Transmission lines originally slated to carry coal-generated power from the scrapped Big Stone II plant could open up a new market for proposed eastern South Dakota wind farms.
Big Stone II's plans had called for high-voltage power lines in southern Minnesota to carry power to customers to the east from both the 550-megawatt coal-fired power plant near Milbank and nearby wind farms.
The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator has identified about 1,900 megawatts, enough to power some 500,000 homes, of potential wind projects that could jump on board an upgraded transmission system.
One project accepted into the Midwest ISO study is Dakota Wind Energy, a 300-megawatt wind farm planned just south of the North Dakota border.
"They're creating more of a backbone transmission line that will serve not just one generator but a number of wind farms in the area," said Ben Kerl, a senior wind developer with Dakota Wind Energy's managing partner National Wind LLC.
Bismarck, N.D.-based Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. and Fergus Falls, Minn.-based Otter Tail Power Co. were two leading partners in the planning of Big Stone II, which was more than four years in the making. The project was canceled in November, with developers citing financing problems and the possibility of new federal carbon dioxide restrictions.
The Midwest ISO, a regional power-grid agency, immediately stepped in to salvage the transmission line portion of the project.
Steve Wegman, executive director of the South Dakota Wind Energy Association, said transmission upgrades could inject new life into projects proposed along the Coteau Des Prairies ridge of northeastern South Dakota.
