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By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press Writer BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A Canadian transmission company is teaming up with an Irish wind developer to pursue a central Montana power project that could result in at least $1 billion worth of new wind energy in the Great Falls area.

Toronto-based Tonbridge Power, Inc. already is building a $215 million transmission line that will carry wind power along a 200-mile route between Lethbridge, Alberta and Great Falls.

The company is now considering a 100-mile "interconnect" between that line and the Colstrip power line that links to electricity markets in the Pacific Northwest.

Tonbridge would allocate at least 500 megawatts of capacity to the North American subsidiary of Dublin, Ireland wind developer Gaelectric.

Gaelectric vice president Van Jamison said that equates to about $1 billion worth of wind energy projects for the Great Falls area.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-06-09 1716CST | save this article / add to your favorites list