U.S. Energy Information Administration logo
Skip to sub-navigation
‹ U.S. States

Montana   Montana Profile

State Profile and Energy Estimates

Changes to the State Energy Data System (SEDS) Notice: In October 2023, we updated the way we calculate primary energy consumption of electricity generation from noncombustible renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal). Visit our Changes to 1960—2022 conversion factor for renewable energy page to learn more.

Profile AnalysisPrint State Energy Profile
(overview, data, & analysis)



Last Updated: April 20, 2023

Overview

Montana, known as Big Sky Country, is the fourth-largest state and a significant supplier of energy to the rest of the nation.1,2,3 The state is rich in both fossil fuels and renewable resources.4 About three-tenths of the nation's estimated recoverable coal reserves are in Montana, and the northern and eastern areas of the state contain deposits of crude oil and natural gas.5,6,7 The Continental Divide runs along the state's western mountains, making Montana the only state in the nation with rivers that drain into the Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and Canada's Hudson Bay.8 The Missouri River, the longest river in the United States, starts in the Rocky Mountains in western Montana and flows eastward across the state.9 The river and its tributaries offer substantial hydroelectric energy resources.10,11 Montana's western mountains capture warm, moist air from the Pacific Ocean, creating a more moderate climate in the western third of the state than farther east, where the Rocky Mountains give way to dry, wind-swept plains that stretch into the Dakotas.12 The state's vast plains provide Montana with some of the best wind resources in the nation.13 Montana is the third least densely populated state, averaging about 7 people per square mile. Montana's population crossed the 1 million threshold in 2012 and the state continues to grow, but still ranks among the 10 states with the fewest residents.14,15,16 Montana's residents are clustered in and around a few cities, mainly in the valleys of the Missouri River and its tributaries.17 Much of the eastern third of the state has, on average, less than one resident per square mile.18

Montana's early economy was built around mining, ranching, wheat farming, and timber. After World War II, spurred by such popular destinations as Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, tourism increased. In 1970, tourism surpassed mining to become the second-largest industry in the state after agriculture.19 Today, finance, insurance, real estate, rentals, and leasing are the largest contributors to the state's gross domestic product (GDP), but energy resource extraction and mining continue to be significant parts of the state's economy.20 Mining, crude oil and natural gas production, petroleum refining, and agricultural industries are all energy-intensive. Those industries, as well as the amount of transportation fuels used to travel the long distances within the state and the state's small population, help place Montana's per capita energy consumption near the top one-fifth of the states, even though its total energy consumption is among the 10 lowest states.21,22

Montana has the highest residential sector per capita energy consumption of any state.

The industrial sector leads Montana's end-use energy consumption, accounting for about 30% of the state total, followed by the transportation sector at 27%. The residential sector makes up 23% of the state's energy use, and the commercial sector accounts for 19%.23 Montana's summer heat can exceed 100°F on the plains and winter can bring Arctic blasts with subzero temperatures.24 The state's temperature extremes and its small population contribute to Montana's residential sector having the highest per capita energy consumption of any state.25

Coal

Montana holds about 30% of U.S. total recoverable coal reserves.

Montana has the largest estimated recoverable coal reserves among the states, accounting for about 30% of the U.S. total.26 Montana is the fourth-largest coal-producing state. In 2021, the state produced about 5% of the nation's coal from six operating mines. Most of Montana's coal production came from five large surface mines in the Powder River Basin in the southeastern corner of the state.27,28 Montana's Spring Creek Coal mine was the seventh-largest U.S. coal-producing mine in 2021.29 The state's Rosebud surface mine supplied almost all of its production to Montana's largest electricity generating station—the Colstrip coal-fired power plant located next to the mine about 90 miles east of Billings. Two of the plant's 4 generating units were retired in early 2020, reducing the plant's generating capacity to about 1,500 megawatts.30,31,32

In 2021, about three-tenths of Montana's coal that was distributed was delivered within the state, almost all to the electric power sector. Nearly half of Montana's coal was sent to other states, mainly by rail to Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington, for electricity generation. The remaining one-fourth was exported to other countries, mostly to western Canada, where much of it continued on to Asia.33,34,35 Montana's coal production has declined in recent years, mainly because of competition in the United States from natural gas and renewable energy sources as fuel for electricity generation and retirements of coal-fired power plants.36,37,38,39

