More renewable, solar energy will be flowing to Dakota Electric members
Dakota Electric Association, along with its power supplier Great River Energy, is pleased to announce a joint solar project that will provide dedicated solar power directly to Dakota Electric’s membership. The one-megawatt (MW) solar array will be built along Highway 61 in Marshan Township by SoCore, a leader in solar energy development and construction.
“We are pleased to announce this significant project,” said Greg Miller, president and CEO of Dakota Electric. “It is solar connected to our grid for the sole benefit of our members.”
Dakota Electric is collaborating with Great River Energy to build this project, which will directly benefit the cooperative’s membership. The output from this renewable solar project will offset the need to receive electricity from fossil fuel sources, assuring one MW of clean, renewable electricity to the member-owners of Dakota Electric.
“Electric cooperatives continue to lead the way in efforts to develop distributed solar energy systems,” said Jon Brekke, vice president and chief market officer at Great River Energy. “We’re delighted to partner with Dakota Electric Association in further support of renewable energy leadership by local cooperatives.”
The project is 50 times larger than a previous project built by Great River Energy on behalf of Dakota Electric that is located in Farmington at the intersection of Denmark and County Road 50.
“We have wanted to add large solar projects to our wholesale power mix for some time and are glad that we can now announce this project,” Miller said. “We are already in the process of trying to permit another megawatt of solar for a total of two megawatts.”
This one-MW solar project includes approximately 3,600 solar panels on 5 acres of land and will provide enough electricity to serve about 150 average residential members.
Preliminary work will be done on the property this fall with construction taking place in late winter. The co-op expects to energize the solar array in the spring.
A dedication event will be held once the project is completed.
