Otter Tail Power Company connects Hoot Lake Solar to energy market for distribution across country

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Otter Tail Power Company’s first large-scale investment into solar power is fully operational in Fergus Falls after the Hoot Lake Solar project was connected to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) energy market on Tuesday.

The connection will allow the regional energy market to distribute power from the facility throughout its network transmission lines that provide electricity to a large portion of the central United States.

Hoot Lake Solar generates 49 megawatts of power through its more than 130,000 solar panels and produces enough energy to power about 9,000 homes.

Construction of the $62 million solar power project began in May 2022 and began generating electricity in early-2023. 

Hoot Lake Solar will also help replace the energy loss following the retirement of the Hoot Lake coal-fired power plant in 2021.

Otter Tail Power President Tim Rogelstad said the solar project wouldn’t have happened without the supportive partnerships with the city of Fergus Falls and Otter Tail County.

Rogelstad said: “While Merricourt Wind Energy Center [North Dakota] and Astoria Station [South Dakota] replaced the generating capacity from the now-retired Hoot Lake Plant, Hoot Lake Solar is an additional cost-effective renewable resource.”

According to Otter Tail County, the 16-month construction process brought approximately 65 workers to the site during peak construction and Otter Tail Power expects Hoot Lake Solar to provide more than $120,000 annually in local tax benefit.

Hoot Lake Solar is now Minnesota’s third-largest operating solar site based on generation capacity. 

The company also has two nearly 40-kilowatt solar projects in Jamestown, North Dakota, and near Ottertail.