List of power stations in North Dakota

Last updated

Sources of North Dakota utility-scale electricity generation:
full-year 2023 [1]

Contents

  Coal (55.3%)
  Wind (36.1%)
  Natural Gas (4.9%)
  Hydroelectric (3.6%)
  Petroleum (0.1%)
  Other Gases (0.1%)

This is a list of electricity-generating power stations in the U.S. state of North Dakota , sorted by type and name. In 2022, North Dakota had a total summer capacity of 9,409 MW through all of its power plants, and a net generation of 44,400 GWh. [2] In 2023, the electrical energy generation mix was 55.3% coal, 36.1% wind, 4.9% natural gas, and 3.6% hydroelectric. Petroleum liquids and other gases generated most of the remaining 0.2%. [1]

North Dakota contains the world's largest known deposit of lignite coal, and hosted 4% of U.S. coal extraction in year 2019. It ranked second behind the state of Texas in U.S. crude oil extraction. [3] Natural gas extraction has been growing as well, and exceeded 1 trillion cubic feet for the first time. [4]

North Dakota oil extraction included the flaring of over 200 billion cubic feet of associated petroleum gas in year 2019. [5] Operations were widely distributed throughout the Bakken Formation which underlays the northwest region of the state. This record-high volume of wasted natural gas could have generated over 30,000 GWh of electrical energy, an amount equal to three-quarters of the state's total generation. [6]

Nuclear power stations

North Dakota had no utility-scale plants that used fissile material as a fuel in 2019. [1]

Fossil-fuel power stations

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference. [7]

Coal and Lignite

A useful map [8] of active and retiring coal generation plants is provided by the Sierra Club.

NameLocationCoordinatesCapacity
(MW)
RefsYear
Opened
Notes
American Crystal Sugar - DraytonPembina County 48°35′36″N97°10′34″W / 48.5932°N 97.1761°W / 48.5932; -97.1761 (AC Sugar Drayton) 6.0 [9] 1965
American Crystal Sugar - HillsboroTraill County 47°26′15″N97°03′47″W / 47.4376°N 97.0631°W / 47.4376; -97.0631 (AC Sugar Hillsboro) 13.3 [10] 1990
Antelope Valley StationMercer County 47°22′14″N101°50′09″W / 47.3705°N 101.8357°W / 47.3705; -101.8357 (Antelope Valley Station) 900 [11] 1984/1986
Coal Creek Station McLean County 47°22′40″N101°09′26″W / 47.3777°N 101.1571°W / 47.3777; -101.1571 (Coal Creek Station) 1150 [12] 1979/1980
Coyote StationMercer County 47°13′17″N101°48′57″W / 47.2214°N 101.8157°W / 47.2214; -101.8157 (Coyote Station) 430 [13] 1981
Leland Olds StationMercer County 47°16′51″N101°19′16″W / 47.2808°N 101.3212°W / 47.2808; -101.3212 (Leland Olds Station) 650 [14] 1966/1975
Milton R. Young Station Oliver County 47°03′57″N101°12′47″W / 47.0659°N 101.2131°W / 47.0659; -101.2131 (Milton R. Young Station) 680 [15] 1970/1977

