NextEra Energy to Build $130M Grid Storage Facility in North Dakota
Northern Divide Energy Storage LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, has received regulatory approval to construct a 100-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) near the 200-MW Northern Divide wind farm. The North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC) issued the siting permit following a public hearing in late 2025.
The project, with an estimated investment of $130 million (EUR 110.3 million), will occupy roughly 20 acres (8.1 hectares) and connect to an existing substation at the wind farm south of Columbus, North Dakota. Designed for four hours of storage capacity, the facility will store excess grid energy and help balance supply and demand.
This permit comes shortly after a similar approval for another NextEra subsidiary to build a 140-MW/four-hour battery near the Emmons-Logan wind park in North Dakota, costing $181 million. Together, these projects reflect growing investment in utility-scale energy storage to complement renewable energy generation in the state.
The Northern Divide BESS is expected to strengthen grid stability, support renewable integration, and increase flexibility for operators managing variable wind output.
Source: renewablesnow.com
