Yellowstone utility sues over coal plant contract

subscribe

One of five electric cooperatives behind a new coal-fired power plant under construction near Great Falls has filed a lawsuit to sever its ties with the project.

Yellowstone Valley Electric Cooperative and the other utilities began planning for the 250-megawatt Highwood Generating Station in 2003.

In its lawsuit, filed in District Court in Billings, the co-op cited cost increases that have nearly doubled the plant's price tag to $900 million. The plant has faced repeated regulatory and funding delays and remains in the early stages of construction.

Yellowstone Valley also wants out of an umbrella entity formed by the five cooperatives — Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Cooperative (SME).

In its lawsuit, the utility claims SME has taken out two loans on the project for about $6.1 million without seeking the consent of its five member utilities.

SME general manager Tim Gregori said Yellowstone Valley has not put any money into the project since early spring, when it first said it wanted out of its contract.

SME declined to allow the utility to exit, and Gregori said Monday that Yellowstone Valley is obligated to buy power from the Highwood plant through 2030.

"They have a contract with Southern Montana Electric that we believe is in effect and is enforceable," he said.

Gregori declined to comment on particulars of the lawsuit.

"We know they've been unhappy," he said. "We'll just have to take a look at it (the lawsuit) and see what it says."

Yellowstone Valley and the other four cooperatives have committed about $40 million to Highwood to date, Gregori said.

Yellowstone Valley serves 12,000 customers in six southern Montana counties.

Related News

Philippines wants Canada help to avoid China, U.S

Philippines wants Canada's help to avoid China, U.S

PHILIPPINES - The Philippines finds itself caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war between the United States and China, two superpowers with competing interests in the Indo-Pacific region. To navigate this complex situation, the Philippines is seeking closer ties with Canada, a middle power with a strong focus on diplomacy and regional cooperation.

The Philippines, like many Southeast Asian nations, desires peace and stability for continued economic growth. However, the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China threatens to disrupt this. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea, where China claims vast swathes of waters contested by the Philippines, are a major…

READ MORE

Alberta's electricity rebate program extended until December

READ MORE

soldiers pond converter station

Reliability of power winter supply puts Newfoundland 'at mercy of weather': report

READ MORE

Duke Energy high-tech meters

Duke Energy installing high-tech meters for customers

READ MORE

BC Hydro cryptic about crypto mining electricity use

READ MORE