Page 9 - Colstrip Unit News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

More details are emerging about NorthWestern Energy’s proposed gas-fired power plant near Laurel. At least 250 people would be needed for the construction of the 175-megawatt power plant, which the utility previously said would come online by start of 2024. The selected contractor for the project is Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri. “There will be significant jobs during the construction of the Laurel Generating Station with opportunities for Montanans for employment, as well as to provide services and supplies. At the peak of construction there is ex...

TOM LUTEY There will be an investigation into the Montana Public Service Commission’s decision not to allow NorthWestern Energy to bill customers $6 million for costs related to a months-long malfunction at Colstrip Power Plant. The investigation will focus on whether PSC’s decisions about not billing customers for replacement power related to Colstrip shutdowns hurt NorthWestern Energy’s bond rating, as well as how not being billed affected customers. Most recently, commissioners disallowed customers being billed $6 million for replacement power stemming from 77-da...

TOM LUTEY Montana’s utility regulator might still pay a price for not allowing NorthWestern Energy to bill customers for $6 million stemming from a months-long summer malfunction at Colstrip Power Plant. Tuesday, Republicans voted to take $75,000 from the budget of the Montana Public Service Commission to pay for a study about how the PSC’s decision last fall affected NorthWestern Energy’s bond rating — and whether customers could face costs when the utility’s bond rating suffers. The amendment was offered to House Bill 2, the state’s general spending...

The Colstrip Steam Electric Station A bill that would have allowed Montana’s largest electric utility to recover costs and a rate of return from its customers for coal-fired power generation was tabled in committee Wednesday. Senate Bill 379 from Republican Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick of Great Falls has drawn heated testimony from supporters who say it would ensure NorthWestern Energy customers a reliable source of power from Colstrip and opponents who say customers would be saddled with costs the utility never spent. The policy passed through the Senate earlier this month but was tabled in the...

TOM LUTEY Colstrip Power Plant operator and co-owner Talen Energy is eyeing a wind farm on the southeast Montana plains just outside the community where the coal-fired generator is located. Documents obtained by The Billings Gazette show a targeted project area of roughly 14 square miles in Rosebud and Treasure counties where Talen Energy, in a joint venture with Pattern Energy, is pursuing lease agreements for a wind farm of unspecified capacity. Both companies have energy interests in Montana currently. Talen has a 30% share of Colstrip Unit 3, a power plant facing increasing pr...