Natural Gas and Petroleum

NameLocationCoordinatesCapacity
(MW)
Fuel
Type
Generation
Type
Number Of
Units
RefsYear
Opened
Notes
Coal Creek PlantMcLean County 47°22′40″N101°09′26″W / 47.3778°N 101.1571°W / 47.3778; -101.1571 (Coal Creek) 6.0petroleum Reciprocating Engine (x2)22016
Grafton PlantWalsh County 48°25′48″N97°24′12″W / 48.4300°N 97.4033°W / 48.4300; -97.4033 (Grafton) 4.0petroleumReciprocating Engine (x4)41937/1949/
1956
Hillsboro PlantTraill County 47°23′49″N97°03′38″W / 47.3970°N 97.0606°W / 47.3970; -97.0606 (Hillsboro) 4.0petroleumReciprocating Engine (x2)22002
Jamestown GTStutsman County 46°54′21″N98°39′44″W / 46.9057°N 98.6622°W / 46.9057; -98.6622 (Jamestown GT) 41.7petroleum Simple Cycle (x2)21976/1978
Lonesome Creek StationMcKenzie County 47°47′48″N103°34′43″W / 47.7967°N 103.5786°W / 47.7967; -103.5786 (Lonesome Creek Station) 200gasSimple Cycle (x5)5 [16] 2013/2015/
2017
Pioneer Generating StationWilliams County 48°13′57″N103°57′10″W / 48.2326°N 103.9528°W / 48.2326; -103.9528 (Pioneer Station) 337gas,
petroleum
Simple Cycle (x3)
Reciprocating Engine (x12)
15 [17] 2014/2017
Spiritwood StationStutsman County 46°55′35″N98°29′59″W / 46.9264°N 98.4997°W / 46.9264; -98.4997 (Spiritwood Station) 100gas Steam Turbine 1 [18] [19] 2014originally coal-fired.
convert to gas in 2017. [20]

Renewable power stations

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference. [7]

Hydroelectric

NameLocationCoordinatesCapacity
(MW)
RefsYear
Opened
Notes
Garrison Hydro Power Plant Mercer County 47°29′40″N101°24′41″W / 47.4945°N 101.4115°W / 47.4945; -101.4115 (Garrison Hydroelectric) 510 [21] 1956/1960USACE owned and managed [22]

Wind

Also see Wind Industry of North Dakota Map. [23]

