Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative (TWEC) recently recognized the achievement of one of its most esteemed leaders as he reached 50 years of service to the cooperative’s board of directors. Mike Thorson has played a pivotal role in guiding and shaping TWEC’s mission and vision since 1974, ensuring that the cooperative’s members benefit from reliable and affordable …
Great River Energy’s Jim Zabel, telecommunications technician/electrician foreperson, saw a big red flag when he arrived at one of the cooperative’s communication tower sites to perform maintenance. He saw a contract crew digging a trench to access equipment 8 feet below ground. He also saw a problem: Nothing was preventing the trench walls from caving …
Be the One: Employee speaks up and stops work for safety Read More »
More than 70 telecommunications professionals from around the region gathered recently in Minneapolis for the Utilities Technology Council (UTC) Region 5 conference to discuss important topics that are critical to the operation of the electric grid. Great River Energy hosted the event, and Vice President and Chief Information Officer Jim Jones kicked off the annual …
Grid-critical industry group gathers for conference Read More »
Minnesota electric cooperatives send lineworkers to restore power in communities ravaged by hurricanes Unprecedented times call for an unprecedented response. After evaluating the mass devastation caused to their communities by Hurricane Helene, several electric cooperatives in South Carolina put out a call for mutual aid to help restore power after the storm caused outages to …
Great River Energy recently had the privilege of hosting students from Anoka Hennepin School District at its Elk River campus. The group of 45 high school students learned about various electrical technician roles at Great River Energy, toured the Elk River Substation, performed hands on substation apparatus activities and rode in a bucket truck. “We …
Students learn about electrical technician roles Read More »
Cybersecurity threats continue to be an ongoing concern for electric utilities, government agencies and industry organizations. Rest assured, over the last decade, Great River Energy has taken steps to prepare for cybersecurity threats and continues to keep pace with best practices and technology solutions. “Today’s reality is that no one is immune from a cyberattack, …
Projects that will strengthen electricity reliability and open pathways for renewable energy in the Midwest are poised to take a major step forward this winter. Great River Energy, wholesale power provider to 27 member-owner distribution cooperatives in Minnesota, has been one of several utilities working with the region’s grid operator, MISO, over the last two …
Construction of the eastern segment, Alexandria-Big Oaks, to start in 2025 Several regional energy companies are moving ahead with a new high-voltage transmission line that will increase the capability of the transmission system to reliably meet customer demand and deliver energy within the Upper Midwest, following Thursday’s unanimous approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. …
The Pratt & Whitney FT4 combustion turbine has been a cornerstone for peaking plants across the country — including Great River Energy’s St. Bonifacius facility — since manufacturing began in the 1960s. However, it is becoming increasingly important to keep the turbines in peak condition due to their age and the number of units still …
Gas turbines take center stage at conference hosted by Great River Energy Read More »
Minnesota is one of several states that has enacted legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electric utilities. The state’s carbon-free standard requires that 90% of electric utilities’ retail sales be provided by carbon-free power supply by 2035. Serving more than 700,000 members across Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, Great River Energy is a wholesale …
Diverse resource portfolio powers local communities Read More »