KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Burns & McDonnell recently began construction of Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV, a 600-MW expansion of its existing natural gas-fueled generation facility in the Bakken region. The project will be Basin Electric’s largest single-site generation project since the 1980s. This project will include two Siemens STG6-5000F simple-cycle combustion turbines and six Wärtsilä W18V50SG reciprocating engines.

Load forecasts showed the need for more electricity by 2025 to serve the Bakken region’s rapidly growing economic development load. To support the aggressive schedule required to install new capacity by 2025, Basin Electric chose Burns & McDonnell in 2022 as its EPC partner to provide planning, design and project execution. This partnered approach has allowed Basin Electric to have input into these areas prior to mobilizing construction to the site.

“A partnered EPC approach was really the only project delivery method that would allow us to meet the demand in such a compressed timeline,” says Matt Ehrman, Vice President of Engineering and Construction with Basin Electric. “The collaboration and transparency between Burns & McDonnell and our team made for a seamless process that streamlined efforts early on to allow for quicker mobilization to the site.”

The Burns & McDonnell scope began with up-front development efforts, including environmental permitting and Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity (CPCN) support. In its EPC role, Burns & McDonnell is executing the engineering, procurement, construction, and startup/commissioning for the project. Burns & McDonnell will self-perform the majority of the construction utilizing its construction subsidiary, AZCO, which is also supporting the project through pipe and electrical prefabrication.

“Our integrated EPC approach facilitated construction input and ownership from day one,” says Travis Fucich, Engineering Director in the Energy Group at Burns & McDonnell.  “It allows us to formulate the design around the construction and installation upfront, which streamlines work packages, prefabrication, field procurements and mobilization to the field. This strategy puts an intentional focus on ease and safety of construction while maintaining our commitment to excellent customer service.”

Adds Todd Sundbom, Vice President of Gas and Heavy Industrial at Burns & McDonnell: “We’ve been helping Basin Electric build power generation projects for over 50 years and are excited to build on our long history of partnering with them to build Pioneer Phase IV. The strength of this relationship and the trust that Basin Electric has with Burns & McDonnell fosters an outstanding one-team environment in which to execute the project.”

About Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell brings together an unmatched team of 13,500 consultants, engineers, architects, construction and craft professionals, and more to design and build critical infrastructure. Our solutions-driven, integrated team offers full-service capabilities. Founded in 1898 and working from more than 70 offices globally, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn how we are designed to build.