June 2021 - Great River Energy
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June 2021

Rainbow Energy Center to purchase Coal Creek Station

Company news, Power generation resources, Transmission /

After 40 years serving Minnesota cooperative members, North Dakota’s largest and most efficient power plant will continue operations under local ownership. Rainbow Energy Center, LLC (Rainbow Energy Center) has reached an agreement to purchase Coal Creek Station from Great River Energy and operate the 1,151-megawatt (MW) power plant using current plant employees they hire. Nexus …

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Electric system passes early summer test

Company news, Cooperatives, Power generation resources, Transmission /

Great River Energy’s system performed well in early June despite the stretch of temperatures repeatedly reaching above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. “We did not experience any overloading on the transmission system, and we did not need to make any special operational changes except for some equipment maintenance work schedule changes,” said Great River Energy Operations and …

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Patel named 2021 Notable BIPOC Executive

Company news, Cooperatives, Employee news /

Great River Energy’s Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel was recently named a Twin Cities Business 2021 Notable BIPOC Executive. The magazine featured notable BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) executives who have shown the ability to effect change, demonstrated a willingness to share expertise, and exhibited leadership in specific initiatives or programs …

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Minnesota law recognizes electricity’s benefits

Cooperatives /

A bill led by electric cooperatives to modernize and expand the state’s energy conservation program for utilities was signed into law by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz last month. Receiving strong bipartisan support from both the House and Senate, the Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act updates and expands the state’s Conservation Improvement Program (CIP). The …

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Good Neighbor Award: Employees assist at scene of semi rollover

Community, Company news, Cooperatives, Employee news /

Plant operators Preston Weisenburger and Jeremy Schmaltz were traveling to Great River Energy’s Spiritwood Station power plant at 4:30 a.m. on April 18 when they saw a semi had rolled into the ditch on North Dakota Highway 52. They were the first on the scene and responded quickly by calling 911. While Weisenburger was on …

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Drive-in meetings keep members safe and engaged

Community, Cooperatives, Member-owner cooperatives /

Cooperative annual meetings are a time for members to gather, cast their ballots for board of director candidates, ask questions, learn more about their co-op and share a meal together. But with the pandemic taking away the ability for large groups to meet indoors for more than a year now, co-ops have needed to adapt. …

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Scholarships help future energy leaders

Community, Cooperatives /

The energy industry has always been driven by smart people and new ideas. Scholarship programs funded and organized by Great River Energy are designed to provide training and education for the next generation to lead electric cooperatives. Great River Energy recently awarded dozens of scholarships to students attending high schools in North Dakota and Minnesota …

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Electric cooperatives ask members to do their part to conserve energy today

Cooperatives, Member-owner cooperatives /

Cooperative members are being asked to conserve electricity. Please cut back energy use until 10 p.m. today. Your cooperation is appreciated. The heat wave we are experiencing has prompted the operator of the electric transmission system in our region to issue a maximum generation emergency event. This means that all generation is being called upon …

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