Project Overview
Montana-Dakota has proposed the construction of the Merricourt Wind Farm to Ellendale (MWFE) Project, an approximately 30-mile-long, 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line. The new transmission line is proposed from Ellendale, North Dakota to the Merricourt Wind Power Project. In addition to the transmission line, the MWFE Project requires (1) an upgrade to the existing, Montana-Dakota-owned Ellendale Junction Substation located near Ellendale and (2) the construction of the new Merricourt Interconnect Substation located near the Merricourt Wind Power Project.
The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) System Impact Study (Queue # 38073-01), has shown a need to increase the transfer capacity on the current transmission system in the area around the MWFE Project. This increase would provide a generation outlet for the proposed 150 MW Merricourt Wind Power Project as proposed by enXco Development Company (enXco), located about 10 miles southwest of Kulm, North Dakota. In addition, it may benefit future wind energy projects. This MWFE Project would, also, provide transmission grid reliability to Montana-Dakota’s existing Wishek to Ellendale 230 kV transmission line. The proposed 230 kV line allows enXco to tie directly into Montana-Dakota’s 230 kV facilities at the Ellendale Junction Substation, which will enable the delivery of energy to the electric grid.
On February 7, 2011, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co, a division of MDU Resources Group, Inc., filed an application with the Commission for a waiver of procedures and time schedules, a Certificate of Corridor Compatibility and a Route Permit for approximately 30 miles of 230 kV electric transmission line and associated facilities in Dickey and McIntosh Counties, North Dakota.
Construction of the MWFE Project is anticipated to begin in summer 2011 and in-service by the end of 2011.
Project Timeline
