Environmental Law and Policy Center » South Dakota

Energy Conference Focuses on Clean Energy’s Benefits for South Dakota

pgray — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:23:42 +0000

ELPC Senior Policy Advocate Allen Grosboll spoke about the potential for renewable energy at a conference at Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota. Mr. Grosboll was joined by representatives from Repower America and the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.

All speakers agreed that tapping South Dakota’s renewable energy potential would benefit the state’s economy and help to address the growing threat of climate change. Mr. Grosboll said that the American Clean Energy and Security Act would be an effective way to reduce carbon pollution and would create over one million clean energy jobs across the country and in South Dakota.

Read coverage in the Rapid City Journal

South Dakota Program for Small Wind and Solar Projects Begins Critically Important Step

pgray — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:15:51 +0000

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is seeking public input on a program that aims to increase the amount of electricity generated by small renewable energy projects, known as distributed generation.

ELPC recently helped South Dakota enact interconnection standards, the rules necessary to help small energy producers connect to the grid. ELPC Policy Advocate Matt McLarty said that gathering public input on its Small Renewable Energy Initiative is a ”critically important step.”

“If South Dakota is going to see its potential fully develop, especially in wind, this is a critical step to layer businesses, as well as small producers, to start a dialogue and get this going,” McLarty said.

Read coverage of the initiative in the Argus Leader

the public can comment on the initiative through this website

South Dakota Approves New Rules for Connecting Renewable Energy to the Grid

pgray — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:51:53 +0000

ELPC helped create interconnection standards in South Dakota that will make it easier for renewable energy producers to connect to the grid. Those rules were officially approved on June 9, 2009 and will be effective at the end of this month. The rules will pave the way for South Dakota to take advantage of its renewable energy potential.

Read the front page story about the new rules in the Argus Leader.

New South Dakota Rules Help Connect Wind to the Grid

jgeiger — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:32:23 +0000

On May 28, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved new state rules to simplify the connection of wind turbines, solar panels, and other clean energy systems to the electric grid. The standards create a consistent statewide process for connecting smaller renewable energy projects and avoid the uncertainty and costs associated with the previous patchwork of regulations.

ELPC has worked to put interconnection standards in place in several Midwestern states including Illinois, Iowa and Michigan, as part of its mission to create economic development and environmental progress together. The new rules must be approved by a legislative committee before becoming final.

Read ELPC’s press release.
Read the front page story in the Argus Leader.

Learner in the Argus Leader: Clean Energy Solutions Will Boost South Dakota Economy

jgeiger — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:32:47 +0000

In an Argus Leader OpEd, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner explains that South Dakota is well-positioned to gain both economic as well as environmental benefits from global warming solutions legislation. Learner says that the state stands to benefit from a carbon-capped economy because of its excellent wind power resources and through new energy efficiency savings and a new agricultural offset and carbon sequestration program that will provide additional income to farmers. South Dakota also currently gets more than half of its energy supply from nonpolluting hydro power already.

Read the full opinion piece.

ELPC’s Howard Learner Says Stimulus Will Help Wind Power Development, Rural Economies

pgray — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:01:48 +0000

In an article in South Dakota’s Argus Leader, ELPC President Howard Learner said that funding and tax incentives from the economic stimulus will help the wind industry continue to grow and create clean energy jobs. Like almost every industry, growth in wind power has slowed during the current economic crisis.

“Wind makes sense in rural areas, where stimulus is needed the most – South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa,” said Learner. “This is about job creation – good, new clean jobs. And that’s why wind is going to continue to be robust. It just makes good sense, good policy sense.”

ELPC has worked for years to help South Dakota take advantage of its opportunities for wind energy. Our organization played a crucial role in the formation of the South Dakota Wind Energy Association.

Read the full article here.

South Dakota Wind Energy Association Holds First Meeting

pgray — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:16:58 +0000

The South Dakota Wind Energy Association (SDWEA) elected a Board of Directors, named an Executive Director and set goals for 2009 at its first official meeting on January 13. ELPC worked for months with a diverse group of stakeholders to help organize the SDWEA.

The group will work to support the development of wind energy as a sustainable economic and environmentally-friendly resource for South Dakota and its citizens. Board President Jeffrey L. Nelson commented on South Dakota’s wind energy opportunity, “South Dakota has the fourth best wind in the country and many people want to further maximize this potential.” Nelson said, “We look forward to SDWEA advancing the opportunities for South Dakotans as further wind energy is developed throughout our state.”

ELPC will continue to work with SDWEA to maximize the benefits of wind energy for the environment and the people of South Dakota.

Read SDWEA’s press release here

Argus Leader Says Energy Stakes Attract Green Groups to South Dakota

jgeiger — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:30:03 +0000

Argus Leader reporter Thom Gabrukiewicz pointed to rising energy concerns around, “biofuels, wind, coal, solar technology and the prospect of the first new oil refinery to be built in the United States in more than 30 years” as attracting national and regional groups like ELPC to work in the state.

“South Dakota has a tremendous opportunity to create clean energy on its farms and ranches that is good for the environment,” said Howard Learner, president and executive director with the Environmental Law & Policy Center, which has an office in Sioux Falls. “We’re here to help make a difference in South Dakota.”

Learner said the attention his group is placing on South Dakota is not fleeting. “We’re not dropping in for a year, then dropping out,” he said. “We’re here for the long term.”

Read the full article.

Connecting small electricity producers to the grid

elpc — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:11:02 +0000

South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved new state rules on May 28, 2009 to simplify interconnection standards for the state. ELPC staff worked closely with PUC and provided technical expertise and advice to create the new standards. These standards will help small generators-such as small wind projects-connect to the electric grid and create a consistent statewide process for renewable energy regulations.

The new rules must still be approved by a legislative committee before becoming final. Read press coverage about the new rules here.

ELPC also continues to work with South Dakota allies to implement and promote the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). South Dakota has terrific wind and biomass resources and tremendous opportunity to develop exciting new projects on farms and ranches and in rural communities across the state.

Wind Power Development in South Dakota

Wind energy is the fastest growing source of electricity generation in the United States. According to a recent ELPC report, South Dakota’s available wind resources are among the best in the country. South Dakota officials have expressed strong interest in promoting wind energy, but, thus far, little of this potential has been realized. As of January 2008, there are about 4,000 megawatts of wind power under development in South Dakota, but only 188 megawatts of wind energy have been installed. ELPC’s report explains that South Dakota can become a renewable energy powerhouse and identifies important policy drivers that can help to more fully tap these clean energy resources. Download the report here [large pdf file].