Since the adoption of the Seventh Power Plan in February 2016, the region has seen moderate development of new resources – especially when compared to the natural gas and wind resource boom of the 2000’s and early 2010’s. Between 2016 and the beginning of 2020, about 1,800 megawatts of new nameplate capacity was acquired in the region. The majority of new developments were wind and solar projects, with the exception of Carty, a natural gas combined cycle plant. The year 2020 marked the first of many coal unit retirements in the region, starting with the decommissioning of Colstrip units 1 and 2 in January.
Additions and Retirements since the Seventh Plan
For a complete inventory of updated generating resource projects in the region, including retired resources and proposed resources, see the Council’s generating project database.