Article published Dec 17, 2007

NorthWestern plans for more wind energy, not coal

The Associated Press

BILLINGS — NorthWestern Energy intends to double its wind power capacity over the next seven years but foresees no new coal plant construction due to uncertainty over global warming, according to documents released by the company Monday.

The South Dakota-based utility needs to build at least 150 megawatts of wind projects to comply with a 2005 Montana law. That law requires utilities to get at least 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2015.

But more wind power will only partially meet rising demand for electricity across the region. The biennial resource plan released by NorthWestern on Monday shows its power generation capacity will be in a deficit by 2014. 

With coal out of the picture, company officials envision buying more of the utility’s power on the open market to fill the gap. 

Buying from the open market carries risks if prices swing sharply. NorthWestern spokeswoman Claudia Rapkoch said the potential volatility attached to coal projects was even greater. 

“Until there is more certainty overall regarding greenhouse gases, carbon taxes — those kind of issues — we’re just not going to be investing in baseload facilities” such as new coal plants, Rapkoch said. 

The utility industry is the United States’ largest single source of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Burning coal accounts for the bulk of the industry’s emissions.