Basin Electric partners with Dairyland Power Cooperative and ALLETE to add new natural gas generation

Basin Electric announced today the cooperative is partnering with ALLETE of Duluth, Minn., and Dairyland Power Cooperative of La Crosse, Wisconsin, to develop new natural gas-based generation.

Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC), a proposed 600-megawatt combined cycle power plant, will be located in Superior, Wisconsin, and interconnect into the Midcontinent ISO Planning Zone 1 regional transmission organization. Basin Electric will own 30% of the project through its subsidiary Nemadji River Generation LLC. The subsidiary is purchasing ownership stake from ALLETE.

NTEC is located with access to two interstate natural gas pipelines, and is designed to be technology-ready for 30% hydrogen refuel.

Minnesota Power, an ALLETE company, is developing and will operate the facility. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved NTEC and the affiliated interest agreements between Minnesota Power and South Shore Energy, a subsidiary of ALLETE, in October 2018. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved NTEC in January 2020 after a review that included a full Environmental Impact Statement. ALLETE is working to secure the necessary permits to begin construction.