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North Dakota 205-MW wind project on hold until power purchaser found

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North Dakota 205-MW wind project on hold until power purchaser found

Construction on a Southern Power Co. subsidiary's 205-MW wind energy facility and associated 230-kV transmission line in North Dakota has not yet begun because the company is still seeking an off-taker.

Ruso Wind Partners filed its 10-year plan for the project with the North Dakota Public Service Commission in May, anticipating a construction start date as early as the third quarter of this year. However, according to project manager Morgan Berry, the construction commencement date depends on the needs of an undetermined off-taker, or renewable power purchaser.

Berry said that the company is "involved in discussions with multiple potential off-takers but have not yet executed a deal."

Ruso Wind, which according to the plan has no other transmission or generation units in the state, would like to begin operating the 47-turbine wind facility and associated 10-mile transmission line before the start of 2021. The facility would be built about one mile west of Ruso, N.D.

While Ruso Wind has filed an interconnection application with the Midcontinent ISO the developer is now considering interconnecting with the Southwest Power Pool instead. The company is "looking for the best options and the best plans for [the] project," said Berry.

"Both markets are within easy reach of the project, so really it's a matter of keeping our options open more than anything else and really trying to find the best and most economical solution," Berry said.

Prairie Public Broadcasting reported that the cost of interconnecting the Ruso Wind project with the MISO grid would be around $500 million, or about double what Berry estimated would be the $250 million to $300 million price tag for the entire project. Julie Fedorchak, a commissioner with the North Dakota Public Service Commission, reportedly said the MISO interconnection price tag renders the project "uneconomic." Fedorchak did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The North Dakota Department of Commerce's Comprehensive State Energy Policy for 2010-2025 set a state goal of having 5,000 MW of wind-based generation by 2020. According to Ruso Wind, only 2,996 MW of wind capacity was installed in the state before the start of 2018.