8 Broadcaster Press February 25, 2020 www.broadcasteronline.com State Historical Society Basin Electric and Geronimo Energy Holding Preservation Announce Power Purchase Agreement for South Dakota Solar Project Essay Contest PIERRE, S.D. -- The State Historic Preservation Office of the South Dakota State Historical Society in Pierre is holding an essay contest for fourth-grade students. Prizes will be awarded to the top three essays during Archaeology and Historic Preservation Month, which is celebrated in May. The essay contest aims to expose students to an appreciation of their state’s historic places, the stories they tell, and why they should be preserved for future generations, according to Jay D. Vogt, director of the State Historical Society. With the theme of “This Place Matters,” students are asked to write a 100400 word essay about any South Dakota location that is at least 50 years old, why it is a favorite place for them, and why it should be preserved. It does not need to be a historic site, and writing a history of the location is not necessary. “We look forward to sponsoring this contest and seeing what places and stories students tell us about,” said Vogt. “Our goal is for students to achieve a better understanding of their history and culture.” The contest entry deadline is Friday, March 13. Entries will be judged on quality of writing, content and theme, and originality of thought. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places. The first-place winner will receive a $100 cash prize and a one-year family membership to the South Dakota State Historical Society (a $50 value). The second-place winner will receive a $75 cash prize and a one-year family membership to the society. The third-place winner will receive a $50 cash prize and a one-year family membership to the society. The winning entries will be posted on the society’s website at history.sd.gov/ preservation during the month of May.?Winners from 2019 are currently featured. Additional information, including complete guidelines and an entry form, are posted on the website. Questions may be directed to Cindy Snow at 605-773-2907 or Cindy. Snow@state.sd.us.? BE SMART. Scan our QR code with your smart phone and discover the Broadcaster Online! Bismarck, N.D. – Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) and Geronimo Energy (Geronimo), a National Grid company, announced Feb. 18 the execution of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the Wild Springs Solar Project (Wild Springs). Wild Springs is a 128 megawatt (MW) clean solar energy project located in Pennington County, South Dakota, approximately 20 miles east of Rapid City. Wild Springs is anticipated to begin operations in 2022. Using the EPA’s greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, the project is estimated to offset carbon dioxide emissions by 190,000 metric tons annually. Once operational, Wild Springs will be the largest solar project in South Dakota. It will be located in the service area of West River Electric Association, Inc. (West River Electric), which is a distribution electric cooperative member of Basin Electric. In total, Basin Electric is a not-forprofit wholesale power provider to 141 member cooperative systems in nine states. In South Dakota, Basin Electric transmits its power supply to two generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives, Rushmore Electric Power Cooperative (Rushmore Electric) and East River Electric Power Cooperative. Those two G&T cooperatives then transmit the power supply to their respective distribution cooperatives, with Rushmore Electric being the G&T provider to West River Electric. West River Electric and the state’s 27 other distribution co-ops power the homes, farms and businesses within their service areas. “For the first time in its history, Basin Electric will buy solar generation on a large scale to serve our members. The board’s decision to add solar generation to our resource portfolio is to continue with our all-of-the-above strategy, as well as solar generation becoming a more economic energy source. We are excited about adding solar to our already diverse generation mix,” stated Paul Sukut, CEO and General Manager of Basin Electric. “Our cooperative network is always looking to ensure we have a mix of power resources to meet the needs of our membership and renewable energy is an important part of that strategy,” said Rushmore Electric General Manager, Vic Simmons. “This project with Geronimo Energy is an important strategic step as we look to the future in continuing our strong history of providing safe, affordable and reliable power.” “We’re excited that West River’s service area will be home to the Wild Springs Solar Project,” said West River Electric Association CEO/General Manager, Dick Johnson. “This solar energy project will benefit our cooperative family, as well as our local communities. As notfor-profit co-ops that are owned by our members, everything we do goes back to the people we serve.” Attention Pleasant Valley Township Residents Pleasant Valley Township Annual Meeting Notice of Annual Meeting Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 • 7:00 pm at Clay Rural Water System 10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 at the Wakonda Legion Hall, Wakonda, SD Agenda items include election of officers and receiving quotes for gravel, blading, mowing and snow removal. Full agenda available at: http://sites.google.com/site/pvtownship For more information, please contact: Brandi Johnson, Clerk 30630 Frog Creek Rd. Wakonda, SD 57073 Brajohns76@icloud.com Bethel Township will hold its annual meeting at Agenda items include election of officers, regular