Petroleum

Montana holds less than 1% of U.S. total proved crude oil reserves, and the state accounts for about 1 in every 200 barrels of U.S. oil produced annually.40,41 Most of Montana's crude oil production comes from the Bakken Formation in the northeastern corner of the state along the border with North Dakota.42,43,44 Montana's Elm Coulee field, which began producing oil in 2001, was initially the most prolific oil field in the Williston Basin, a geologic basin that spreads from eastern Montana into North Dakota and Canada.45 However, the state's oil production declined from its 2006 peak of nearly 100,000 barrels per day as drilling activity moved to North Dakota, where the Bakken Shale formation is thicker, covers a larger area, and holds more oil. In 2022, Montana's annual crude oil production increased for the first time in three years, rising to 56,000 barrels per day.46,47

Montana’s 4 refineries can process about 218,000 barrels of crude oil per calendar day.

Montana has 4 refineries with a combined crude oil processing capacity of about 218,000 barrels per calendar day. The three largest refineries are in the Billings area. There is a smaller refinery in Great Falls that in early 2023 finished an expansion project that allowed it to make renewable aviation fuel from animal fat and vegetable oil.48,49 The refineries receive crude oil mainly from Canada and Wyoming and produce a wide range of refined products, including motor gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels, aviation fuels, butane, propane, petroleum coke, and asphalt.50,51,52,53 Pipelines and railroads are used to ship crude oil to the refineries and to transport the facilities' refined products throughout Montana and to nearby states. Several pipelines carry Montana crude oil to refineries in other states as well.54 In January 2021, the Biden administration canceled the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline extension, which would have crossed the state as a shorter route to transport Canadian crude oil to refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast.55

Although Montana's total petroleum consumption is among the lowest 10 states, its small population helps place it among the top 10 states in petroleum consumption per capita.56 The transportation sector consumes more than three-fifths of the petroleum used in Montana.57 The state ranks among the top five in both per capita annual vehicle miles traveled and per capita gasoline expenditures.58,59 During the winter months, federal air quality standards require oxygenated motor gasoline use in the Missoula metropolitan area near the Idaho border.60 Montana has no ethanol production plants, but it receives ethanol from other states that is blended with motor gasoline at Montana's petroleum product terminals.61,62 The industrial sector is the second-largest consumer of petroleum, accounting for almost one-fourth of the state's total use. The residential sector—where about 1 out of 7 households heat with propane, fuel oil, or kerosene—and the electric power and commercial sectors together make up the rest, about 13%, of the state's petroleum consumption.63,64

Electricity

In 2022, coal generated 42% of Montana's in-state electricity generation. Until 2016, coal consistently supplied more than half of its in-state generation. However, over the past decade coal's share declined because of the growth of renewable electricity, retirement of coal-fired power plants, and increased price competitiveness of natural gas.65,66,67,68 In 2020, hydroelectric power generation exceeded coal-fired generation, the only time in more than two decades, before coal returned to the top spot in 2021 and 2022.69

In 2022, hydropower accounted for 38% of Montana's in-state net generation. However, the state's largest power plant by generating capacity in 2022 was coal-fired, but 5 of the 10 largest were hydroelectric.70,71 There are several projects planned to expand the state's hydroelectric generating capacity. A large pumped hydro storage project with 400 megawatts of generating capacity is in development about 100 miles northwest of Billings.72,73,74 Pumped-storage hydroelectric plants generate electricity during peak demand periods, when power prices are higher, using water pumped into an elevated storage reservoir during off-peak periods and then releasing it to flow back to a lower reservoir through turbine generators when additional power is needed.75 In 2022, wind power had the third-largest share, about 15%, of the state's generation, and natural gas provided 2%. Petroleum coke accounted for almost 2% of Montana's generation, the highest share of any state.76,77

Montana has one of the nation’s eight converter stations that connect the eastern and western U.S. electric grids.

