Otter Tail Power Co. Solar Plant in Fergus Falls
Fergus Falls, Minn. (KFGO-KBRF) – Otter Tail Power Company is advancing a battery energy storage project in Fergus Falls to strengthen system reliability, enhance operational flexibility, and evaluate how energy storage can complement existing resources and support the electric system.
The company plans to build the Hoot Lake Battery Energy Storage System near the Hoot Lake Solar site in Fergus Falls. Connected to the regional grid, the battery will store low-cost electricity from both Otter Tail Power’s energy resources and other power sources available throughout the region. The stored energy can then be delivered when demand is high, helping support reliability and managing energy costs.
“Our customers count on us every day for the electricity they use at home, at work, and in their communities,” said Otter Tail Power Energy Supply Vice President Brad Tollerson. “Battery storage is one of the technologies we’re evaluating as we look at how different resources can work together to reliably meet customers’ energy needs.”
The project is in the planning phase and entering permitting and regulatory review. If approved, it would provide approximately 75 megawatts (MW) of capacity for up to four hours, enough electricity to serve tens of thousands of homes for several hours when demand on the grid is high.
Current estimates show the system could generate approximately $800,000 to $1.2 million in annual property tax revenue while continuing energy infrastructure investment at a site that has supported power generation for more than a century.
It will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology and include multiple safety measures, including continuous monitoring, temperature control and cooling systems, fire detection and suppression systems, and emergency response planning.
If approved, construction could begin in 2027, with operation expected in late 2027 or early 2028.
Otter Tail Power will continue sharing information and providing opportunities for public input as the Hoot Lake Battery Energy Storage System project moves through the permitting and regulatory process. To stay updated, visit otpco.com/BESS.
The company is also partnering with the University of Minnesota Morris, OATI, and other industry partners on another energy storage project designed to evaluate emerging battery technology.
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