Financial DataBeta
Source: FERC Form 1HIGH
$2,154/kW
Installed Cost
$19.0/MWh
Operating Cost
NorthWestern Corporation
Reporting Utility
Annual Capital & Operating Expenses
Cumulative Installed Cost
Per-Unit Cost Trends
Pricing & Market Data
This plant is outside organized wholesale electricity markets (ISOs/RTOs). Nodal pricing data is not available.
News & Articles (9)Beta
Industry·corporate
Winds of Change: Montana's 'wind rush' has been growing since the 1980s
Montana's wind has generated electricity for the past 20 years. Commercial wind farms can be found in Wheatland, Cascade, Fallon, Toole, Judith Basin, Meagher,...
Lewistown News-Argus·11 months ago
General
Don’t be fooled by NorthWestern Energy’s ‘greenwashing’ scam
The utility flaunts a concern for its environmental impact, claiming to be a regional leader with nearly 60% carbon-free electricity and a 2050 carbon...
Daily Montanan·1 years ago
Industry·corporate
Don’t be fooled by NorthWestern Energy’s ‘greenwashing’ scam
The utility flaunts a concern for its environmental impact, claiming to be a regional leader with nearly 60% carbon-free electricity and a 2050 carbon...
NorthWestern Energy (operator)
Daily Montanan·1 years ago
Hazards·other
Cascade County Sheriff: road closures to Fort Benton and Belt
The Cascade County Sheriff's Office said at 5:12 p.m. on Saturday that, in conjunction with the Montana Highway Patrol, they are closing two highways due to...
Cascade County Sheriff's Office (other)Montana Highway Patrol (other)
KRTV·6 years ago
Last updated 2026-03-26
View all 9 articles