Montana consumers use about 70% of the electricity generated in the state.78 The rest is sent over high-voltage transmission lines to other western states, mostly Washington and Oregon.79 Several transmission projects are in development that will increase capacity to move Montana-generated electricity to other states.80,81 Most of Montana is part of the Western Interconnection, an electric grid which serves western states, Canadian provinces, and a small part of northern Mexico. A portion of eastern Montana is connected to the Eastern Interconnection of the U.S. grid.82,83 One of the nation's eight converter stations that connect the eastern and western electric grids is located at Miles City, Montana.84

In 2022, the residential sector accounted for about 37% of the electricity sales in the state, with the commercial and industrial sectors close behind at 33% and 30%, respectively.85 About one-fourth of Montana households use electricity as their primary heating source.86 In 2022, Montana's average electricity price was below the national average and less than in about fourth-fifths of the states.87

Renewable energy

In 2022, Montana was the nation’s seventh-largest producer of hydroelectric power.

Montana has substantial renewable energy resources, and in 2022 it ranked among the top 10 states with the largest share of electricity generated from renewables. Renewable energy, primarily hydropower, accounted for 53% of Montana's in-state electricity generation.88,89 The state's mountainous terrain along the Continental Divide creates fast-running rivers from the 300 inches of snow and rain that fall in the region annually and provide the water resources for hydroelectric power generation. The headwaters of the Missouri River, the longest river in North America, are in the mountains of southwestern Montana.90,91 In 2022, Montana was the seventh-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the nation.92 The state has about two dozen utility-scale (1 megawatt or larger) hydroelectric plants, and most of them are located in the western half of the state. Six of Montana's 10 largest power plants by generating capacity are hydroelectric facilities.93,94

With its broad plains dotted with hills, wide river valleys, and occasional mountains, eastern Montana has some of the best utility-scale wind power potential in the nation.95,96 The first utility-scale wind farm in the state came online in 2005.97 Wind energy powers 3 of the state's 10 largest generating plants by capacity and 2 of the 10 largest by actual yearly generation.98 The state's largest wind facility, the 366-megawatt Clearwater wind farm, came online in eastern Montana at the end of 2022. In early 2023, the state had nearly 1,500 megawatts of wind power generating capacity in operation. Another 1,400 megawatts of wind capacity and related battery energy storage were in various stages of planning and construction.99

In 2022, solar generated less than 1% of Montana's in-state electricity. Montana's solar energy power was provided only by customer-sited, small-scale (less than 1 megawatt) residential and business solar panel installations until 2017, when the state's first utility-scale power facilities began generating electricity. In early 2023, Montana had seven utility-scale solar power farms with a combined generating capacity of 98 megawatts. An 80-megawatt solar farm near Billings came online in January 2023, and another solar project totaling 80 megawatts will be operational in mid-2023.100,101

Montana has biomass resources, and about 7 in 100 households heat their homes with wood. The state has the third-highest share of wood-burning households, after Vermont and Maine. However, very little electricity generation in the state comes from biomass.102,103 The state's only utility-scale wood biomass-fueled generating facility has 3 megawatts of capacity and is owned by a lumber company in northwest Montana. An electric cooperative owns a 1.6-megawatt generating unit that is fueled by landfill gas.104,105 Woody biomass is also used as fuel in boilers to provide heat, mostly in western Montana schools, hospitals, and other public buildings.106

Montana has geothermal resources, but there are no utility-scale geothermal electricity generating facilities in the state.107 Montana's most significant geothermal resources are in the mountainous southwest. Low- and moderate-temperature geothermal resources are found in nearly all areas of the state.108 Montana's geothermal resources have a variety of direct-use applications, including recreational hot springs, greenhouses, and fish farms. Several hot springs resorts and public bathing facilities in Montana use geothermal energy for space heating and mineral baths.109

Enacted in 2005, Montana's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requires electricity retail suppliers to acquire at least 15% of the electricity they sell in-state from renewable energy sources by 2015. They reached the requirement in 2015 and continue to meet it. Qualifying renewable resources include: wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, small hydroelectric facilities, landfill gas, anaerobic digesters, and renewable fuel cells. The RPS also requires electricity suppliers to buy a set amount of power from smaller, community-based renewable energy projects.110 Montana provides low-interest loans to households and businesses to pay for energy-saving measures, like energy-efficient appliances and windows. The loans also cover alternative energy systems, including solar panels, geothermal systems, wind generators, and low-emission wood stoves.111

Natural gas

Montana accounts for about 0.1% of U.S. total natural gas reserves and marketed production.112,113 The state's natural gas production is about one-third of what it was at its peak in 2007. Production from natural gas wells and coalbed methane wells in the state generally trended downward in recent years as energy companies focused on drilling for oil rather than for natural gas.114,115 About three-fourths of Montana's natural gas production comes from wells located in the northern part of the state near the Canadian border. Almost all the remaining natural gas production comes from wells in the Williston Basin in northeastern Montana near the North Dakota border.116

Montana has the largest single underground natural gas storage site in the nation.

