Last week’s hot weather had Minnesotans scrambling for shade and seeking refuge in the air conditioning — but the electric grid performed as expected, even when demand for electricity approached record levels. “We were staffed up and monitoring the situation closely all week, but the transmission network overall held up quite well,” said Mark Peterson, […]
Electric system resilient during last week’s sweltering heat Read More »
The region’s grid operator is soon expected to approve the first phase of high-voltage power line projects in its multi-phase Long-Range Transmission Plan. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) plan calls for $10 billion and more in transmission investment across the 15-state region in the next decade, including several projects in Minnesota. The addition of
Great River Energy advocates for cooperatives with new power lines on the horizon Read More »
Great River Energy and other electric cooperatives are among the many organizations focusing on the plight of bumble bees, butterflies and the many other bugs that pollinate more than 70% of the world’s crops. In celebration of National Pollinator Week, June 20-26, Great River Energy is proud to announce its next pollinator habitat project. “Later
Great River Energy announces next pollinator habitat project Read More »
Great River Energy has sufficient resources to serve its membership, but expected weather challenges may warrant added measures to maintain reliability of the larger grid Last week, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) issued its 2022 Summer Reliability Assessment. In it, NERC — the United States’ authority on electric reliability — warned that several
Grid authorities issue warnings about summer energy demand Read More »
Early May damage to the electric system included second-most damaging event in Great River Energy’s history Great River Energy is well on the road to recovery after three rounds of severe storms took a heavy toll on its power line system. According to WCCO-TV, the stretch of damaging, back-to-back severe storms Minnesota experienced on May
Strong recovery follows trio of spring storms Read More »
A new crop of college students will hit the ground running this month at Great River Energy, bringing with them new ideas and a drive to gain real-world working experience, as the cooperative’s summer internship program kicks off. The program offers interns several months of well-rounded, firsthand experience working alongside utility industry professionals at Great
Internship program offers foot in the door to electric industry Read More »
If you were to start an electric company from scratch, what would it look like? Great River Energy President and Chief Executive Officer David Saggau has described his vision for the ideal power provider for Minnesota’s cooperative members. “You would start with a portfolio of renewable energy resources at locations throughout the Midwest,” Saggau said.
Low-carbon future comes into focus Read More »
When Great River Energy employees who worked remotely the last two years due to the pandemic returned to the office earlier this month, their workspace looked and functioned much in the same way it did in March 2020 but with the addition of several air quality safety upgrades. The nature of COVID-19’s ability to spread
New technologies improve air quality Read More »
A collaborative project between electric cooperatives and organizations with a vested interest in the success of rural communities was recently recognized by the Environmental Initiative during its 2022 award season. ‘Sota Grown, a two-year demonstration project to sustainably grow leafy greens year-round for Minnesota residents using a hydroponic growing system inside a shipping container, was selected to
‘Sota Grown earns recognition for rural vitality Read More »
Electric sector’s greenhouse gas reductions putting state goal in reach Great River Energy and other Minnesota utilities are setting the pace to meet the state’s emissions target. Between 2005 and 2018, greenhouse gas emissions related to electricity dropped 29% in Minnesota. The sectors with the next biggest reductions — waste and transportation — reduced emissions
Leading the charge Read More »