Regulators Approve $200M Prairie Winds Wind Upgrade
The North Dakota Public Service Commission unanimously approved Basin Electric's plan to upgrade turbines at the Prairie Winds ND 1 wind farm south of Minot.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Utilities
Live Poll
Do you support large wind farm upgrades near your community's highways?
The North Dakota Public Service Commission unanimously approved Basin Electric's plans to upgrade 50 of the 77 turbines at the Prairie Winds ND 1 wind farm. The estimated $200 million project will raise total nameplate generation from 115.5 megawatts to 120.5 megawatts.
Why it matters
The upgrade extends the productive life of an existing wind installation in North Dakota rather than requiring new construction. Basin Electric revised its original proposal after the Federal Aviation Administration found that 26 turbines were eligible for height increases, and it agreed not to install longer blades on those turbines.
The Prairie Winds ND 1 farm's nameplate capacity will rise from 115.5 to 120.5 megawatts, a 5-megawatt gain, at an estimated cost of $200 million. Basin Electric will replace hubs, main shafts, gearboxes and blades on 50 of the 77 turbines, using existing towers and foundations.
The players
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
A wholesale electricity generation cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, that supplies power to rural electric cooperatives across several states.
North Dakota Public Service Commission
The state regulatory body that oversees utilities and approved the Prairie Winds ND 1 upgrade plans unanimously.
Federal Aviation Administration
The federal agency that determined 26 of the Prairie Winds turbines were eligible for height increases, prompting changes to the project design.
The details
Basin Electric will use existing towers and foundations while replacing the hub, main shaft and gearbox of each upgraded turbine and installing 45-meter blades in place of the current 35-meter blades. After a public hearing, the company told the Commission it had been working with the Federal Aviation Administration, which determined 26 turbines were eligible for height increases.
Timeline
Following the Commission's public hearing, Basin Electric contacted the PSC about the FAA height-eligibility determination.
The Commission approved the upgrade plans on November 6, 2026.
Roadmap
The upgrade follows the FAA's determination that limits turbine height increases at certain sites, which reshaped Basin Electric's original plan. Rather than building new capacity from scratch, the project squeezes more output from the existing 77-turbine footprint near US Highway 83.
Electricity customers served by Basin Electric may see the 5-megawatt capacity gain flow into the regional power supply once the upgrades are complete. The project's $200 million cost is not addressed in terms of any resulting rate changes in the source.
The takeaway
Adding capacity through turbine upgrades on existing towers offers a way to expand wind output without new land or foundations. The FAA's height limits show how federal aviation rules can shape the scale of such projects.
Further reading
Explore more North Dakota utilities coverage for context on the state's power infrastructure.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Prairie Public.
Live Poll
Do you support large wind farm upgrades near your community's highways?
