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South Dakota Wind Energy Association Holds First Annual Meeting

The South Dakota Wind Energy Association (SDWEA) held its inaugural membership meeting Dec. 1, 2009 in Pierre, S.D. with over 170 people in attendance.

SDWEA Board President Jeff Nelson, unveiled the association’s four “blueprint” topics which will provide direction for 2010 activities. They include Markets and Transmission, Community-Based Wind Development, Landowner Issues and Education and Job Development.

“The South Dakota Wind Energy Association has a very unique organizational structure, not being narrowly defined, but rather involving many various groups that have come together to develop wind opportunities for our state,” Nelson said.

Nelson is also the general manager of East River Electric Power Cooperative, based in Madison, S.D.

SDWEA plans to advocate the development of a ‘business case’ prepared by a professional economist to evaluate the economic opportunities associated with the development of an estimated 1,000 megawatts (MW) of South Dakota wind to Minnesota markets.

Larry Flowers, keynote speaker for the event, is the Principal Project Leader for the National Wind Technology Center which operates under the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

“South Dakota has a huge role to play on a national scale when it comes to wind energy production,” said Flowers. “But the state is limited by a lack of transmission lines that can bring electricity from South Dakota to bigger markets.”

Flowers discussed the current state of wind energy installation in South Dakota and across the country, and proposed ideas as to what South Dakota must do to reach its wind energy potential.

“South Dakota has just an enormous wind resource. 850,000 MW of electricity could be generated by South Dakota winds, but a realistic economic build out possibility is about 8,000 MW. Right now the state has just 288 MW of installed wind capacity. There is great potential here; it just needs to be harnessed. It’s a matter of working with transmission authorities and lawmakers to reach the state’s wind potential.”

The overall economic impact of 1000 MW of wind energy in South Dakota translates to $1.02 billion and the creation and sustainment of more than 200 long term jobs over a 20 year life, Flowers said.

Flowers said there is a lot of interest in South Dakota’s wind. The state trails only Texas in the number of proposed wind tower development projects across the country. He said projects totaling 30,000 MW of electricity are currently proposed. Although many of those projects won’t be completed, Flowers said it’s a positive sign for South Dakota.

“At least you have wind developers who are interested in building in the state. They see the potential South Dakota has, and it’s up to policymakers to move these projects forward,” Flowers said. “South Dakota does not have an indigenous coal resource like some surrounding states, so wind development is a significant economic development opportunity.”

According to Flowers, South Dakota must look to its neighbor to the north for the most accurate comparison involving wind projects. North Dakota has similar wind potential and a similar population. But Flowers said North Dakota has three times the installed wind capacity of South Dakota. Minnesota has over 1,800 MW installed which is six times more than South Dakota, and Iowa has over 2,800 MW installed.

“It’s not an easy process to get these wind farms built. It takes a lot of coordination between state governments, wind developers, and transmission authorities to get it done,” Flowers said. “But many of South Dakota’s neighboring states are pulling away in the wind development arena.”

Flowers said state leaders need to work closely with the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and other transmission authorities to work out cost allocation and other issues including planning, permitting, policy and politics.

“It was a huge honor to have Larry Flowers come to South Dakota,” said Steve Wegman, Executive Director of the South Dakota Wind Energy Association. “He’s one of our country’s foremost experts on the topic, and he brought some real ideas to conversation that we hope can lead to enhanced wind production in South Dakota.”

Also during the meeting, representatives from Great River Energy, Western Area Power Administration, LS Power and Green Power Express participated in a panel discussion regarding the transmission of wind energy.