New turbine for Fort Berthold

October 2005 -- A wind turbine built on top of a butte about 350 feet above Lake Sakakawea will help the Three Affiliated Tribes save money, tribal officials said.

Electricity from the turbine will help offset the cost of power at the nearby Four Bears Casino, said Rich Mayer, chief executive officer for the tribes. "And that is predicted to be for the next 25 or 30 years."

"This project is a great example of demonstrating wind potential and wind power on Fort Berthold," said tribal Chairman Tex Hall.

The 66 kilowatt turbine stands 80 feet tall. One kilowatt is enough to power 10 100-watt light bulbs.

Officials will monitor it consider whether to get a more powerful 30 megawatt turbine, Hall said.

Mayer said perhaps the project will lead to the development of a large-scale wind farm on the Fort Berthold Reservation. He and another tribal official, Terry Fredericks, said the proposed sites are in the Twin Buttes and Parshall areas.

The new turbine "is a landmark to the future and our renewable energies," Fredericks said, adding that Hall and the tribal business council gave the project their full support.

Nathan Hale, a business council member from Mandaree, said the council supports Fredericks' efforts.

The U.S. Department of Energy provided a $260,000 grant to start the turbine project. Integrity Wind of Canada is the developer.

The future of renewable energy programs depends on the president and Congress, Fredericks said. "Our president and staff needs to support plus appropriate the funds into the mandated renewable energy programs which have been passed," he said.