The company said that the certificate is the final regulatory requirement for the project, and construction will begin immediately.
The 100MW coal-fired electricity generating facility is expected to take 24 to 30 months to complete at an expected cost of $255 million, including the allowance for funds used during construction.
The majority of the energy from Wygen III is expected to serve the growing load requirements of Black Hills Power, an electric utility subsidiary of the company.
In addition, the company is evaluating potential investments in the power plant by third parties, who are currently wholesale customers of Black Hills Power. The investments will be in the form of non-operating interests and will require contracts for the purchase of coal and operations and maintenance services from the company for the life of the plant.