Montana consumes about twice as much natural gas as it produces.117,118 Interstate natural gas pipelines cross Montana from Canada, North Dakota, and Wyoming.119 In 2021, about 86% of the natural gas that entered the state came from Canada, crossing the border at two import points of entry. Of the remaining natural gas shipments, about 8% came from Wyoming and 6% came from North Dakota.120,121 In 2022, almost one-tenth of all the natural gas the United States imported by pipeline from Canada entered through Montana.122 About four-fifths of the natural gas that enters Montana leaves the state, almost all of it continuing on to North Dakota on its way to Midwestern markets.123 Some of the natural gas that enters Montana is put in storage. The state has more underground natural gas storage capacity than any other state in the Rocky Mountain region and has the nation's largest single underground storage site—the depleted Baker field in the Williston Basin in eastern Montana. That storage field can hold 287 billion cubic feet of gas.124,125

Montana's total natural gas consumption is among the five lowest states. However, with its frigid winters and small population, Montana ranks near the middle of the states in per capita natural gas use.126,127 The commercial sector is the largest natural gas consumer in Montana, accounting for 33% of the state's total natural gas use, followed by the industrial sector at 31%. The residential sector makes up about 27% of natural gas consumption and the electric power sector accounts for about 9%.128 About half of Montana households use natural gas as their primary energy source for home heating.129

Energy on tribal lands

More than 5.5 million acres in Montana, about 6% of the state's total land area, are Native American tribal lands.130 Montana has 7 reservations that are home to 12 tribes.131 In December 2019, the U.S. Department of the Interior updated regulations to make it easier for tribes to control development of energy resources on their lands.132 Most of Montana's tribal lands sit on top of coal, crude oil, or natural gas resources.133

The largest reservation in the state, the Crow Nation Reservation, covers 2.2 million acres in south-central Montana, and the Crow Tribe mines some of its estimated 9 billion tons of coal reserves. The Crow Nation Reservation also has crude oil and natural gas resources.134,135,136 137 The Northern Cheyenne Reservation in southeastern Montana, adjacent to the Crow Nation Reservation, also has large coal reserves, but the Northern Cheyenne Tribe does not mine its coal.138 The Blackfeet Reservation—located on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains near Glacier National Park with more than 1.5 million acres—has crude oil and natural gas resources. In November 2022, the Blackfeet tribe appealed a federal judge's order to reinstate an oil and natural gas lease near the reservation. While the Blackfeet Tribe has opposed leases on its most sacred lands, it is not against oil and gas development in other areas on the reservation.139,140,141 Crude oil was discovered in the early 1950s on the Fort Peck Reservation, which is home to two tribes and is the second-largest reservation in the state at over 2 million acres. The Fort Peck Reservation is located in northeastern Montana, and it overlies the western edge of the Bakken formation where there is crude oil production.142,143

Much of Montana's tribal lands also have abundant renewable resources. The Fort Peck, Blackfeet, and Crow Nation reservations are among the 15 reservations in the nation with the greatest potential for wind-powered electricity generation, and the Fort Peck Reservation has some of the highest potential for solar power generation.144 The Flathead and Crow tribal lands have some of the largest hydropower potential among U.S. tribal lands.145 The Salish and Kootenai tribes, on the Flathead Reservation in western Montana, became the first tribal owners and operators of a major hydroelectric facility in the nation when they acquired sole ownership of the Kerr Dam on the boundary of their reservation in September 2015.146 The Flathead Reservation, with its timber resources on the mountains and valleys of northwestern Montana, has the greatest biomass generation potential of all the tribal lands in the state.147,148

