Energy | North Plains Connector Draft EIS| Public Comment Period Ends February 23, 2026 | Public Meetings January 27 and February 3, 2026
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has published the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the North Plains Connector Project (NPC). A Draft EIS has been prepared which analyzes the potential impacts of the NPC project. NPC is a proposed 525 kilovolt (kV), high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) overhead transmission line that would provide 3,000 megawatts (MW) connecting the Western grid to Eastern states. As proposed, the NPC extends approximately 420 miles near Colstrip, Montana, to two separate end points in North Dakota: one near Center, North Dakota, and the other near St. Anthony, North Dakota. The proposed project would need to receive a Major Facility Siting Act Certificate of Compliance from DEQ.
Pursuant to the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA), DEQ will host two public meetings on the Draft EIS. One of the meetings will be in-person, and one will be virtual to accommodate more attendees. Registration is required for the virtual meeting, and the meeting will be recorded.
Interested parties are invited to participate in the public meeting to learn more about the NPC project and DEQ’s environmental review process, as well as submit substantive written comments on the Draft EIS. For commenters to have standing in the federal process, public comments on the Draft EIS must be submitted in writing.
Associated Materials:
Comment Period Ends: February 23, 2026
Send/Submit Comments To:
Electronically: deqmepa@mt.gov
Craig Jones
MEPA/MFSA Coordinator
Montana Department of Environmental Quality
PO Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901
Public Meeting information:
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 5:00-7:00 PM
Custer County Event Center
42 Garryowen Road
Miles City, MT
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 5:00-7:00 PM
Virtual – Attend on Zoom
Webinar ID: 878 7236 9409
Accommodation statement
The department will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this public participation process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact the department no later than 5:00 P.M. at least ten days before public comment period end/public meeting date, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact the Department of Environmental Quality at P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901; phone (406) 444-0514; or e-mail crajones@mt.gov.
Tags: MEPA, Public Comment, Public Meeting and Energy