PIERRE, SD (KELO) – A proposed wind project in central South Dakota received approval for a state sales tax rebate, months before state regulators decided whether the project can go ahead.

North turn wind wants to erect up to 71 wind turbines in the counties of eastern Hughes and western Hand to produce up to 200 megawatts of electricity.

The entire State Public Services Commission a procedural timetable earlier this month and is scheduled for the evidentiary hearing from February 2-4, 2022.

State Board of Economic development Wednesday considered the project’s request for a reinvestment payment. Following an in camera discussion, council granted the request.

The project, if licensed and built, will get a refund of up to 50% state sales and use tax on its eligible costs, up to $ 5,104,023.64.

It was the tallest of the 11 that the council approved so far this year. These potential reimbursements total $ 10,747,576.89.

The legislature approved in 2013 the reinvestment payment program for a new or expanded facility that exceeds $ 20 million or for equipment upgrades that exceed $ 2 million.

These laws give the state’s Economic Development Board the power to decide whether to approve a refund of up to 100% of state sales and use tax. Table must consider whether the project would have taken place in South Dakota without the reinvestment payment.

North Bend Wind is a wholly owned subsidiary of ENGIE North America, Inc., according to the PUC permit application.

The Houston, Texas-based company currently has two projects underway in South Dakota. These are the Dakota Range III Wind in Grant and Roberts Counties and the Triple H Wind in Hyde County. The Triple H Wind Project is located immediately east of the proposed North Bend Project.

The Board of Directors previously approved reinvestment payments for Dakota Range III and Triple H.

State registers show that the board has approved more than $ 144 million in reinvestment payments since the program began. In comparison, the board approved more than $ 373 million in low-interest loans projects during the same nine-year period.

In the first six years of the reinvestment program, until the end of Governor Dennis Daugaard’s term, the State Council approved more than $ 89 million in potential reinvestment payments for various projects. There were three approvals in 2013, nine in 2014, two in 2015, three in 2016, eight in 2017 and 17 in 2018. Ten of the 44 approved were for wind power.

Since Governor Kristi Noem’s first term began in 2019, the Board of Directors has approved $ 52,720,197 in potential reinvestment payments in various projects. There have been seven approvals in 2019, 17 in 2020 and 11 so far in 2021. Ten of the 35 approved were wind projects.

Here are the wind projects that have received council approval for reinvestment payments.

B&H Wind, in Hutchinson, Bon Homme and Charles Mix counties, up to $ 2,900,000, approved March 11, 2014.

Campbell County Wind Farm in Campbell County up to $ 3,883,683, approved May 13, 2014.

Day County Wind II, in Day County, up to $ 4,419,600, approved August 12, 2014.

POET Bioraffining, up to $ 78,500, approved November 14, 2017.

Dominant wind farm, in Bon Homme, Charles Mix and Hutchinson counties, up to $ 4,329,410, approved June 12, 2018; later increased to $ 6,372,072 on September 11, 2018.

Willow Creek Wind Power in Butte County up to $ 3,800,250, approved June 12, 2018.

Crocker Wind Farm in Clark County up to $ 7,875,000, approved July 10, 2018.

Phillip Wind Partners in Haakon County up to $ 6,000,000, approved October 24, 2018.

Coyote Ridge Wind, Brookings County, up to $ 3,703,613, approved December 11, 2018.

Deuel Harvest Wind Energy in Deuel County up to $ 9,236,588, approved December 11, 2018.

Tatanka Ridge Wind in Deuel County up to $ 2,966,507, approved December 11, 2019.

Triple H Wind, in Hyde County, up to $ 4,828,058, approved December 11, 2019.

Crowned Ridge Wind, in Codington and Grant Counties, up to $ 4,234,777, approved Jan.15, 2020.

Dakota Range III in Grant and Roberts Counties up to $ 4,777,730, approved Jan.15, 2020.

EnviroFarm SD1, in Walworth County, up to $ 941,962, approved Jan.15, 2020.

Sweetland Wind Farm in Hand County up to $ 3,523,343, approved Jan.15, 2020.

Wessington Springs Wind, Jerauld County, up to $ 841,192, approved Jan.15, 2020.

Crowned Ridge II, in Codington, Deuel and Grant counties, up to $ 3,977,193, approved May 13, 2020.

Meridian Wind Project in Jerauld County up to $ 3,115,708, approved August 12, 2020.

North Bend Wind in Hyde and Hughes Counties up to $ 5,104,023.64, approved Nov 10, 2021.