Colstrip Energy LP — United States of America
Coal power plant in Montana, United States of America. Approximate location 45.9752, -106.6547.
CoalMontanaUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
Colstrip Energy LP is a 46.1 MW coal power plant in Montana, United States of America. It is operated by Colstrip Energy LP. Based on reported annual generation of 301 GWh, it can supply roughly 86k homes. It ranks #3793 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1990, it is around 36 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 145,970 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 34k cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 16.3% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0010784.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 46.1 MW, Colstrip Energy LP is below the median coal plant in United States of America (558 MW). Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~145,970 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 75%, from 301 GWh of reported generation; the median for 244 coal plants in United States of America that report generation is 41%
- Generation trend
- 326 GWh in 2013 and 301 GWh in 2019 (−8%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 328 GWh; 2017: 190 GWh
- Share of United States of America coal capacity
- less than 0.1% of 621,194 MW across 802 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 607 of 745 dated coal plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Colstrip Energy LP.
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 46.0°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 61% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 84/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #746 largest coal power plant of 802 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 802 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 621,194 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Rosebud Power Plant · Coal · 41.5 MW · Montana
- Colstrip · Coal · 2,363.4 MW · Montana
- Colstrip Steam Plant · Coal · 2,272.8 MW · Montana
- Crow Nation CFB · Coal · 2,000 MW · Montana
- Hardin Generating Station · Coal · 115.7 MW · Montana
- Hardin Generator Project · Coal · 115.7 MW · Montana
Location
Coordinates 45.9752, -106.6547 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Colstrip Energy LP?
Colstrip Energy LP is a 46.1 MW coal power plant in Montana, United States of America, commissioned in 1990.
How much electricity does Colstrip Energy LP generate?
Colstrip Energy LP generates about 301 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Colstrip Energy LP?
Colstrip Energy LP is operated by Colstrip Energy LP.
How much CO₂ does Colstrip Energy LP emit?
Colstrip Energy LP has modelled emissions of about 145,970 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).