Montana-Dakota Utilities acquires 107.5 MW Thunder Spirit Wind from ALLETE Clean Energy

Montana-Dakota Utilities, a division of MDU Resources Group Inc, announced that it has completed the purchase of Thunder Spirit wind farm from ALLETE clean energy, who had built the project near Hettinger, North Dakota.

The 107.5 MW wind generation project concluded in December 2015 and all 43 turbines are in commercial operation. The approximately US$220 million wind farm can serve about 35,000 homes.

Montana-Dakota was able to take advantage of the wind farm’s location, connecting to its transmission system in an area the company already provides electric service, further enhancing the company’s deliverability of power to its customers.

Montana-Dakota will have employees on site to manage the site and grounds maintenance while Nordex will have staff on site to operate and maintain the towers. 

Nicole Kivisto, president and CEO of Montana-Dakota, said:

“It is so rewarding to see a project of this magnitude come together to provide our customers with a low-cost source of power. We could not have finished this project in a timely manner without the dedicated work of our employees, ALLETE Clean Energy’s construction management and the construction provided by Wanzek Construction and Nordex. It was a great partnership.”
 

ALLETE Clean Energy President Eric Norberg commented:

“I’m so impressed and grateful for the outstanding cooperation and partnership with MDU. Thunder Spirit is a tremendous carbon-free energy resource in an energy-rich state and we are pleased to play a role in MDU’s delivery of renewable energy to its utility customers.”