NorthWestern Energy Partners with Data Center Developer For Major Project In Montana

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., also known as NorthWestern Energy, has signed a letter of intent to provide energy services to a developer planning new data centers in Montana. These data centers will be supported through NorthWestern Energy’s regulated business, which is expected to help reduce operating costs for its Montana generation resources. The energy demand for the project will start at a minimum of 50 megawatts in 2027 and is projected to grow to 250 megawatts or more by 2029.

Brian Bird, NorthWestern Energy President & CEO, said, “NorthWestern Energy’s strategic resource acquisitions and diverse generation portfolio position us as a pivotal economic partner in Montana. 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.”

Paul Green, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce, stated, “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. Reliable energy service is a critical component in this effort. This development will create new jobs, increase the state’s tax base and demonstrates how Montana’s open-for-business mindset and pro-growth programs are driving the state’s prosperity.”

NorthWestern Energy is one of the cleanest energy companies in the country, with the majority of its power coming from renewable sources like hydro, wind, and solar. The company has recently added on-demand energy generation from the Yellowstone County Generating Station, and starting in January 2026, it expects to increase its capacity with additional power from the Colstrip Plant. These upgrades will help NorthWestern Energy reliably serve both existing and new electric customers in Montana while keeping customer costs lower.