Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Irp topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Dakota PSC declines new wind, solar or battery additions through 2030 in Otter Tail IRP order
Summary
The North Dakota Public Service Commission adopted an order concluding its investigation of Otter Tail Power Company's integrated resource plan (PUD-21-380), finding the least-cost plan for North Dakota customers does not include new wind, solar or battery storage through 2030 and requiring Otter Tail to notify the commission if assumptions or pricing change.
The North Dakota Public Service Commission adopted an order on Dec. 4 concluding its investigation of Otter Tail Power Company's integrated resource plan (case PUD-21-380) and stating the commission does not support adding new wind, solar or battery storage for North Dakota customers through 2030.
Speaker 1, who presented the item and moved the order, reviewed the procedural record: Otter Tail filed its 2022–2036 IRP on Sept. 1, 2021; requested a delay Oct. 14, 2022; filed a supplemental IRP March 30, 2023; the commission held informal hearings Nov. 20, 2023 and Oct. 18, 2024; and commission staff consultant CDG Engineers filed a review March 1, 2024 and an update Sept. 3, 2024. Speaker 1 said those filings together form the commission's investigative report.
Quoting the investigative report language included in the adopted order, Speaker 1 read: "Based upon the investigative report's findings and the record in this proceeding, the commission does not support the addition of new wind or solar generation or battery storage through 2030 on behalf of North Dakota customers regardless of where they may be sited, including the potential North Dakota solar project Otter Tail disclosed to the commission during the 10/18/2024 informal hearing." Speaker 1 also said the commission expects Otter Tail to provide notice and an opportunity for review if changes in assumptions or pricing create cost savings for North Dakota ratepayers.
The motion to adopt the order was seconded and approved by voice vote. The order closes the commission's investigation into Otter Tail's IRP; Speaker 1 said Otter Tail must file its next IRP no later than February (the transcript does not specify the year). The commission did not record any dissents in the meeting transcript for this vote.
Background: CDG Engineers served as the commission staff's consultant for the proceeding and prepared the investigative materials the commission relied upon. The adopted order explicitly references projects Otter Tail disclosed during the Oct. 18, 2024 informal hearing and applies to additions "through 2030" for North Dakota customers. The commission framed the decision as a forward-looking guidance position rather than an immediate prohibition on corporate planning outside North Dakota.
