PSE IN MONTANA:
BEAVER CREEK WIND PROJECT
LATEST UPDATES FROM THE BEAVER CREEK WIND PROJECT:
PSE ANNOUNCES PHASE 2 OF THE BEAVER CREEK WIND PROJECT
As part of its ongoing investments in Montana, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is embarking on the second phase of development of the Beaver Creek Wind Project, providing local benefits to Sweet Grass and Stillwater Counties.
The project will add 25 wind turbines on private land in northeastern Sweet Grass County adjacent to the existing 88 turbine, 248-Megawatt (MW) facility in neighboring Stillwater County that was completed in 2025.
The 25 turbines will be the same model as those used at Beaver Creek I and will add 70 MW - enough energy to power about 10,000 typical homes. The Project will include a generation interconnection (gen-tie) line that will transfer the electricity generated from a new substation approximately 7 miles to an existing substation built by PSE for the Beaver Creek I wind project.
Project development will also include the build out of accessory facilities typical of wind farms such as access roads, fencing, foundations, and collector lines, among others.
PSE intends to use as much local labor and materials as practicable, which is the most efficient and locally beneficial approach to development. Operations will be integrated into the existing project including use of the existing operations and maintenance facilities.
Construction is planned to start in the spring of 2027 with an anticipated completion date in mid-2028.
Beaver Creek II is expected to provide meaningful local benefits, including construction jobs, spending at local businesses, lease and royalty payments to participating landowners, and new tax revenue and impact fees that will help support county services, schools, and infrastructure. While the energy generated by the project is used elsewhere, the local investments stay in Montana.
PSE is committed to being a good neighbor, developing the project safely and responsibly, and working closely with local communities to minimize construction impacts.
The community is invited to an informational open house hosted by PSE project leaders to share an overview of Beaver Creek II and answer questions on July 28, 2026 from 3pm to 6pm at the Big Timber Carnegie Library. All are welcome.
Read more in the Beaver Creek II Fact Sheet for additional information about the project, timeline, community benefits, safety measures, transportation plans, and PSE's energy investments in Montana.
PSE HOSTS BEAVER CREEK COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DINNER
September 2025 - Puget Sound Energy hosted a Beaver Creek Community Appreciation dinner on September 8, 2025 at the Stillwater County Civic Center to thank the community, landowners and local businesses for their patience and support during the project’s construction. In this photo: Mary Kipp, president and CEO of Puget Sound Energy, stands with local officials (from left) Sen. Forrest Mandeville; Commissioner Steve Riveland; PSE’s VP of Energy resources, Ron Roberts and Commissioner Roger Webb. Photo: Bill Wright/Puget Sound Energy
More than 100 members of the community joined the celebration, which marked the completion of the 88 wind turbine project and 230 KV transmission system, generating power to the grid in late summer 2025.
Puget Sound Energy was proud to work with local businesses in hosting the community event which included dinner catered by Uncle Sam's Eatery, locally-grown flowers provided by Vera's Garden and cupcakes baked at Bugle Bakery.
LATEST UPDATES FROM THE BEAVER CREEK WIND PROJECT:
230KV TRANSMISSION SYSTEM COMPLETE
UPDATE: August 2025 - Puget Sound Energy (PSE) is proud to announce that its Beaver Creek wind farm, a utility-scale wind project located on the high plains in Stillwater County, Montana, is now fully operational.
In the fall of 2024, Beaver Creek marked a big milestone with all 88 turbines standing and fully assembled in 91 days. The final wind turbine was installed on September 16, 2024 just 24 weeks since groundbreaking. While all 88 turbines are now standing, more work needs to be done in the coming months before the wind farm is expected to be operational in August of 2025. Behind the scenes work includes wiring, mechanical inspections, and other pre-commissioning work.
Puget Sound Energy (PSE)’s new Beaver Creek wind farm is a utility-scale wind project located on the high plains in Stillwater County, Montana. PSE is continuing to invest in Montana’s energy economy as PSE works to add more clean energy to its portfolio.
