Great River Energy directors, member-owner cooperative directors and key staff gathered in early February at meetings in Hinckley and Mankato, Minnesota — while many also joined virtually — to hear about Great River Energy’s 2021 performance and results while learning more about what lies ahead. Great River Energy hosts regional meetings annually to provide information …
At a special Feb. 9 meeting, Great River Energy’s member cooperatives approved the updated agreement for the sale of Coal Creek Station and the high voltage direct current (HVDC) system to Rainbow Energy Center, LLC and Nexus Line, LLC, respectively. Great River Energy’s all-requirements members also approved the purchase power agreement with Apex Clean Energy …
Access to, and demand for, electric vehicles (EV) continues to increase as more states implement transportation standards to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and with growing consumer interest in driving electric. Minnesota is working to become the Midwestern leader for plug-in EV use and recently adopted clean car standards with a goal for 20% of …
First responders get firsthand EV safety training Read More »
Electric cooperatives have long understood they can use the grid efficiently and economically by reducing demand at certain times and shifting energy consumption to off-peak times. This strategy, known as demand response, allows Great River Energy to reduce demand on the electric system during high periods of stress with the flip of a switch. Better …
Money-saving programs play an important role in a healthy electric grid Read More »
When severe winter weather threatens the power line system, Great River Energy’s system operators, line technicians and field services crews work quickly to prepare for what may come and restore the system when power lines or substations are damaged. The night of Dec. 15, a rare December thunderstorm rolled in. It caused damage to Great …
Historic holiday wind damages power poles, substations Read More »
Electric cooperatives do more than just provide a necessary service to their members; they also have a vested interest in the success of the communities they serve. They show a commitment to these communities in various ways, including monetary donations to nonprofit organizations. Between Great River Energy and one of its member-owner cooperatives, 20 food …
Co-ops donate year-end dollars to fire departments, food pantries Read More »
Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC) will soon begin using Great River Energy’s trunked mobile radio (TMR) system. This is the two-way radio system Great River Energy’s field technicians use to communicate with each other and system operations from the field. MVEC is the 19th member-owner cooperative to join the system. Chris Leleux, director of infrastructure …
Trunked mobile radio extended to Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative Read More »
Agreement will deliver power from one of the region’s largest renewable resources to Twin Cities via high-voltage direct-current transmission line. Great River Energy has reached an agreement in principle with Apex Clean Energy to receive renewable energy from a 400-megawatt (MW) wind energy project in McLean County, North Dakota. The Discovery Wind project, expected to …
Recent actions by energy regulators in St. Paul and Washington, D.C., have moved Great River Energy further along in the transition of its power supply portfolio. Approvals by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will help facilitate Great River Energy’s sale of Coal Creek Station and its high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) …
Key approvals advance Great River Energy portfolio transition Read More »
Two-and-a-half years after the retirement of the Elk River Energy Recovery Station, the power plant site now resembles how it likely looked a century ago. The Elk River Energy Recovery Station began operations in the early 1950s using coal as the fuel source. In the early 1960s, the site hosted a federal nuclear reactor, which …