South Dakota
One of world’s largest energy storage plants launches in South Dakota
This small city in rural northeastern South Dakota has established itself as an energy hub for the entire Great Plains region, and that reputation has received a big boost by landing what will be among the world’s largest energy storage projects.
In a groundbreaking project, South Dakota-based POET has partnered with Antora Energy of California to launch a thermal energy storage system adjacent to POET’s ethanol plant in Big Stone City.
The 5 gigawatt-hour thermal energy storage facility will absorb excess, low-cost energy from wind turbines that might otherwise be lost due to capacity limits on the existing power grid and store it in carbon blocks for use when needed.
Officials said the new technology will be a major economic and environmental boost to South Dakota while also pioneering the use of a new energy technology for potential use across the country and the world.
Developers cite potential benefits
Leaders of the two companies told News Watch in exclusive interviews that the storage facility – the first to be put in commercial production by Antora – will generate several benefits now and well into the future for South Dakota, including:
1. The facility will improve efficiency and increase outputs at POET’s ethanol plant in Big Stone City by providing a reliable source of sustainable energy both during times of peak and non-peak power demand, ultimately reducing consumer costs for ethanol at the gas pump.
2. It will increase production opportunities for South Dakota corn growers, who will see expanded markets for their grains to be converted into ethanol.
3. It will reduce reliance on fossil fuels by enabling greater storage of energy generated by wind, solar or other sustainable sources.
4. Construction and development of the plant has supported 300 new construction jobs in South Dakota and California and will generate new full-time employment in the Big Stone City area.
“They’re taking excess wind energy that doesn’t have a home on the grid and otherwise would be wasted, and they’re capturing that,” said Jeff Lautt, president and chief operating officer of POET in Sioux Falls, the world’s largest producer of ethanol.
“Nobody’s got a switch for the wind, so it blows when it wants to blow, yet there’s a steady demand for power that has to be met, and this system will provide for that.”
Andrew Ponec, chief executive officer of Antora Energy, was unwilling to share the total cost of the project. But a press release on the storage project noted that Antora has “catalyzed hundreds of millions in private investment in the company.”
Ponec said the majority of costs for the Big Stone project were paid through private financing, led by Grok Ventures of Australia, and not the U.S. government. He added, however, that thermal storage has received strong bipartisan support, including in the Big Beautiful Bill passed by Congress in 2025.
A May 19 press release on the project from POET and Antora included statements of support from U.S. Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden.
“America’s need for energy is continuing to rise year after year, (so) the more of that energy we can take right here at home, the better,” Rounds said in the release. ”(This) project in Big Stone City will have a real economic impact in South Dakota while also creating jobs and boosting our domestic energy production.”
A regional power hub set in a small town
Big Stone City was selected as the site for Antora’s first large-scale thermal energy storage system because of the existing POET biofuels plant and the Otter Trail Power Co. plant on the site, and due to the city’s location as a major hub on the regional Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) power grid system, Ponec said.
“We’re an energy technology company, so we’re going to go to wherever there are big concentrations of energy users,” he said.
Thermal energy storage collects low-cost, off-peak energy from virtually any source – local wind turbines in this case – and stores it as heat in insulated blocks of solid carbon that reach 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat, which can be stored until needed, is then transferred into an oil that allows it to be carried to industrial users, in this instance the POET plant next door.
There, the heat is transferred to steam that powers boilers, distillers and other machinery used in production of ethanol and a host of other byproducts generated at the POET plant. The Big Stone plant produces 92 million gallons of ethanol annually, Lautt said.
Ponec likened the thermal storage process – which consists of dozens of large white metal boxes on the ground – to the operations of a giant toaster. Electricity from the outlet (energy from wind towers) is transferred to the toaster heating coils (the carbon blocks), which then generates heat to brown the bread (run machinery in the ethanol plant.)
The project uses very little water and does not create any substantial emissions, Ponec said.
To illustrate the nimble nature of thermal storage, Ponec noted that the Big Stone facility was built in less than a year. The facility is already providing power to POET’s plant and should be fully online in October.
Another type of energy storage for South Dakota
Thermal energy storage is similar to lithium ion energy storage in that both concepts seek to capture power that can be held until demand goes up and may exceed supply, thereby stabilizing the power grid and reducing costs for consumers.
But while lithium batteries store actual electricity and only for a few hours, thermal storage holds the energy as heat and can hold it for much longer periods, Ponec said.
South Dakota might soon be home to a pair of lithium battery projects, including in Codington and Brookings counties, which backers said will create new opportunities for wind and solar production in the state.
Antora makes money on the project by selling its energy to POET while opening the door to greater sustainable electricity production in the region and lowering power costs for the ethanol plant, Lautt said.
“It creates more efficiency for us, so we’re then using less natural gas to operate the facility, which makes us greener,” he said. “It really creates a win-win-win all across the footprint.”
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This story was originally published by South Dakota News Watch and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 8 drawing
03-24-34-43-49, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from June 8 drawing
04-23-25-30-47, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 05
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 8 drawing
20-25-40-50-55, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Summer roadwork season is underway across South Dakota, with construction projects, highway maintenance, utility work and safety campaigns affecting travelers in several parts of the state. Here’s a look at the latest updates motorists should know for the week ahead, before heading out on the roads.
