Minnesota Power Adds 210 Megawatts of Clean, Low-Cost Wind Energy Generation to Serve Its Customers
December 19 2012 - 8:48AM
Business Wire
Minnesota Power, a division of ALLETE, Inc. (NYSE: ALE) has
reached a significant milestone in its energy supply
diversification strategy with the completion of phases two and
three of the company’s Bison Wind Energy Center. The 210-megawatt
(MW) renewable energy installations near New Salem, N.D., are now
operational and the commissioning process has been completed.
Bison 2 and 3 consist of 70 wind turbine generators, each
capable of producing three MW of electric power by way of
direct-drive turbines manufactured by Siemens AG. The turbines are
installed atop 265-foot towers in south-central North Dakota.
“Like our nation, our company is in the midst of a major
transition to ensure a more balanced energy supply,” said Alan R.
Hodnik, ALLETE chairman, president and chief executive officer.
“Investment in cost-effective emission-free wind energy is an
important component of ALLETE’s overall growth strategy to meet the
needs of a changing energy landscape.”
Minnesota Power is moving the wind energy from North Dakota to
Duluth, Minn., over a 465-mile direct current transmission line
that the company purchased in 2009. That purchase enabled Minnesota
Power to phase out a long-term contract to buy coal-based
electricity from the Young Station in Center, N.D., and replace it
with wind energy.
A meticulous commissioning process for Bison 2 and 3 involving
personnel from Minnesota Power and Siemens was completed this week.
The final stage of the launch involves control testing that
demonstrates that the Bison project can function as a “wind park,”
with all three phases working together.
MISO, a regional organization overseeing electric transmission
in 11 U.S. states and Manitoba, will be involved in integrating the
completed wind park into the regional power grid.
Minnesota Power’s Bison project was launched in 2010. The 82-MW
Bison 1 wind farm consisting of 31 turbines was built over two
years. This year, the Duluth-based electric utility erected an
additional 70 towers. The accelerated timetable is largely due to
the scheduled expiration of a production tax credit on wind
generation at the end of 2012.
“By meeting an aggressive timetable we are able to capitalize on
the wind production tax credits to the benefit of our customers in
providing a clean, cost-effective energy resource,” said Minnesota
Power Chief Operating Officer Brad Oachs.
Since 2005, Minnesota Power has been rebalancing its energy
supply mix in ways that are smart, sensible and sustainable for its
customers and the environment. With the addition of Bison 2 and 3
the company has achieved a 20 percent renewable mix and is well on
its way to meeting Minnesota’s renewable energy goal that utilities
provide 25 percent of their energy through renewable means by 2025.
The company entered the wind energy business in 2006 and 2007 when
it began purchasing the entire 98-MW output of the Oliver 1 and
Oliver 2 wind farms built and operated by NextEra Energy in North
Dakota. In 2008, Minnesota Power built its first wind farm, the
25-MW Taconite Ridge, on property owned by its largest electric
customer, U.S. Steel, in Mountain Iron, Minn.
Minnesota Power provides electric service within a
26,000-square-mile area in northeastern Minnesota, supporting
comfort, security and quality of life for 144,000 customers, 16
municipalities and some of the largest industrial customers in the
United States. More information can be found at
www.mnpower.com.
The statements contained in this release and statements that
ALLETE may make orally in connection with this release that are not
historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Actual results
may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties and investors are directed to the risks discussed in
documents filed by ALLETE with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Allete (NYSE:ALE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Allete (NYSE:ALE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024