1. Tell us about your organization.
Sioux Valley Energy is an electric distribution cooperative serving nearly 30,000 members in South Dakota counties of Minnehaha, Lake, Moody, Brookings and a portion of Kingsbury, along with Minnesota counties of Rock and Pipestone.
For electric co-ops in this part of the country (like Sioux Valley Energy), the electric system is owned and maintained on three different levels or tiers.
The parts you see close to home such as meters, green boxes, lines, and poles, are just a small portion called the distribution system. That’s the part of the system that Sioux Valley Energy is responsible for.
The bigger power lines and substations that scatter the landscape are part of the second tier called transmission. The Cooperative’s power suppliers, East River Electric Power Cooperative and L&O Power Cooperative, represent the transmission tier.
The third level of the system is the power generator. Basin Electric Power Cooperative generates electricity from a diverse energy mix including coal, natural gas, wind and solar. Sioux Valley Energy is a member of all the power cooperatives that make up the second and third tier. Additional power comes from the Western Area Power Administration which generates electricity from dams on the Missouri River.
Nearly 45 percent of Sioux Valley Energy’s power to members is produced through renewable energy from wind, hydro, and solar resources. Additionally, Sioux Valley Energy serves electricity to one of the largest manufacturers of wind towers in North America.
The Cooperative has constructed two demonstration projects. The first project was completed in 2015. The 24.8 kW, 80-panel solar array is located at the Cooperative’s Brandon Service Center. The second project was constructed as a Community Solar Array along S.D. Highway 34 at its Colman, S.D. office. The Community Solar Array provided an opportunity for interested Sioux Valley Energy members to experience solar energy without having to worry about the maintenance or land availability issues that can be barriers for some when installing solar on homes or businesses. Sioux Valley Energy has dozens of members that own their own ‘behind the meter’ renewable generation. The Cooperative supports its members’ ability to own their own generation without subsidization from other members who do not own ‘behind the meter’ generation. Additionally, the Cooperative has also added demonstrations battery projects to its portfolio. These projects are being used to better understand the impact of utility scale battery storage as well as ‘behind the meter’ storage for Cooperative members.
2. What types of renewable energy does your organization focus on?
Basin Electric Power Cooperative generates electricity for its member cooperatives with an “all of the above” strategy, generating electricity from a mix of natural gas, coal, wind, hydro, solar, waste heat, and fuel oil. The “all of the above” energy strategy ensures reliable, affordable power to Sioux Valley Energy members by using a diverse mix of resources.
3. What inspired your organization to get involved in renewable energy?
Electric cooperatives have a long history of pioneering new technologies, including adding renewable energy resources to their energy portfolios through their power suppliers. Additionally, Sioux Valley Energy supports its members who are interested in on-site small renewable energy systems through its Beneficial Electrification team, providing them with the information and resources necessary to safely install distributed energy resources at their home or business.
4. What motivated you to become a member of SoDak Renewables?
An organization such as SoDak Renewables provides balanced advocacy of important energy resources that our members count on as part of our “All of the Above” strategy.
5. What developments in South Dakota's renewable energy future are you most excited about?
South Dakota’s largest solar project – Wild Springs Solar Project, a 128-megawatt project in Pennington County, South Dakota – was commissioned in March. The output of that solar project will be purchased by Basin Electric and utilized by Sioux Valley Energy members through the grid. Projects such as this one helps our wholesale power supplier provide even more diversity in our energy portfolio, which allows us to utilize an “all of the above” energy generation strategy which is the most prudent and effective approach for our members. This strategy ensures a diversified energy mix, avoiding reliance on a single source or in other words, we aren’t “putting all our eggs in one basket.”
6. How can others connect with your organization?
They can visit our website at www.siouxvalleyenergy.com or call our Beneficial Electrification team at 800-234-1960.
- LinkedIn: Sioux Valley Energy