Associated Press

The chief executive of Basin Electric Power Cooperative says the co-op last year had growth in electrical demand that was nearly triple the average.

"We have seen significant industrial and commercial growth in rural areas as well as residential growth around suburban areas, along with a push to develop ethanol and other renewable resources," Ron Harper said Wednesday at Basin's annual meeting.

The Bismarck-based co-op supplies electricity to the Dakotas and other Midwestern and Western states.

Harper said growth for Basin Electric has been fairly steady at about 70 megawatts annually, but last year it was more than 200 megawatts. One megawatt of electricity is enough to power about 1,000 homes, said Basin spokesman Daryl Hill.

Harper said Basin's board of directors believes coal is still the best way to meet the growing demand for power. "But the probability of increased regulations on the use of fossil fuels, particularly with respect to carbon dioxide, gives me a lot to think about every day," he said.

Harper said Basin Electric is developing a power plant in Wyoming and another in either North Dakota or South Dakota, and planning to install more environmental controls at the Leland Olds Station near Stanton.

"These projects will make coal a part of our energy future for a long time," Harper said. "We want to be in the forefront by finding solutions to make burning coal for energy production not only acceptable, but desirable. Whatever we can do to hasten the progress in cleaner coal technology will be worth the effort."

Basin operates power plants in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The power is sold to 120 co-op members in the Dakotas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Wyoming.