OSMOND — The Dr. David F. Johnson Jr. Solar Facility near Osmond is beginning to take shape as crews have started installing solar panels at the site. Ground was broken at the site on July 1, 2025.
According to information provided by Northeast Power: The Dr. David F. Johnson Jr. Solar Facility is currently under development approximately one mile east and one mile north of Osmond. The project consists of 2.5 megawatts (MW) of solar generation paired with a 2 MW, four-hour battery energy storage system. The facility is being developed alongside a new electric substation located one mile east of Osmond.
One of the primary reasons the Osmond area was selected for this project is that it is the last remaining community in Northeast Power’s service territory still operating at a different voltage than the rest of the Northeast Power distribution system.
This project will facilitate a conversion to 12,500-volt service, allowing improved interconnection with the electric grid and enhancing reliability for customers in Osmond and the surrounding rural areas.
In addition to the solar facility, the new substation will replace the existing Osmond substation and feature modern automation and remote monitoring capabilities.
These upgrades will allow Northeast Power crews to identify and respond to outages more quickly, improving service reliability throughout the area.
The solar facility is expected to generate approximately 5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually— enough energy to serve nearly 400 homes, which is more than the number of homes located within the City of Osmond.
While the project is located near Osmond, its benefits will extend throughout Northeast Power’s service territory by supporting local generation, enhancing reliability, and helping manage long-term power supply costs.
The Northeast Power Board has also designated this as a Low-Income (LMI) Solar Project, which is intended to provide affordable energy benefits to income-qualified customers while supporting Northeast Power’s efforts to maintain reliable and cost-effective electric service.
Construction is currently underway, with solar panel installation now in progress. The project is expected to be completed in early 2027.
This project is the first of several similar initiatives Northeast Power is pursuing. Additional solar projects are being planned in Dixon and Dakota Counties as part of our long-term strategy to strengthen reliability, diversify local generation resources, and help manage rising wholesale power costs.
While these projects are not expected to reduce customer bills, they are intended to help stabilize costs over time and provide greater flexibility in meeting our customers’energy needs.
The solar facility northeast of Osmond is currently being worked on and expected to be completed by early 2027
