Construction begins after final PrairieWinds permit is issued
The last regulatory approval pending for construction of PrairieWinds ND 1 - the FONSI permit - was issued Aug. 17.
Dakota Gasification Company - August 17, 2009
The last regulatory approval pending for construction of PrairieWinds ND 1 was issued at 12:30 p.m. CT today. Construction of the $250-million project was under way just after 1 p.m. PrairieWinds ND 1 will be the largest cooperative-owned wind farm in the nation.
The permit issued from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) called FONSI—finding of no significant impact—addressed any environmental impacts that may be caused from construction and operation of the wind farm located south of Minot, ND. The FONSI was signed August 17. It states that RUS is “satisfied that environmental impacts of the proposed projects have been adequately addressed.” This review is part of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, process, which includes addressing endangered species issues.
“We’ve come a long way since this project was started over two years ago,” Project Manager Ron Rebenitsch said. “This project is the result of the cooperative efforts of many individuals and federal agencies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Rural Utilities Service and the Western Area Power Administration. It brings positive benefits to the environment, the landowners, the community and the electrical consumer.”
Rebenitsch said the 77-turbine project will have a nameplate output of 115.5-megawatts, and will encompass 30,000 acres about 15 miles south of Minot.
“Since this is the largest wind project in the country to be owned solely by a cooperative, we had to address many ‘first of a kind’ issues,” Rebenitsch said. “Wind projects that do not have similar ‘federal nexus’ issues normally don’t have to address these issues. We are pleased we were able to resolve those issues and move ahead with this project.”
Rebenitsch expressed appreciation for help and support from Central Power Electric Cooperative, Minot, and Verendrye Electric Cooperative, Velva. “It’s important to have this grassroots support in completing a project of this complexity,” he said.
Amanda Wangler, project engineer, said equipment was in place to begin construction as soon as the permits were received. “The construction survey was started a few weeks ago so we were able to hit the ground running as soon as all permitting activities were complete,” she said. “The first phase of construction is primarily civil and includes building roads, foundations and crane walks. Electrical construction of the collector system will also start shortly.”
Another project to be owned and operated by PrairieWinds ND 1 Inc. is Minot Wind 2, located 12 miles south of Minot. This project consists of three, 1.5-megawatt capacity wind turbines. Construction is currently under way and scheduled to be operational late this year.
Rebenitsch said construction of both projects will involve a work force of hundreds and 600 semi-truckloads of equipment and materials. “It’ll be very busy for a while,” he said. “We hope to have all 80 foundations for both wind projects completed within the next couple months. It’s a fast-track project.” When operational, both projects will employ 8 to 10 people.
On August 12, the North Dakota Public Service Commission issued a certificate of site compatibility for the project. The certificate authorizes construction and is required by the state because the project’s nameplate output is 100 megawatts or greater. PrairieWinds ND 1 is scheduled to be operational in early 2010. The project will be owned and operated by a Basin Electric subsidiary, PrairieWinds ND 1 Inc.
A 101-turbine project in South Dakota, to be owned and operated by Basin Electric subsidiary PrairieWinds SD 1 Inc., is now in the permitting stage. It is scheduled to be operational in late 2010 or early 2011.
Most of Basin Electric’s existing wind power comes from turbines owned and operated by NextEra Energy Resources, an energy company based in Florida. Several years ago, Basin Electric developed two smaller wind projects, one near Minot, ND, and the other near Chamberlain, SD. Basin Electric owns both of these projects. Basin Electric also purchases the output from two smaller projects located in Pipestone, MN and Rosebud, SD.
About Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. It generates and transmits electricity to 125 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These member systems distribute electricity to about 2.6 million consumers.
Basin Electric’s generating resources include: two coal-based power plants in North Dakota – the Antelope Valley Station, Beulah, and the Leland Olds Station, Stanton; a coal-based power plant in Wyoming – the Laramie River Station, Wheatland; three peaking stations – the Spirit Mound Station, Vermillion, S.D.; the Groton Generation Station Groton, S.D., and the Wisdom Unit 2 Station, Spencer, Iowa; nine combustion-turbine generators (natural gas) in the Gillette, Wyo., area; four wind turbines – two near Minot, N.D., and two near Chamberlain, S.D.; the energy produced from six baseload waste-heat stations owned and operated by Ormat Technologies Inc. along the Northern Border Pipeline, and the output of three wind farms owned and operated by NextEra Energy Resources, Juno Beach, Fla. The wind farms are located near Wilton and Edgeley/Kulm, N.D.; the other is near Highmore, S.D. For more information, go to www.basinelectric.com.
Headquarters
1600 E. Interstate Ave.
PO Box 5540
Bismarck, ND 58506-5540 USA
701.221.4400
Great Plains Synfuels Plant
420 County Road 26
Beulah, ND 58523-9400 USA
701.873.2100
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