Distinctly Montana Magazine

S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 S P E C I A L S E C T I O N • M Y M O N T A N A H O M E 88 N ORTHWESTERN ENERGY'S 11 HYDRO FACILITIES play a cru- cial role in our ability to deliver affordable and reliable electricity to our customers 24/7. Our hydro facilities make up about 44 percent of our Montana electric generation portfolio, making them our largest single source of electricity. NorthWestern's hydro facilities include ompson Falls Dam on the Clark Fork River; Madison Dam on the Madison River, as well as Hebgen Lake reservoir; Mystic Lake Dam on West Rosebud Creek; and Hauser, Holter, Black Eagle, Rainbow, Cochrane, Ryan and Morony dams on the Missouri River. NorthWestern Energy is proud to provide a clean, sustainable energy source for our Montana customers, and we're also committed to the steward- ship of Montana's river resources, as well as maintaining vibrant and signifi- cant recreational opportunities. In 2019, NorthWestern Energy is providing $1.59 million to support 57 fisheries, wildlife and habitat improvement projects within the 550-mile cor- ridor of the Madison-Missouri River from Yellowstone National Park to the headwaters of Fort Peck Reservoir. NorthWestern participates in a public-private partnership to provide public recreation opportunities along the Missouri and Madison rivers. e Missouri-Madison River Fund is a $6.7 million trust fund for public recre- ation, the earnings from which fund recreation improvement projects. Since 2007, the River Fund has awarded nearly $4.5 million that North- Western has matched partially with a $1.25 million contribution in support of 126 projects. In addition to this amount, agencies and private partners have made contributions of $3.4 million resulting in more than $9 million in recreation enhancements in the Missouri-Madison Corridor. Since purchasing the hydro facilities in 2014, NorthWestern Energy has made substantial upgrades to many of the facilities, with more upgrades planned in coming years. is is a way for NorthWestern to efficiently in- crease our carbon-free generation. OUR HYDRO FACILITIES MAKE UP ABOUT 44 PERCENT OF OUR MONTANA ELECTRIC GENERATION PORTFOLIO, MAKING THEM OUR LARGEST SINGLE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY. T H E P O W E R O F R E " "

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