New year brings new wind resources

Great River Energy begins 2023 by adding two new wind agreements to its growing portfolio of renewable resources.

The new year brought two new energy resources to Great River Energy’s power supply portfolio. The projects will collectively add more than 300 megawatts (MW) of nameplate generating capacity — and zero emissions.

“Adding cost-effective wind resources is a critical component of our power supply strategy,” said Great River Energy Resource Planning Director Zac Ruzycki. “These new resources will provide energy to serve our member-owner cooperatives and an important hedge in the region’s electricity market.”

Great River Energy now has power purchase agreements for the output of nine wind facilities located throughout Minnesota, Iowa and the Dakotas.

“Having wind resources in different locations throughout the Midwest provides geographic diversity that helps ensure there is wind energy on our system, even if parts of the region are experiencing a calm day,” said Great River Energy Renewable Energy Manager Mark Rathbun.

With 73 turbines in eastern South Dakota, Deuel Harvest Wind Farm will provide 200 MW of wind energy for Great River Energy’s member-owners.

The Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm will supply 22 of Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives with wind power generated in Lincoln County, Minnesota.

All of Great River Energy’s wind resources are equipped with specialized equipment so they can operate dependably at temperatures as low as 22 below zero. In fact, wind resources played a part in keeping electricity reliable during the recent bomb cyclone.