Renewable Energy

Through its Joint System arrangement with Minnkota Power Cooperative, Northern Municipal Power Agency (NMPA) has been at the forefront of renewable energy development in the region. The first two commercial-scale wind turbines in the state of North Dakota were built through the Infinity Wind Energy Program near the towns of Petersburg and Valley City. The sustained success of those first turbines jumpstarted efforts to harness the area’s abundant wind energy capabilities. Presently, the Minnkota-NMPA Joint System purchase from wind resources with a total nameplate generating capacity of 459 megawatts (MW). The majority of this energy is being delivered from the Langdon Wind Energy Center near Langdon, N.D.; the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center near Valley City, N.D.; and the Oliver County Wind Energy Center near Center, N.D. In terms of wind energy potential, these sites rank among the best in the nation.

The Infinity Renewable Energy Program allows consumers to decide how much of the electricity they purchase is generated by renewable resources. The program was originally started in 2002 to support the development of the first two commercial-scale wind turbines in North Dakota. The sustained success of those turbines, located near the towns of Petersburg and Valley City, jump-started efforts to harness the state's abundant wind energy potential.

By enrolling in the Infinity program through their local NMPA municipal, consumers can choose a designated number of kilowatt-hours or percentage of electricity used that they would like to be derived from renewable resources. While it is not possible to direct where electrons are specifically delivered on the electric grid, it is possible to ensure that the renewable energy purchased is from a resource connected to the Minnkota/NMPA transmission system. The record of that purchase and the proof that it was reserved for a specific consumer is done through a renewable energy credit (REC).

Participating consumers pay for the additional cost to purchase renewable energy and to specifically designate how this energy is credited and used.

Contact your local NMPA municipal to learn more.

Langdon Wind Energy Center

Location
Nine miles south of Langdon, N.D.

Size
Total: 199.5 megawatts (MW)
Minnkota/NMPA portion: 139.5 MW

Otter Tail portion: 60 MW

Start-up date

Commissioned in stages from 2007-2008

Turbines
133 turbines, 1.5 MW each, manufactured by General Electric

Towers
Approximately 260 feet to center of hub


Blades
Variable pitch – 120 feet long

Ashtabula Wind Energy Center

Location
15 miles northeast of Valley City, N.D.

Size
Total: 379 megawatts (MW)
Minnkota/NMPA portion: 217.5 MW

Otter Tail portion: 110.5 MW

Great River Energy portion: 51 MW

Start-up date
Commissioned in stages from 2008-2010

Turbines

250 turbines, 1.5 MW each, manufactured by General Electric

Towers
Approximately 260 feet to center of hub

Blades

Variable pitch – 120 feet long

Oliver County Wind Energy Center

Location
42 miles northwest of Bismarck, N.D.

Size
Total: 199 megawatts (MW)

Minnkota/NMPA portion: 100 MW

Minnesota Power portion: 99 MW

Start-up date
Phase 1-2: 2006-2007
Phase 3: 2017

Turbines
98 turbines ranging from 1.5 MW to 2.3 MW

Towers
Approximately 260 feet to center of hub

Blades
Variable pitch – 120 feet long
about nmpa

Northern Municipal Power Agency is the wholesale energy supplier for 12 municipal utilities located in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.

contact us

Northern Municipal Power Agency
123 2nd Street West
Thief River Falls, MN 56701

(218) 681-0963

nmpa@nmpagency.com

Mon - Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.