Item 2. Properties
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Coyote Station, which commenced operation in 1981, is a 414,000 kW (nameplate rating) mine-mouth plant located in the lignite coal fields near Beulah, North Dakota and is jointly owned by OTP, Northern Municipal Power Agency, Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. and Northwestern Public Service Company. OTP is the operating agent of the Coyote Station and owns 35% of the plant.
OTP, jointly with Northwestern Public Service Company and Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., owns the 414,000 kW (nameplate rating) Big Stone Plant in northeastern South Dakota which commenced operation in 1975. OTP is the operating agent of Big Stone Plant and owns 53.9% of the plant.
Located near Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the Hoot Lake Plant is comprised of two separate generating units: a unit built in 1959 (53,500 kW nameplate rating) and a unit added in 1964 (75,000 kW nameplate rating) and modified in 1988 to provide cycling capability, allowing this unit to be more efficiently brought online from a standby mode. These two generating units have a combined nameplate rating of 128,500 kW. Current plans are for both units to be retired from service in 2021.
OTP owns the 245,000 kW (nameplate rating) Astoria Station simple-cycle natural gas-fired combustion turbine generation facility near Astoria, South Dakota, scheduled to begin commercial operation in March 2021.
OTP owns 27 wind turbines at the Langdon, North Dakota Wind Energy Center with a nameplate rating of 40,500 kW, 32 wind turbines at the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center located in Barnes County, North Dakota with a nameplate rating of 48,000 kW, 33 wind turbines at the Luverne Wind Farm located in Griggs and Steele Counties, North Dakota with a nameplate rating of 49,500 kW and 75 wind turbines at the Merricourt Wind Energy Center located in McIntosh and Dickey Counties, North Dakota with a name plate rating of 150,000 kW.
As of December 31, 2020, OTP’s transmission facilities, which are interconnected with lines of other public utilities, consisted of 780 miles of 345 kV lines, of which 731 miles are jointly owned; 495 miles of 230 kV lines, of which 70 miles are jointly owned; 917 miles of 115 kV lines; and 4,011 miles of lower voltage lines, principally 41.6 kV. OTP owns the uprated portion of 48 miles of the 345 kV lines, with Minnkota Power Cooperative retaining title to the original 230 kV construction, and OTP owns an undivided interest in the remaining 345 kV line miles. OTP is a joint owner, with other regional utilities, in transmission lines with the following ownership interests: 14.8% in the 70 mile Bemidji-Grand Rapids 230 kV line, approximately 14.2% of 242 miles of energized line in the Fargo–Monticello 345 kV project, approximately 4.8% of 255 miles of energized line in the Brookings to Southeast Twin Cities 345 kV project, 50.0% of 72 miles of energized line in the Big Stone South–Brookings 345 kV project, and 50.0% of 162 miles of energized line in the Big Stone South–Ellendale 345 kV project.
In addition to the properties described above, all of which are utilized by the Electric segment, the Company owns and has investments in offices and service buildings utilized by each of its manufacturing and plastic pipe companies. The Company’s subsidiaries own facilities and equipment used in the manufacture of PVC pipe, thermoformed products, heavy metal fabricated products, metal parts stamping, fabricating, painting and contract machining.
Management of the Company believes the facilities and equipment described above are adequate for the Company’s present business.