Great River Energy holds annual meeting, Holl elected board chair

Maple Grove, Minn. –Approximately 350 electric cooperative leaders gathered for Great River Energy’s annual meeting at the cooperative’s new headquarters facility in Maple Grove, Minn. on June 12. Great River Energy leadership addressed the attendees sharing highlights from the past year.

“We are a fast growing utility - experiencing 5.4 percent load growth in 2007,” said Great River Energy president and CEO, David Saggau. “We continue to serve our members well with our focus on our triple bottom line: reasonable rates, reliable service and environmental stewardship.”

Larry Schmid, vice president and CFO, Great River Energy shared information on the cooperative’s financial position. “Great River Energy’s financial condition is strong. In fact, it has never been stronger,” said Schmid. “We are ready for the future.” 2007 was a significant year for Great River Energy. The organization completed a $1.3 billion transaction into the capital markets. “In 2007, we continued to build our financial strength and we are well prepared for the future” added Schmid.

New officers were elected to the Great River Energy Board of Directors during a reorganization meeting following the annual meeting:
-Chair: Don Holl, Connexus Energy, Ramsey
-Vice-chair: Bruce Leino, North Itasca Electric Cooperative, Inc., Bigfork
-Secretary: Bill O’Brien, Runestone Electric Association, Alexandria
-Treasurer: Clay Van De Bogart, Dakota Electric Association, Farmington

Also during the meeting, two new directors were elected to the Great River Energy board:
-Sherman Liimatainen, Lake Country Power, Grand Rapids
-Jack Lacey, Lake Region Electric, Pelican Rapids

The following directors were re-elected to Great River Energy’s 34-member board:
-Harold Jacobson, Agralite Electric Cooperative, Benson
-Alta McQuatters, Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc., Lutsen
-Brad Leiding, BENCO Electric Cooperative, Mankato
-Bruce Leino, North Itasca Electric Cooperative, Inc., Bigfork
-Leo Marti, Brown County Rural Electrical Association, Sleepy Eye
-Don Holl, Connexus Energy, Ramsey
-James Leroux, Connexus Energy, Ramsey
-Peggy Kuettel, Cooperative Light and Power, Two Harbors
-Robert Kangas, Crow Wing Power, Brainerd
-Don O’Brien, Crow Wing Power, Brainerd
-Clay Van De Bogart, Dakota Electric Association, Farmington
-Carl Potter, Dakota Electric Association, Farmington
-Jim Haasis, East Central Energy, Braham
-Donald Martens, East Central Energy, Braham
-Dave Hansen, Federated Rural Electric Association
-David Hernke, Goodhue County Cooperative Electric, Zumbrota
-Royce Peterson, Itasca-Mantrap Cooperative, Park Rapids
-Howard Powers, Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, Willmar
-Robert Bruckbauer, Lake Country Power, Grand Rapids
-Lester Ranzau, McLeod Cooperative Power Association, Glencoe
-Jim Wirz, Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association, Litchfield

-Dennis Lamke, Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative, Aitkin
-Gordon Bates, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative, Jordan
-Henry A. Hanson, Nobles Cooperative Electric, Worthington
-Gilbert Schmitz, Redwood Electric Cooperative, Clements
-Bill O’Brien, Runestone Electric Association, Alexandria
-Bruce Falk, South Central Electric Association, St. James
-Dennis O’Donnell, Stearns Electric Association, Melrose
-Gary Wilson, Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric, Owatonna
-Michael Thorson, Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative, Wadena
-Erick Heinz, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, Rockford
-Thomas Mach, Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, Rockford

About Great River Energy

Great River Energy ( www.greatriverenergy.com) provides wholesale electricity to more than 1.7 million people via 28 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin. With more than $2 billion in assets, Great River Energy is the second largest utility in the state, based on generating capacity, and the fifth largest generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative in the United States. Great River Energy’s member cooperatives range from those in the outer-ring suburbs of the Twin Cities to the Arrowhead region of Minnesota to the farmland of southwestern Minnesota. Great River Energy’s largest distribution cooperative serves more than 120,000 member-consumers; the smallest serves just over 2,400.

###