Cost of Wind v. Fossil Fuels Chart (3)

| December 10, 2024|

NorthWestern’s portfolio, but the utility shows no interest in increasing these resources in its portfolio. This chart outlines cost per unit of energy (MWh) for NorthWestern's different generation sources (with a nuclear comparison). The utility shared its data with the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) in 2023 and 2024. The nuclear power cost estimate is pulled from financial analyst firm Lazard’s annual Levelized Cost of Energy report. *Required Qualifying Facility contracts under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). These plants are developed and run by independent energy developers, contracting power to NorthWestern Energy. NorthWestern recently reported 11 wind plants, 14 hydroelectric plants, and nine solar plants within this category as well as two small fossil fuel plants. The two fossil fuel plants dramatically increase the average cost per MWh from contracted facilities. **Not included in Colstrip’s cost per MWh of power are compliance costs for long-overdue pollution upgrades, increasing fuel costs under a new contract with the mine, and remediation costs. NorthWestern has unjustifiably kept these costs separate, possibly to artificially reduce the plant’s costs in the short term. ***Yellowstone County Generating Station costs are based on NorthWestern Energy data in the rate case. ****There is no nuclear power in Montana. The only nuclear plant built in the U.S. in nearly 30 years is Georgia’s Vogtle plant. Vogtle cost nearly $37 billion after an initial $14 billion estimate and was nearly a decade overdue, making it the most expensive power plant ever built.

Last modified: December 10, 2024

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