About The Project
Current Efforts
After acquiring the project from the previous developers, Invenergy began developing the Philip Wind Energy Center in late 2019.
Currently, our efforts are largely focused on permitting through the state and federal levels, partnering with the county, and bringing the project to market through securing a long-term contract.
Economic Benefits
During the life of the project, Philip Wind Energy Center is projected to pay millions of dollars in taxes, lease payments to landowners, salaries to employees, and payments for local goods and services, resulting in a significant increase in economic activity in Haakon County. Local businesses and county infrastructure will benefit from the increase in tax revenue.
Why South Dakota?
South Dakota produces more electricity from wind than any other source, and electricity bills have remained well below the national average due to this abundance of wind energy. The state is ranked third in the US for its share of electricity that comes from clean energy, and its potential continues to grow, with almost 1 million homes that can be powered by clean energy generated in South Dakota.
American Clean Power Association South Dakota Fact Sheet (Click here)
Why Haakon County?
Invenergy develops projects where there is a strong resource, interested customers, and most importantly, landowners who want to participate in the project. Invenergy is committed to our host communities and looks forward to continuing to work closely with Haakon County, contributing to the area's economic development, and providing clean, homegrown energy from South Dakota.
Environmental Benefits
To avoid and minimize impacts to wildlife and other natural resources, we work with state and federal agencies and other interested stakeholders to site, build, and operate our facilities responsibly. The cornerstone of that effort is our commitment to act in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Land-based Wind Energy Guidelines, which includes robust pre-construction wildlife and habitat surveys, early and often communication with wildlife agencies, and operational monitoring to ensure risk to wildlife is minimized.
Land and Road Use
Wind turbines and access roads have a very small footprint. Approximately 98-99% of land under easement will remain in agricultural use, allowing wind energy to support the agricultural industry and landowners to continue to farm their land.
Invenergy will work with Haakon County to establish a road use agreement for the Philip Wind project, ensuring all county roads and infrastructure will be well-maintained during construction and left in the same or better condition than they were prior to their use for the construction of the project.
Support for Local Education
“This (wind project) was the first and only thing that money from somebody else comes into our community. It has been a real economic boom for the county, with local schools benefiting directly from the project and it's tax revenue.” - Jim Koenig, Invenergy Landowner