Proposed plant gets okay to link to system

WAPA, one of four power marketing agencies within the federal Energy Department, sells power to nonprofit providers such as governments, rural electric cooperatives and American Indian tribes in 15 central and western states. The agency said it will make the necessary modifications to its existing White Substation in Brookings County.

Bismarck, N.D.-based Basin Electric hopes to begin construction this summer on the $400 million Deer Creek Station power plant and have it operating in 2012.

The gas-fired plant near Brookings would help Basin meet growing demand from its member electric systems. It would have a capacity of about 300 megawatts, or roughly enough energy to power 300,000 homes.

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission in May approved permits for the plant and a natural gas pipeline to bring fuel to the facility, which would use gas and steam to produce electricity.

Basin has said the plant would have about 30 employees.