Antelope Valley, Dakota Gas, and Coteau complete annual ditch cleanup

On Tuesday, April 22, employees from Basin Electric’s Antelope Valley Station (Antelope Valley), Dakota Gasification Company (Dakota Gas), and The Coteau Properties Company’s Freedom Mine (Coteau) came together for the annual ditch cleaning event, reinforcing their shared commitment to environmental stewardship.

The cleanup, held from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, focused on a key stretch of roadway near Beulah, North Dakota.

“I take pride in the community and environment that I live and work in, and the annual cleanup event is one way to act on that,” Alex Hermes, Basin Electric section engineer at Dakota Gas, says. “It’s fulfilling to see the amount of garbage cleaned out of the ditches. Someone always finds something surprising each year.”

Coteau provided transportation and safety vests for all participants, while Dakota Gas supplied garbage bags, insect repellent, disposable gloves, and handled post-event waste collection.

By the end of the event, more than 40 volunteers had cleaned an eight-mile stretch of ditches from the intersection of Highways 200 and 49 near Beaulah to the Freedom Mine. The event, held annually around Earth Day, continues to reflect the dedication of Basin Electric employees who take pride in protecting the community they serve.