Minnkota Power Cooperative’s second wind turbine on
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GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The second commercial-scale, utility-owned wind turbine in the state of North Dakota is now on line and producing electricity for the Grand Forks Air Force Base. The turbine, located three miles east of Petersburg, N.D., north of Hwy. 2, is owned and operated by Minnkota Power Cooperative of Grand Forks. The site was chosen based on a wind resource assessment performed by researchers from the University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC). Construction began in mid-May and on July 12, 2002, the 900-kilowatt (kW) rated generator was connected to the regional transmission system after a series of commissioning tests were completed. Under Sen. Byron Dorgan’s (D-N.D.) leadership, the U.S. Senate recently adopted an appropriations bill requiring eight U.S. military installations to purchase a portion of their energy needs from renewable energy resources over the next five years. This includes both of North Dakota’s U.S. Air Force Bases in Minot and Grand Forks. All of the electricity generated from the turbine is presently being sold to the Grand Forks Air Force Base through the base’s retail power supplier, Nodak Electric Cooperative of Grand Forks. After a period of 20 months, the air base allocation will be reduced and a portion of the turbine’s output will be sold to customers waiting to participate in the Minnkota-associated systems’ Infinity Wind Energy program. Minnkota’s other 900-kW wind turbine, the first in North Dakota, is located six miles east of Valley City, N.D., south of I-94. That turbine was dedicated on Jan. 25, 2002, and has been producing wind energy for more than 2,100 customers participating in the Infinity Wind Energy program. Each turbine is expected to produce about 2.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, which is the approximate annual electrical usage of 200-300 homes. “When the wind speed is sufficient, the electrical output from these turbines complements Minnkota’s affordable and abundant lignite-fired generation,” said David Loer, Minnkota president & CEO. “Because wind is not always available to generate electricity, the fossil fuel-supported power grid is critical to reliable electric service.” The total cost of energy generated by Minnkota’s wind turbines is expensive – approximately 6.6 cents per kWh. After subtracting the federal subsidy of 1.7 cents per kWh and the energy value of approximately 1.9 cents per kWh, the remaining added cost of wind-generated electricity is 3 cents per kWh or $3 for each 100 kWh block. This amount is being paid by customers who are voluntarily participating in Minnkota’s Infinity Wind Energy program and is being billed in addition to their regular monthly cost of electricity. Minnkota Power is a generation and transmission cooperative supplying wholesale electricity to 11 member-owner electric cooperatives in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Minnkota is also operating agent for the Northern Municipal Power Agency (NMPA), which serves 12 municipal utilities. The 11 Minnkota-associated distribution cooperatives include Beltrami Electric Cooperative, Bemidji, Minn.; Cass County Electric Cooperative, Kindred, N.D.; Cavalier Rural Electric Cooperative, Langdon, N.D.; Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative, Bagley, Minn.; Nodak Electric Cooperative, Grand Forks, N.D.; North Star Electric Cooperative, Baudette, Minn.; PKM Electric Cooperative, Warren, Minn.; Red Lake Electric Cooperative, Red Lake Falls, Minn.; Red River Valley Cooperative Power Association, Halstad, Minn.; Roseau Electric Cooperative, Roseau, Minn.; and Wild Rice Electric Cooperative, Mahnomen, Minn. The 12 municipal utilities associated with NMPA include Bagley Public Utilities, Bagley, Minn.; Baudette Municipal Utilities, Baudette, Minn.; Fosston Municipal Utilities, Fosston, Minn.; Grafton Municipal Utilities, Grafton, N.D.; Halstad Municipal Utilities, Halstad, Minn.; Hawley Public Utilities, Hawley, Minn.; Park River Municipal Utilities, Park River, N.D.; Roseau Municipal Utilities, Roseau, Minn.; City of Stephen Utilities, Stephen, Minn.; Thief River Falls Municipal Utilities, Thief River Falls, Minn.; City of Warren Water and Light, Warren, Minn.; and Warroad Municipal Utilities, Warroad, Minn. Minnkota’s primary source of electrical generation is the lignite coal-fired Milton R. Young Station, located near the town of Center, N.D. Together, the Minnkota-associated systems serve more than 112,000 customers.
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