Prairie Winds Energy

North Central receives 82% of our wholesale power through Basin Electric.  Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck.  It generates and transmits electricity to 125 member rural electric systems (including North Central Electric) in nine states:  Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.  These member systems distribute electricity to about 2.5 million consumers.

Basin Electric’s generating resources include coal-based power plants, an oil-based peaking station, combustion-turbine generators (natural gas), and gas-fired peaking stations.

Basin Electric is also a recognized leader of wind energy development in the Upper Midwest.  Through joint projects and purchase agreements, Basin has added approximately 136 MW of wind energy to their portfolio over the past several years.  This supplies the annual energy needs of 40,000 homes.

Basin Electric buys all of the energy from three wind farms which are located near Edgely, ND, Highmore, SD, and Wilton, ND. 

Basin Electric has also constructed two small wind projects, one near Chamberlain, SD, the other near Minot, ND.  In the near future Basin has plans to add another 200 MW of wind facilities. 

Since 2001, North Central Electric members have had the opportunity on a volunteer basis, to purchase blocks of wind energy through a Basin Electric program – Prairie Winds.  Due to the industries commitment to wind energy, the cost and benefits associated with wind energy will be included in our regular electric rates and future voluntary Prairie Winds contributions will no longer be necessary.