South Dakota wind park garners conditional approval

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has conditionally approved a construction permit for the Prevailing Wind Park, a 219.6-megawatt wind energy facility slated to serve three counties.

Officials said the site would serve Bon Homme, Charles Mix, and Hutchinson counties. Commission staff and Prevailing Winds personnel proposing more than 40 conditions addressing issues such as road conditions during construction, cultural resources, assignment of a public liaison officer and land restoration after construction, among other conditions.

PUC Chairperson Kristie Fiegen noted that the commission and staff were faced with the task of processing the construction permit request in six months while giving full weight to the varied considerations of all parties.

“It’s not easy to strike a balance between the needs and wants of area landowners and the wind industry,” Fiegen said. “In the end, I believe we followed state statute and the authority given to the PUC by the state legislature.”

Once completed, officials said Prevailing Wind Park will include up to 61 wind turbines in a 50,364-acre area, noting other components of the project will include access roads, underground collector lines, an operation and maintenance facility, and four permanent meteorological towers.

Prevailing Wind Park filed its application with the Public Utilities Commission on May 30, 2018. A public input hearing was held in July, and an evidentiary hearing was conducted in October.