Exporting the wind

The burgeoning wind market in North Dakota is starting to find sales outlets in other states.

Recently, the Tennessee Valley Authority, which serves a seven-state region, agreed to purchase 200 megawatts of power annually from a wind farm being developed in Ashley, N.D., along with 250 megawatts from a wind farm in neighboring South Dakota.

The Western Area Power Administration has also signed a three-year deal to buy up to 50 megawatts annually from a wind farm owned by Basin Electric Power Cooperative. WAPA is a federal agency serving a 15-state region that markets hydroelectric power generated from rivers in 11 states. The agency is attempting to integrate water and wind power, and is also negotiating for 100 megawatts of wind power from an independent wind farm developer with holdings in both North Dakota and Minnesota.