Minnesota Power, an ALLETE company, has finalized the purchase of a 465-mile transmission line. The company acquired a 250 kV line connecting Center, N.D., with its Arrowhead Substation in Hermantown, Minn., for approximately $70 million.
According to the company, purchasing the direct current (DC) transmission line from the Square Butte Electric Cooperative will further Minnesota Power's long-range plan to bring more renewable energy into its system. The company says it plans to develop several hundred megawatts of new wind generation in North Dakota and deliver wind-fueled electricity to customers via the DC line.
Minnesota Power is currently laying the groundwork for construction of its Bison wind farm, a 75 MW installation near New Salem, N.D. The project, consisting of 33 turbines with a 2.3 MW capacity each, will be installed in two phases. Phase one, which will involve the construction of the first 16 turbines, is scheduled to be operational by the end of the year.
SOURCE: Minnesota Power
