Wind Works Power has signed a power purchase agreement with Montana-Dakota Utilities (MDU) for around 105MW of the Thunder Spirit wind power project, located in Hettinger, North Dakota.
The project was selected competitively to provide stable energy pricing for 25 years under MDU’s March 2013 request for proposal for capacity and energy supply.
The addition of Thunder Spirit will increase the share of MDU’s energy requirements from renewable resources to 20%.
Thunder Spirit Wind, wholly-owned by Wind Works Power, will pursue the proposed $300m project, which will feature up to 75 wind turbines and other associated transmission infrastructure near Hettinger.
Having received certificate of site compatibility from the North Dakota Public Service Commission early this month, the company began interconnection engineering and procurement process and expects to begin construction in late 2013 and commission in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Global Winds Harvest had originally proposed the project in 2006 and Wind Works Power had acquired a 75% equity interest in the project in 2011 and subsequently the remaining stake in 2013.
Earlier in September 2011, the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) has awarded a contract to Thunder Spirit Wind following a study of 7,800MW of North Dakota-Montana interconnection applications.
Wind Works Power had executed an interconnection agreement for the total output of the project with the MISO power market in February 2012. The project has received siting permit from Adams County in September 2013.
Wind Works Power president and CEO Ingo Stuckmann said having completed permitting, interconnection and power contracting activities, the company will now work to secure financing, enter into turbine equipment and construction services agreements, and start construction.