Colstrip — Plant Summary
- EIA Plant ID
- 6076
- Capacity
- 1647.4 MW
- Primary Fuel
- Coal
- Technology
- Conventional Steam Coal
- Status
- Operating
- Location
- Rosebud, MT
- Operating Since
- 1984
- Generators
- 2
- Operator
- Talen Montana LLC
- Parent Company
- Berkshire Hathaway
- Annual Generation
- 9,171,195 MWh
- Capacity Factor
- 63.6%
- Balancing Authority
- NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
- ISO/RTO
- —
- NERC Region
- WECC
Colstrip
OperatingSub. Coal
Ranked #1 of 3 Sub. Coal plants in MT#22 of 103 nationally
1647.4 MW Sub. Coal operating in Rosebud, MT — NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
EIAWD
1,647.4 MW
Nameplate Capacity
2
Generators
units
Conventional Steam Coal
Technology
1984
Operating Since
Location
Coordinates
45.8831, -106.6140
County
Rosebud, MT
Nearby Plants
- Colstrip Energy LPWaste Coal46.1 MW · 10.7 km
Ownership & Operator
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Talen Montana LLC | PacifiCorp | — |
| Owner(s) | Avista Corp, NorthWestern Energy (MT Hydro), PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric Co, Puget Sound Energy Inc, Talen Montana LLC | Berkshire Hathaway | — |
| Status | Operating | — | — |
Ownership Chain
About
The Colstrip power plant is a 1647.4 MW coal-fired generating station located in Rosebud County, Montana. The plant, which began operating in 1984, utilizes conventional steam coal technology and subbituminous coal (SUB) as its primary fuel. It consists of two generating units. The plant is owned by Berkshire Hathaway and operated by Talen Montana LLC. Colstrip is the largest power plant in Montana and ranks 18th out of 75 coal plants nationally.
In the most recent year of data, Colstrip generated 9,171,195 MWh of electricity, achieving a capacity factor of 63.6%. The plant operates within the NorthWestern Energy (NWMT) balancing authority and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) NERC region. Financial data indicates an installed cost of $386.95 per kW, based on FERC filings.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
Engineering & Generators
Grid Context
NERC Region
WECC
Balancing Authority
NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
Grid Voltage
230 kV
Regulatory Status
NR
Entity Type
Independent Power Producer
Sector
IPP Non-CHP
Generation
542.2K MWh
Latest Month
9.2M MWh
Annual Generation
63.6%
Capacity Factor
Jan 2023 – Dec 2025
Financial DataBeta
Source: FERC Form 1HIGH
$1,450/kW
Installed Cost
$37.6/MWh
Operating Cost
Puget Sound Energy, Inc.
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 (10)Beta
Industry·corporate
Power drain: A guide to proposed data centers so far in Montana
The Colstrip power plant seen from above in August 2024. Vast quantities of coal will be dug up and burned at the Colstrip power plant in...
Colstrip power plant (operator)
Eastern Progress·2 weeks ago
Industry·corporate
Inside WA’s messy breakup with Montana coal country
COLSTRIP, Mont. — For over half a century, Puget Sound Energy, Washington state's largest utility, has been intertwined with this company...
Puget Sound Energy (operator)
The Spokesman-Review·3 weeks ago
Industry·corporate
NorthWestern Energy: 11 more data center firms eyeing Montana, South Dakota
A group of environmental nonprofits have asked the Montana Public Service Commission to require NorthWestern to identify the 11 companies.
NorthWestern Energy (operator)Montana Public Service Commission (regulator)
Bozeman Daily Chronicle·3 weeks ago
Industry·m and a
NorthWestern Energy now owns an extra 592 megawatts of Colstrip. What’s its plan for doubling down on coal?
What we know about data centers, electricity costs and the future of Montana's largest power plant following NorthWestern's acquisition of...
NorthWestern Energy (buyer)Colstrip (seller)
Montana Free Press·2 months ago
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles