Public Utilities Commission
NorthWestern Energy considers building a nuclear plant in South Dakota
An energy company is looking into the possibility of building a small nuclear plant in South Dakota. The company, NorthWestern Energy, is targeting a potential construction date in 2030. The plant would produce between 80 and 320 megawatts. Conventional, large nuclear reactors can produce over 700 megawatts. “A decision has not been made whether or […]
Lawmakers advance bill to block carbon pipelines as regulators continue permitting process
The end of the week brought a flurry of activity related to proposed carbon pipelines as lawmakers advanced a bill to block the projects, and regulators waded through requests affecting the speed of the permitting process. State utility regulators voted 2-1 on Thursday to deny an effort by some landowners to send a proposed carbon […]
558 people and groups now have legal standing in two carbon pipeline applications
More than 500 people and organizations now have standing to participate in the regulatory review of two proposed carbon-capture pipelines that would go through South Dakota. The latest is Lesley Pedde of Texas, who received late notice of the application process. The Public Utilities Commission granted him “party status” Friday in the review of the […]
Some utilities charge customers for donations and events, with regulator approval
Last October, hundreds of politicians and business leaders from all over the country gathered to be wined, dined and guided into eastern South Dakota grasslands for a pheasant hunt with the governor. “There’s a lot of schmoozing that goes on,” said John Cooper, a former secretary of Game, Fish and Parks who’s attended 15 of […]
Regulators reject landowners’ attempt to stop carbon pipeline
State regulators on Tuesday denied an effort by some landowners to halt a company’s request to build a carbon capture pipeline. The company did not meet the legal deadline for reaching out to some landowners that the pipeline project will impact, according to Brian Jorde, an attorney representing landowners against the project. State law requires […]
Xcel raising electric rates 18 percent as state regulators take no action at initial deadline
A company that provides electricity to nearly 100,000 South Dakota customers will raise its rates by about 18 percent next month as an initial deadline passes for a state regulatory agency to act on the increase. Xcel Energy will increase its electricity rates by 17.9 percent, starting Jan. 1. That’s a jump of $19.60 per […]
Commission tasked with regulating EV charging rates says ‘best left to free market’
The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package passed by Congress last year included a host of clean energy incentives. It also included a requirement that state public utility regulators conduct a hearing to discuss ways to encourage electric vehicle adoption within a year. On Nov. 8, just a few days shy of the deadline, the South Dakota […]
PUC to opponents of an energy storage project: talk to the feds
A deluge of public comments on a proposed energy storage project along the western bluffs of the Missouri River prompted the state Public Utilities Commission to issue a statement on Monday pointing out that it has no authority over the project. The project would be located 20 miles northeast of Gregory and is dubbed the […]
Wind energy is now South Dakota’s No. 1 producer of electricity, but not every day
Wind has surpassed hydroelectric power as the largest generator of electricity in South Dakota. Last year, over 52% of the electricity generated in the state came from wind turbines. That’s because of a large number of new, better turbines built in recent years. The state was home to 526 turbines before 2019. Another 511 were […]
State regulators warn of high natural gas bills this winter
South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission is advising natural gas customers to prepare for rising prices in the coming months. Experts have identified high global demand, growth in the consumption of natural gas that outpaces production, and record exports of liquified natural gas as reasons for rising prices expected this winter, the commission said in a […]