Basin Electric announces new wind farm
Basin Electric Power Cooperative - November 5, 2008
Bismarck, N.D. — Basin Electric Power Cooperative and FPL Energy will once again join forces to build another wind farm in North Dakota. The latest project announced today by Ron Harper, Basin Electric’s CEO and general manager, at the Cooperative’s annual meeting will be an expansion of the Wilton Wind Energy Center near Wilton.
Harper made the announcement as part of his report to the membership. “Three years ago, at our annual meeting, our membership made it clear they wanted Basin Electric to be a leader in the development of renewable energy by setting one of the most aggressive renewable energy goals in the country,” Harper said. “Unlike others who promise and forget, we are well on our way to fulfilling that promise. And today I’m announcing that the Wilton Wind Energy Center will double in size within the next two years.” The first 33 wind turbines at Wilton began operating in 2006.
Harper said Basin Electric is also in the process of developing an additional 300 megawatts of wind generation in both Dakotas; this, along with the wind farm expansion, is only one aspect of balancing the three E – Energy, Environment and the Economy. The theme of this year’s annual meeting is “Defining Balance.”
“To find balance in today’s energy-hungry, upside-down financial world, we definitely need to be well prepared. Basin Electric, along with our membership, is prepared despite the uncertainty we face,” Harper said.
 | CEO and General Manager report |
On the energy aspect, Basin Electric is committed to a broad mix of resource development. Harper said the Cooperative is committing significant resources to develop coal, natural gas, wind and other renewable sources for providing power to its members.
Harper said coal fuels the bedrock of Basin Electric generating plants and will continue to do so. “Coal is a stable and reliable fuel, and it can be used in an environmentally responsible manner.”
Basin Electric is developing two coal-based power plants that will help meet a growing demand for electricity by its members. One of them is the Dry Fork Station, which has been under construction for a little more than a year. The other is the NextGen project to be located near Selby, S.D. Dry Fork represents a definition of balance, Harper said. “We’re adding one of the cleanest coal-based power plants in the nation to our generation fleet, using a domestic, abundant natural resource,” he said. “We are moving forward with an aggressive and forward-thinking plan to make coal viable for the long run as well. The NextGen project will truly be a next-generation station. Comparing it to the stations of today would be like comparing a 1970s muscle car to a plug-in hybrid electric car. They both have wheels and that’s where the comparison ends.”
On the environmental aspect, Basin Electric has opportunities in the development of carbon capture technology in ways that few other organizations do. “We are responsible for starting the largest carbon capture project in the world (at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant),” Harper said. “Being stewards of the environment is nothing new to the cooperative family.”
Regarding the economy aspect, Harper said uncertainty surrounds us these days. “We face uncertainty in the world of politics as Congress struggles with the issue of climate change,” Harper said. “It’s our job to provide our members with affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible power. In short, people need to know that their lights are going to come on and that it’s not going to cost them an arm and a leg. They want and expect certainty.”
“Taking the lead, taking advantage of our opportunities and bringing reasonable solutions to the table is how you bring balance to difficult situations,” Harper said.
About Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck. It generates and transmits electricity to 126 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; an oil-based peaking station – the Spirit Mound Station, Vermillion, S.D.; nine combustion-turbine generators (natural gas) in the Gillette, Wyo., area; two gas-fired peaking stations – the Groton Generation Station near Groton, S.D., and the Wisdom Station Unit 2 near Spencer, Iowa; four wind turbines – two near Minot, N.D., and two near Chamberlain, S.D. Basin Electric purchases the entire output of three wind farms owned and operated by FPL Energy – one near Edgeley/Kulm and one near Wilton in North Dakota, and another near Highmore in South Dakota; and two other 750-kilowatt wind turbines, one located near Pipestone, Minn., and another near Rosebud, S.D. Basin Electric also purchases the entire production of four recovered energy projects located along the Northern Border Pipeline.
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Basin Electric Power Cooperative
1717 East Interstate Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 USA
701.223.0441