South Dakota was near last in the ranks of solar power generation among the fifty states (plus Puerto Rico), but now thanks to a new 128-megawatt solar farm project called Wild Springs, that’s all about to change. Geronimo Energy, the developer and a leading renewable energy company under the umbrella of National Grid, plans to have the facility running by 2022.
It will be located in Pennington County, around 20 miles east of Rapid City. Basin Electric Power Cooperative will be the energy wholesaler to sell the electricity to 141 member cooperatives that serve approximately three million customers across eight other states (Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming) aside from South Dakota.
Geronimo President David Reamer, said:
Historically, there has been a misconception that solar in the northern regions of the United States wasn’t feasible. Geronimo and Basin Electric recognized that the addition of solar to its overall generation fleet not only offers customers a clean, economic option for their electricity, but it also diversifies a utility’s portfolio.
Basin Electric is new to the solar field but has been openly promoting its economic benefits. Paul Sukut, the CEO and General Manager of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, said:
For the first time in its history, Basin Electric will buy solar generation on a large scale to serve our members. The board’s decision to add solar generation to our resource portfolio is to continue with our all-of-the-above strategy, as well as solar generation becoming a more economic energy source. We are excited about adding solar to our already diverse generation mix.
And while Basin currently relies mostly on coal and natural gas, it seems intent on demonstrating that renewable energy projects can fill in their shoes. For now, the wholesaler only has some wind energy to represent renewables in its power generation mix. But it’s making the most of that 162-megawatt farm (called Crow Lake) by using it as a teaching platform for wind technician trainees. Maybe it’ll do the same thing at the Wild Springs solar farm.
Geronimo estimates Wild Springs will generate over $17 million in the first 20 years of operation – which includes tax revenues, as well as a temporary construction and full-time jobs. Two other projects Geronimo has in the state include a recently completed 200MW wind project located in Clark County called the Crocker Wind Farm, and an operational solar farm located on City property in Hughes County called the Pierre Solar Project.
The new project is expected to provoke a domino effect of solar activity in America, primarily among South Dakota’s neighboring states like Wyoming. For now, however, Wyoming’s coal stakeholders are betting on carbon capture with high hopes instead. But a hefty tax may be required to retrofit the existing coal power plants with the carbon capture equipment – if so, people may change their minds.
Regardless, looking at the issue from an environmental standpoint, carbon capture doesn’t make much sense. Employing the technology will only reduce the emissions from those coal power plants to the range of natural gas plants. That’s not going to help the state meeting zero-carbon goals!
