What Absaroka Energy does

Absaroka Energy is a privately held renewable energy infrastructure developer headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. The company develops utility-scale pumped storage hydropower (PSH) and electric transmission projects targeting utilities, grid operators, and regional transmission entities in Montana, Wyoming, and the broader Northern Rocky Mountain region. Its flagship project is the Gordon Butte Pumped Storage facility, a 400 MW conventional PSH installation in central Montana designed to store renewable generation for release during peak demand periods; a Montana state bill signed in July 2025 secured the project's water rights.

The company's product portfolio spans two PSH formats and two transmission projects. The Gordon Butte facility serves the utility-scale market, while the Modular PSH (mPSH) line offers 5-50 MW systems with 8-24 hour storage capacity using off-the-shelf components and water tanks, enabling deployment in geographies where conventional PSH is infeasible. Transmission projects include the Loco Falls Greenline (connecting two major Montana wind resource areas between Loco Mountain Substation and Great Falls) and the Boreas Intertie (linking the WECC and MISO grids across northern tier states). A fourth project area, Fourth Phase, uses plasma arc gasification to convert waste to syngas for energy generation.

Absaroka's revenue model relies on project development rather than product sales: long-term energy sales during peak periods, capacity payments for grid reliability services, and managed services for transmission infrastructure, with pricing negotiated on a per-project basis. The company is founder-led by CEO Carl Borgquist and operates with 1-10 employees, suggesting a lean project-developer structure that executes via partners, contractors, and project financing rather than in-house construction. No revenue, funding rounds, or institutional investors are disclosed in the structured source data, though an externally provided funding note references a 2019 $1.0B round led by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, most plausibly project-level financing for Gordon Butte.

Name

Absaroka Energy

Legal name

Absaroka Energy

Website

https://absarokaenergy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Absaroka Energy is a private Bozeman, Montana-based renewable energy developer building pumped storage hydropower (including a 400 MW Gordon Butte facility and 5-50 MW modular systems) and transmission projects for utilities, grid operators, and communities in the Northern Rocky Mountain region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grid-Scale Energy Storage

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Electric Bulk Power Transmission and Control (221121)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Electrical Balance-of-Plant EPC (MV Collection, Cabling, Earthing, Lighting) (EUAEADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transmission Interconnection & Line Works (Gen-Tie Lines, Overhead/Underground Lines) (EUAMAFAF), Site Preparation & Civil Works (Clearing, Grading, Earthworks, Roads) (EUAMAFAA)

Keywords

• Pumped storage hydropower
• Grid-scale energy storage
• Renewable energy development
• Transmission infrastructure
• Energy project development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bozeman

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pumped Storage Hydropower Project Development: Development and operation of large-scale pumped storage hydropower facilities that store energy from renewable sources for release during peak demand periods. Revenue is generated through energy sales during peak periods and capacity payments for grid reliability services.
2. Modular PSH Project Development: Development of smaller-scale modular pumped storage facilities (5-50 MW) targeting communities and facilities requiring localized energy storage solutions at a smaller footprint than traditional PSH.
3. Transmission Infrastructure Development: Development of transmission infrastructure projects including the Loco Falls Greenline and Boreas Intertie to enable renewable energy delivery across regional grids.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Absaroka Energy develops and operates renewable energy infrastructure projects in Montana and the Northern Rocky Mountain region, centered on grid-scale pumped storage hydropower (a 400 MW conventional facility and 5–50 MW modular systems) and high-voltage transmission lines (Loco Falls Greenline and Boreas Intertie). The company also pursues waste-to-energy technology through plasma arc gasification (Fourth Phase) and supports an ocean plastic cleanup charitable initiative. Customers are utilities, grid operators, and regional transmission entities purchasing energy, capacity, and transmission services.

