Hydroelectric Plants in Montana

Black Eagle Location: MT Operator: PPL Montana Configuration: 2 X 7.8 MW, 1 X 5.6 MW propeller Operation: 1927 T/G supplier: SMS, AC Quick facts: Black Eagle Dam on the Missouri River is 753ft long and 13ft high. The original powerhouse was built in 1890 and replaced in 1926. Downstream from the dam is the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail Interpretive Center, which features exhibits describing the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804–1806. PPL Montana contributed $1.1mn toward the center’s construction. Photograph by ZenPanda (flickr) Posted 17 Aug 2006	Fort Peck Location: MT Operator: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Configuration: 2 X 44 MW, 1 X 18 MW, 2 X 40 MW Francis Operation: 1943-1961 T/G supplier: SMS, AC, Elliott Quick facts: Fort Peck Dam was the first dam built in the upper Missouri River basin and remains the largest hydraulically earth-filled dam in the world. Construction began in Oct 1933 during the Great Depression and employment peaked at 11,000 in 1936. There are two powerhouses built about 20yrs apart: half their output is sold to rural electric cooperatives. Photograph by Harry Weddington and courtesy of USACE Posted 10 Apr 2005	Hungry Horse Location: MT Operator: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Configuration: 4 X 107 MW Francis Operation: 1952-1953 T/G supplier: AC, GE EPC: General-Shea-Morrison JV Quick facts: Congress authorized construction of Hungry Horse Dam in June 1944. The units were uprated and overhauled from 1990-1993. Unit capacity went from 71.25 MW to 107 MW. Photograph courtesy of USBR Posted 18 Mar 2005
Kerr Location: MT Operator: PPL Montana Configuration: 3 X 70 MW Francis Operation: 1938-1954 T/G supplier: NN, BLH, WH Quick facts: Construction of Kerr Dam began in 1930 by Rocky Mountain Power, a company reportedly affiliated with Montana Power Co and Anaconda Copper. After 14mos of construction, financial problems halted construction for five years. The project is named after Frank A Kerr, a president of MPC. The dam is 204ft high and 450ft long. Photograph courtesy of PPL Corp Posted 28 Aug 2005		Noxon Rapids Location: MT Operator: Avista Corp Configuration: 1 X 76.8-MW, 3 X 91.8-MW, 1 X 114-MW Francis Operation: 1959-1977 T/G supplier: AC, GE Quick facts: Noxon Rapids is the largest of Avista's eight hydro plants and was the last major hydroelectric project built in the Northwest by a private utility. The 260ft dam is on the Clark Fork River about 22mi upstream of Avista's Cabinet Gorge plant located in Idaho. Construction of Noxon Rapids nearly doubled the population of Sanders County. The plant went online on 7 Jul 1959. Avista has helped develop and improve many recreation sites in the area along with the U.S. Forest Service and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Photograph courtesy of Avista Corp Posted 13 Oct 2007

Abbreviations

Data: industcards, Platts UDI World Electric Power Plants Data Base

Updated 09/29/09

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