RAINBOW
SubstationMontana · NORTHWESTERN ENERGY LLC - (MT)
RAINBOW is an electric transmission substation in Montana, operated by NORTHWESTERN ENERGY LLC - (MT). It is classified as distribution (69–115 kv) and connects 2 transmission lines. Substation proximity is one of the strongest speed-to-power signals for siting a datacenter — interconnection distance to an energized, high-voltage bus is often the binding constraint on time-to-energization.
Voltage & classification
Ownership & operation
Connected transmission lines
Lines terminating at or passing through this substation, by HIFLD line ID, highest voltage first.
| Line ID | Voltage | Owner | Status | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #73414 | 100 kV | NORTHWESTERN ENERGY LLC - (MT) | — | 0.1 mi |
| #73415 | 100 kV | NORTHWESTERN ENERGY LLC - (MT) | — | 0.0 mi |
Nearby datacenter candidate sites
Scored candidate sites within roughly 25 miles of RAINBOW, ranked by DC Readiness. Sites this close to an energized substation carry a strong speed-to-power advantage.
| Site | Type | State | County | Voltage | Capacity | Queue wait | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAP203658 | Substation-Adjacent | MT | Cascade County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 1.1 yrs | 72.6 |
| HIGHWOOD GENERATING STATION | Substation-Adjacent | MT | Cascade County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 1.1 yrs | 71.4 |
| UNKNOWN206326 | Substation-Adjacent | MT | Cascade County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 1.1 yrs | 71.4 |
| GREAT FALLS (RAINBOW) | Substation-Adjacent | MT | Cascade County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 1.1 yrs | 71.0 |
| UNKNOWN206569 | Substation-Adjacent | MT | Cascade County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 1.1 yrs | 70.5 |
| UNKNOWN204147 | Substation-Adjacent | MT | Cascade County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 1.1 yrs | 69.7 |
| UNKNOWN201836 | Substation-Adjacent | MT | Cascade County | 115 kV | 100 MW | 1.1 yrs | 69.3 |
| Greenfield (HAVRE / ASSINNIBOINE - UNKNOWN) | Greenfield | MT | Chouteau County | 230 kV | 300 MW | 1.1 yrs | 69.1 |
Dataset updated . Screening estimates derived from public data sources.
Substation attributes are derived from public HIFLD / EIA infrastructure data and may lag real-world upgrades or retirements. Voltage and connected-line counts are screening figures — confirm available capacity and interconnection terms directly with the operating utility and ISO.
Go deeper than the public screen
This page shows a public slice of the GridCensus dataset for RAINBOW substation, Montana. Pro and Enterprise plans unlock the full 164,098-site catalog, raw sub-scores, parcel ownership, interconnection-queue detail, saved searches, and programmatic API access.