Big Stone II

A healthy economy depends on abundant, reliable, affordable energy

The capacity to produce and deliver electricity to customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Iowa, in the face of increasing demand is a key benefit of building Big Stone II.

However, there are other significant economic benefits associated with the construction of a power plant, including the direct purchase of goods and services, as well as a whole series of additional purchases associated with a one-billion-dollar project.

If built, Big Stone II would be the largest investment of private and public capital in the history of South Dakota.

Construction activity

The construction and operation of the proposed power plant will have a direct impact on the economies of the four counties of Grant and Codington in South Dakota and Big Stone and Lac Qui Parle in Minnesota, as well as the state of South Dakota.

During its four-year construction period, the plant would employ an average of 625 construction workers, with a peak workforce of 1,500. The impact on the economy of South Dakota includes the employment of 2,550 full-time jobs over the life of the project, costing $531.7 million in 2008 dollars. The construction activity and worker spending will create an additional 3,322 full- and part-time jobs in communities throughout the state, for a total of 5,872 jobs.

The above estimates are based on cost information provided by Burns & McDonnell of Kansas City, Missouri.

Plant operation

In addition to those already employed at the Big Stone Plant, an estimated 35 to 40 employees would be required to operate the new plant, beginning in 2015. Thirty-five new power plant jobs are estimated to create another 28 jobs throughout the economy, and the associated $2.5 million payroll (2004 wage levels) is expected to result in a total economic activity increase of $3.1 million as these new households purchase goods and services in the area and money makes its way through the economy. The income generated in households outside those directly employed at the power plant is estimated at an additional $1.1 million.