Dakota Gas and Antelope Valley Station celebrate 40 years of service

Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant and Antelope Valley Station are celebrating 40 years of operation. On July 28, 1984, natural gas made synthetically from lignite began flowing from the Synfuels Plant into the nation’s interstate pipeline system, and in August, 1984, Unit 1 at Antelope Valley Station began commercial operation. 

Built in the 1980s, the Synfuels Plant was America’s first commercial-scale coal gasification plant and at one time was the largest construction project in North America. Located near Beulah, North Dakota, the plant was built as an alternative source of energy for the United States, which had a goal of moving away from dependence on foreign supplies of energy. In this 40-year journey, the plant has evolved from three to 13 products. Fuels and chemical products are sold worldwide for many different applications. Agricultural fertilizers have become the largest revenue source. Most recently, the plant has developed the largest geologic sequestration project in the world.

In July 1978, construction began on Antelope Valley Station at the gasification project site in Beulah, North Dakota. The power plant consists of two units, each rated at 450 megawatts, the first of which began commercial operation in 1984 and the second in 1986. Antelope Valley Station is part of an energy complex that includes the Great Plains Synfuels Plant and the Freedom Mine. A majority of Antelope Valley Station's fuel supply is provided by the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in the form of lignite fines - particles of coal too small for use in the gasification process.

“It’s amazing to think that 40 years have passed since Dakota Gas and Antelope Valley Station went into operation,” Troy Tweeten, Basin Electric senior vice president of Generation, said. “As we celebrate this anniversary milestone, we stop to acknowledge the commitment made to provide clean, efficient, and affordable energy and products to rural America. The employees have done a great job maintaining and operating these two facilities to keep them reliable for the past 40 years, and we look forward to these facilities providing many more years of service to the communities we serve.” 

Employees at Dakota Gas received a commemorative mug. “We had some fun with this by recreating a caricature that was used on a mug that was distributed at the family picnic in 1985,” said Dale Johnson, senior vice president and plant manager at Dakota Gas. 

Celebration plans are in the works at Antelope Valley Station and are expected to happen later this month.