Sept.
16, 2002
Basin Electric announces two 40-megawatt wind generation projects
in the Dakotas
Bismarck, N.D. - Basin Electric Power
Cooperative CEO Ron Harper announced today the Cooperative and FPL
Energy LLC, a subsidiary of FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE: FPL), have reached
an agreement to build an 80-megawatt wind energy project, with 40-megawatts
in each of the Dakotas. The agreement calls for Basin Electric to
purchase the output of the projects, which will be constructed,
owned and operated by FPL Energy. It is scheduled to be operational
by the end of 2003. Electricity produced from these two wind farms
will produce enough electricity to serve about 25,000 typical North
and South Dakota homes.
"We're very pleased that Basin Electric
and its Touchstone Energy® cooperatives in this
region have been able to move forward with the largest wind energy
project in the Dakotas. This project has come together through a
team effort," Harper said. "Without the close cooperation
of the local co-ops, the statewide organizations and the system
that they have built throughout the years, this would not have been
possible."
The North Dakota project announced this morning
at Basin Electric Headquarters in Bismarck, is planned near Edgeley,
N.D., in the service territory of Basin's Class A member-owner Central
Power Electric Cooperative, Minot, N.D., and its member Dakota Valley
Electric, Milnor, N.D.
U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) has been a driving
force encouraging the development of wind energy in the state. He
applauded the announcement stating, "Basin Electric is making
a substantial investment in North Dakota's future with this -- the
biggest wind project in the history of North Dakota. Our goal should
be to seize the opportunities that wind and other natural resources
in North Dakota present in order to create new economic opportunities
and jobs in the state. This project and investment takes us a giant
step toward that goal. Clean and limitless energy makes sense for
North Dakota and it makes sense for America."
The North Dakota portion of the project will
include constructing 11 miles of transmission line to connect the
wind farm to an existing substation. Gary Williamson, general manager
of Central Power, said the line will have a capacity of 115,000
volts and will be built by Central Power.
"Basin Electric is able to partner in a
project such as this because it can integrate wind into its other
generating resources," Harper said. "By using the energy
from this project within the Basin Electric family of cooperatives,
we are able to avoid the problems associated with transporting power
to large load centers like Minneapolis or Chicago."
The South Dakota project is expected to be located
near Highmore in the service territory of another of Basin Electric's
Class A member-owner, East River Electric Power Cooperative, Madison,
S.D., and its member Dakota Energy Cooperative, Huron, S.D. Basin
Electric and East River have also jointly developed another 2.6-megawatt
wind farm near Chamberlain. It became operational in January of
this year.
Jeff Nelson, general manager of East River,
said this new project adds value to the development near Chamberlain.
"As a partner with Basin Electric, East River is pleased to
help expand electric supply in the region by use of this major renewable
wind resource," he said. "As advocates for renewable energy
sources, East River supports Basin and FPL Energy in developing
this significant investment in renewable energy in South Dakota."
Harper said wind energy has made significant
technological strides in the last two decades. "Member-cooperatives
have closely monitored this advancing technology and, as a result,
interest in wind development has grown significantly," he said.
"With completion of the Chamberlain project, the recent announcement
of a 2.6 megawatt wind project in cooperation with Central Power
Electric Cooperative south of Minot and our commitment to this project,
electric cooperatives of this region are again proving they are
leaders in implementing new technologies to meet the demands of
their consumers."
Michael O'Sullivan, senior vice president of
development for FPL Energy, said: "We're delighted to be able
to add this Dakotas project to the largest wind energy portfolio
in the country and are eager to work with Basin Electric Power Cooperative
in this new venture." He noted that FPL Energy is committed
to wind energy generation. "Wind offers significant environmental
benefits, helps us as a nation to diversify our energy sources and
uses a resource that is always there to be tapped," he said.
"Today's new technologies now make all of this possible on
a large-scale basis."
FPL Energy is the nation's leader in wind energy,
with 26 wind facilities in nine states. The company is also a leading
independent producer of clean energy from natural gas, solar energy
and hydroelectric power, generating more than 80 percent of its
power from clean and renewable sources. It has a total of 76 facilities,
with more than 10,700 megawatts of capacity in operation, under
construction or announced acquisitions in 19 states. It is a subsidiary
of FPL Group, Inc., nationally known as a high quality, efficient
and customer-driven organization focused on energy-related products
and services. Additional information is available on the Internet
at www.fplgroup.com, www.fpl.com, and www.fplenergy.com.
Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional
cooperative headquartered in Bismarck. It generates and transmits
electricity to 124 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 1.7 million consumers. Additional information
is available on the Internet at
www.basinelectric.com.
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