The Montana Renewable

Collector System Project

proposed by

NorthWestern Energy

 

Montana has significant potential for high quality wind generation development.  However, the major market for this potential generation is in load  centers outside Montana in the Pacific Northwest and Southwest.  With a peak load of 1,805 MW and about 3,200 MW of existing generation connected to its system, NorthWestern Energy has about 4,900 MW of new in-service projects or potential future generation sources in its queue, including approximately 2,400 MW of wind.  

                                                   

 

 As contemplated, the Collector Project would provide interconnection service on generator lead lines from five separate areas on the NorthWestern Energy’s system to Townsend, Montana.  Generation is already seeking to connect to NorthWestern Energy in these five areas.  Depending on customer interest, NorthWestern will build one or more generator lead lines.  At Townsend, generators would have access to markets in the Pacific Northwest or to the northern terminal of NorthWestern Energy's proposed Mountain States Transmission Intertie Project ("MSTI Project"). 

Based on the current queue for transmission service, NorthWestern Energy believes that demand exists for the following five generator lead lines:
  

- A 230 kV line or line segments and associated facilities starting in the Great Falls area to Townsend;
- A 230 kV line or line segments and associated facilities starting around the Judith Gap area to Townsend;
- A 230 kV line or line segments and associated facilities starting in the Belt area to Townsend (via Judith Gap route);
-A 230 kV line or line segments and associated facilities starting in the Broadview area to Townsend;
-A 230 kV line or line segments and associated facilities start in the Ennis area to Townsend; and

NorthWestern would consider other areas if sufficient interest is expressed.

Depending on the outcome of the open season, the number of generator lead lines included in the Collector Project and the starting location of each generator lead line may change.  The Collector Project's ultimate size and configuration will depend on expressions of interest and binding customer commitments established in the open season.  Collector Project customers will be responsible for building, owning and operating interconnection facilities from their projects to the Collector Project.

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