Basin Electric Celebrates Ribbon Cutting for Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV

Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 15 to celebrate the completion of Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV (PGSIV), the largest single-site electric generation project built in North Dakota in over 40 years.

The addition of the approximately 580-megawatt natural gas-fueled facility, located northwest of Williston, brings the total capacity of Pioneer Generation Station to more than 800-megawatts. The site combines combustion turbines and reciprocating engine units, giving Basin Electric flexibility to respond to traditional member load growth and demand while ensuring long-term grid stability. Burns & McDonnell served as the engineering, procurement, and construction lead on the project.

Todd Brickhouse, Basin Electric CEO and general manager, praised the project team and partners for their dedication. “I congratulate the PGSIV project team. You should take great pride in a job well done. Completing a $805 million, 580-megawatt project of this scale, on schedule and under budget, is no small feat. Your hard work ensures Basin Electric can continue to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity for the members we serve.”

Gavin McCollam, Basin Electric senior vice president and chief operating officer, said the successful completion of PGSIV reflects the strength and expertise of Basin Electric’s project teams.

“The successful completion of the PGSIV project – on time, under budget, and with a great safety record – is exactly what the team strives for every single time,” McCollam said. “They skillfully met every challenge, and the end result aligns with our mission to provide energy to rural America.”

PGSIV marks Basin Electric’s largest North Dakota generation investment since the 1980s, requiring more than 1.6 million work-hours and drawing subcontractors and craft professionals from across the country, with construction staffing peaking at close to 500 workers. The facility now employs staff 24/7 to ensure reliable operations.

“These investments, like every investment we make at Basin Electric, are consistent with our mission and obligation to our members: to provide reliable and affordable power produced in a safe and environmentally responsible manner,” Brickhouse added. “Electricity powers homes, businesses, farms, and industries across our region. Infrastructure investments like PGSIV ensure we can continue meeting today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow.”

Jeremy Mahowald, general manager of Upper Missouri Power Cooperative, a Basin Electric Class A member, said reliable power from Basin Electric is essential to meeting the needs of their members.

“Upper Missouri Power receives nearly 98% of its electricity from Basin Electric, and our demand continues to grow, both in agriculture and in the energy-intensive Bakken region,” Mahowald said. “Facilities like Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV are critical. While we support renewable development and an all-of-the-above energy strategy, nothing matches the grid stability this facility provides.”