NameLocationCoordinatesCapacity
(MW)
Turbine
Spec
Number
of Units
RefsYear
opened
Note
Ashtabula Wind Farm (I-III)Barnes County
Griggs County
Steele County
46°39′N98°00′W / 46.650°N 98.000°W / 46.650; -98.000 (Ashtabula Wind) 378GE 1.5-91,
GE 1.5-91
250 [24] 2008/2009/
2010
Aurora Wind FarmWilliams County
Mountrail County
48°21′N102°56′W / 48.350°N 102.933°W / 48.350; -102.933 (Enel - Aurora Windfarm) 299Nordex N149/4.871 [25] 2021
Baldwin Wind Farm (I-II)
(aka Wilton Wind Farm)
Burleigh County 47°03′N100°30′W / 47.050°N 100.500°W / 47.050; -100.500 (Baldwin Wind) 99GE 1.5-77,
GE 1.5-77,
GE 1.6-91
66 [26] 2005/2006/
2010
Bison Wind Energy Center (I-IV)Morton County 47°10′N101°17′W / 47.167°N 101.283°W / 47.167; -101.283 (Bison Wind Energy Center) 497Siemens SWT-2.3-101,
Siemens SWT-3.0-101,
Siemens SWT-3.2-113
165 [27] [28] 2010/2012/
2015
Border Winds Wind FarmRolette County 48°59′N99°34′W / 48.983°N 99.567°W / 48.983; -99.567 (Border Winds) 150Vestas V100-2.075 [29] 2016
Brady Wind Farm (I-II)Stark County 46°42′N102°46′W / 46.700°N 102.767°W / 46.700; -102.767 (Brady Wind) 299GE 1.715-103,
GE 2.0-116
159 [30] 2016
Cedar Hills Wind FarmBowman County 46°15′N103°46′W / 46.250°N 103.767°W / 46.250; -103.767 (Cedar Hills Wind) 19.5GE 1.5-7713 [31] 2010
Courtenay Wind FarmStutsman County 46°54′N98°47′W / 46.900°N 98.783°W / 46.900; -98.783 (Courtenay Wind) 200Vestas V100-2.0100 [32] [33] 2016
Emmons-Logan Wind FarmEmmons County
Logan County
46°25′N99°56′W / 46.417°N 99.933°W / 46.417; -99.933 (Emmons-Logan Wind) 216.4GE 1.72-103,
GE 2.72-116
1232019
Foxtrail WindDickey County 46°05′N98°52′W / 46.083°N 98.867°W / 46.083; -98.867 (Foxtrail Wind) 150Vestas V110-2.075 [23] 2019
Glen Ullin Energy CenterMorton County
Mercer County
46°58′N101°49′W / 46.967°N 101.817°W / 46.967; -101.817 (Glen Ullin Energy Center) 107GE 2.5-116432019
Langdon Wind Energy CenterCavalier County 46°06′N98°31′W / 46.100°N 98.517°W / 46.100; -98.517 (Langdon Wind Energy Center) 200GE 1.5-77,
GE 1.62-87,
GE 1.62-91
133 [23] 2007/2008
Lindahl Wind FarmWilliams County 48°24′N102°56′W / 48.400°N 102.933°W / 48.400; -102.933 (Lindahl Wind) 150Vestas V100-2.075 [34] [35] 2017
Luverne Wind Farm
(adjacent to Ashtabula)
Steele County 47°25′N98°06′W / 47.417°N 98.100°W / 47.417; -98.100 (Luverne Wind) 49.5GE 1.5-82.533 [36] 2009
Merricourt Wind ProjectDickey County 46°12′N98°45′W / 46.200°N 98.750°W / 46.200; -98.750 (Merricourt Wind Project) 150Vestas V110-2.075 [23] 2020
New Frontier WindMcHenry County 48°04′N100°48′W / 48.067°N 100.800°W / 48.067; -100.800 (New Frontier Wind) 99Vestas V126-3.4529 [37] 2018
North Dakota Wind (I-II)LaMoure County 46°20′N98°52′W / 46.333°N 98.867°W / 46.333; -98.867 (North Dakota Wind) 61.5GE 1.5-70.541 [23] 2003
Northern Divide (Burke) Wind ProjectDivide County,
Burke County
48°49′N102°58′W / 48.817°N 102.967°W / 48.817; -102.967 (Northern Divide (Burke) Wind Project) 193GE 1.7-103,
GE 2.72-116
74 [23] 2020
Oliver Wind Energy Center (I-III)Oliver County 47°09′N101°20′W / 47.150°N 101.333°W / 47.150; -101.333 (Oliver Wind Energy Center) 198Siemens SWT-2.3-108,
GE 1.6-91,
GE 1.79-100,
GE 2.0-116
102 [23] 2006/2007/
2017
Prairie Winds Wind Farm (I-II)Ward County 48°14′N101°17′W / 48.233°N 101.283°W / 48.233; -101.283 (Prairie Winds Wind) 122.6GE 1.5-77,
GE 1.5-82.5,
Nordex N60
82 [23] 2002/2009
Rugby Wind FarmPierce County 48°22′N100°00′W / 48.367°N 100.000°W / 48.367; -100.000 (Rugby Wind) 149.1Suzlon S8871 [23] 2009
Sunflower Wind FarmMorton County 46°50′N102°04′W / 46.833°N 102.067°W / 46.833; -102.067 (Sunflower Wind Farm) 104Vestas V100-2.052 [23] 2016
Tatanka Wind Farm Dickey County
McIntosh County
45°56′N98°58′W / 45.933°N 98.967°W / 45.933; -98.967 (Tatanka Wind Farm) 91.5*Acciona AW82/150065 [23] 2008* portion in North Dakota
Thunder Spirit Wind Farm (I-II)Adams County 46°19′N102°31′W / 46.317°N 102.517°W / 46.317; -102.517 (Thunder Spirit Wind Farm) 155.5Nordex N100,
Nordex N117/3000
59 [38] [39] [40] 2015/2018
Velva Wind FarmMcHenry County 48°05′N100°55′W / 48.083°N 100.917°W / 48.083; -100.917 (Velva Wind) 11.9Vestas V47-0.6618 [23] 2005

