News Releases for May 2008
May 13, 2008
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Hoeven Commends Power Companies On Wind Power, Transmission Agreement
Several Hundred Megawatts of New Wind Production Slated for Central North Dakota
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today commended officials from Minnkota Power Cooperative and Minnesota Power on their announced intention to expand wind capacity and transmission in North Dakota. The agreement paves the way to build significant new wind energy production and transmission capacity in western North Dakota and send it to the Red River Valley and Minnesota. Currently, Minnkota buys power from Milton Young Generating Station I, and the two companies share power from Milton Young 2, both located in Center, N.D.
The agreement involves Minnesota Power’s $80 million purchase of a 465-mile DC transmission line that runs from the Milton Young Generating Station in Center, N.D. to Arrowhead substation in Hermantown, Minn. In addition, Minnkota Power will construct a new 345 kilovolt transmission line to carry new wind energy production from Milton Young 2 to the Red River Valley, and to accommodate new wind energy along the DC line.
The companies earlier discussed their plan with Hoeven and his staff, and the state has been working with them to help advance the project.
“We’ve worked with both of these forward-looking companies to develop North Dakota’s wind generated energy capacity and new transmission,” Hoeven said. “The key here is that we’re developing a major new 345 kW transmission line with the goal of building hundreds of new megawatts of capacity. These, and other projects, are helping to bring North Dakota’s total wind energy production from less than one megawatt a few years ago to more than 2000 megawatts in the near future.”
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