NaturEner began construction of the Glacier Wind Farm near Shelby in 2008.
Schweitzer spoke at the official ground breaking of the first phase on July 17, 2008. The 106.5 MW of power from that phase went online at the end of October 2008.
With the completion of the second phase, the entire 210-MW output is now on the electrical grid, according to the governor’s office.
“This wind farm is one of the reasons Montana is on the map as a leader in wind energy development,” Governor Brian Schweitzer said.
NaturEner is planning another large wind farm in that area, called the Rim Rock, a deal that Schweitzer said he helped cement during a September trip to Spain, where the company is headquartered.
Rim Rock is about 25 miles due north of the Glacier project. The $800 million project will feature 206 turbines generating 309 MW of power.
Construction of the project will coincide with that of the Montana Alberta Tie Line, a transmission line connecting the city of Great Falls with the grid in Lethbridge, Alberta.
It is estimated the Rim Rock project will create more than 500 construction jobs.