The wind farm will have an expected initial nameplate capacity of 248 megawatts (MW), enough energy to power about 83,000 homes a year. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to add wind turbines in neighboring Sweet Grass County as well as a lithium-ion battery energy storage system to shape Beaver Creek’s variable wind output and better match PSE’s customer energy needs. Montana wind has a high production rate that is especially valuable during extremely cold weather in the Pacific Northwest, when high pressure systems mean that Washington wind farms do not produce much energy.
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. The PSE Foundation is opening a competitive grant cycle from April 1-April 20 for nonprofits focused on emergency and disaster relief including preparedness and response. Application information is available here >>>
RECENT UPDATES FROM THE BEAVER CREEK WIND PROJECT:
230KV TRANSMISSION SYSTEM COMPLETE
March 2025 - The 230kV Transmission System that runs from PSE’s own Beaver Creek Substation to NorthWestern Energy’s inter-tie is now complete. Work on PSE's Beaver Creek Substation is expected to be complete in the coming weeks. The Beaver Creek Facility is slated to be operational and generating power on the grid before the end of this summer. In this photo (left): transmission system complete.
SUBSTATION NEARS COMPLETION
December 2024 - All 88 turbines are complete and accepted at the Beaver Creek Wind project. All ground restoration is complete, with some touch-ups scheduled in the Spring of 2025. In this photo (right): substation nears completion.
FINAL TURBINE FULLY ASSEMBLED AT PSE'S BEAVER CREEK WIND PROJECT
October 2024 - The 88th and final wind turbine was installed in the Fall of 2024 at PSE’s Beaver Creek wind facility in Stillwater County, Montana. The first wind turbine was fully assembled in June of 2024. Learn more here >>>
PUGET SOUND ENERGY ANNOUNCES MILESTONE IN BEAVER CREEK WIND PROJECT
June 20, 2024 - Puget Sound Energy announced a big milestone in its Beaver Creek Wind Project as the first wind turbine has been fully assembled on day 63 of construction. Over the next few months, 87 more turbines will be erected in Stillwater County, Montana. The wind farm is the latest addition in a growing list of renewable energy resources PSE is acquiring as it works toward meeting clean energy goals for 2025 and beyond. Read more here >>>
Investing in Montana's Energy Economy
"Montana's wind resources are valuable assets to PSE's portfolio given their high contribution to our peak capacity needs. Montana winds blow longer and stronger in the winter when our customer demand is greatest."
-Ron Roberts, Vice President of Energy Supply, Puget Sound Energy
"PSE is undergoing one of the largest clean energy transformations of any utility in the country."
-Mary Kipp, president and CEO of Puget Sound Energy
PSE has been a partner in Montana’s energy economy since the 1970s and continues to invest in the state of Montana and its communities. The project will interconnect on NorthWestern Energy’s system and will use existing PSE transmission on the Colstrip Transmission System to bring the wind energy back to PSE customers.
About the Beaver Creek Wind Project:
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The wind farm is expected to utilize an estimated 150-200 skilled workers during construction with an ongoing need for 10-15 permanent on-site workers during operation.
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The project will utilize federal tax credits, and comply with provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act that emphasize the importance of union and/or prevailing wage jobs and apprenticeship programs for tradespeople involved with the project. It is also PSE's intent to use domestically produced products when possible.
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Construction began in the spring of 2024 the facility was operational in 2025.
As part of its work to add additional clean energy resources to its portfolio, PSE continues to partner with energy producers in the state of Montana. Recent examples include power purchase agreements signed with Energy Keepers, Inc., the tribally owned corporation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for hydroelectric power, and an agreement with NextEra, Montana’s largest windfarm Clearwater Wind, based in Rosebud, Custer and Garfield Counties. Learn more about these projects and PSE’s work in Montana HERE.