Why not Ohio? South Dakota set to nearly double wind capacity

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Why not Ohio? South Dakota set to nearly double wind capacity

SD set to nearly double wind capacity

SIOUX FALLS ,S.D. (AP) - When the 105 turbines at the Buffalo Ridge II wind farm begin turning early this year, South Dakota will have nearly doubled its installed wind capacity since the end of 2009.

South Dakota ended that year with 313 megawatts, putting it 20th among states in capacity despite boasting the fourth best wind potential.

But the 99-megawatt Day County wind farm came online in 2010 and the 210-megawatt Buffalo Ridge II project is set to start up by winter's end,

South Dakota Wind Energy Association Executive Director Steve Wegman says South Dakota is just starting to reach its potential.

He'd like the state to build at least two wind farms every year. He says the day these crews go home, they're not coming back.