Great River Energy provides wholesale power to 28 electric cooperatives that collectively own Great River Energy and provide electricity to more than 720,000 consumer-members. While other types of businesses must produce returns for investors and other stakeholders, cooperatives focus on doing what’s best for their member-owners. Great River Energy’s board of directors includes directors from …
While electricity is the main product cooperatives like Great River Energy and its member-owners supply, that isn’t their sole purpose. More than just power supply and lines, co-ops build jobs, trust, communities and hope. They work to improve the quality of life for those they serve; donate time, energy and resources to organizations that help …
Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), one of Great River Energy’s 28 member-owner cooperatives, recently celebrated a big milestone as its Operation Round Up Trust Board recently distributed its two-millionth dollar back to local organizations. Operation Round Up, a program that originated in 1995, makes quarterly donations to organizations of all types and sizes throughout MVEC’s …
Minnesota Valley marks $2 million donation milestone Read More »
Whenever you flip a switch, plug in your phone or open your refrigerator, you’re relying on the grid to bring you reliable electricity. At the most basic level, the electric grid is a set of interconnected wires connecting places where energy is produced to where it is used. Over time, the grid has become smarter, …
The modern capabilities of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and Great River Energy’s demand response management system (DRMS) made possible a pilot program now in its third year that benefits Great River Energy and its member-owner cooperatives. The pilot tests a new approach to the irrigation load control program offered by most of Great River Energy’s …
Irrigation studied as a way to balance needs of crops, the grid Read More »
Certain devices that have traditionally been powered by gasoline now have electric models that offer a host of benefits to cooperative members as well as smart electricity sales for co-ops. This month, Great River News looks at an autumn necessity: the leaf blower. When looking to make quick work of leaves and debris, the benefits …
Smart electrification: Leaf blowers offer convenience, cleaner air Read More »
A collaboration between electric cooperatives and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is further expanding the state’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Great River Energy, its member-owner cooperative East Central Energy and the DNR recently gathered to mark the successful installation of a new EV charging station at Banning State Park, located in Sandstone, Minnesota. …
Following a year’s delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the partners behind ‘Sota Grown gathered last month at the site of their indoor agriculture food project for a celebratory ribbon-cutting event. ‘Sota Grown is an innovative pilot project that’s growing leafy greens inside a renovated shipping container at Central Lakes College’s (CLC) campus in Staples, …
Great River Energy’s partner on its upcoming Cambridge Energy Storage Project, Form Energy, recently revealed long-awaited details about its technology. The primary component of Form Energy’s first-of-its-kind, multi-day battery is also a cornerstone of Minnesota’s economy: iron. Form’s previously closely guarded technology is what sets it apart from other grid-scale batteries. “While other battery technologies …
A message from David Saggau, President and CEO, Great River Energy: Great River Energy is focused on building a better future for the member-owners we serve and the stakeholders who are impacted by the things we do. Over the past several years, we have reduced costs, mitigated our carbon risk, added renewables and completed a …
Great River Energy: Working together and doing what’s right Read More »