Great River Energy launches baseload study team
Elk River, MN (June 29, 2001) - With the feasibility study for the Lignite Vision 21 Project as its centerpiece, Great River Energy launched a Baseload Study Team to determine how the company will meet its long-term energy needs.
The team is led by Tim Seck, Great River Energy’s Project Manager, Baseload Study. Most recently, Seck has been involved in siting and permitting issues for Great River Energy’s new peaking and transmission facilities as an environmental services project manager and is project manager for its Wellspring wind energy program.
“It’s an honor to be leading this important study,” said Seck. “Out of this process will come a major decision about the energy future of Great River Energy and its members.”
The Lignite Vision 21 Project will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 is a feasibility study focusing on five primary areas. Those study areas, their leaders and supporting consultants are:
Great River Energy plans to complete the Phase 1 feasibility study and make a business decision regarding the construction of a new lignite-based power plant by December, 2002. If the company decides to proceed with Phase 2, permitting and engineering activities will take place from 2003-2004 and construction from 2005-2008.
“We’ve assembled an excellent team and I’m confident they’ll gather and assess the information necessary for Great River Energy to make an informed business decision on the Lignite Vision 21 Project,” said Seck.
In April, the North Dakota Industrial Commission approved a $10 million grant application from Great River Energy to study the feasibility of building a new lignite-based power plant in North Dakota. Of those funds, $2.9 million will be spent on the Phase 1 study and $7.1 million during Phase 2. Great River Energy will provide matching funds for each Phase of the project.
Simultaneously, the Baseload Study Team will also consider other alternatives to fulfilling the goals established by Great River Energy’s integrated resource plan filed with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in February. These alternatives include power purchases; coal-based power plants in Minnesota, South Dakota or Wisconsin; conservation; and other baseload technologies. The alternatives study will not utilize grant money from the North Dakota Industrial Commission.
Great River Energy is a wholesale generation and transmission cooperative providing electric energy and related services to 29 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Great River Energy is Minnesota’s second largest utility in terms of generation capacity, serving approximately 1.2 million people. Great River Energy owns and operates two lignite-based power plants in North Dakota: the 1,081 megawatt Coal Creek Station near Underwood and 184 megawatt Stanton Station near Stanton. Great River Energy is a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative.
