Project Tundra selected for U.S. Department of Energy funding

The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that it has selected Project Tundra as a recipient of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through its Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program. The funding is under award negotiation for up to $350 million.

“We’re grateful that the Department of Energy recognizes the importance of developing carbon capture systems and is positioning the United States to be a leader in the advancement of this critical clean energy technology,” said Mac McLennan, Minnkota president and CEO. “Innovation is our path forward through the energy transition. Project Tundra has the potential to help pave the way toward a future where electric grid reliability and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.”

The vision for Project Tundra is to advance next generation carbon capture and storage technologies adjacent to the Milton R. Young Station, a power generation facility located near Center, N.D. The project is being developed by Minnkota Power Cooperative, TC Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kiewit and its affiliates.

Project Tundra is designed to capture up to 4 million metric tons of CO₂ annually from the Young Station. The captured CO₂ will be safely and permanently stored in saline geologic formations beneath and surrounding the power plant. The project will utilize the largest fully permitted CO₂ storage facility in the United States. Along with a second permitted storage facility near Center, N.D., the project has the ability to store up to 222 million metric tons of CO₂ in North Dakota.

Project Tundra is currently in its final development phase. The completion of advanced engineering and design work on the carbon capture facility is scheduled for the spring of 2024. A final decision on whether to move forward with the project is expected in mid-2024.