Four young falcons were banded at Great River Energy’s Elk River location on May 30. Representatives from the Raptor Resource Project conducted the banding with help from employees. Kelsey Rayment, veterinarian resident for the Raptor Resource Project, collected blood and saliva samples from each of the young falcons to test for the presence of avian …
Great River Energy helps falcons spread their wings Read More »
Minnesota passed legislation at the beginning of 2023 requiring the state’s utilities to use 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. But even before it became law, Great River Energy collaborated with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to model and analyze potential energy system transitions under different decarbonization pathways, including a zero-emitting electric power sector, in …
EPRI modeling evaluates potential decarbonization strategies for Minnesota Read More »
More than 140 megawatts (MW) added to the Midwest capacity market this year by Great River Energy came not in the form of a new wind farm or traditional power plant, but instead by aggregating and registering load-modifying resources as a “virtual” power plant. Great River Energy and its 27 member-owner cooperatives operate several demand …
Co-ops register ‘virtual power plant’ in regional capacity market Read More »
Great River Energy and Minnesota Power hosted a second phase of public open houses in May for the Northland Reliability Project in six communities where attendees could ask questions and provide input on the transmission line’s preliminary route. More than 200 property owners attended the events. The two utilities plan to build an approximately 180-mile, …
Public outreach continues for Northland Reliability Project Read More »
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $1.5 million loan to Stearns Electric Association through the Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program (REDLG) to support the owners of Redhead Creamery in their efforts to establish an innovative on-farm distillery that uses the leftover whey from their cheesemaking process to produce premium distilled …
A partnership between Great River Energy, the Minnesota Twins and the Twins Community Fund is bringing free youth baseball and softball clinics across the state this summer. Created in 1961 by longtime Twins scout Angelo Giuliana, the Play Ball! Minnesota youth clinics offer an opportunity for participants ages 6-13 to pitch and hit in their …
Two members of Great River Energy’s leadership team recently set out to talk safety with field employees. The purpose of the visits was to gain a better understanding about work happening in the field, provide an opportunity for employees to share challenges or ask questions, and for employees to highlight safety improvements they have identified …
Leadership talks safety with Great River Energy employees Read More »
The peregrine falcons that reside in Great River Energy’s Elk River nest box, Brooklyn and Breezy, are busy caring for their four eyasses (young falcons) that recently hatched. Representatives from the Raptor Resource Project will be onsite to band the eyasses in late May. Watch the falcons on Great River Energy’s peregrine falcon birdcam at …
Severe Weather Awareness Week is designed to refresh, remind and educate everyone about the seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid them. It’s also a great time to make and practice your emergency plan, refresh your emergency preparedness kit and revisit what to do should you encounter a downed power line. Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 17-21 in Minnesota, and a statewide tornado drill …
A familiar pair of falcons returned to the Great River Energy nesting box located on the cooperative’s Elk River campus. Brooklyn, the male, has returned for a ninth consecutive year and Breezy, the female, returned for a sixth year. Breeding pairs tend to be monogamous throughout their lifespan and return to the same nesting location …