Solar

There are currently no operating utility-scale solar farms in North Dakota. National Grid Renewables, formerly known as Geronimo Energy, has been developing several potential projects within the state, including the 200 MW Harmony Solar Project in Cass county and the 128 MW Wild Spring Solar Project in Pennington county. [41] [42]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Electricity Data Browser, Net generation for all sectors, North Dakota, Fuel Type-Check all, Annual, 2001–23". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  2. "North Dakota Electricity Profile". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  3. "North Dakota Electricity Profile Analysis". U.S. EIA. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  4. "Natural gas gross withdrawals - Gross Withdrawals data series". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  5. "Natural gas gross withdrawals - Vented and Flared data series". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  6. "FAQ-How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatthour of electricity?". U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 2020-11-18.
  7. 1 2 Energy Information Administration (15 September 2020). "Form EIA-860 detailed data with previous form data (EIA-860A/860B)". eia.gov. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020.
  8. Sierra Club - Beyond Coal
  9. "Drayton Factory". American Crystal Sugar Company. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  10. "Hillsboro Factory". American Crystal Sugar Company. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  11. "Antelope Valley Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  12. "Coal Creek Station". Great River Energy. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  13. "Coyote Station". Minnkota Power Cooperative. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  14. "Leland Olds Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  15. "Milton R. Young Station". Minnkota Power Cooperative. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  16. "Lonesome Creek Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  17. "Pioneer Generating Station". Basin Electric Power Cooperative. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  18. "Spiritwood Station". Minnkota Power Cooperative. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  19. "Spiritwood Station". U.S. EIA. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  20. Keith Norman (2020-05-08). "Spiritwood station converting to natural gas". Jamestown Sun. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  21. "Garrison Dam and Power Plant". Great Plains Energy Corridor/Bismarck State College. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  22. "Garrison Dam & Lake Sakakawea - Hydropower at Garrison". US Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "WIND project map" (PDF). Wind Industry of North Dakota. 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  24. "Ashtabula Wind Energy Center". www.renewable-technology.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  25. "Aurora Wind Farm" . Retrieved 2022-05-07.
  26. "Baldwin Wind Farm". openei.org. NREL/U.S.DOE. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  27. "Bison Wind Energy Center". Minnesota Power. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  28. "Minnesota Power wind farm in North Dakota is complete". The Duluth News Tribune. January 19, 2015.
  29. Stephanie Rank (2016-07-19). "Xcel Energy opens 19,000 acre Border Winds Farm". www.kfyrtv.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  30. Stephanie Rank (2016-09-20). "NextEra Energy nears completion of Brady Wind Farm project in ND". www.kfyrtv.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  31. "Electric Generation - Cedar Hills Wind". Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  32. "FERC Electric Infrastructure Update". Electric Light and Power. PennWell Corporation. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  33. Paul Dvorak (2012-12-01). "Xcel Energy's 200 MW Courtenay Wind Farm now online". www.windpowerengineering.com.
  34. "Wind farm approved for Tioga". WDAY. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  35. "Enel's Lindahl Wind Farm Kicks Off Operations In North Dakota". nawindpower.com. Zackin Publications, Inc. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  36. "Luverne Wind Farm". Otter Tail Power Company. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012.
  37. "New Frontier Wind Comes Online in North Dakota". North American Windpower. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  38. "Electric Generation - Thunder Spirit Wind". Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  39. Nordex to supply 43, 2.5 MW turbines for Thunder Spirit project in North Dakota
  40. Betsy Lillian (2017-01-03). "Thunder Spirit Wind Farm To Grow In North Dakota". nawindpower.com.
  41. Patrick Springer (2019-02-27). "North Dakota's first commercial solar energy project gets OK". inforum.com.
  42. "Basin Electric has solar purchase agreement with Geronimo". The Washington Times. 2020-02-19.