The only variables are the operational and maintenance costs, and they re a small part of the puzzle. The utility companies are starting to realize they may have to pay a little more than they do for coal-fired power today, but they ll be better off in the long run. According to Markee, the purchasers of wind-generated power will be large scale operators. Right now, established coal-firing plants can generate for two cents a kilowatt hour, or less. Electricity from wind power is currently less expensive than natural gas, but the major impact of the costs of wind energy will be seen as new coal-fired plants are built.
Wind energy costs less than a million dollars a megawatt.
Coal s long tradition in North Dakota won t be changed anytime soon, however. Markee had an opportunity recently to discuss collaboration between wind and coal power with the Lignite Council. We both need transmission. We also talked about a blended product. It was encouraging.