renewable energy

Xcel Energy, Wanzek Construction partner on wind farms

By Danielle Webster • Oct 24, 2017
D. Webster

Xcel Energy is expanding its wind energy portfolio.

They've partnered with Wanzek Construction to build the Foxtail Wind Farm in Dickey County, North Dakota, as well as the Freeborn Wind Farm located primarily in Iowa with some turbines located in Minnesota. The projects will total 350 megawatts and about 175 turbines. Mark Nisbet is principal manager of Xcel Energy. He says including wind in their energy portfolio helps keep their electric rates down.

Wind energy is growing North Dakota's economy

By Danielle Webster • Oct 20, 2017

North Dakota's future in wind energy is looking promising.

According to a study by North Dakota State University's Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, wind energy had an economic impact of more than 170-million dollars in 2016. Tammy Ibach is director of North Dakotans for Comprehensive Energy Solutions. She says the study predicts a growing future for North Dakota's energy strategy.

Thunder Spirit's turbines are generating electricity

By Danielle Webster • Nov 9, 2015

The first five of 43 wind turbines at ALLETE Clean Energy's Thunder Spirit wind farm have begun generating electricity. 

Spokeswoman Amy Rutledge says the rest of the turbines should be online within the next couple of weeks.  The Thunder Spirit wind farm will generate 107 megawatts of wind power for customers of Montana-Dakota Utilities.  Rutledge says the wind farm is near the community of Hettinger, which became very involved in the installation.

ND Alliance for Renewable Energy

By Ashley • May 4, 2015

An interview with NDARE Vice-President Ken Hallevang

Pew study shows ND a leader in wind energy

By Dave Thompson • Oct 23, 2014

A study by the Pew Charitable Trusts shows North Dakota continues to be a national leader in wind power development.

The study says that between 2009 and 2013 -- $1.8 billion was invested by private companies in wind farms and other clean energy technologies.

"With so much emphasis on the oil production and all that good news, we sometimes lose sight that there's another leg of this energy stool in North Dakota," said North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives executive vice-president Dennis Hill. "That's the renewable energy sector."