business and to accept bids for snow removal, gravel and road maintenance. In the event of inclement weather, the annual meeting shall be held March 10th at 10:00 AM. Contact Darby Ganschow at 605-661-2739 for more information. Darby Ganschow, Clerk BRULE TOWNSHIP ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE The annual meeting of Norway Township will be on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at the Clay County Highway Department on Timber Rd. Bids for blading, gravel, snow removal and mowing will be opened at that time. Send bids to: Jim Lee, Clerk, Norway Township, 31640 Meckling Rd., Vermillion, SD 57069. No later than Friday, February 28, 2020. Jim Lee, Clerk •ATTENTION• The Garfield Board of Supervisors will meet as a Board of Equalization at the Dalesburg Farm Supply 30442 University Rd • Centerville, SD 57014 Monday, March 16th, 2020 at 7 p.m. Letters of Appeal must be received by Thursday, March 12th, 2020. Nick Oyen, Clerk 30396 466th Ave. • Beresford, SD 57004 Spink Township Board of Equalization Meeting Brule Township in Union County, SD will hold the annual township meeting Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 • 5:30pm in the Union Co. Shop, Spink, SD for the election of officers and any other business proper to be done when convened. Alternate date if bad weather: March 10th at 5:30pm. Gregg Hanson, Clerk Home for Sale The project has been supported by local and state community members and will bring significant economic benefits to the local area. Current estimations for the project’s economic benefits total over $17 million throughout the first 20 years of operations, including positive impacts in new tax revenue, construction jobs, new fulltime jobs, and charitable funds through the project’s Education Fund. The Wild Springs Education Fund alone will offer approximately $500,000 in donations to the local school districts connected to the project above and beyond all tax revenue and local spending benefits. “Historically, there has been a misconception that solar in the northern regions of the United States wasn’t feasible,” stated David Reamer, President for Geronimo Energy. “Both Geronimo and Basin Electric recognized that the addition of solar to its overall generation fleet not only offers customers a clean, economic option for their electricity, but it also diversifies a utility’s portfolio.” Geronimo’s South Dakota operating project portfolio includes the recently completed Crocker Wind Farm, a 200 MW wind project located in Clark County, South Dakota. Geronimo also successfully developed the operational Pierre Solar Project, a joint effort with the City of Pierre and Missouri River Energy Services, located on City property in Hughes County, South Dakota. About Basin Electric Power Cooperative Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. It generates and transmits electricity to 141 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These member systems distribute electricity to about 3 million consumers. About Geronimo Energy Geronimo Energy, a National Grid company, is a leading North American renewable energy development company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with satellite offices located throughout multiple states in the regions where it develops, constructs, and operates. As a farmer-friendly and community driven company, Geronimo develops projects for corporations and utilities that seek to repower America’s grid by reigniting local economies and reinvesting in a sustainable future. Geronimo has developed over 2,400 megawatts of wind and solar projects that are either operational or currently under construction, resulting in an investment of over $4 billion in critical energy infrastructure and the revitalization of rural economies. Geronimo has a vast development pipeline of wind and solar projects in various stages of development throughout the United States. Please visit www.geronimoenergy. com to learn more. Fairview Township Annual Meeting March 3rd, 2020 7:00 p.m. at Burbank School Election of new people for clerk, officers, etc. Please Attend Angela Jackson, Clerk Stories you missed this week because you’re not a Plain Talk subscriber A report and photos of the annual Polar Plunge, scheduled for Feb. 15 in Vermillion to raise funds for Special Olympics. Photos and a story from the SD State VEX IQ Championship Robotics Tournament held Feb. 15 at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion. A story about the upcoming “Wine With Will” event that will be held Feb. 28. The story also includes information about changes to the annual South Dakota Shakespeare Festival that will be held in Vermillion later this year. And if you want to see: Open House • Two Large Bedrooms • Two Main floor full bath • Walk in master closet • Main floor laundry • 24 x 24 garage • Well insulated March 1 3pm-5pm Monday, March 16, 2020 • 7:00 p.m. A story about the Vermillion City Council’s decision regarding the “charge” of the city’s new Home Rule Charter Committee. A report on the volume of recycling that has occurred in Vermillion in the last year. A story about the consumer benefits of Consumer Supported Agriculture as CSA Day approaches on Feb. 28. Pick up this Friday’s Plain Talk! Local news since 1884! Here for you yesterday, today and tomorrow. Union County Highway Building, Spink, SD Anyone who wishes to appeal their assessment must file a written notice with the Township Clerk no later than Thursday, March 12, 2020 Lori Johnson, Spink Township Clerk 31435 473rd Ave. Elk Point, SD 57025 503 First Street Ponca, Nebraska 1 block North of Ponca Public School Contact: Phone 712-369-1124 201 W. Cherry, Vermillion, SD 57069 605-624-2695