In Montana, wind energy is cost-competitive with fossil fuels, especially coal. In fact, wind energy is less much less expensive than coal for customers of NorthWestern Energy – the state’s largest utility.
The graph below comes from data from the Montana Public Service Commission and it compares the costs of various resources in NorthWestern’s portfolio. The Judith Gap wind facility is about $32.11 per megawatt-hour (or 3.1 cents per kilowatt-hour) while the coal-fired Colstrip Unit 4 is about $64.55 per megawatt-hour or (6.4 cents per kilowatt hour).
Source: Montana Public Service Commission
Nationally, financial analyst firm Lazard found in December 2016 unsubsidized wind projects costing between $32 and $62 per megawatt-hour while coal cost between $57 and $148 per megawatt-hour.
Updated in 2021: Here’s a chart of the cost of renewable energy per megawatt hour.
Why are Wind Costs are Decreasing?
Wind energy technology has improved significantly in recent years, resulting in turbines that are larger and produce energy at less cost. Increased turbine hub height, rotor diameter, and nameplate capacity have allowed more energy to be produced per turbine than ever before. The U.S. Department of Energy reports the average nameplate capacity for a newly installed wind turbine in 2015 was 2.0 megawatts, an 180% increase since 1999. In addition to generating more energy at less overall cost, larger turbines have made it possible to economically generate energy in areas with increasingly lower average wind speeds.
Montana’s Potential for Wind Energy
Renewable Northwest 
prepared a fact sheet on the wind energy potential and jobs that could come to Montana. Here are some fast facts:
- Montana ranks 5th in the nation for land-based wind potential and 7th when accounting for both offshore and onshore wind.
- When considering the size of its potential wind resource, the Big Sky State ranks dead last for creating wind jobs.
- A clean energy economy could double Montana’s statewide energy jobs by 2030 while also growing wages.
- Median wages in wind energy are 34% higher than those in coal mining and are comparable to those in fossil fuel electricity generation.
- Coal has become uneconomic as other forms of energy have dropped in price.
- Coal is costing ratepayers more in operations, maintenance, and cleanup.
- Meanwhile, wind has become one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation.
