21st largest plant in Montana · 2616th nationally
Thompson Falls is a hydroelectric power plant in Montana with a nameplate capacity of 98.1 MW. It generates roughly 396.3k MWh per year — enough to power about 37,741 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 46% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Thompson Falls |
|---|---|
| Operator | Northwestern Energy (Mt Hydro) |
| City | Thompson Falls |
| County | Sanders County |
| State | Montana |
| ZIP | 59873 |
| Coordinates | 47.59316, -115.35824 |
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TF7 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 57.1 MW | Operating | 1915 |
| TF1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 7.0 MW | Operating | 1917 |
| TF2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 7.0 MW | Operating | 1917 |
| TF3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 7.0 MW | Operating | 1916 |
| TF5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 7.0 MW | Operating | 1915 |
| TF6 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 7.0 MW | Operating | 1915 |
| TF4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 6.0 MW | Operating | 1916 |
| 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.