42nd largest plant in Montana · 4420th nationally
Black Eagle is a hydroelectric power plant in Montana with a nameplate capacity of 24.0 MW. It generates roughly 121.5k MWh per year — enough to power about 11,571 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 58% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Black Eagle |
|---|---|
| Operator | Northwestern Energy (Mt Hydro) |
| City | Great Falls |
| County | Cascade County |
| State | Montana |
| ZIP | 59404 |
| Coordinates | 47.52133, -111.26144 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLA1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 9.0 MW | Operating | 1927 |
| BLA3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 9.0 MW | Operating | 1927 |
| BLA2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 8.7 MW | Operating | 1927 |
| NERC Region | WECC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Northwestern Energy (Nwmt) |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.