NorthWestern : North Western Energy begins construction in July on $84 million, 58-megawatt natural gas-fired generation plant near Huron, S.D.
May 13, 2020 at 10:14 am EDT
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Sioux Falls - Work will begin in July on an $84 million, 58-megawatt natural gas-fired plant near Huron, S.D.
This flexible-capacity resource will provide energy as needed 24/7 for NorthWestern Energy's South Dakota customers.
Reciprocating internal combustion engine technology will replace the existing natural gas/diesel fuel-fired combustion turbines at the Huron Generating Station. The reciprocating engines are more efficient and use selective catalytic reduction and oxidation catalyst to control emissions. The plant design also includes several mitigation measures to reduce noise from the plant during operation.
Caterpillar, Inc. was selected in April as the reciprocating engine supplier and Fagen, Inc. of Granite Falls, Minn. was selected as the Engineering, Procurement, Construction contractor.
Caterpillar is a global leader in reciprocating engine technology. The CAT engines are highly reliable and efficient with low emissions. The selected engines are capable of rapid ramping and multiple daily starts and stops. They have a proven track record of providing peaking power, baseload power and regulating power, which is required for integration of intermittent renewable resources.
'Caterpillar's competitively priced equipment has a successful history of quality and performance and will be a generation asset meeting the energy needs of our South Dakota customers for decades,' said Jim Williams, NorthWestern Energy Director of Thermal & Wind Generation. 'Fagen has a solid reputation as a superior EPC contractor. We are pleased to partner with both of these companies.'
The new CAT engines will replace the existing units at the Huron Generating Station, one of which was installed in the early 1960s. When complete, the new plant will have a smaller footprint and a larger setback than the existing plant. Commercial operation of the new plant is scheduled for the end of 2021.
About NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE)
NorthWestern provides electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 734,800 customers in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. We have generated and distributed electricity in South Dakota and distributed natural gas in South Dakota and Nebraska since 1923 and have generated and distributed electricity and distributed natural gas in Montana since 2002.
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides essential energy infrastructure and valuable services. The Company operates through two segments: electric utility operations and natural gas utility operations. The electric utility operations segment includes the generation, purchase, transmission and distribution of electricity. The natural gas utility operations segment includes the production, purchase, transmission, storage, and distribution of natural gas. It provides electricity and / or natural gas to approximately 775,300 customers in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park. Its operations in Montana and Yellowstone National Park are conducted through its subsidiary, NorthWestern Corporation, and its operations in South Dakota and Nebraska are conducted through its subsidiary, NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation. Its customer base consists of a mix of residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers.
NORTHWESTERN ENERGY GROUP, INC. 