Midwest energy market maintains sufficient resources for reliability A persistent, record-breaking heat wave hit California in August, causing the state’s three biggest utilities to cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses for about an hour at a time until the emergency declaration ended a few hours later. These rolling blackouts—the first California […]
Great River Energy President and Chief Executive Officer David Saggau continues to lead his team of 800-plus employees through the COVID-19 pandemic. Great River Energy has gone to great lengths to ensure employees are safe and wholesale electricity remains reliable. The pandemic presented many challenges to Great River Energy, but the company’s performance remains strong. […]
As Great River Energy planned to demolish a power plant, employees found a way to preserve the site’s beloved falcons – and set an example that could have lasting effects on peregrine falcon populations. A pair of peregrine falcons returned in March to a Great River Energy facility location in Elk River and accepted their […]
The Elk River Energy Recovery Station was shut down March 15, 2019, following years of economic challenges. Great River Energy is decommissioning and demolishing the plant in a responsible manner that will safeguard the local environment while also assuring the safety and security of employees and the local community. Crews have spent much of the […]
Land on the bank of the Missouri River was converted from a field to Stanton Station in the mid-1960s. For half a century, the power plant created reliable energy for Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives. Today, the site is fully restored to resemble what it looked like more than 50 years ago. Nearly three years […]
The East Central Energy (ECE) board of directors has selected Justin Jahnz as the cooperative’s next president/CEO. Jahnz currently serves as ECE’s manager of energy services and strategic projects. He begins his new duties this month and fully transitions into his new role when current President/CEO Steve Shurts retires in August. Jahnz will be the […]
Wind farms produce electricity when it’s breezy. Solar panels generate energy during the day. Low-cost, long-duration storage has the potential to serve cooperative members when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. A Great River Energy pilot project has the potential to solve the challenges posed by the variable nature of the most […]
Great River Energy’s employees have successfully served its 28 member-owner cooperatives throughout the pandemic. Nearly half of the cooperative’s employees have continued reporting to their work locations to ensure reliable electricity keeps flowing to member-owners, while the other half have worked remotely since March 12 as a result of the coronavirus. “Great River Energy is […]
Moody’s Investors Service recently upgraded Great River Energy’s credit rating to A3 with a stable outlook. In its report, Moody’s commented that Great River Energy’s power supply plans and projected rate reductions stand to improve the cooperative’s credit and risk profile. Great River Energy announced plans May 7 to retire the 1,151-megawatt (MW) Coal Creek […]
Great River Energy plans to replace coal with low cost renewables and market energy purchases Great River Energy announced plans today to transform its portfolio of power supply resources in the coming years, significantly reducing member-owner wholesale power costs. The electric cooperative plans to phase out remaining coal resources, add significant renewable energy and explore […]