The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a permit – with numerous conditions – for the construction of the Dakota Range Wind Project.
Proposed in Grant and Codington counties, the project will be capable of producing up to 302.4 MW of power. It is expected to include up to 72 turbines and associated facilities within an approximately 44,500-acre area 10 miles northeast of Watertown.
In September 2017, Xcel Energy announced plans to build and own the wind farm, which is being developed by Apex Clean Energy and will comprise Vestas turbines. The $380 million facility is expected to become operational in 2021.
The commission discussed and voted on the conditions to be imposed on the permit at a July 10 ad hoc meeting in Pierre. The conditions, totaling 42, include installing monitoring solutions for birds, ice and aircraft.
“As commissioners in a quasi-judicial role, we are bound to follow what is spelled out before us in state law and to base our decision on facts and evidence,” says Kristie Fiegen, PUC chairperson. “The conditions we arrived at address landowner protections and the applicant’s obligations.”
“The comprehensive conditions we imposed on the permit will ensure the facility is built and operated in a manner that is responsible and fair to all parties, as well as the environment,” adds Gary Hanson, PUC vice chairman.
An application for the wind farm was filed with the PUC on Jan. 24, 2018. State law requires the commission to make a decision within six months of receiving a wind energy facility application. A public input hearing was held in Waverly in March, and an evidentiary hearing was held in Pierre in June. Parties to the docket included Dakota Range, PUC staff and 12 intervenors.
“State law lays out the criteria in which a permit must be granted. I believe this project has met that burden,” notes Chris Nelson, PUC commissioner. “I extend my thanks to the PUC staff, intervenors and Dakota Range for the information provided to the commission during this process.”
