BHE Montana Breaks Ground on New Battery Energy Storage System

BHE Montana broke ground on the Glacier Battery System, a new 75-megawatt battery with two hours of energy storage located in Cut Bank, Montana. “Today is an important milestone for BHE Montana as we continue to power growth in Montana and throughout the region,” said Nancy Murray, president, BHE Montana. “The Glacier Battery System will add an additional layer of stability to the energy grid of the West and increased support to our portfolio of renewable generation assets.”

BHE Montana was joined by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and members of the Great Falls Development Alliance for the groundbreaking ceremony.

“Thanks to our pro-business, pro-jobs policies, Montana’s economy is on the move,” said Gov. Greg Gianforte. “I’d like to thank BHE Montana for its continued investment in our communities, and for its commitment to improving grid reliability in our region.”

“This investment launches a new era for electricity in Montana, opening the door for significant new opportunities for energy production, transmission and use across Montana,” said Brett Doney, president and CEO, Great Falls Development Alliance. “We applaud BHE Montana’s continued investment in renewable 24/7 energy and look forward to partnering with them to create greater economic opportunity in the Great Falls Montana Region.”

BHE Montana’s Glacier Battery System is a stand-alone facility that will be used to support real-time scheduling of intermittent, renewable generation from BHE Montana’s wind and solar generation assets, adding an additional layer of resiliency to Montana’s energy grid. The Glacier Battery System will be interconnected to the Montana-Alberta Tie Line and is expected to be in operation by the end of 2025.

BHE Montana operates the 189-megawatt Rim Rock windfarm near Kevin, Montana, as well as the 105-megawatt Glacier I and 103.5-megawatt Glacier II windfarms that span southeast Glacier County and southwest Toole County in northern Montana. In June 2024, BHE Montana also announced plans to develop Glacier Solar Park, a new 100-megawatt solar generation project.

BHE Montana | https://www.bhemontana.com/