Pine Ridge Indian Reservation joined the growing list of wind turbine sites in the state last week with the installation of its first wind turbine.

Pine Ridge and the state's other reservations have a unique opportunity to develop wind energy in South Dakota because they can produce more energy than they need on site and they have the need for the economic development.

And while the development of wind resources on Pine Ridge is clearly good for the reservation, it's also good for the state.

South Dakota's wind is harnessed at several sites across the state: Chamberlain, Howard, Canova, Gary, Highmore, Rosebud Sioux Reservation, Brookings County's Minn-Dakota Wind Farm and Tatanka wind farm in McPherson County.

Gary Hanson, chairman of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission sees wind development in the state as both a challenge and an opportunity and sees reservations playing a role in the development of wind energy.

We hope the first wind turbine on Pine Ridge isn't the last. In the short term, it's good for the community as it will provide some economic stimulus. In the long term, it's one more piece of the puzzle to successfully developing alternative sources of energy - in this case wind in South Dakota.

"Wind capacity opportunities in South Dakota, according to WEA (American Wind Energy Association), is in the top four in the states in the U.S.," Hanson said. "So we have a tremendous opportunity to develop wind in South Dakota."

The challenge now is to get that energy to market. As more sites like Pine Ridge come online, both the state and energy providers will have more interest in getting the lines in place to transmit the excess energy.

Case in point is Big Stone II at the far northeastern part of the state. That project is contingent on the construction of excess transmission lines for renewable energy such as wind. So while the plant is providing the energy for our energy-starved region, it is also helping to pave the road for the future of alternative energy.

The development of alternative energy needs to be pursued without hesitation, especially in South Dakota.

On Pine Ridge, the wind project started about eight years ago with a wind study to determine placement of the turbine. That was good planning years ago that has finally come to fruition. One turbine brings opportunity that will only be fully realized when multiple turbines are built. At that point, the excess energy created will be sold to neighboring states and more jobs are created on Pine Ridge.

On Pine Ridge, president of the Intertribal Council on Utility Policy Pat Spears said he hopes the turbine is only the first of many to be built on South Dakota's reservations.

We hope it's not the last, too.