Endnotes

1 World Atlas, U.S. States by Size, accessed March 20, 2023.
2 U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), State Energy Data System, Table P2, Primary Energy Production Estimates in Trillion Btu, 2020, Montana.
3 NETSTATE, State Nicknames, accessed March 20, 2023.
4 U.S. EIA, U.S. Energy Atlas, All Energy Infrastructure and Resources, Montana, accessed March 20, 2023.
5 U.S. EIA, Annual Coal Report 2021 (October 18, 2022), Table 15, Recoverable Coal Reserves at Producing Mines, Estimated Recoverable Reserves, and Demonstrated Reserve Base by Mining Method, 2021.
6 U.S. EIA, Lower 48 states shale plays, Map (April 13, 2015).
7 U.S. EIA, U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves, Year-end 2021 (December 30, 2022), Table 7, Proved reserves, reserves changes, and production of crude oil, 2021, and Table 10, Proved reserves, reserves changes, and production of natural gas, wet after lease separation, 2021.
8 NETSTATE, The Geography of Montana, accessed March 20, 2023.
9 U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Rivers of the World: World's Longest Rivers, accessed March 20, 2023.
10 Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Hydropower, accessed March 20, 2023.
11 Northwestern Energy, Hydropower, accessed March 20, 2023.
12 Potts, Donald, "Montana, Big Sky Country and the Last, Best Place," Montana's Climate, The CoCoRaHS ‘State Climates' Series, accessed March 20, 2023.
13 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, WINDExchange, Wind Energy in Montana, Maps & Data, accessed March 20, 2023.
14 World Atlas, U.S. States by Size, accessed March 20, 2023.
15 World Population Review, Top 10 U.S. States with the Smallest Populations, accessed March 20, 2023.
16 Montana Official State Website, Brief History of Montana, accessed March 20, 2023.
17 Geology.com, Map of Montana Cities and Roads, accessed March 20, 2023.
18 U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census: Montana Profile, Population Density by Census Tract.
19 Montana Official State Website, Brief History of Montana, accessed March 21, 2023.
20 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Tools, Interactive Data, Regional Data, GDP and Personal Income, Annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State, GDP in current dollars, NAICS, Montana, All statistics in table, 2021.
21 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table C14, Total Energy Consumption Estimates per Capita by End-Use Sector, Ranked by State, 2020.
22 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table C11, Total Energy Consumption Estimates by End-Use Sector, Ranked by State, 2020.
23 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table C11, Total Energy Consumption Estimates by End-Use Sector, Ranked by State, 2020.
24 Potts, Donald, "Montana, Big Sky Country and the Last, Best Place," Montana's Climate, The CoCoRaHS ‘State Climates' Series, accessed March 21, 2023.
25 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table C14, Total Energy Consumption Estimates per Capita by End-Use Sector, Ranked by State, 2020.
26 U.S. EIA, Annual Coal Report 2021 (October 18, 2022), Table 15, Recoverable Coal Reserves at Producing Mines, Estimated Recoverable Reserves, and Demonstrated Reserve Base by Mining Method, 2021.
27 U.S. EIA, Annual Coal Report 2021 (October 18, 2022), Table 2, Coal Production and Number of Mines by State, County, and Mine Type, 2021.
28 U.S. EIA, U.S. Energy Atlas, All Energy Infrastructure and Resources, Montana, accessed March 22, 2023.
29 U.S. EIA, Annual Coal Report 2021 (October 18, 2022), Table 9, Major U.S. Coal Mines, 2021.
30 Westmoreland Mining LLC, Westmoreland Rosebud Mining LLC, Rosebud Mine, Montana, accessed March 22, 2023.
31 U.S. EIA, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (based on Form EIA-860M as a supplement to Form EIA-860), Inventory of Operating Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: All, and Inventory of Retired Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: Conventional Steam Coal.
32 U.S. EIA, Montana Electricity Profile 2021, Table 2A, Ten largest plants by generation capacity, 2021.
33 U.S. EIA, Annual Coal Distribution Report 2021 (October 18, 2022), Domestic distribution of U.S. coal by: Origin State, consumer, destination and method of transportation, Montana, Table OS-14: Domestic Coal Distribution, by Origin State, 2021.
34 U.S. EIA, Annual Coal Distribution Report 2021 (October 18, 2022), Domestic distribution of U.S. coal by: Domestic and foreign distribution of U.S. coal by origin state, Montana, 2021.
35 Montana Department of Commerce, Montana's Coal Exporters, accessed March 22, 2023.
