Montana

Montana State Solar Policy Resources

• Montana Public Service Commission – Learn about the governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of Montana public utilities
• Montana State Legislature – Track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Montana
• Montana State Energy Office – Find a wide variety of information on state government energy programs, policy, projects, energy-saving strategies and energy-related statistics
• DSIRE Incentives Database – Montana – Search a public clearinghouse for specific solar energy incentives in Montana and across the United States
• U.S. Energy Information Administration – Montana State Profile – Explore official energy statistics, including data on electricity supply and demand, from the U.S. government
• Montana Renewable Energy Association

Montana Energy Storage Policy and Market Overview

Montana displayed early interest in stimulating a competitive renewable energy market. However, in 2021, the state legislature repealed the Renewable Portfolio Standard, setting back alternative energy deployment.

In 2024, the first standalone battery storage system project broke ground and will have a 75 MW capacity. Despite a lack of state incentives, utilities are eager to deploy resources. Rocky Mountain Power, the largest electric utility in the state, aims to deploy 5,546 MW of storage by 2040. However, only a few regulatory actions are encouraging BESS deployment and market growth. In 2019, the Montana PUC issued Order 7621b, allowing energy storage to be eligible for net metering. The order also revised interconnection processes for renewable energy plus storage projects.

The consistent increase in residential electricity rates in Montana should incentivize BTM deployments long-term as homeowners seek solutions to lower bills and strengthen statewide energy resilience.
 

 

Montana Energy Storage Policy Resources

• Montana Renewable Energy Association – State nonprofit distributing information on battery energy storage system sizes, costs, available tax credits and incentives, installers and more.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratories Energy Storage Policy Database – Map of Procurement, Regulatory, Demonstration, Incentive, and Interconnection policies in Montana and across the United States.
• DSIRE Montana Energy Storage Policy Database – Clearinghouse for financial incentives, regulations, and rebates for energy storage and lithium-ion technologies in Montana and across the United States.
• Energy Storage Cost in Montana – Up-to-date storage and solar-plus-storage pricing and find installers in Idaho on EnergySage.
• Montana Public Service Commission – Governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of Montana public utilities, search for regulatory dockets, programs, and initiatives.
• Montana State Legislature – Pending, passed, and historical legislation affecting energy storage and battery systems, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Montana.