State regulators permit Deuel South Wind farm
PIERRE, SD (KELO) — South Dakota is getting another wind-energy farm.
A 68-turbine project including a six-mile tie-line proposed for Deuel County in northeastern South Dakota meets all of the conditions for a state permit, according to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.
The commission on Friday voted 3-0 to approve an application from Invenergy to construct what's officially called South Deuel Wind. The project in the townships of Blom, Brandt, Clear Lake, Norden, and Scandinavia will cost an estimated $621 million.
DOGE announces first real estate closure in South Dakota
One of the permit conditions says there can be no construction activity between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Commissioner Chris Nelson voted against adding the condition. 'By nature, I hate telling somebody they cannot work,' he said.
Commissioner Gary Hanson offered the construction restriction. The area already has two wind projects.
'Is there ever a point when there's just too many turbines in an area?' Hanson asked Lisa Agrimonti, the attorney representing South Deuel Wind.
'I think that's a matter of individual perception,' Agrimonti replied.
'I have to tell you,' Hanson continued, 'I'm at a point where I wrestle with this.' He said visiting the area, especially at night, was troubling to him. 'I would not choose to live there myself,' Hanson said.
Hanson directed his next comments to intervenor Arla Hamann Poindexter. She's part of a farm family that was recognized in 2017 as that year's winner of the Leopold Conservation Award for land practices.
'I think Miss Poindexter has presented some good arguments, from my perspective. Unfortunately she's not a county commissioner,' Hanson said.
Agrimonti however said she didn't believe the commission could deny the permit because the project meets all of the requirements set in state laws.
'The reasoning I heard you describe was a social condition,' Agrimonti told Hanson.
Nelson likewise praised Hamann Poindexter, who had argued in a final filing that she should be considered an expert in wildlife management, though she lacks any official title or position.
'You've made the case,' Nelson said to Hamann Poindexter, noting that the Leopold award is a big deal. 'You don't get that by being a rookie.' However, Nelson added, while she may know what to do with her property, that doesn't mean she gets to tell neighbors what they can do on their properties.
Commissioner Kristie Fiegen said Hamann Poindexter made the process better. 'The applicant put three conditions on there. That may not have happened if Miss Poindexter were not there,' Fiegen said.
Earlier in the meeting, Hamann Poindexter told the commission that more than half of the residents in the project area chose to not participate. 'I'm asking the commission to honor their voice and deny the project,' she said.
In other action Friday, the commission:
Added more intervenors and denied others in the Summit Carbon Solutions docket seeking a permit for South Dakota's first CO2 pipeline that will be decided later this year; and
Approved MidAmerican Energy Company's petition for approval of deferred accounting treatment of costs incurred related to McCook Lake flooding last June.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
State plans to decrease its payments to the needy
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Department of Social Services has announced its intention to cut by 10% the amount of welfare aid paid to several thousand households receiving public assistance. DSS will hold a public hearing on Friday, June 20, at 11:00 a.m. CT at state government's new One Stop Center at 1501 S. Highline Avenue in Sioux Falls. The number of South Dakota families receiving payments from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program varies month to month, according to DSS statistics. In April, the most recent month for which data was publicly reported, there were 2,487 families. That was down from a 12-month high of 2,567 in October. New Spring Creek owner shares golf course plans The department's proposed TANF cuts come at the same time that the Legislature gave state government employees a 1.25% pay raise that takes effect July 1. State aid to K-12 education and for health-care providers will rise 1.25% as well. DSS officials say the proposed cuts result from the Legislature reducing the department's general funding for the coming year by $5.3 million. Actually, then-Gov. Kristi Noem had recommended in her December budget proposal a $5,168,200 general-fund reduction for the economic assistance division in DSS that oversees TANF payments. The department, in turn, planned to use a similar additional amount of federal funds as an offset, according to page 20 of a presentation made on January 21 to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Appropriations. That presentation referred to the maneuver as 'Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Fund Swap.' The document made no mention of any proposed cut to TANF payments. The department's then-chief financial officer, Jason Simmons, didn't speak about it either. 'This year, in working with the governor's office and BFM (Bureau of Finance and Management), with revenues down and having to fund things like FMAP (federal medical assistance percentage) change and different things, our directive is to spend down some of that carryover. So this would be more of a temporary solution,' Simmons told the committee. He continued, 'This is not something that we're going to be able to do for many, many years, but it's something we can do in a pinch for a few years to get us through, to spend down that carryover and continue to deliver these services.' Five minutes later, DSS Secretary Matt Althoff expanded on those remarks. Responding to a question from Democratic Rep. Erik Muckey, Althoff said, 'We're going to examine our benefits and say, Is there a way we can reduce those as well? So we'll continue to look at that. We've got a preliminary plan that, as recommended, would take effect July first.' One of the panel's co-chairs, Republican Rep. Mike Derby, asked Simmons to go through the mechanics of the TANF fund swap one more time. Simmons explained that money left over from the federal block grant that the department receives each