Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. has announced that two new wind projects have achieved commercial operation. Montana-Dakota, a division of MDU Resources Group, Inc., constructed an additional 30 MW of wind generation in two locations.

The company developed the 19.5 MW Cedar Hills wind generation facility in southwest North Dakota. The project is located on leased land approximately five miles west of Rhame, N.D. It also expanded its Diamond Willow wind facility by an additional 10.5 MW. Diamond Willow, which went online in late 2007, is located near Baker, Montana. The expansion project includes seven additional wind turbines on leased land, and increases the capability of the site to 30 MW.

“The projects were finished on schedule and provide us with additional electric generation for our customers,” said Dave Goodin, president and chief executive officer of Montana-Dakota Utilities. “This further diversifies the types of electric generation used to meet our customers’ needs.”

The North Dakota site features 13 turbines and is located close to a Montana-Dakota transmission line for interconnection. Two new employees will be hired because of the wind expansion. The additional generation from both projects will provide enough electricity to meet the needs of about 10,000 Montana-Dakota residential customers in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Montana-Dakota has nearly $130 million invested in wind generation and other renewable projects to serve its electric customers in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.