RAPID CITY, S.D. – August 2, 2023 – Black Hills Energy earlier this month announced the release of its 2022 Sustainability Report highlighting the company’s progress on climate goals and its economic and charitable impact in South Dakota.

“We are pleased to share our progress to create a cleaner energy future for our customers while also demonstrating the ways Black Hills Energy is making a positive impact in our communities,” said Michael Pogany, General Manager of South Dakota Electric Operations. “Our sustainability report provides insight and transparency into our values-driven priorities.”

Throughout 2022, Black Hills Corp. continued to achieve progress toward its goal to reduce electric utility greenhouse gas emissions intensity 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2040 and has already reduced emissions one third since 2005.

“We have set challenging yet realistic goals for delivering cleaner energy and have a clear path to reduce our emissions while minimizing cost impacts to our customer,” continued Pogany.

Report highlights include:

• Expanded clean energy offerings: Over the last year, the company progressed on its preferred resource plans to add 520 MW of new renewable energy and battery storage by 2030. The company continued to expand its renewable energy portfolio of 289 MW of owned and operated wind generation capacity across its service territory with the planned addition of the 80MW Fall River Solar project scheduled to come into service in 2023.
• Caring for the community: In 2022, the company’s community support totaled $6.1 million, including over $758,000 for United Way and more than $760,000 from the company’s energy assistance fund, which matches customers’ and employees’ contributions dollar-for-dollar. In South Dakota, our combined charitable impact exceeded $2 million, and our employees volunteered over 10,000 hours to improve our communities.
• Creating value: The company’s investment in the safety, reliability and sustainability of its extensive utility systems delivers meaningful growth and sustains jobs, families and communities. In 2022, Black Hills Energy’s direct economic impact totaled $1.34 billion. In South Dakota, the direct economic impact to the communities we serve exceeded $157 million.
• Energy efficiency and conservation: Black Hills Energy provided just under $9 million in energy efficiency rebates in 2022 to residential and business customers, leading to annual energy savings of about 17 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 386,000 dekatherms of natural gas – enough energy to power over 2,300 homes with electricity and about 4,900 homes with natural gas for one year. In South Dakota, Black Hills Energy continues to partner with city leaders and chambers to educate customers on simple tips and tricks to reduce energy use inside their home or business while reducing their environmental footprint.

Learn more at www.blackhillsenergy.com/sustainability.