PSE IN MONTANA:
HISTORY
Puget Sound Energy has been a partner in Montana's energy economy dating back to the 1970s and construction of the Colstrip Power Plant. Over the years, PSE’s support of Montana’s energy economy has been robust. PSE has purchased millions of tons of Montana coal, which has resulted in hundreds of millions in contributions to the Montana Coal Trust Fund for the benefit of all Montanans. PSE has also contributed over $357 million in property taxes and more than $35 million in taxes related to wholesale energy transactions and electrical energy to the state of Montana in the last 30+ years alone.
As of January 1, 2026, NorthWestern Energy acquired PSE’s remaining ownership of the Colstrip plant (Units 3 & 4). While PSE is no longer an owner of the Colstrip generating station, the company took steps to honor its responsibilities.
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PSE was proud of its leadership on complex Colstrip issues including being the first owner to provide community transition and opportunity funding to the tune of $10 million dollars and the first owner to develop a mechanism to set aside existing federal tax benefits and grants to fund prudently incurred decommissioning and remediation costs. Looking forward, PSE expects to invest significant funds for its portion of Colstrip remediation and decommissioning work. ​
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE:
INVESTMENTS IN MONTANA
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PSE is dedicated to being a good neighbor in Stillwater County. With the development of the Beaver Creek Wind project, Stillwater County is now eligible for grants from the PSE Foundation – a nonprofit established to support the communities in which PSE has customers or generation facilities. You can learn more about the PSE Foundation here >>>
In 2021, PSE signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to buy 350 MW of clean energy from the planned Clearwater Wind Project, located about 60 miles north of Colstrip, Montana. The full project is expected to bring more than $400 million in economic benefits to the region through job creation and tax revenue.
In 2020, PSE signed a historic hydroelectric PPA with Energy Keepers, Inc. the tribally owned corporation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana. The deal, running through 2035, provides 40 megawatts of zero carbon energy produced by the Selis Ksanka Qlispe hydroelectric project, located at Flathead Lake in Montana.
As PSE works to meet our aspirational goals of being a Beyond Net Zero Carbon company and meet the obligations outlined in Washington State’s Clean Energy Transformation Act, Montana can continue to play a strategic role in supplying a diverse supply of clean, reliable and renewable energy. Learn more about our newest Montana energy partners here >>>
NextEra Clearwater Wind Project
Rosebud County, Montana