The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved the 400MW Gordon Butte pumped storage hydro project planned by Absaroka Energy in Montana.
FERC has issued a 50-year license allowing the construction and operation of the closed-loop facility in Meagher County, the developer said.
Its final design is expected to be completed next year and construction will start in 2018.
The plant will comprise so-called ternary equipment provided by GE Renewables, which will allow it to move seamlessly between pumping and generating, Absaroka said.
It is located near the Colstrip twin 500kV transmission lines, an interconnection that will give the facility access to markets in Montana and throughout the region.
“This is a tremendous milestone achieved by a world-class team including Barnard, SNC-Lavalin and GE Renewables,” Absaroka Energy president Carl Borgquist said.
Image: Absaroka Energy
