1647.4 MW Sub. Coal operating in Rosebud, MT — NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
1,647.4 MW
Nameplate Capacity
2
Generators
units
Conventional Steam Coal
Technology
1984
Operating Since
Coordinates
45.8831, -106.6140
County
Rosebud, MT
Nearby Plants
| 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 | — | — |
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
NERC Region
WECC
Balancing Authority
NorthWestern Energy (NWMT)
Grid Voltage
230 kV
Regulatory Status
NR
Entity Type
Independent Power Producer
Sector
IPP Non-CHP
542.2K MWh
Latest Month
9.2M MWh
Annual Generation
63.6%
Capacity Factor
$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
This plant is outside organized wholesale electricity markets (ISOs/RTOs). Nodal pricing data is not available.
Last updated 2026-03-26
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