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Contact Information:
Air and Waste Management Bureau
P.O. Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901
(406) 444-0285
Or view the Department's
Website
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MONTANA
DE MINIMIS EXEMPTIONS:
A source will be exempted if its potential to emit is less than
25 tons per year. No state notification is required for exempted sources, but it is recommended.
MINOR SOURCE PERMITTING:
Sources at a new site that have a potential to emit more than 25 tons per year of any criteria pollutant and
new sources at existing sites with a potential to emit more than 15 tons per year will have to complete a state
level BACT analysis. The BACT analysis
must include a listing of all technologically feasible control options. Control costs (cost per ton of air
pollutant controlled) should be calculated for each option. Options may then be eliminated for
economic, energy or environmental reasons. The control option that is selected should have
controls or control costs similar to other recently permitted similar sources and should be capable of
achieving appropriate emission standards.
These requirements are the same for both attainment and nonattainment areas, however it is
strongly recommended that applicants contact the permitting agency as there are a variety of additional conditions
that may apply depending on the type of source. The analysis uses the same procedure as federal BACT, however the
cost threshold is much lower. Officials were not willing to estimate what the cost threshold might be. Recently
a project with a potential to emit 30 tons per year was not required to install emission controls.
The state is required to issue a preliminary determination within 40 days of an application being submitted.
This is followed by a 15-day public comment period. A decision must be made within 60 days, which is followed by
a 15-day appeal period. If an appeal is filed, the permitting process will take longer than 75 days.
MAJOR NSR/PSD PERMITTING:
A potential to emit 250 tons per year of a criteria pollutant triggers PSD in attainment areas. 100 tons per year
triggers NSR in nonattainment areas.
LAER is required for major stationary sources and major modifications located in a nonattainment
area. LAER is also required for major stationary sources or major modifications located in an area
designated as attainment or unclassified under 40 CFR 81.327, but would cause or contribute to a
violation of a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in a nearby nonattainment area. The
LAER analysis shall demonstrate that the emission rate proposed is equivalent to the most stringent
emission rate achievable or contained in any state implementation plan for a similar source.
TREATMENT OF EMERGENCY ENGINES:
The state uses 500 hours per year to calculate the unit's potential to emit, but the unit may only operate
during emergencies and for maintenance. A source that does not exceed minor source thresholds must notify the state
and get approval before operation, but no permit will be issued. The potential to emit calculation does not limit
the unit's operation to 500 hours, however if a source is found to operate above 500 hours for several years it
could get "in trouble" with the state. This seems unlikely though, as officials stated that no reporting
is required and "trouble" is not clearly defined.
There are no siting requirements for onsite electrical generation in the state of Montana. (See below)
Due to recent legislative changes to Montana's
Major Facility Siting Act
(MFSA), most electrical generating facilities no longer require
certification under MFSA. Project sponsors proposing generating facilities
have the option of petitioning the Department of Environmental Quality for
consideration under MFSA but a application is no longer required. MFSA still
covers hydroelectric facilities greater than 50 MW in size, certain
geothermal plants, nuclear power plants, certain electric transmission lines
greater than 69 kV, and certain pipelines greater than 25 inches inside
diameter. Specifics can be found in 75-20-104(8) and
75-20-1202, MCA
For inquiries and comments, please contact Tom Ring at 406-444-6785
or Nancy Johnson at 406-444-6796.
The state maintains a
Power Plant Siting Information webpage.
Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division, Building Code Bureau
The Building Codes Bureau
establishes and enforces minimum building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical,
energy, and boiler codes. These codes are adopted and amended through Title 24, Chapter 301
of the Administrative Rules of Montana.
Montana Building Codes
International Code Council State Adoption Information Page
Provides an easy to use US map to locate state and local adoption of the International Code Council's model codes.
US DOE's Office of Building Technology, State and Community Programs, Building Codes Database
The US DOE's database provides a comprehensive look at a state's building code implementation and enforcement
process.
Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc.
| Rate Schedule |
| Load Size |
less than 50 kW |
50 kW to 100 kW |
100 kW to 1,000 kW |
| Basic Charge |
$16.00/month |
$42.00/month for single phase
$72.00/month three-phase |
$42.00/month for single phase
$72.00/month three-phase
$1.23 per kW Load Size for all kW |
| Demand Charge |
na |
$2.94 per kW for all kW |
$2.94 per kW for all kW |
| Energy Charge |
5.900 cents per kWh for all kWh |
5.850 cents kWh for all kWh |
5.60 cents per kWH for first 150,000 kWh
4.50 cents per kWh for > 150,000 kWh |
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Montana has no statewide interconnection standards. However, Northwestern Energy (Montana Power) has a standard interconnection agreement.
This interconnection agreement by Montana Power requires an external disconnect switch but does not require the purchase
of additonal liability insurance.
Net metering regulations were adopted by the state (SB 409), in 1999. Under this law, net metering is available to solar, wind and hydropower units of 50 kW or less.
No limit on overall enrollment is specified. The net-metering rules do specify standards with which interconnected units must comply.
Interconnected units must follow those standards set by the National Electrical Code (NEC),
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE, National
Electrical Safety Code (NSEC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Montana's Electric Cooperatives' Association (MECA) followed suit and developed a draft
interconnection agreement and net metering requirements in 2001.
This draft has been accepted by most of the state cooperatives and applies to the
following units up to 10 kW: photovoltaics, wind, geothermal electric, fuel cells, small hydroelectric, commercial,
and residential units.
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