Teton County, Montana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Choteau
No data center or power plant project is on record in Teton County, but the national build-out still reaches it through its utility bill, its labor market and the projects next door. Construction employs 126, up 41.6% since 2019, and construction is 1.3 times as concentrated here as in the U.S. economy. Teton County is home to Choteau and Fairfield. Next door, Lewis and Clark County has 3 data centers. Employers here counted 1,831 jobs in 2025, up 7.8% from 2019. Unemployment was 2.2% in August 2026, against 3.2% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Teton County
Teton County is home to Choteau and Fairfield.
Unincorporated communities (governed by the county): Bynum, Miller Colony, New Rockport Colony, Pendroy, Power, Rockport Colony.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Teton County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Montana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 6,252 | 6,496 | ▲ 3.9% | 32nd of 56 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,699 | 1,831 | ▲ 7.8% | 19th of 56 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $34,940 | $45,061 | ▲ 29.0% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 89 | 126 | ▲ 41.6% | 9th of 25 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.2% | 2.2% | ▼ 1.0pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 48 MW of capacity, 73% of it wind. NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) is the largest utility serving Teton County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 14.23¢/kWh in 2024, above the 10.95¢ median for Montana utilities. 6,496 people live here, up 3.9% since 2020.
Who powers Teton County
Utilities with service territory in Teton County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT) | Investor Owned | Bundled | 328,127 | 14.23¢ | 49% |
| Sun River Electric Coop, Inc | — | — | — | — | — |
| WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration | Federal | Bundled | — | — | 79% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 3
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wind | 35 MW | 73% |
| Hydro | 13 MW | 27% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenfield Wind - MT | Greenbacker Renewable Energy Corporation | Wind | 25 MW | 2016 |
| Turnbull Hydro | Turnbull Hydro LLC | Hydro | 13 MW | 2011 |
| Fairfield Wind | Greenbacker Renewable Energy Corporation | Wind | 10 MW | 2014 |
The Teton County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 1,831 | $45,061 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 126 | $53,298 | 1.30 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Teton County
No data center, local measure or delayed project is on record in Teton County. Montana has 5 local measures on record statewide.
Teton County and its neighbors
Of the 5 counties that border Teton County, Flathead County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teton County | 6,496 | ▲ 7.8% | 48 MW | — | — | — |
| Cascade County | 85,029 | ▲ 1.8% | 331 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Chouteau County | 5,865 | ▲ 4.4% | — | — | — | — |
| Flathead County | 115,429 | ▲ 15.7% | 438 MW | — | 2 | — |
| Lewis and Clark County | 75,331 | ▲ 9.2% | 80 MW | 7 MW | 3 | — |
| Pondera County | 6,072 | ▼ 5.3% | — | — | — | — |
More of Montana
Teton County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Teton County, Montana?
3 utilities have service territory in Teton County in the EIA-861 2024 report: NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), Sun River Electric Coop, Inc, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration. The largest, NorthWestern Energy LLC - (MT), charged residential customers 14.23¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What power plants are in Teton County?
3 operating plants with 48 MW of capacity. The largest is Greenfield Wind - MT (25 MW, wind).
Are there data centers in Teton County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Teton County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Lewis and Clark County.
Is Teton County adding jobs?
Employers counted 1,831 jobs in 2025 against 1,699 in 2019 (+7.8%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 89 to 126.
Does Teton County have a data center moratorium?
No county-level measure is on record for Teton County. Montana has 5 local measures statewide, listed on the state page.