Great River Energy’s intern program offers hands-on opportunities Another summer of Great River Energy’s annual internship program recently concluded with a day of presentations that highlighted all the work accomplished by the interns and what they learned. The cooperative expanded its program this year to include 23 interns from 11 different schools. The program provides […]
Building bright futures Read More »
More than $430 million in rural infrastructure awards recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will help electric cooperatives strengthen their systems and increase grid reliability and security. The latest round of funding from USDA’s Electric Loan Program, announced Aug. 28, will go to 19 co-ops in 10 states and will also help
USDA awards $434 million to co-ops for infrastructure upgrades Read More »
Baseball fields across the Upper Midwest turned into community hubs this summer as the Play Ball! Youth Clinics brought together local cooperatives, youth organizations, enthusiastic kids and their parents. More than 50 free baseball and softball clinics were brought to communities across Twins Territory through a partnership between Great River Energy, the Minnesota Twins and
Twins clinics draw 3,500 youth to Midwest fields Read More »
One Minnesota electric cooperative employee rose to the top of more than 160 nominations submitted from co-ops across the country to be included in the 2023 class of Rising Stars chosen by a panel of judges representing the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. John Pantzke, business development representative and energy service supervisor for Stearns Electric
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The U.S. Department of Energy set a goal of producing 10 million metric tons of hydrogen per year by 2030. Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as a potential alternative to gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas and they can be used to power vehicles, generate electricity, and heat homes and businesses. Electric cooperatives are well-positioned
Co-ops help promote hydrogen fuel cell production Read More »
A longtime Great River Energy leader has been tapped to guide the next chapter for the cooperative’s corporate and member services division. Lisa Orpen was recently named Great River Energy’s vice president and chief corporate and member services officer, where she will lead a team responsible for numerous company functions. “Lisa has been instrumental in
Orpen named vice president Read More »
Annual Harvest Festival event included electric vehicle car show Great River Energy, along with its member-owner cooperatives Lake Country Power and Cooperative Light & Power, recently partnered with Minnesota Power to bring an electric vehicle (EV) car show to the 29th annual Lake Superior Harvest Festival. Held at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth, Minnesota, the
Industry experts expand ‘Energy Fair’ Read More »
Two of Great River Energy’s member-owner electric cooperatives energized their fleet of vehicles by adding an electric pickup to their lineups. Brown County Rural Electric Association (BCREA), based in Sleepy Eye, added a Ford Lightning pickup and Federated Rural Electric Association (Federated), located in Jackson, received a Rivian R1T pickup. “Since we are a rural
Co-ops charge ahead by adding electric trucks Read More »
As the energy industry moves toward a more resilient, reliable and sustainable future, Great River Energy has made it a priority to study and evaluate emerging technologies and trends. One of these areas currently being investigated is zero carbon ammonia production. Ammonia is traditionally produced using fossil fuels, but in 2013 the University of Minnesota
Great River Energy continues to explore alternative energy production Read More »
Great River Energy’s transmission construction and maintenance (TC&M) team performed an internal audit of the cooperative’s fleet data records and conducted an extensive overview of its fleet assets, which led to the determination that more than 50 assets were no longer serving Great River Energy’s needs. These included items such as trucks, trailers, specialized pieces
Fleet review leads to business savings Read More »