East River Electric Presents Eminent Service Award to Basin Electric
Sept. 10, 2010
SIOUX FALLS, SD -- East River Electric Power Cooperative has presented its Eminent Service award to Bismarck, N.D. based Basin Electric Power Cooperative for its outstanding leadership and commitment in the area of renewable energy.
The award, which honors individuals or organizations who have shown superior commitment toward cooperative values, was announced during East River Electric’s 60th Annual Meeting titled “Cooperatives Delivering Value in a New Era”, on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Over the past year, the two cooperatives have joined together to play a significant role in helping to launch the nation’s first locally-owned community wind project, South Dakota Wind Partners, LLC, (SDWP). SDWP would involve a 10.5 megawatt extension to the soon-to-be constructed, largest cooperative-owned wind project in the nation, Prairie Winds SD 1.
“This (SDWP) would not have been possible without the exceptional effort made by Basin to develop the contractual framework for designing and building the project, securing the necessary wind easements, transmission rights and regulatory and environmental permits and agreeing to purchase the output from this project,” said Jim Ryken, East River board of directors president.
In November 2001, Basin Electric and East River Electric partnered to establish the first Basin wind project near Chamberlain, S.D. By the end of 2011, Basin will have over 700 megawatts of renewable energy capacity within its generating portfolio.
Basin has exceeded its goal of achieving 10 percent of member cooperative’s generation needs by 2010 from renewable energy sources.
“East River appreciates Basin’s dedication to improving the environment and willingness to provide its members with renewable energy resources to serve its member owners,” Ryken said.