Product overview

Absaroka Energy is a locally rooted renewable energy developer offering a portfolio of clean energy infrastructure projects. The core offerings include Gordon Butte Pumped Storage (a 400 MW traditional pumped storage facility), Modular Pumped Storage Hydro (5-50 MW scalable storage), Loco Falls Greenline and Boreas Intertie (transmission infrastructure), and 4th Phase (plasma arc gasification for waste-to-energy). The company also supports the SeaChange charitable initiative for ocean plastic cleanup. Together, these projects address renewable energy generation, storage, and grid transmission needs in Montana and the Northern Rocky Mountain region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gordon Butte Pumped Storage: 400 MW pumped storage facility in central Montana enhancing grid reliability and storing renewable energy for peak demand.
• Modular PSH
• Loco Falls Greenline
• Boreas Intertie
• Fourth Phase

Products and services

• Gordon Butte Pumped Storage A 400 MW pumped storage hydropower facility in central Montana designed to enhance grid reliability and store energy generated by renewable sources for release during peak demand periods. Developed for electric utilities and grid operators needing utility-scale long-duration storage.
• Modular Pumped Storage Hydro (mPSH) Scalable pumped storage hydropower facilities sized 5-50 MW with 8-24 hour storage capacity, utilizing water tanks with simple foundations and largely off-the-shelf components for minimal footprint and rapid deployment in areas where traditional PSH is not feasible. Targets communities, municipalities, and smaller utilities.
• Loco Falls Greenline A high-voltage transmission line extending from the Loco Mountain Substation in Meagher County to Great Falls, connecting two major wind resource areas and providing an alternative route for electricity between southern and northern Montana. Developed for regional transmission operators and utilities.
• Boreas Intertie A transmission project designed to establish a link between the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), expanding transmission capacity across northern tier states and enhancing grid reliability.
• Fourth Phase (4th Phase) Waste-to-Energy A waste destruction project using plasma arc gasification technology that converts waste into syngas for energy generation. Listed by Absaroka Energy as a core project area alongside pumped storage and transmission infrastructure.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 MW capacity facility (Gordon Butte) to enhance grid reliability and store renewable energy for peak demand
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SeaChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbsaroka Energy supports SeaChange through its Charitable Initiative. SeaChange develops cutting-edge plasma arc technology to prevent plastics and other trash from entering oceans. The technology breaks down molecular hydrocarbon structure of plastics at temperatures between 5,000-10,000°C with emissions below California EPA standards.
• 4th PhasecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner4th Phase provides waste destruction through plasma arc gasification technology. The syngas generated by the cycle can be used for energy generation. Absaroka Energy lists 4th Phase as one of its main project areas alongside pumped storage and transmission infrastructure.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• rPlus Energies: U.S. renewable energy developer with pumped storage hydro projects in the Western U.S., including the Seminoe Pumped Storage project in Wyoming — directly comparable to Absaroka's PSH development model and regional focus.
• Hydrostor: Developer of long-duration energy storage using compressed air and pumped hydro technologies; competes head-to-head with Absaroka in the long-duration storage market and shares a similar project developer model targeting utility and grid customers.

Emerging players

• Quidnet Energy: Early-stage long-duration energy storage developer using geomechanical pumped storage; comparable to Absaroka's mPSH line as an alternative sub-utility-scale long-duration storage technology targeting similar grid reliability use cases.
• Energy Vault: Developer of gravity-based long-duration energy storage systems targeting utility and industrial customers; competes with Absaroka for long-duration storage offtake contracts and grid reliability revenue.
• Form Energy: Developer of iron-air long-duration batteries (100+ hour duration); an emerging competitor pursuing the same long-duration storage and renewable-firming value proposition as Absaroka's PSH projects.

Broad incumbents

• NextEra Energy Resources: Largest U.S. renewable energy developer and operator with a portfolio that includes wind, solar, and battery storage; competes with Absaroka for utility-scale renewable and storage PPAs and interconnection capacity in U.S. power markets.
• Brookfield Renewable Partners: Global renewable energy developer and operator with significant hydroelectric and pumped storage assets; a large incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with Absaroka's PSH and renewable infrastructure focus.
• Iberdrola: Global utility with significant pumped storage hydropower operations in Spain and other markets; serves as a reference for the scale and operational complexity Absaroka's PSH projects will eventually need to match.
• Duke Energy: Major U.S. investor-owned utility with operating pumped storage hydro facilities (e.g., Bad Creek, Jocassee); represents an incumbent counterparty and competitor for PSH project development, transmission, and long-duration storage opportunities.

Others

• Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners: Existing $1B capital partner of Absaroka; one of the world's largest dedicated renewable infrastructure fund managers and a key capital provider across pumped storage hydro, transmission, and renewable energy projects globally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Absaroka Energy