South Dakota Wind Energy Association names new director

Ron Rebenitsch will take over as director of the South Dakota Wind Energy Association on Nov. 15. He is the former manager of alternative technologies for Basin Electric Power Cooperative in Bismarck

Rebenitsch recently retired from Basin Electric after working for the cooperative for 35 years.

While working at Basin Electric, Rebenitsch managed more than $600 million in wind turbines projects. He managed the development and construction of the Crow Lake Wind farm in south-central South Dakota, the largest cooperative-owned wind power project in the nation.

Rebenitsch says South Dakota ranks high nationally in wind potential, but it needs to develop transmission lines, attract investment and find markets for wind-generated electricity.