Black Hills adds 12.5 MW of capacity to Corriedale Wind Energy Project in Wyoming

Black Hills Corp's South Dakota Electric and Wyoming Electric utilities, doing business as Black Hills Energy, received approval from the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission to increase the offering under its Renewable Ready program by 12.5 megawatts and a determination from the Wyoming Public Service Commission that the proposed increase of the Corriedale Wind Energy Project to 52.5 megawatts is within commission rules. With these actions, Black Hills Energy will install five additional wind turbines, increasing the wind project from 40 megawatts to 52.5 megawatts and the project cost from US$57 million to US$79 million. 

During the initial subscription period for the Renewable Ready program, Black Hills Energy received applications of interest from eligible commercial, industrial and governmental agency customers in excess of the program’s 40 megawatts.

To meet this customer interest in renewable energy, South Dakota Electric requested to amend its Renewable Ready Service Tariff to allow for an additional 12.5 megawatts available through an expansion of the Corriedale Wind Energy Project. In addition, the two utilities requested a determination from the Wyoming commission that the utilities could increase the size of the Corriedale wind project pursuant to the commission’s rules.

The 52.5-megawatt wind project will be built near Cheyenne, Wyoming, and is expected to be placed in service in late 2020.