36 U.S. EIA, "Renewables became the second-most prevalent U.S. electricity source in 2020," Today in Energy (December 23, 2021).
37 U.S. EIA, Coal Data Browser, Montana, Aggregate coal mine production for all coal (short tons), 2001-21.
38 U.S. EIA, "Coal shipments to U.S. power plants fell by more than half between 2010 and 2021," Today in Energy (October 19, 2022).
39 Lutey, Tom, "Coal cuts: Aging power plants, cheap natural gas shutting off Montana coal," Billings Gazette (March 21, 2021).
40 U.S. EIA, U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves, Year-end 2021 (December 30, 2022), Table 6, Proved reserves, reserve changes, and production of crude oil and lease condensates, 2021.
41 U.S. EIA, Crude Oil Production, Annual, Thousand Barrels, Montana 2017-22.
42 Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Montana Board of Oil & Gas Conservation, Production, Annual Production by County, 2022.
43 Geology.com, Montana County Map with County Seat Cities, accessed March 22, 2023.
44 U.S. EIA, Drilling Productivity Report, Production by region, Bakken, Shale play map, accessed March 22, 2023.
45 Montana Department of Transportation, The Elm Coulee Oil Field, Birthplace of the Bakken Oil Boom, accessed March 22, 2023.
46 U.S. EIA, Montana Field Production of Crude Oil, Annual, Thousand Barrels per Day, 1981-2022.
47 U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Assessment of Undiscovered Oil Resources in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations, Williston Basin Province, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, 2013, Fact Sheet (April 2013).
48 U.S. EIA, Refinery Capacity Report 2022 (June 21, 2022), Table 3, Capacity of Operable Petroleum Refineries by State as of January 1, 2022.
49 Murray, David, "Calumet Montana oil refinery in Great Falls to become top US producer of sustainable jet fuel," Great Falls Tribune (February 3, 2023).
50 CHS, Refined Fuels, accessed March 22, 2023.
51 Phillips 66, Billings Refinery, accessed March 22, 2023.
52 Seba, Erwin, "Exxon selling Montana oil refinery to Par Pacific in $310 million deal," Reuters (October 20, 2022).
53 Calumet, Facilities, Production, Blending, Packaging and Distribution Facilities, accessed March 22, 2023.
54 U.S. Department of Energy, State of Montana Energy Sector Risk Profile, Petroleum Map, p. 4-5.
55 The White House, Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis, Sec. 6. Revoking the March 2019 Permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline (January 20, 2021).
56 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table C15, Petroleum Consumption, Total and per Capita, Ranked by State, 2020.
57 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table F16, Total Petroleum Consumption Estimates, 2020.
58 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table E20, Motor Gasoline Price and Expenditure Estimates, Ranked by State, 2020.
59 U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Highway Policy Information, Highway Statistics 2020.
60 American Petroleum Institute, U.S. Gasoline Requirements Map, updated January 2018.
61 U.S. EIA, U.S. Fuel Ethanol Plant Production Capacity (August 8, 2022), Detailed annual production capacity plant is available in XLS.
62 U.S. EIA, Movements of Crude Oil and Selected Products by Rail between PAD Districts, Fuel Ethanol, Annual, 2017-22.
63 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table F16, Total Petroleum Consumption Estimates, 2020.
64 U.S. Census Bureau, House Heating Fuel, Table B25040, 2021 ACS 1-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Montana.
65 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
66 U.S. EIA, "Coal will account for 85% of U.S. electric generating capacity retirements in 2022," Today in Energy (January 11, 2022).
67 U.S. EIA, "Renewables became the second-most prevalent U.S. electricity source in 2020," Today in Energy (December 23, 2021).
68 U.S. EIA, "In 2020, U.S. natural gas prices were the lowest in decades," Today in Energy (January 7, 2021).
69 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
70 U.S. EIA, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (based on Form EIA-860M as a supplement to Form EIA-860), Inventory of Operating Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: All.
71 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
72 NS Energy, Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Project, Montana, accessed March 23, 2023.
73 GB Energy Park, Project Overview, accessed March 23, 2023.
74 Hettinger, Johnathan, "Montana's energy importers want renewables. Renewables require storage. A pumped hydro project in Meagher County aims to provide it," Montana Free Press (September 20, 2019).
75 U.S. EIA, "Most pumped storage electricity generators in the U.S. were built in the 1970s," Today in Energy (October 31, 2019).
