Dakota Plains Energy
Harvesting the Power of the Plains
Revitalizing
Rural America
Dakota Plains Energy (DPE) is headquartered in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Dakota Plains Energy values its long-standing relationships with small communities throughout the upper Midwest, and offers an understanding and respect of small-town sensibilities combined with expertise in rural energy project management. Our goal is to help envision, develop, finance and advise on renewable energy projects throughout the upper Midwest.
Our Mission
To harvest the power of the plains through wind and solar development for all income levels.
Why Choose
Dakota Plains Energy
Dakota Plains Energy has expertise in ground-up projects, developed where there was no project before. We are your partners through every step of development; including siting, transmission availability, landowner consultations, governmental relations & permitting, power production sales, interconnection processes, project financing and construction.
Our firm is presently developing multiple large utility-scale wind projects in South Dakota. Due diligence is currently underway on potential solar and wind projects in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming and Montana.
DPE works with some of the most highly regarded advisors and consultants in renewable energy. Our experts are at the top of their field and their goals are always to develop the best project possible in a given location.
Our commitments to our Landowners include:
- Report any threatened or endangered species within the Project Area
- Avoid any direct impact to cultural resources
- Consult with the Historical Preservation Office in each state
- Repair & restore areas disturbed by the construction of the Project
- Work with Landowners to control noxious weeds
- Take appropriate precautions to protect livestock & crops during construction
- Bury the underground cables within the site
- Keep turbine sound levels at or below state requirements
- Create an emergency response plan consistent with local resources and capabilities
- Produce a bird and bat conservation strategy prior to construction
- Abide by state decommissioning requirements
- Follow all required state and local zoning and setback requirements
- Install a FAA-approved Aircraft Detection Lighting System
- Reduce residential impacts from shadow flicker to state requirements
- Create a plan to reduce or eliminate potential turbine ice throw
- Listen to concerns & come up with solutions
- Be a good neighbor
2019 Regional Rankings for Wind (estimated)
| State | Rank | Megawatts Installed by 12/20 | Turbines | Investment | Jobs |
| South Dakota | 3rd | 3,600 | 1,472 | $5.3 billion | 2,000 |
| North Dakota | 4th | 3,000 | 1,500 | $6.1 billion | 2,300 |
| Iowa | 5th | 7,300 | 4,700 | $14.1 billion | 5,300 |
| Minnesota | 10th | 3,500 | 1,980 | $7 billion | >4,000 |
State Solar Rankings
According to the US National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) Resource Data Center, the following are the rankings of solar power potential by state:
| State | Rank by solar generation potential |
Installed Solar Generation by Megawatts |
| Nevada | 1 | 363 MW |
| Arizona | 2 | 504 MW |
| California | 4 | 2572 MW |
| Texas | 6 | 403 MW |
| Wyoming | 7 | 8 MW |
| Florida | 8 | 420 MW |
| South Dakota | 14 | <1 MW |
| Montana | 15 | 0 MW |
| North Dakota | 16 | 0 MW |
| Minnesota | 17 | 93 MW |
| North Carolina | 18 | 476 MW |
