Industry Progress in Energy
At Basin Electric Annual Meeting, CEO Ron Harper says cooperative members can get through the challenging times ahead by sticking to what got them there.
Dakota Gasification Company - December 7, 2009
Originally published in Prairie Business Magazine
Harper says co-ops remain stable despite economy
Ron Harper, the CEO and general manager of the Bismarck-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative, said during the organization’s annual meeting last month that electric cooperatives have remained stable in the face of uncertain times. “When times get tough, we close ranks and use the strength of our numbers and our unified voice to do what’s right for that person at the end of the line,” Harper told a crowd of more than 800 at Basin Electric’s annual meeting. He predicted at the November meeting that Basin Electric’s 136 member rural electric systems in nine states will be tested by those opposed to coal, but said cooperative members can get through the challenging times ahead by sticking to what got them there. “As the climate change debate continues, the attack on coal gets more aggressive. As you face communicating rate increases to your customers and the road seems more bumpy than smooth, remember our roots,” Harper said. “It’s our commitment to the cooperative way that has gotten us here. And it’s with those same principles that we will forge ahead into this future of uncertainty. It won’t be easy, but always the right thing to do.”
Minnesota’s Outland Renewable Energy gets contract
Outland Renewable Energy has been awarded a major contract as a prime vendor of maintenance services for Gamesa, one of the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturers. Canby, MN-based Outland Renewable Energy’s field service division provides oversight and management of wind power facilities through a complete lifecycle. The contract provides for the operations and maintenance of the 300-megawatt Cayuga Ridge wind farm in rural Livingston County in Illinois, which is owned by Iberdrola Renewables. Outland will maintain a team of more than 20 full-time service technicians at the 150-turbine wind farm for the term of the contract.
North Dakota launches biofuels blender pump program
Governor John Hoeven (pictured) was joined by representatives from the North Dakota Corn Growers Association, North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, North Dakota Soybean Association and industry leaders from O’Day Equipment, LLC and Petro Save USA in launching the state’s new $2 million Biofuels Blender Pump program in late October. The incentive program operated by the North Dakota Department of Commerce will provide cost-share grants for the installation of ethanol and biodiesel blender pumps. Grants will be provided to fuel retailers to encourage the installation of pumps capable of dispensing various blends of gasoline and ethanol as well as consumer determined mixes of biodiesel and traditional diesel fuel.
Wind energy exec tours DMI plant in West Fargo
Denise Bode, the CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, toured the DMI Industries wind turbine tower manufacturing facility in West Fargo last month and participated in a roundtable discussion with state government officials and industry executives. Bode (pictured) said while addressing the media and guests during her visit to the plant that the U.S. added more wind energy capacity this year than any other country. She also said that North Dakota’s wind energy influence is growing. “North Dakota has the skilled manufacturing base for wind turbine components and the vast wind resource for wind farm development that are needed to strengthen our nation’s energy security,” Bode said. “We need to regain control of our energy future, lead the world in wind turbine manufacturing and support the American worker by passing comprehensive legislation that includes a strong Renewable Energy Standard.” A DMI Industries official said during the visit that the plant expects to maintain its current staffing levels and may add some additional jobs in 2010. The West Fargo plant’s production and staffing is expected to continue to increase in 2011 and 2012.
South Dakota improves in energy efficiency
South Dakota’s energy efficiency ranking growth placed it among the most improved states in the last year in the recently-released American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy survey. South Dakota improved from 47th in the nation in last year’s rankings to 36th in this year’s results. The study included an examination of each state’s utility efficiency programs, building codes and appliance and transportation standards.
Minnesota plant to be used as heat recovery unit
A power plant located near Garvin, MN, fueled by the heat from hot exhaust has become the seventh heat recovery generating unit built since 2006 to be added to the Basin Electric Power Cooperative generating family. The Minnesota plant began operating in late October and joins plants near Aberdeen, SD, Clark, SD, Estelline, SD, Manning, ND, Zeeland, ND, and St. Anthony, ND, as helping to produce power for Bismarck-based Basin Electric. An eighth plant near Culbertson, MT, is expected to become operational before the end of the year. All the heat recovery units are owned and operated by subsidiaries of Ormat Technologies of Nevada. Basin Electric has signed power purchase agreements with the subsidiaries for the development of the facilities.
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1600 E. Interstate Ave.
PO Box 5540
Bismarck, ND 58506-5540 USA
701.221.4400
Great Plains Synfuels Plant
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701.873.2100
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