South Dakota wind project garners construction permit

The Crowned Ridge Wind Farm slated for northeastern South Dakota has been granted a construction permit, with officials anticipating the $400 million project will be completed by 2020.

“I truly believe that through the conditions we specified, we came up with a good product,” South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Chairman Gary Hanson said. “We go through this process following the evidence that has been presented and making certain we follow the law. We have to base our decision on evidence, not our feelings.”

The PUC placed 46 conditions on the permit, including addressing sound levels and shadow flicker experienced by nearby residences, the detection of ice on turbine blades, monitoring of grouse leks within the wind farm area once construction is complete and funding for the removal of the facilities, known as decommissioning.

Once functional, the wind farm will be capable of producing as much as 300 megawatts of energy from up to 130 wind turbines. The Crowned Ridge Wind LLC-owned entity is an indirect subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC.

Northern States Power Co., doing business as Xcel Energy, will purchase the energy produced by the wind farm.

“We have addressed a lot of concerns brought to our attention during the evidentiary hearing and through post-hearing briefs,” Commissioner Kristie Fiegen said. “What we have landed on is a combination that works for the residents of the area, for the applicant and for the state.”