Electricity produced by large wind-powered turbines is currently powering thousands of homes in eastern South Dakota, western Minnesota and North Dakota. These seven wind generation sites located throughout the region have the capacity to generate 136 megawatts of renewable power.
How it works
Harnessing the power of the wind is very similar to the system that captures energy from flowing water and turns it into electricity. As the air flows past the rotor of a wind turbine, the rotor spins and drives the shaft of an electric generator. That generator is then hooked up to transmission lines that send power to nearby communities. The size of the turbine blades and the wind speed determine the amount electricity produced at these sites.
Chamberlain Wind Farm
The first two utility-size wind turbines in the Dakotas were erected by your Touchstone Energy Cooperatives on a hill overlooking the Missouri River in central South Dakota. These turbines, located northeast of Chamberlain, have a combined output of 2.6 megawatts.
Highmore Wind Farm
One of the largest wind farms in South Dakota is located 10 miles south of Highmore. This 40-megawatt wind farm began commercial operation in October of 2003. The 27 wind turbines at the South Dakota Wind Energy Center provide electricity to electric cooperatives in the region.
Additional Wind Energy Sites
In addition to receiving energy from the commercial-size wind turbines, there are also smaller, privately-owned wind generators churning out power in the region. These smaller wind farms sell their electricity outputs to your local Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
© 2010 Touchstone Energy -- All Rights Reserved Site Map
