Dedicating South Dakota's first commercial scale turbines

Basin Electric and East River Electric Power Cooperative in South Dakota dedicated the state's first commercial scale wind turbines at Chamberlain in early November. Both co-operatives have multiple member utilities and generate most of their power from coal fired thermal electric plants. The $2.9 million, 2.6 MW project supplies power from two Nordex 1.3 MW turbines to 46 of Basin Electric's 122 member utilities. They are selling the wind generated electricity to retail customers through the PrairieWinds green marketing program. The program charges a $3 monthly premium for each 100 kWh block bought. More than half of the co-operatives participating in the program are in South Dakota. East River utilities are marketing the wind power in eastern South Dakota and in western Minnesota. The only other South Dakota wind project in the process, although not yet under construction, is the Rosebud Tribal Casino turbine near Mission.