South Dakota Energy Infrastructure Authority appointed

Gov. Mike Rounds announced Nov. 23 the appointment of five members to the South Dakota Energy Infrastructure Authority (SDEIA).��The SDEIA was created to diversify and expand the state's economy by developing the energy production facilities and the energy transmission facilities in�South Dakota�necessary to produce and transport energy to markets within the state and outside of the state.

The following five people have been appointed to the SDEIA Board:

Mike Trykoski,�Rapid City � Electrical engineer and owner of Rushmore Professional Services, an electric utility consulting firm.�

Audry Ricketts,�Pierre � General manager of the South Dakota Rural Electric Association representing thirty-two member electric cooperatives based in�South Dakota.

Kyle White, Rapid City � Vice president of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for Black Hills Power and Light and member of the Wyoming Transmission Authority.

Mike Held, Huron � Executive director of the South Dakota Farm Bureau representing 47�county�Farm�Bureaus.

Dr. Mike Ropp, Brookings � South Dakota State University Electrical Engineering professor and manager of the Wind Resource Assessment Network (WRAN) that is collecting public data.

on�South Dakota's wind resource.�

The five member board will study energy production and transmission issues in�South Dakota�and serve as the liaison between state government, transmission authorities in other states and owners of transmission in�South Dakota.