Grasslands Renewable Energy has executed letters of intent (LOI), which include initial financial contributions, with ten wind energy developers from across Montana and the Northern Plains to join its Wind Spirit Project. These ten developers account for over 3,000MW of wind energy that will be aggregated and delivered to energy consumers.
The wind resources for the Wind Spirit Project will be collected via a series of regional transmission lines and transported to population centers using either high voltage AC or DC transmission lines, the company said.
Grasslands claims that by combining renewable energy from multiple geographic areas with energy storage technologies and smart grid components, it will create a more reliable and cost-effective renewable energy supply.
Carl Borgquist, president of Grasslands, said: “The Wind Spirit Project will combine intermittent, geographically diverse wind with an integrated transmission and energy storage system that will be able to deliver 1,000MW of firm renewable energy. The agreements with these ten wind developers help us move closer to that goal.”
Recently, Grasslands petitioned the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for a declaratory order to approve the business structure of the Wind Spirit Project.
Grasslands is also awaiting a preliminary permit from FERC for a 350MW closed-loop pumped storage hydro project in central Montana. The pumped storage system will provide the energy firming and energy storage needed for the Wind Spirit Project, the company said.