year can be placed in a carryover account. Simmons said the department gets $21.2 million of federal funds each year and state government puts in $8.5 million for a total TANF funding of $29.7 million. At the end of fiscal 2024, the department had $23.4 million of carryover funds available. Simmons said the plan was to tap the federal carryover to offset reductions in state general funds, spending the oldest layer of federal funds first. Noem's $34,665,498 recommendation of general funds for the new budget year that starts July 1 would have returned the division's general funding to roughly the $34,415,895 actually spent in 2024. State lawmakers in March ultimately appropriated $34,517,352 of general funds to the economic assistance division for the 2026 budget year. That was slightly more than the amount actually spent in 2024 and slightly less than the amount Noem had recommended. Asked Monday about the proposed TANF cuts, Republican Sen. Ernie Otten told KELOLAND News that he expects to see the department make reductions in other areas too. Otten and Derby co-chair the Legislature's Joint Committee on Appropriations that assembles state government's budget each year. DSS never came back to the committee with a detailed plan or a change from what they presented, according to information that Derby received from the Legislature's chief fiscal analyst Jeff Mehlhaff and forwarded on Tuesday to KELOLAND News. Mehlhaff told Derby, 'We have reached out to the Secretary of DSS multiple times with no response.' An average of 2,460 households per month received TANF payments during the 2024 budget year, according to the DSS fiscal note that was prepared for the proposed 10% cut. The average monthly amount was $518.06. Altogether, those payments totaled $15,293,131.20 in annual TANF costs, the department said, and a reduction of 10% from the current TANF payment standards equals $1,529,313.12. A statement signed by Secretary Althoff says the proposed financial cuts in TANF payments would have 'no impact' on small businesses. 'TANF is a needs-based program for families with children under age 18 (or under age 19 if the child is in high school) who need financial support because of the death of a parent; a parent is absent from the home; or the physical or mental incapacity or unemployment of a with serious financial needs may qualify for TANF monthly payments,' the statement says. Public comments at the June 20 hearing about the TANF reductions can be made in person at the Sioux Falls One Stop Center or by telephone at 1-605-679-7263 and using conference code 183 579 146 #. Written public comments can be sent through June 30 to Teresa Schulte, Administrative Rules C219, Department of Social Services, 1501 S. Highline Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57110 or can be emailed to DSSAdminRules@ Many lawmakers also were upset during the 2025 legislative session after learning about the Noem administration's decisions to enter long-term leases for new One Stop centers in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Most of state government's local offices including those of DSS in the two communities have since moved to the centers. Noem resigned as governor in January after she received U.S. Senate confirmation as the new federal Homeland Security secretary. After she left, the Legislature unanimously adopted a new law requiring lawmakers' approval of any lease longer than 15 years and costing more than $5 million in total or more than $50,000 per month. Leases for One Stop centers in Sioux Falls and Rapid City are for 30 years and will cost an estimated $200 million more during that time than had state government continued with previous leases for locations scattered throughout the communities. The new law however doesn't apply to any past lease agreements. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Otter Tail Power wants to raise electricity rates
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota customers of Otter Tail Power might want to get ready to start paying more for their electricity. The Fergus Falls, Minnesota-based utility wants to raise rates for the approximately 11,500 households, businesses and other entities in South Dakota who get their power from Otter Tail. State plans to decrease its payments to the needy The company has applied to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for approval. Otter Tail is seeking permission to increase net revenue $5,719,671, or 12.5 percent, from South Dakota customers. Stuart D. Tommerdahl is Otter Tail's manager for regulation and retail energy solutions. He says in a letter that the proposed change in rates will result in an average increase of $14 permonth for residential customers under the rate design proposed by the company. 'The increase in rates is needed for the Company to recover increases in operating costs incurred by the Company in providing electric service to its customers and on-goinginvestments in infrastructure. This increase is necessary to continue to serve customersas reliably, economically, and environmentally responsibly as possible,' the letter said. The PUC's three elected commissioners are scheduled to publicly begin considering the request at their next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 17. A rate chart shows Otter Tail's proposed increases. Here are some examples: A household using 932 kilowatt-hours per month currently pays $103.97 and would see a $14.39 increase. A farm using 1,857 kilowatt-hours per month currently pays $191.52 and would see a $26.12 increase. A general servicer customer using 2,751 kilowatt-hours per month currently pays $259.23 and would see a $34.77 increase. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
SOLV Q1 Earnings Call: Margin Headwinds Offset by Volume Growth and Product Momentum