Ditch work begins June 8 on SD Highway 20 west of Reva
A road construction project is scheduled to begin Monday, June 8, on South Dakota Highway 20 west of Reva.
According to the South Dakota Department of Transportation, crews will perform miscellaneous ditch work on SD Highway 20 from approximately 1.75 miles west to 1 mile west of the junction with Highway 79.
Construction activities will take place weekdays between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. MDT and are expected to continue through June 26. The project is scheduled to conclude at 4 p.m. MDT on Friday, June 26.
Motorists traveling through the area are encouraged to use caution and be alert for construction workers and equipment operating near the roadway.
Drivers with questions about the project can contact their local South Dakota Department of Transportation area office for additional information.
Blotter operations begin June 8 on U.S. Highway 385 near Pactola Dam
Road work continues on U.S. Highway 385 between Pactola Dam and Calumet Road.
Beginning June 8, contractors will start blotter operations, a process that involves packing and hardening the road surface. The work is expected to continue through July.
Motorists should use caution in the work zone and be aware of loose gravel and reduced speeds during the construction period.
Black Hills Energy to remove powerline overnight along Fifth Street in Rapid City
Black Hills Energy will remove an overhead power line in downtown Rapid City later this week, with work scheduled overnight to minimize traffic disruptions.
The decommissioning is set to begin around 9 p.m. Wednesday along Fifth Street, stretching from the alley south of Kansas City Street to the alley north of Main Street.
Officials say the nighttime schedule is intended to reduce impacts in the busy downtown area and provide a safer work environment. One lane of Fifth Street will be closed during the project, and drivers are asked to use caution while traveling through the area.
The work is expected to be completed in a single night. For questions or more information, the public can contact Black Hills Energy at 605-721-2642.
SDDOT outlines summer timeline for mowing highway ditches across the state
The South Dakota Department of Transportation is reminding landowners that highway ditches can’t be mowed until specific dates each summer. In parts of western South Dakota, mowing can begin June 15, while areas east of the Missouri River must wait until July 10. All mowing must be finished by Sept. 1 unless an extension is approved.
Landowners next to state highways get first priority to mow the adjoining ditches. Anyone else must have permission from the property owner, and a permit is required to mow along Interstate highways.
The state may mow some areas earlier to control weeds and improve safety. For more information, contact a local SDDOT office or visit the SDDOT website.
Officials encourage safe towing practices statewide during Trailer Safety Week
The South Dakota Department of Transportation is encouraging drivers to prioritize safe towing practices during Trailer Safety Week, June 7-13.
The annual awareness campaign highlights the importance of trailer safety and aims to educate the public on proper trailer maintenance and use. The initiative also seeks to strengthen partnerships among trailer dealers, manufacturers and consumers to promote safer roadways.
State officials said increased awareness and proper trailer maintenance can help prevent crashes and improve safety for all motorists traveling South Dakota highways.
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Copyright 2026 KOTA. All rights reserved.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – One of the most thankless jobs in sports is the one that gives the players the opportunity to compete in every sport.
Referees dedicate their time to help the kids of South Dakota enjoy the sports they love.
Yesterday was the High School Football All Star game in Brookings.
12 officials were there, sharpening up their skills for the regular season.
Tate Schoenfeld, 10 year referee and Alexandria native said, “Football is different than other sports where Basketball you have team camps in the summer, things like that. Football you really don’t have those opportunities so anytime you can get on the field and see live plays before the season starts is definitely a benefit.”
The South Dakota Football Coaches Association and the South Dakota High School Athletics Association partnered with improving the game of football in mind.
Justin Ingalls, state wide coordinator of officials for the SDHSAA says coaches and refs may not see eye to eye on everything.
“But one thing we will always agree on is the opportunity that we want to make this game and give back to this great game of football in every way we can to make it as good as possible for our student athletes,” said Justin Ingalls, SDHSAA State wide coordinator for officials.
Just because it was an all star game didn’t mean the refs were holding back. Ingalls quoted NFL referee Ed Hochuli.
Ingalls said, “Yes, there are penalties in a pro bowl, in here I think we had five or six different penalties, we had some good situations that we’ve talked about, teaching and learning situations.”
This has been a weekend long event.
On Friday Ingalls hosted classroom sessions with film study.
Ingalls said, “What we want called, how we want it called, and the mechanics of the game. What’s important to officials and officiating in the game.”
Ingalls was not the only one giving pointers.
There were many hands on deck making sure every ref could get their questions answered.
Ingalls said, “We had people that literally had experience in the Big 10, at the college level, and tons and tons of experience and expertise at the high school level.”
Even a 10 year veteran like Tate Schoenfelder was able to pick up a thing or two.
Schoenfelder said, “This is my first year attending but I really liked how it was run, the organization of it, and I feel like it was really beneficial to me as an individual and I think that everyone who was here as an official.”
Ingalls wants to continue to grow the game of football.
With many of the 80 athletes competing Saturday finishing their playing career.
Ingalls let them know they don’t have to step away from the field.
Ingalls said, “A number of us talked about our journeys and how we got into officiating, we want to give them some information as they go off to college about how to continue to be involved and get involved and be supported in becoming an official.”
This fun, pressureless environment set up the refs for their best chance at success with the high school football season just two months away.
Copyright 2026 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
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