NorthWestern Energy has signed a letter of intent to provide energy services to a data center developer in Montana.
The centers will be served as part of NorthWestern Energy’s regulated business, which is expected to lower the cost per customer to operate NorthWestern’s Montana generation resources. The energy service load is expected to be a minimum of 50 megawatts (MW) beginning in 2027, with growth to 250 MW or more by 2029.
“NorthWestern Energy’s strategic resource acquisitions and diverse generation portfolio position us as a pivotal economic partner in Montana,” said NorthWestern Energy President and CEO Brian Bird. “As a regulated energy company, we offer reliable power from a clean energy portfolio at competitive rates, making Montana an attractive destination for new businesses and industries. This collaboration underscores NorthWestern Energy’s commitment to economic development, innovation and excellence in energy service delivery.”
NorthWestern Energy provides power generation from hydro, wind and solar resources. The company’s recent addition of on-demand energy generation from the Yellowstone County Generating Station and the anticipated additional capacity from the Colstrip Plant, starting January 2026, strengthens its ability to serve existing and new Montana electric customers reliably at lower customer costs.
“This investment in Montana is a significant milestone for our state’s economic growth and technological advancement, possible because of work done to provide more certainty for data center developers,” said Paul Green, director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “Reliable energy service is a critical component in this effort. This development will create new jobs, increase the state’s tax base and [demonstrate] how Montana’s open-for-business mindset and pro-growth programs are driving the state’s prosperity.”