Checked
Rainbow (MT)
59.0 MW hydroelectric power plant · Cascade County, Montana
- Operating capacity
- 59.0 MW
- 1 generator
- Main fuel
- Hydroelectric
- First unit online
- 2013
- Generation, 2023
- 395 GWh
Plant details
- EIA plant ID
- 2193
- Operator
- NorthWestern Energy (MT Hydro)
- Sector
- Electric Utility
- County
- Cascade County
- Balancing authority
- NWMT
- Location
- 47.5344, -111.2045
Operating generators
Nameplate capacity and the month each began operating
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Generator | Fuel | Capacity | Online | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAI9Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 59.0 MW | Mar 2013 | Operating |
Retired generators
Retired since 2010
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Generator | Fuel | Capacity | Retired | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAI7Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 5.8 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
| RAI8Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 5.8 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
| RAI1Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 4.5 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
| RAI2Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 4.5 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
| RAI3Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 4.0 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
| RAI4Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 4.0 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
| RAI5Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 4.0 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
| RAI6Conventional Hydroelectric | Hydroelectric | 4.0 MW | Retired Apr 2013 | Retired |
Generation and emissions, 2023
EPA eGRID annual data
- Net generation
- 395 GWh
- Capacity factor
- 76.4%
Nearby power plants
Within 25 miles
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Plant | Fuel | Capacity | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cochrane | Hydroelectric | 59.4 MW | 0.5 mi |
| Black Eagle Solar, LLC | Solar | 3.0 MW | 2.5 mi |
| Black Eagle | Hydroelectric | 26.7 MW | 2.8 mi |
| Ryan | Hydroelectric | 55.2 MW | 4.6 mi |
| Morony | Hydroelectric | 63.0 MW | 7.5 mi |
| Horseshoe Bend Wind Park | Wind | 9.7 MW | 11 mi |
Frequently asked questions
- How much power can Rainbow (MT) produce?
- Rainbow (MT) has 59.0 MW of operating nameplate capacity across 1 generator as of August 2026.
- Who operates Rainbow (MT)?
- EIA lists NorthWestern Energy (MT Hydro) as the operator of Rainbow (MT).
- How much electricity did Rainbow (MT) generate?
- Rainbow (MT) reported 395 GWh of net generation in 2023, according to EPA eGRID.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-860M (August 2026); U.S. EPA eGRID2023 · Data for August 2026