The Antelope Valley Station (AVS) is a lignite-based electric generating station with a capacity of 900,000 kilowatts. It was constructed for a cost of $1.9 billion. The station has two units, each rated at 450,000 KW. The fi rst unit began commercial operation in July 1984 and the second unit in June 1986. Tours are available Monday-Friday and can be coordinated with tours of the Coteau Properties Coal Mine or the Great Plains Synfuels Plant.

This mine is America’s largest lignite coal mine. Coteau supplies more than 15 million tons of lignite coal annually to nearby power plants that produces over 1,600 megawatts of electricity and to the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, the nation’s only commercial-scale coal gasification plant. Tours can be scheduled Monday-Friday and will be coordinated with tours of nearby Basin Electric-AVS and Great Plains Synfuels Plant.

North Dakota and Mercer County’s newest coal mine, Coyote Creek Mine, began producing coal in 2016. The approximately 8,000 acre mine near Beulah will deliver about 2.5 million tons of coal each year to Coyote Station. Coyote Creek Mine employs over 100 people.

Garrison Dam is the fi fth largest earthen dam in the world. It was constructed as part of the Pick-Sloan Plan for development of the upper Missouri River Basin. Construction of the $294 million dam project began in 1947 and closure of the embankment occurred in April 1953. Tours are given Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm CT. Groups of ten or more shall be by special appointment only.

Garrison Dam National Fish Hatchery was originally established in 1957 to provide fish for recreational fishing in new reservoirs created by federal water development projects the Midwest. Today, the hatchery continues to provide management and production of many freshwater fishes for the Missouri River Dam development projects, National Wildlife Refuges, Native American waters, and state programs of North Dakota. Visitors are a close-up view of the fish production process. The dedicated staff and volunteers at the hatchery are happy to answer any questions while you enjoy the self-guided hatchery tour. A visitor center at the hatchery complete with fi ve 400 gallon aquariums will give you the pleasure of viewing the fishes of North Dakota in their environment. A wetlands hiking trail provides an abundance of opportunities for the photographer or naturalist. Waterfowl, fish and a variety of birds and mammals can be viewed in their natural surroundings year round. An observation blind provides the perfect opportunity for watching the waterfowl migration.

This plant is the only commercial-scale coal gasifi cation plant in the United States that manufactures natural gas. The $2.1 billion plant began operating in 1984. Using the Lurgi process the Synfuels Plant gasifies lignite coal to produce valuable gases and liquids. The average daily production is about 160 million cubic feet of natural gas, the majority of which is piped for distribution in the Eastern United States. Many byproducts are also produced and marked in the United States and worldwide. Tours are available Monday-Friday and can be coordinated with tours at the Coteau Properties Coal Mine and Basin Electric-AVS power plant.