NorthWestern : Energy has agreement with Billings area solar project
May 02, 2019 at 05:34 pm EDT
Share
Butte, Mont. - NorthWestern Energy entered into an agreement with Meadowlark Solar to purchase the energy from a 20-megawatt solar project to be developed near Billings.
The agreement resulted from the Request for Proposals for Community Renewable Energy Projects that NorthWestern Energy issued in early 2018. The Meadowlark Solar project is due be completed by fourth quarter of 2021.
The contract will help NorthWestern Energy fulfill its obligations under the Renewable Power Production and Rural Economic Development Act. Under the law, NorthWestern Energy is required to procure supply from certified CREPs that total at least 67 megawatts. The Meadowlark Solar project must be certified by the Montana Public Service Commission to qualify as a CREP.
Meadowlark Solar will be the sixth CREP resource in NorthWestern Energy's energy supply portfolio. When it comes online, NorthWestern Energy's remaining CREP obligation will be about 10 megawatts.
The law also requires that NorthWestern Energy procure at least 15% of its retail sales from eligible renewable resources. The output from Meadowlark Solar will also contribute to meeting that requirement, though NorthWestern Energy already procures more than the law requires from eligible renewable resources.
In 2018, NorthWestern procured 15.5% of its retail sales from renewable resources.
More than 60 percent of the energy in NorthWestern Energy's Montana generation portfolio comes from water, wind and solar resources. NorthWestern Energy also relies on thermal generation from Colstrip Unit 4 and several natural gas-fired plants to meet customer needs reliably and affordably.
Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter (@NWEinfo).
About NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE)
NorthWestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas in the Upper Midwest and Northwest, serving approximately 726,400 customers in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. More information on NorthWestern Energy is available on the company's website at www.northwesternenergy.com.
Media Contact:
Jo Dee Black
(866) 622-8081
Jodee.Black@northwestern.com
Attachments
Original document
Permalink
Disclaimer
NorthWestern Corporation published this content on 02 May 2019 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 02 May 2019 21:32:16 UTC
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services. The Company operates through two segments: electric utility operations and natural gas utility operations. The electric utility operations segment includes the generation, purchase, transmission and distribution of electricity. The natural gas utility operations segment includes the production, purchase, transmission, storage, and distribution of natural gas. It provides electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 775,300 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Its operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through its subsidiary, NorthWestern Corporation, and its operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through its subsidiary, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation. Its customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers.
NORTHWESTERN ENERGY GROUP, INC. 
