According to Windustry, typically five things are needed if your wind project is going to pay for itself:
- a good wind resource,
- access to transmission,
- low cost of capital (in other words, a low interest rate),
- ability to utilize state and federal financial incentives, and
- access to equipment
We definitely have the first one--a good wind source--and the last 3 are the business of the wind farm developer. What Gregory County, South Dakota needs is access to transmission lines. "Stringing new wires is easier said than done. Wind developers won't go ahead with projects until transmission lines are in place, and utilities are loath to build the lines until they're sure the developers won't back out."--USA Today
At least two companies are working toward building a "transmission interstate" that will form a national gridwork of lines.
Below, you can see ITC's proposed 765 kV lines in green, all running east of the Missouri River with a hub at Fort Thompson. The dotted line represents a "gathering line" of sorts, and our positive support can help determine where this will actually be located. The closer it runs to our area, the easier wind energy development will be to facilitate.
For more info on the proposed project, click Green Power Express.
A second company, AEP, sees new "interstate lines" as a way to "eliminate transmission “bottlenecks” that reduce system reliability and raise energy costs for electricity users."
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