South Dakota PUC approves 550 MW of wind projects for development

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has granted the development approval for the development of two wind farms with a combined capacity of 550 MW. 

The utility commission has awarded the permit to  Crowned Ridge Wind LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources LLC, to build a 300 MW wind park in the Codington, Deuel, and Grant counties. The permit of the US$400 million project consists of 46 conditions, some of which concern sound levels and shadow flicker and bird monitoring. The plant is expected to be operational by 2020. 

Separate development approval was also granted to the construction of a 250.54 MW Triple H wind park that will be built in Hyde County. The permit for the US$300 million project consists of 41 conditions during the construction and operation of the wind park that includes land restoration, noise levels, and wildlife mitigation. The project is expected to be operational by 2020. The 150 MW of the plant's output will be sold to US retailer Walmart Inc.