76 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
77 U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (February 2023), Table 1.3.B., Table 1.6.B.
78 U.S. EIA, Montana Electricity Profile 2021, Table 10, Supply and disposition of electricity, 1990-2021.
79 Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Understanding Energy in Montana 2018, Electricity Supply and Demand in Montana, p. SUM 2.
80 Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Understanding Energy in Montana 2018, Recent History of Transmission Lines in Montana, p. 58-60.
81 Nicholson, Blake, "$2.5B power line planned from central North Dakota to southeastern Montana," The Bismarck Tribune (February 14, 2023).
82 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Electricity, Learn More About Interconnections, accessed March 24, 2023.
83 U.S. EIA, "U.S. electric system is made up of interconnections and balancing authorities," Today in Energy (July 20, 2016).
84 Western Area Power Administration, Miles City Converter Station, accessed March 24, 2023.
85 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Retail sales of electricity (million kilowatthours), 2019-22.
86 U.S. Census Bureau, House Heating Fuel, Table B25040, 2021 ACS 1-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Montana.
87 U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (February 2023), Table 5.6.B.
88 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
89 U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (February 2023), Tables 1.3.B, 1.10.B, 1.11.B, 1.17.B.
90 New World Encyclopedia, Missouri River, accessed March 24, 2023.
91 Frommer's, The Lay of the Land in Montana, accessed March 24, 2023.
92 U.S. EIA, Electric Power Monthly (February 2023), Table 1.10.B.
93 U.S. EIA, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (based on Form EIA-860M as a supplement to Form EIA-860), Inventory of Operating Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: Conventional Hydroelectric.
94 U.S. EIA, Montana Electricity Profile 2021, Table 2A, Ten Largest Plants by Capacity, 2021.
95 NETSTATE, Montana, The Geography of Montana, accessed March 24, 2023.
96 U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, WINDExchange, Wind Energy in Montana, Maps & Data, accessed March 24, 2023.
97 U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, WINDExchange, "Energy Department recognizes the first utility-scale wind project in Montana," Press Release (October 7, 2005).
98 U.S. EIA, Montana Electricity Profile 2021, Table 2A, Ten Largest Plants by Capacity, 2021, and Table 2B, Ten largest plants by generation, 2021.
99 U.S. EIA, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (based on Form EIA-860M as a supplement to Form EIA-860), Inventory of Operating Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: Onshore Wind Turbine; Inventory of Planned Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: Onshore Wind Turbine, Batteries.
100 U.S. EIA, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (based on Form EIA-860M as a supplement to Form EIA-860), Inventory of Operating Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: Solar Photovoltaic, and Inventory of Planned Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: Solar Photovoltaic.
101 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
102 U.S. Census Bureau, House Heating Fuel, Table B25040, 2021 ACS 1-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Montana.
103 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
104 U.S. EIA, Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory (based on Form EIA-860M as a supplement to Form EIA-860), Inventory of Operating Generators as of February 2023, Plant State: Montana, Technology: Wood/Wood Waste Biomass.
105 F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber, Co-Generation Plant, accessed March 24, 2023.
106 Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Understanding Energy in Montana 2018, Biomass, Methane and Landfill Generation in Montana, p. 33.
107 U.S. EIA, Electricity Data Browser, Montana, Net generation for all sectors (thousand megawatthours), Annual, 2019-22.
108 Birkby, Jeff, "Geothermal Energy in Montana, A Consumer's Guide," Montana Department of Environmental Quality (June 2012).
109 U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Geothermal Technologies Program, Montana (November 2005).
110 N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center, DSIRE, Montana Renewable Resource Standard, updated November 19, 2022.
111 Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program, accessed March 24, 2023.
112 U.S. EIA, Natural Gas Gross Withdrawals and Production, Marketed Production, Montana, 2017-22.
