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SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota is No. 2 in the country for wind energy generation as a percentage, according a report from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
5 hours on a sports bus trip in South Dakota
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released their annual Land-Based Wind Market Report, which provides an overview of trends and policies in the U.S. The report showed out of all the energy generated in South Dakota in 2023, more than half was from wind energy.
Gary Fish, President of the South Dakota Wind Energy Association, said the South Dakota is a great state for wind generation.
“The statistics that we have show that we are the 4th largest wind resource in the U.S. we have about 4,167 megawatts of operating wind and solar energy storage in the state, most of that is primarily wind,” said Fish.
2023-us-land-based-windDownload
Above is a chart from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy showing a percentage how much of each states total generated power was wind energy.
Kristie Fiegen, Chairperson for the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC), broke down what percentage wind energy was produced and consumed last year.
“In 2023 out of all the generation that we produced, 55% was from wind,” said Fiegen. “What we consumed is different where we consumed around 19% from wind.”
GenerationchartDownload
ConsumptionchartDownload
South Dakota’s PUC shared breakdowns of how much electricity was generated and consumed last year in the charts above.
Fish said it takes a little bit of everything to balance South Dakota’s electric grid.
“Our state generation resources are a little of all of the above from coal, gas powered generation and renewables and hydro,” said Fish. “We do need to have some fossil fuels or coal or gas in that mix so that the reliability of the grid is maintained. If we have less windy days or nights then the renewables aren’t available, therefore that mix is necessary to properly balance our state.”
ILlustrativeAccreditedCapacityDownload
Above is a graph from the PUC showing South Dakotas accredited capacity for their energy resources.
According to the Land-Based Wind Market Report of 2023, South Dakota has a capacity 3,618 Megawatts Installed for wind energy with 399 Megawatts being installed last year.
Fiegen explained the difference between installed capacity and accredited capacity.
“Our installed capacity is over 3,600 Megawatts now, the trick is that accredited capacity, we can see a large range between what’s installed and what’s accredited,” said Fiegen. “What that 612 means is that’s the percentage of the grid can expect to be giving out electricity to our customers, because you have to operate the grid and you have to operate an intermittent resource and have backup generation for when the wind isn’t blowing,”
Fiegen, who was elected in 2012, is running for re-election this year against Forrest Wilson and Gideon Oakes.
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