Minnesotans experience weather in extremes oftentimes on a recurring cycle — from deep freezes to big melts to heat waves — which means electric cooperatives must be prepared year-round to keep electricity flowing to homes, farms and businesses no matter what Mother Nature brings. When temperatures drop as low as they did during the polar […]
Hot weather can stress the electric grid, but co-ops have a plan Read More »
As a cooperative, Great River Energy is deeply committed to sustainability through solid environmental policies and practices and helping to build strong communities. In a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest, Great River Energy continued to provide its member-owner cooperatives with reliable, affordable electricity in an environmentally responsible manner. This is the
Great River Energy: A community partner Read More »
Part of Great River Energy’s commitment to providing reliable, affordable electricity to its member-owner cooperatives is an ongoing responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of its operations. The co-op demonstrates its dedication to environmental stewardship by the inclusion of sustainability in its mission statement, a commitment to incorporating renewable energy into its power supply portfolio
Facility recognized for wastewater management Read More »
Great River Energy hosts a pair of peregrine falcons each spring and summer. The long-term peregrine falcon residents returned to the Elk River, Minnesota, nest box earlier this spring. Brooklyn, the male, returned for a seventh year and Breezy, the female, returned for a fourth year. The pair produced four eggs in late March. The
Watch young falcons on birdcam Read More »
A new program offered by Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives uses energy efficiency to address the health and safety of people while they spend time indoors. The Healthy Buildings program was created primarily in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as concerns heightened around indoor air quality in relation to the spread of infectious aerosols. However,
Energy efficient technologies help mitigate COVID-19, flu aerosols Read More »
The Kandiyohi Power Cooperative (KPC) board of directors recently appointed Ryan Nelson as the co-op’s new chief executive officer, effective April 16. Nelson, who previously held the positions of acting general manager and manager of engineering and operations, brings 18 years of industry experience to his new role. “During this time of transformation, Ryan is
Kandiyohi Power Cooperative names Nelson new CEO Read More »
Four Great River Energy employees recently received awards for their achievements in applying Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) research to produce significant results. Presented annually, EPRI’s Technology Transfer Awards recognize industry leaders and innovators who help companies transform research into results and solutions that improve the efficiency of power plants, harden transmission and distribution equipment,
Innovative employee research earns awards Read More »
As government officials at the state and federal levels begin to lift restrictions and turn their attention to re-opening businesses, Great River Energy and electric utilities everywhere are beginning to discuss how they will approach returning to more normal business operations. Since March 12, all Great River Energy employees who can reasonably work from home
Great River Energy to be conservative in returning to normal work arrangements Read More »
Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, one of Great River Energy’s 28 member-owner cooperatives, announced that its board of directors appointed Sonja Bogart as chief executive officer. Bogart has 25 years of experience in the energy industry. Most recently, Bogart served as the chief operating officer at Umatilla Electric Cooperative in eastern Oregon. She previously served as the
Bogart appointed to top job at Kandiyohi Read More »
The organization that monitors the region’s electric grid projects there are adequate power reserves to meet demand for electricity this summer. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) expects summer demand to peak at 125 gigawatts (GW), with 152 GW of available capacity. The system’s summer peak demand forecast was reviewed during the recent Summer Readiness
Midwest grid prepared for summer Read More »