Healthcare solutions provider Solventum (NYSE:SOLV) reported Q1 CY2025 results exceeding the market's revenue expectations , with sales up 2.7% year on year to $2.07 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $1.34 per share was 9.7% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy SOLV? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $2.07 billion vs analyst estimates of $2.01 billion (2.7% year-on-year growth, 2.7% beat) Adjusted EPS: $1.34 vs analyst estimates of $1.22 (9.7% beat) Management reiterated its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance of $5.55 at the midpoint Operating Margin: 7.3%, down from 18.9% in the same quarter last year Organic Revenue rose 4.3% year on year (0.9% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $12.96 billion Solventum's first quarter results reflected a turnaround in underlying business momentum, underpinned by four consecutive quarters of positive volume growth and expanding adoption of new products. CEO Bryan Hanson credited these improvements to a retooled commercial organization and foundational enhancements in talent, product innovation, and operational alignment. Hanson highlighted the accelerating traction in the MedSurg segment, with the V.A.C Peel and Place dressing and IV site management efforts gaining ground, and noted that advanced wound care, dental solutions, and revenue cycle management software all contributed positively. While the company benefited from favorable order timing related to ERP and distribution center transitions, management emphasized that normalized organic growth was still well above last year's levels, signaling progress after years of volume declines. Looking ahead, Solventum's leadership underscored tariff-related cost pressures as the primary risk to margin performance for the rest of the year. CFO Wayde McMillan explained that mitigation efforts—ranging from supply chain optimizations to securing regional exemptions—are intended to largely offset these headwinds within the company's full-year earnings guidance. Management is focused on sustaining volume-driven growth through continued commercial execution and product launches, particularly in growth driver areas like negative pressure wound therapy and dental innovation. However, Hanson cautioned that operating margins would likely land at the lower end of the company's planned range as tariff impacts are fully realized in the second half, stating, 'We expect that pressure to be in the second half. If you're just doing it mathematically, for us to end up at the lower end of our guidance range, that would mean the second half of the year would have to be below 20%.' Management attributed the quarter's performance to commercial execution, new product launches, and proactive supply chain adjustments, while emphasizing tariff headwinds and the importance of sustaining operational gains. Commercial execution improvements: CEO Bryan Hanson highlighted that the primary driver of growth was the company's restructured commercial organization, which enabled dedicated sales teams to focus on priority growth areas like MedSurg and Dental Solutions. Management credited these organizational changes with accelerating volume growth across all segments. Product innovation traction: Recent launches, including the V.A.C Peel and Place dressing for negative pressure wound therapy and Filtek Easy Match in Dental, received positive market response. The company also pointed to its 3D-printed Clarity Precision Grip Attachments and Clinpro Clear Fluoride Treatment as products gaining momentum, helping offset declines in lower-growth segments. Order timing and supply chain strategy: The quarter benefited from customers buying ahead of upcoming ERP system cutovers and distribution center transitions, as well as from SKU rationalization initiatives. Management noted that these timing benefits would reverse in subsequent quarters, but analytics with distributors confirmed underlying volume growth was still robust. Tariff headwinds and mitigation: Tariffs are expected to pressure margins in the second half of the year, but management has implemented short-term mitigation actions such as seeking trade exemptions, optimizing sourcing, and selectively adjusting pricing. Wayde McMillan emphasized rapid inventory turns and regional supply chain flexibility as key tools for managing this impact. Progress on business transformation and separation: Solventum is advancing its three-phase transformation plan, with milestones in global ERP deployments, transition service agreement exits, and ongoing business separation. The pending divestiture of the Purification & Filtration segment remains on track, and management reiterated its commitment to executing tuck-in acquisitions post-close. Solventum expects future performance to be shaped by the interplay of volume-driven growth, ongoing product launches, and margin pressures from tariffs and operational investments. Volume-driven growth as a priority: Management reiterated that sustainable growth will come from increasing sales volumes, especially through commercial focus, recent leadership changes, and expanding product portfolios. The company is prioritizing segments where new products have shown strong adoption, such as MedSurg and Dental Solutions, and expects this to support market share gains. Tariff and margin pressures: Tariffs on exports to China and the European Union are expected to reduce margins in the second half of the year. Management's mitigation strategy includes seeking regional trade exemptions, optimizing inventory and sourcing, and considering selective price adjustments. However, CFO Wayde McMillan cautioned that annualizing the current year's tariff impact is difficult due to evolving trade policy and ongoing mitigation efforts. Operational investments and transformation: Continued investments in ERP upgrades, supply chain modernization, and the phased business separation are designed to support long-term profitability and efficiency. The company views these initiatives as essential for maintaining momentum, even though they entail near-term costs and operational complexity. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) whether Solventum can sustain positive volume growth as order timing effects normalize; (2) the extent to which margin pressures from tariffs are offset by operational improvements and mitigation efforts; and (3) continued adoption of recent product launches in MedSurg and Dental. Progress on the separation of the Purification & Filtration segment and the successful execution of ERP upgrades will also be key milestones. Solventum currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 13.2×. At this valuation, is it a buy or sell post earnings? See for yourself in our full research report (it's free). Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
