Mineral-Rich Mountains > Montana

Resources Market Infrastructure Policy

Resources: A measure of total energy production and consumption per capita

Market: The cost of consumption, measured in electricity prices and gasoline taxes

Infrastructure: Capacity to generate and refine energy sources; miles of pipelines

12th Resources
16th Market
36th Infrastructure

Several pipelines carry Montana crude oil to refineries in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and the Midwest, but higher levels of crude oil production have been constrained by a lack of pipeline "takeaway capacity" (the total capacity for moving crude oil). Transport of crude oil by railroad is increasing as pipelines are congested or unavailable.

A number of new pipeline projects are in development in Montana, primarily to transport crude oil to the major refining centers on the Gulf Coast.

Montana's four refineries are able to process heavy Canadian crude oil for regional markets.

state-montana

Production trillion btu

154
Oil
71
Gas
660
Coal
4
Wind
0.00
Solar
38
Hydro
0
Biofuel
0
Nuclear

net energy Production trillion btu

398
+927 Produced
529 Consumed

Consumption trillion btu

168
Oil
75
Gas
157
Coal
129
Renewable
0
Nuclear

Gasoline Tax total state + federal, 2014

MT
$0.46
USA
$0.46

Key Policies

  • Requires retail electricity suppliers to acquire at least 15% of the electricity they sell in-state from renewable energy sources by 2015 and beyond. Power must come from renewable facilities that began operation after Jan. 1, 2005.

  • Montana requires oxygenated motor gasoline in the Missoula area to meet federal air quality standards.

  • Requires permits and compliance bonds for oil and gas well drilling. Permits fees begin at $25, and the price increases for deeper wells. Bonds begin at $1,500 per well, and the price increases for deeper wells.

Electricity net production, trillion btu

+137
7.05¢
MT
8.81¢
USA