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Minneapolis, MN (July 24, 2023) – Today, National Grid Renewables announced its pledge to donate over $500,000 to the New Underwood, South Dakota School District, sourced from its 128 megawatt (MW) Wild Springs Solar Project (Wild Springs or the project) located in Pennington County, South Dakota. The new Wild Springs Education Fund will be administered by the New Underwood Area Community Foundation, a local fund governed by the South Dakota Community Foundation.

“The New Underwood School District appreciates the pledge of $25,000 per year for 20 years provided by the Wild Springs Education Fund,” said Katie Albers, Superintendent of the New Underwood School District. “The district will use these funds in a variety of ways to benefit our students, school and community.”

National Grid Renewables initiates charitable funds for each of its large-scale renewable energy projects and commences funding of its pledge once the project achieves commercial operation. These charitable funds are intended to provide additional assistance to community activities and opportunities within the local host communities. These gifts donated by the charitable funds are above and beyond any tax revenue delivered by National Grid Renewables’ projects.

“We are incredibly proud of the local community benefits resulting from these charitable funds,” said Joe Ibrahim, Vice President of Construction and Engineering at National Grid Renewables. “When we construct a clean energy project, we are laying down roots in a community – and we take our role as a good neighbor seriously. We have the opportunity and the responsibility to give back and be a positive impact on both the residents and the local economy.”

Wild Springs announced construction in early 2023 and is projected to be the largest solar energy project in the state to-date. Once operational, Wild Springs is anticipated to avoid 190,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually – the equivalent to removing roughly 42,000 cars from the road for one year. The project also expects to produce nearly $12 million in new tax revenue throughout the first 20 years of operation.

Onsite Construction Begins on Largest Solar Energy Project in South Dakota

128 MW Wild Springs Solar in Pennington County has PPA with Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Minneapolis, MN (January 10, 2023) – National Grid Renewables announced today the start of onsite field construction at its Wild Springs Solar Project (Wild Springs) in Pennington County, South Dakota. Wild Springs, the largest solar energy project in South Dakota to-date, is a 128 megawatt (MWac) solar project located in the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) with a 114 MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric).

“Wild Springs represents a continuation of our leadership in renewable energy and economic development in the state of South Dakota,” commented Blake Nixon, President, National Grid Renewables. “Our Crocker Wind Farm located in Clark County began operation in 2019, and now with Wild Springs, we will have nearly 330 MW of clean energy projects in the state, all of which contribute significantly to the tax base, as well as the local communities that host the projects.”

“The construction of the Wild Springs Solar Project will be a great addition to South Dakota,” said Steve Westra, Commissioner, South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).

Wild Springs is anticipated to begin commercial operation in 2023 and is currently poised to be the largest solar energy project in the state of South Dakota. Once operational, Wild Springs is projected to avoid 190,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually and is estimated to produce $12 million in new tax revenue throughout the first 20 years of operation. Unique to National Grid Renewables, Wild Springs anticipates donating over $500,000 during the first 20 years of operation to the local community through a planned charitable fund.

Wild Springs selected Ames Construction as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) partner to construct the Wild Springs facility. The Renewables Group leadership at Ames Construction has over ten years of experience building solar projects across the United States. Ames Construction estimates the need to employ 250 construction workers to complete this major infrastructure project.

“Ames appreciates National Grid Renewables’ confidence in being selected as their EPC partner,” commented Craig Sandeen, Ames Renewables’ President. “We’re excited to be a part of building South Dakota’s largest solar project!”

Wild Springs will utilize next-generation Series 6 thin film solar modules developed and produced by First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR). Recently, First Solar and National Grid Renewables announced a 2 gigawatt (GW) supply of solar modules scheduled for delivery 2024-2025.