The Public Service Commission has given Xcel Energy the go-ahead to purchase the 200 megawatt Courtenay Wind Farm in Stutsman County.
The wind farm was to be built by Geronimo Energy, and Xcel was going to buy the power. But the utility said it would be a better deal to buy the wind farm outright, saving its customers money.
"It'll save customers about $97 million over the 20 year life of the wind farm," said PSC Chairman Julie Fedorchak.
"This is very low cost energy," said Xcel's Dave Sederquist. "It will replace higher cost alternatives. It's also very clean, environmentally friendly energy."
The price tag on the wind farm is $300 million. Xcel is also buying the Border Winds 150 megawatt wind farm near Rolla. Sederquist says that will mean about 13 percent of the power it provides to North Dakota customers will come from renewable energy.