Great Falls Tribune

 

December 7, 2008

 

Montgomery still plans to build plant

Montgomery Energy Partners owns land just north of Black Eagle and an air quality permit to build a natural gas, combined cycle plant to produce 275 megawatts of electricity. It's going to stay that way, said Dan Hudson, owner of the company.

Last week Hudson fielded calls from the Tribune and other concerned Cascade County officials about rumblings that the project is for sale.

It's not, said Hudson.

"It could cost up to $200 million to build the plant and we'll get investors to invest into the equity of the plant and I suspect that is where those rumors are originating from," Hudson said.

In fact, Montgomery Energy is applying for permits to add a 200 megawatt peaking electricity plant on the property.

Now that planning for the Montana Alberta Tie Line is wrapping up and construction is around the corner, talks with potential customers for the energy are very active, Hudson said.

"It's possible that we could partner with one of the people building the wind farms in the area," Hudson said.

"The only thing we don't have is the final interconnection agreement with NorthWestern Energy, and hopefully that will be complete soon," he said.

Once all the pieces are in place, it will take about a year to build the plant.

Two 140-ton turbines will be shipped to Great Falls, the same models that were in the city six years ago when NorthWestern Energy owned the project.

NorthWestern Energy later scrapped their plans because of company financial problems. The turbines were sold to Montgomery Energy and moved to one of their plants in Texas.

Montgomery Energy later bought the power plant project from NorthWestern.