The energy industry is at a crossroads. With limited fossil fuel reserves, advocates say now is the time to address a lack of infrastructure when it comes to the next generation of energy production.
Don’t let the name on your bill fool you - Black Hills Energy's footprint spreads far beyond western South Dakota. It delivers natural gas and power to roughly 1.3 million customers across eight states.
BHE issued its most recent sustainability report this week. General manager of South Dakota electrical operations Michael Pogany said it has four main focuses – the clean energy plan, community efforts, economic impact and efficiency and conservation.
“This clean energy plan we have is part of our larger strategy on greenhouse gas emissions reductions," Pogany said. "The company has committed to a 40% reduction of greenhouse gas emission intensity by 2030, and then 70% by 2040.”
By 2030, Pogany said the company anticipates as much as half of their energy to be produced from renewable sources. In 2023 though, it’s about building the foundation.
"We have our Corriedale Wind Farm in Cheyenne, Wyoming – that project serves both South Dakota and Wyoming customers," Pogany said. "That was a project developed to serve some of our larger commercial-industrial partners. Further we’re looking at later this year or early next year, we have a solar project – Fall River Solar – down in southwest South Dakota.”
While some would push for an immediate stop to all polluting energy sources and development in renewables, Pogany said this is a process.
“Over the past 140 years of our company’s existence, coal and natural gas have provided reliable energy to customers – and customers truly demand high reliability," Pogany said. "What this means for us is it’s a transition in our energy portfolio. Recognizing that baseload energy resources like natural gas and coal will continue to be a part of the portfolio.”
Efforts to help customers lower their own bills were listed as a success in the efficiency section. In it, BHE reports the difference in usage represents enough energy savings to power over 2,000 homes for a year.