FERC News

FERC receives preliminary permit application for 1,200-MW Gregory County pumped storage plant

The Western Minnesota Municipal Power Authority has submitted an application for a preliminary permit to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as part of its efforts to develop a 1,200 MW pumped storage plant in South Dakota.

The Western Minnesota Municipal Power Authority has submitted an application for a preliminary permit to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as part of its efforts to develop a 1,200 MW pumped storage plant in South Dakota.

The so-called “Gregory County” facility would be located on Lake Francis Case on the Missouri River near Lucas, S.D., according to an announcement published this week in the Federal Register.

The Gregory County project would call for the construction of an earthen embankment levee that would impound a 1,200-acre upper reservoir. Eight 150-MW turbine units would be located in a powerhouse, with electricity generated to be distributed via the Lake Platte substation some 21 miles away.

FERC is now soliciting comments, motions to intervene, competing applications and notices of intent to file competing applications, with a deadline set in August.

The Western Minnesota Municipal Power Authority is one of dozens of organizations whose generation, transmission and other facilities are used by Missouri River Energy Services to meet the needs of consumers in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Missouri River Energy Services filed a similar preliminary permit application in December 2016.

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