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Renewable Mandate Status: On Track
- 2009 Qualified Renewable Generation: 8.5%[i]
- 2009 Renewable Mandate: 5%
- 2015 Renewable Mandate: 15%
Eligible resources: wind, solar, geothermal, existing hydroelectric projects (10 Mw or less) and certain new ones (up to 15 MW; installed at existing reservoir that did not have hydro as of 4/16/2009), landfill or farm-based methane gas, wastewater-treatment gas, low-emission and non-toxic biomass, and fuel cells with hydrogen produced by renewable fuels[ii]
Compliance schedule:[iii]
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Renewable Portfolio History: RPS enacted in April 2005 as part of the Montana Renewable Power Production and Rural Economic Development Act. H.B. 681 in April 2007 made competitive electricity suppliers subject to RPS (originally applied only to public utilities)[iv].
Credit Trading: Yes
Noncompliance penalty: A penalty of $10 per MWh for renewable credits the utility failed to procure, but penalty can be waived if the utility has taken reasonable steps to comply.[v]
Electricity Price Ranking:14th Lowest[vi]
- 7.48 cents/KWh in Montana
- 7.67 cents/KWh in non-mandated states
[i] According to Will Rosquist from the Montana Public Service Commission.
[ii] Mont. Code Annotated 69-3-2003-10 (Apr. 2005), http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/69_3_20.htm.
[iii] Mont. Code Annotated 69-3-2004 (Apr. 2005), http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca_toc/69_3_20.htm.
[iv] Database of state Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, Montana, http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=MT11R&re=1&ee=1.
[v] Montana Code Annotated, 69-3-2004, http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/mca/69/3/69-3-2004.htm.
[vi] EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B., Average Retail Price of Electricity, June 2010, Released Sept. 15, 2010, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_b.html.