113 U.S. EIA, U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves, Year-end 2021 (December 30, 2022), Table 10, Total natural gas proved reserves, reserves changes, and production, wet after lease separation, 2021.
114 U.S. EIA, Montana Natural Gas Marketed Production, Annual, Monthly, 1967-2022.
115 U.S. EIA, Montana Natural Gas Gross Withdrawals from Coalbed Wells, Annual, 2002-21.
116 Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Board of Oil and Gas Conservation, Annual Review 2021, volume 65, p. 2-1,3-1, 15-1.
117 U.S. EIA, Natural Gas Consumption by End Use, Total Consumption, Annual, 2017-22.
118 U.S. EIA, Natural Gas Gross Withdrawals and Production, Gross Withdrawals, Annual, 2017-22.
119 U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Gas Transmission and Hazardous Liquid Pipelines, updated February 23, 2023.
120 U.S. EIA, U.S. Natural Gas Imports by Point of Entry, 2017-22.
121 U.S. EIA, International and Interstate Movements of Natural Gas by State, Montana, Annual, 2016-21.
122 U.S. EIA, U.S. Natural Gas Imports by Point of Entry, 2017-22.
123 U.S. EIA, International and Interstate Movements of Natural Gas by State, Montana, Annual, 2016-21.
124 U.S. EIA, Underground Natural Gas Storage Capacity, Annual, 2016-21.
125 U.S. EIA, Natural Gas Annual Respondent Query System, 191 Field Level Storage Data, Annual, 2021.
126 City-Data.com, Montana Climate, accessed March 24, 2023.
127 U.S. EIA, State Energy Data System, Table C16, Natural Gas Consumption, Total and per Capita, Ranked by State, 2020.
128 U.S. EIA, Natural Gas Consumption by End Use, Montana, Annual, 2017-22.
129 U.S. Census Bureau, House Heating Fuel, Table B25040, 2021 ACS 1-Year Estimates Detailed Tables, Montana.
130 U.S. Forest Service, Forest Service National Resource Guide to American Indian and Alaska Native Relations, Appendix D: Indian Nations, The American Indian Digest (April 1997) p. D-3.
131 Montana Governor's Office of Indian Affairs, Tribal Nations, accessed March 24, 2023.
132 U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs, "Assistant Secretary Sweeney Clears the Path for Tribes to Develop Energy Resources on Tribal Land," Press Release (December 23, 2019).
133 U.S. EIA, U.S. Energy Atlas, All Energy Infrastructure and Resources, Montana, accessed March 24, 2023.
134 Montana Governor's Office of Indian Affairs, Crow Nation, accessed March 24, 2023.
135 Mining Data Solutions, Absaloka Mine, accessed March 24, 2023.
136 Baltz, Tripp, "Mining Tribal Land Weighs on Crow Family as Cost of Prosperity," Bloomberg Law (March 12, 2020).
137 Regan, Shawn, "Unlocking the Wealth of Indian Nations: Overcoming Obstacles to Tribal Energy Development," Introduction and Major Energy Resource Tribes table, Property and Environment Research Center (February 18, 2014) p. 4.
138 "Northern Cheyenne Tribe won't touch coal deposit despite economic woes," Indianz.com (June 27, 2017).
139 Montana Governor's Office of Indian Affairs, Blackfeet Nation, accessed March 24, 2023.
140 "Leaders of Blackfeet tribe appeal restoration of oil lease on sacred lands," Great Falls Tribune (November 4, 2022).
141 Byron, Eve, "Badger-Two Medicine drilling lease canceled," The Missoulian (October 1, 2019).
142 Groover, Heidi, "Prize and Poison," University of Montana (2011).
143 Montana Governor's Office of Indian Affairs, Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes, accessed March 24, 2023.
144 Milbrandt, Anelia, Donna Heimiller, and Paul Schwabe, Techno-Economic Renewable Energy Potential on Tribal Lands (July 2018), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Figure 2, Wind generation potential by reservation, p. 6; Table 6, Fifteen Tribal Lands with the Highest Technical Potential for Photovoltaic Electricity Generation, p. 11.
145 Milbrandt, Anelia, Donna Heimiller, and Paul Schwabe, Techno-Economic Renewable Energy Potential on Tribal Lands (July 2018), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Table 18, Fifteen Tribal Lands with the Highest Technical Potential for Hydropower Generation, p. 33.
146 U.S. Department of Energy, Indian Energy Policy and Programs, Montana Tribes Realize Long-Held Vision of Acquiring Kerr Dam: Interview with Energy Keepers Inc. CEO Brian Lipscomb (September 16, 2015).
147 Montana Governor's Office of Indian Affairs, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, accessed March 24, 2023.
148 Milbrandt, Anelia, Donna Heimiller, and Paul Schwabe, Techno-Economic Renewable Energy Potential on Tribal Lands (July 2018), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Figure 9, Biopower generation potential by reservation (including extended areas of 10 miles adjacent to the tribal land boundaries), p. 19.