Powering the plains
Electricity-generating station opens in Culbertson, Montana.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- August 12, 2010
Originally published by The Williston Herald
Reported by Robert Arrowsmith
The amount of available electricity for the region just increased on Thursday as Basin Electric held a ceremony for the opening of the Culbertson Generation Station northeast of Culbertson.
Culbertson Generation Station represents the first plant for Basin Electric in Montana, and is a single turbine gas fueled plant with capacity of producing 101 megawatts of energy in the winter, and 76 megawatts in the summer.
The $100 million natural gas-fired power plant is the first generation facility commissioned in the state in four years. The plant will generate about $700,000 in property taxes for the first 10 years, and about $1.4 million annually after a tax break expires.
Emcee Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager, said there were two requirements for locating the station near Culbertson.First, he said provides a generation source to help meet an increasing demand for electricity in northeast Montana and northwest North Dakota.
Secondly, it will be able to reduce the strain on the electrical transmission system in the area. "There's a tremendous amount of analysis conducted before deciding on a location. Because of the transmission access and availability of fuel supply, this location was best," he said.
Guests who gave remarks at the event remarks included Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, on behalf of U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, Brianne Rogers, on behalf of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, Penny Zimmerman, on behalf of Montana U.S. Rep.Dennis Rehburg, J.T. Korkow, Roosevelt County Commissioner Jim Shanks, Basin Electric Power Cooperative Director Dean McCabe, Upper Missouri G&T Electric Cooperative Manager Tom Barnett, Sheridan Electric Cooperative Manager Rick Knick, and Western Area Power Administration Environmental Manager Nick Stas.
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Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.
