The nearly $4 billion generation station will include a first unit scheduled to come in 2029 and a second in 2030, totaling 1,490-megawatts. The station’s capacity could serve nearly six communities the size of Bismarck-Mandan, which used about 250 MW, or nearly 10 communities the size of Minot, whose load is about 150 MW.

“It’s a large power plant, the largest natural gas power plant in the state and the largest investment in Basin’s history,” said Dana Hager, communications manager with Basin Electric. “The plant does reflect Basin’s long-standing strategy of converting low cost regional natural resources, like natural gas, like coal, like wind, like hydro – converting those into power and affordable electricity for our members. This is the way we’ve been bringing power for decades.”

The Department of Environmental Quality issued an air permit for the Bison Generation Station, the first natural gas-fired, combined cycle plant to be built in North Dakota, on Dec. 29, 2025, enabling the project to move toward construction. Shortly after receiving the permit, contractors began driving piles, which involves installing deep foundations to support the weight of the major power plant equipment. Pile driving is expected to continue through May or June this year.

An official groundbreaking will be held May 11 at the site southwest of Ray.

A rendering shows the future natural gas-powered Bison Generating Station near Ray. Rendering provided by Basin Electric Cooperative.

Basin Electric has completed construction of a turn lane on U.S. Highway 2 as an added safety measure to accommodate increased construction and truck traffic.

Upcoming construction activities include mobilizing offices, tools and equipment; laying out and installing underground electrical duct banks and mechanical piping; and completing major foundation work throughout the year in preparation for equipment deliveries scheduled for late 2026, according to Basin Electric.

Processed natural gas from the Bakken will be piped to the plant for fuel.

“There is a tremendous amount of natural gas in that area. We’re very blessed to have a group of natural gas processors up in that area,” said Andy Buntrock, vice president of Strategic Planning and Communications with Basin Electric.

As a combined-cycle power plant, the Bison facility will harness energy by employing both a combustion turbine and a steam turbine, according to Basin Electric information. Exhaust heat from the combustion turbine is captured by a heat recovery steam generator and used to make steam that turns a turbine, also connected to a generator that produces electricity.

The construction is projected to bring in about 1,000 workers at its peak, and about 40-50 permanent positions in operations and maintenance. As general contractor, PCL Industrial Construction will be looking at ways to accommodate the number of workers, but temporary housing contractors have indicated they are available, if needed, Buntrock said. He said the region handled an influx of workers during the oil boom and is situated to deal with the construction ramp-up, particularly with Williston nearby and Minot within traveling distance, he said.

Buntrok said Basin Electric and its members have spent together about $2 billion on environmental controls on their facilities. They spend about $190 million a year operating those controls, which will increase once the Bison Generation Station comes online. The new plant will be fully compliant with all environmental requirements, he said.

Hager said the Bison facility was initiated because of forecasted growth in electrical demand in the Bakken. The facility is being built to meet traditional load, such as agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, business and residential, she said.

“The members’ load growth over the last 15 years has grown almost 100 percent,” Buntrock added. “That trend of traditional load growth is expected to continue.”

To meet the potential needs of future nontraditional users, such as data centers, Basin Electric started a separate large-load commercial program last year. The Bison facility would not serve that nontraditional demand.

Buntrock said Basin Electric’s board of directors has taken the stance that the cooperative will provide an all-inclusive portfolio of power, including natural gas, wind, coal, oil, solar and hydro. The broad-based portfolio ensures reliable and affordable power every day for the wholesaler’s member cooperatives, he said.

At the end of 2024, Basin Electric operated 5,217 MW of wholesale electric generating capability and had 8,427 MW of generating capacity within its resource portfolio, according to cooperative information.

A not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative owned by 139 member cooperative systems, Basin Electric reports it provides wholesale power to members in nine states, with electric generation facilities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Iowa, serving about 3 million customers.

“When you look at our service territory, from the Canadian border all the way down to the Mexican border, we have a lot of rural America that we’re helping supply power to. So, a lot of rural communities are depending on us to have this power plant up and running when they need it. It’s a big job,” Hager said of the new Bison station.

The Bison station will be near the Wheelock Substation, which will provide access for the electrical generation to enter the grid. Basin Electric has been building out its transmission capacity to get that power to its members.

Recent transmission projects in the northwest part of the state include:

– Leland Olds Station-to-Tande 345 kV, consisting of 162 miles of line. Construction began last September and is expected to be energized late this year.

– Tande and Wheelock-to-Saskatchewan 230 kV, consisting of 110 miles of line from existing Basin Electric substations to the Canadian border. Permitting-associated work began in the summer of 2023. All necessary permits now are filed with the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

– Roundup-to-Kummer Ridge 345 kV, consisting of 35 miles that was energized in December 2024.