South Dakota’s Board of Economic Development on Oct. 13 authorized up to $6.1 million in tax rebates for a $750-million onshore wind energy project under construction in Haakon County, set to become the state’s largest.
Blattner is contractor for the 333-MW Philip Wind Energy Center, expected to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of about 121,000 homes. The firm is a unit of energy construction giant Quanta Services, acquired for $2.7 billion in 2021.
Philip Wind Partners, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Invenergy, is developing the project across approximately 110 sq miles north of Philip, S.D., about 85 miles east of Rapid City. Plans call for up to 87 wind turbines and approximately 5.5 miles of 230-kV generator transmission tie line.
The developer applied for funding through South Dakota’s Reinvestment Payment Program, which provides rebates on sales and use taxes paid for qualifying construction and equipment costs. The program is available to new or expanded facilities with project costs exceeding $20 million and equipment upgrades exceeding $2 million.
According to the project’s regulatory application, construction is expected to create about 200 jobs, with another 12 operating positions. Philip Wind Partners estimates the project will generate about $85 million in landowner payments, $50 million in property taxes and $10 million in other state and local taxes over 30 years. It has entered into lease and easement agreements with private landowners for the facility, which is expected to operate for 30 years, according to the application.
Construction began in July. In a Sept. 30 progress report filed with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, Philip Wind Parters said Blattner had begun mud-mat construction and completed the project’s laydown yard and batch plant. Work also included stormwater pollution prevention measures, silt fence installation and topsoil stripping.
Blattner also was performing public road improvements, access road construction, site grading and excavation for turbine foundations.
The project team planned to begin mobilizing in October for electrical collection system work, including conduit boring and cable trenching. Grading for the project’s substation and operations and maintenance building also was expected to begin during the month.
The utilities commission approved a permit for the project in February.
“The applicant has proven they are entitled to this permit under the criteria established in state law,” commission Chairman Chris Nelson said when the permit was approved. “When constructed, this wind facility will be the largest in the state, reinforcing our state’s electricity generation capacity.”
The project schedule calls for wind turbine installation to continue into 2027, followed by balance-of-plant work. Commercial operation is expected by March 2028.
Source: www.enr.com
