Project

Pioneer Generation Station Phase IV

We provided collaborative engineer-procure-construct (EPC) project delivery and self-perform construction for the Phase IV expansion of Pioneer Generation Station.

To meet urgent load growth projections and mounting grid congestion, Basin Electric Power Cooperative needed to add new generation capacity on an accelerated timeline. We served as the engineer-procure-construct (EPC) contractor for the complex brownfield project.

Our team was responsible for all aspects of project development, including permitting support, engineering, procurement and self-perform construction, as well as startup/commissioning. The project, completed in October 2025, added two Siemens F-class simple-cycle combustion turbines and six Wärtsilä reciprocating engines, installed in parallel a half-mile apart at either end of the existing facility. We successfully added approximately 560 megawatts of responsive natural gas-fired generation, strengthening grid reliability for the cooperative’s members.

We were also responsible for self-performing most of the construction, including all the below-grade utilities, tanks and electrical duct banks, as well as the above-grade piping and electrical, building erection, electrical equipment and raceway, and major mechanical equipment.

Through a trust-based partnership and overlapping workstreams, the project was delivered within schedule and came in well under budget.

Client

Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Location

Williston, North Dakota

Region

Midwest

Services

Construction

Natural Gas Generation

Industry

Power

~560

megawatts of generation capacity added

3K+

pipe spools fabricated off-site

100

tons of structural steel fabricated off-site

consecutive work hours without a recordable incident

500K

square miles of service territory served

Case Study

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Accelerating Power Delivery Through a Collaborative EPC Approach

“A partnered EPC approach allowed us to have the new generation available in a compressed timeline. 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.”

Matt Ehrman

Vice President of Engineering and Construction at Basin Electric

Partnered EPC approach.

Basin Electric chose our team as its EPC partner to provide planning, design and project execution. This approach allowed the utility to have input prior to mobilizing construction to the site. It also allowed us to formulate design around construction and installation upfront, thereby streamlining work packages, fabrication, field procurements and mobilization to the field.

The collaboration and transparency between our team and Basin Electric made for a seamless process that smoothed project planning and design efforts early on, further supporting quick mobilization.

Project Features

Generation capacity: Added approximately 560 MW of flexible power generation through two Siemens SGT6-5000F simple-cycle combustion turbines and six Wärtsilä W18V50DF reciprocating internal combustion engines.

On-time, under-budget delivery: The project was completed on schedule in October 2025 and was well under budget, despite supply chain challenges and a compressed timeline.

Integrated EPC approach: Provided a full scope of services, from early development and environmental permitting support through detailed engineering, procurement, self-perform construction and startup.

Exceptional safety performance: Project leadership implemented a sitewide cultural shift centered on strengthening a people-first safety philosophy. This approach emphasized individual accountability and empowered every worker to take ownership of jobsite safety, resulting in over 1 million consecutive work hours without a recordable incident and a final total recordable incident rate of 0.54.

Complex brownfield integration: Successfully constructed new assets within and around an operating plant, coordinating closely with plant personnel to maintain safe and continuous operations.