The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has granted a 50-year license to Absaroka Energy to operate the Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Hydro project based in Montana, US.
The project is slated to finalise its design next year and begin construction in 2018.
Governor Steve Bullock said: "Montanans are blessed to live in a place with a rich and diverse supply of energy resources that have provided us not only affordable power but also a way to make a living for thousands of hardworking families across the state.
"By advancing pumped storage projects like this to our energy mix, Montana is helping chart the path to an affordable energy future that strengthens our rural communities, provides job creation opportunities for even more energy development, all while safeguarding our quality of life."
The 400MW, closed-loop Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Hydro project is being developed by Absaroka Energy.
A pumped storage is a rechargeable utility-scale battery which will be developed to store energy and instantaneously address variations in demand and supply of power.
It will use ternary equipment provided by GE Renewables, enabling the plant to seamlessly maintain operations of pumping and generating, thereby promoting less expensive capacity to cater to daily energy needs of Montana's residential and commercial customers.
US Senator Steve Daines said: "The Gordon Butte Project is especially equipped to add reliability to our electric grid and will create more high-paying jobs. Together we can continue to build upon Montana's all-of-the-above energy portfolio.”
Image: The Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Hydro project. Photo: courtesy of Prnewswire/ Absaroka Energy.
