Basin Co-op awarded for wind generation efforts

Basin Electric received the DOE's "Wind Powering America Program" Special Achievement Award for the cooperative's "outstanding leadership with wind power and significant contributions to the wind power industry."

The award, jointly sponsored by the DOE and NRECA, was judged by a panel of wind, utility, government and electric cooperative experts.

"The award is a tremendous honor," says Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager. "We have made great strides in wind development in the Dakotas, and are pleased to have this valuable resource be an integral part of our energy mix. Basin Electric has committed to more than 600 megawatts (MW) of wind resources — either operating or in development — including the largest wind project owned and operated by a cooperative in the nation."

In 2005, Basin Electric's membership passed a resolution setting a goal that 10 percent of the co-op members' electricity demand be provided from green or renewable forms of energy. "Basin Electric has been working hard to meet that directive ever since, and today, the cooperative is emerging as a national leader in developing renewable energy in the region," Harper said. "By the end of 2010, Basin Electric is on track to have green or renewable generation with an installed capacity equal to more than 20 percent of current member load."

In late December 2009, Basin Electric added an additional 120 MW of wind generation near Minot, N.D. The project is the largest to be solely owned by a cooperative in the United States. Basin Electric formed PrairieWinds ND 1 Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, to finance, construct, own, and operate the wind projects in the area. The 80 additional wind turbines generate enough electricity to serve more than 35,000 homes on an average annual basis.

Another 2009 project was an expansion of the Wilton Wind Energy Center built and operated by NextEra Energy Resources. The original 49.5 MW wind project was built in 2005-2006, and Basin Electric purchases the entire output of the project through a long-term power purchase agreement. In 2009, Basin Electric and NextEra Energy entered into an additional power purchase agreement for an additional 33 turbines at the site, bringing the wind project's total capacity to 99 MW.

Basin Electric also plans to expand its renewable energy footprint in South Dakota. In October 2009, Basin Electric and NextEra Energy entered into an agreement to develop a wind project in Day County, near Groton, SD. Basin Electric will purchase the entire output from this 99-megawatt project, which is currently under construction.

The cooperative is planning another cooperative-owned wind project in central South Dakota. PrairieWinds SD1 will be a 151.5 MW-project, and preliminary siting and permitting is currently under way. The project is expected to be complete in early 2011.

Through direct investments and annual payments under power purchase agreements from other renewable resources, these projects represent a capital investment of more than $1 billion in renewable energy.