Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. has asked North Dakota regulators to approve its plan for an 88-MW natural gas-fired facility near Mandan, N.D., according to an Aug. 29 company news release.
The MDU Resources Group Inc. subsidiary filed an application with the state Public Service Commission for an advance determination of prudence to construct, own and operate the proposed Heskett 4 simple-cycle combustion turbine project.
The facility, which is estimated to cost $73 million, will be built next to the existing company-owned 88-MW Heskett 3 combustion turbine.
The proposed gas peaker would replace the output of older coal-fired plants the utility has decided to retire. In February, the utility announced plans to retire its 44-MW Lewis & Clark Station in Sidney, Mont., around the end of March 2021, and units 1 and 2 at its 100-MW R.M.Heskett Generating Station in Mandan, N.D., by the end of March 2022.
Heskett 4 is expected to be in operation by the first quarter of 2023, subject to approval by North Dakota regulators.
The commission has up to seven months from the filing date to issue a decision on the company's request.
