BURKE COUNTY, N.D. (KMOT) – Burke County residents could see a new energy storage site near Columbus.
Northern Divide Energy Storage, LLC, is looking to build a roughly 20-acre, 100-megawatt facility. The site would include up to 129 battery storage containers.
Energy from the company’s nearby wind farm, which is roughly 10 miles south of Columbus, would be stored in the LG lithium-ion batteries for later transmission.
A representative with NextEra, the parent company for Northern Divide, said the facility will help with the need for more power.
“To help meet growing demand for reliable capacity and alleviate congestion on the grid while already utilizing existing infrastructure,” said Clint Scherb.
Nearby landowner Darrell Dihle shared concerns about road signage near the site.
“On Highway 40, there’s probably 50 trucks, crude oil trucks, water trucks per day,” said Dihle.
He also asked if the company would conduct a soil test before construction to know the long-term impacts of the site.
Hank Frandsen, an area farmer and business owner, expressed excitement for the proposed facility.
“Our little business has really gotten a boost from the wind towers when they started the whole wind tower project,” said Frandsen.
The project’s estimated cost is roughly $130 million.
Construction would begin this spring if the commission approves the proposal.
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