The Big Sky Substation Siting Project, facilitated by Dr. Eric Austin and the Burton K. Wheeler Center, is an effort to engage the Big Sky community in a conversation about the need for and siting of a new electrical substation necessary to help meet the growing energy needs and ensure the reliability of service for current and future customers. 

 

Following the completion of the Jackrabbit Transmission Line in 2016, and as a part of their on-going infrastructure planning and development efforts, NorthWestern Energy began the process of identifying and selecting a suitable site for a third substation to support the growing electricity needs in the Big Sky community. 

 

After an extensive survey of available locations that met the requirements of the facility, a preferred site was identified and initial steps to purchase and begin the regulatory approval process were taken.  Early in that process, a number of homeowners and other community members voiced concern about the site and the facility’s impact. 

 

In order to respond to those concerns and have a wider conversation about the substation before moving forward with a final plan, NorthWestern paused the formal siting process and asked the Wheeler Center to serve as a neutral, third-party facilitator for that conversation.

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The purpose of the engagement process is to gather the widest possible understanding of the community’s sense of and concerns about the substation.  This will allow NorthWestern Energy to respond to those concerns to the greatest possible extent as they choose a final site and complete the facility’s design.  These discussions will also provide an opportunity for NorthWestern Energy to share information about their longer-term infrastructure planning and development process for the community, and encourage a continuing dialog about future needs and projects. 

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For more information, please contact the project facilitator, Dr. Eric Austin at bigskysubstation@gmail.com