Basin Electric participates in event commemorating first-ever large-scale solar purchase

Basin Electric participated in National Grid Renewables’ “Solar Does Good” community event July 27 in New Underwood, South Dakota. The event was held at the site of the future Wild Springs Solar, a 128-megawatt solar project of which Basin Electric will purchase 114 MW of its output, marking the first time in Basin Electric’s history that the cooperative will purchase large-scale solar generation to serve its members.

“Basin Electric has been evaluating solar generation for many years,” Chris Baumgartner, Basin Electric senior vice president of Member and External Relations, said at the event. “Now that it has become a more economic option, we are excited to add it to our all-of-the-above generation portfolio, which includes dispatchable resources such as coal and natural gas and non-dispatchable resources such as wind and now solar. This diverse portfolio allows all these resources to work together to provide the maximum amount of reliability at the lowest-possible cost for our members.”

Baumgartner was one of six speakers at the event, which brought together community members, landowners, customers, and partners in celebration of the project’s construction.

Wild Springs Solar, which is owned and operated by national Grid Renewables, is located in the service area of Basin Electric Class C member West River Electric Association. Construction of the project began in January and it is scheduled to begin operation in the spring of 2024. Once completed, it will be the largest solar project in South Dakota.