Member-owner cooperatives Archives - Great River Energy
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Member-owner cooperatives

State investment in broadband supports co-op members

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz recently announced over $50 million in grants to expand broadband access to an estimated 8,900 homes and businesses throughout Minnesota, including areas served by two of Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives. “We’re investing in broadband infrastructure statewide to help thousands of Minnesotans connect to jobs, education, healthcare and their communities,” Walz …

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Co-ops partner to support future EV technicians

Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining in popularity, but as the EV fleet expands, so does the need for trained technicians when maintenance or repair needs arise. Kandiyohi Power Cooperative (KPC), based in Spicer, Minnesota, and Great River Energy are working with a local community college to meet the need for qualified EV techs. KPC donated …

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Solar energy powers co-op’s new electric vehicle chargers

A Southern Minnesota electric cooperative is now providing electric vehicle (EV) drivers the opportunity to quickly “fuel” up at its headquarters with its newly installed fast-charging stations that come with an added bonus: A renewable form of locally produced energy is the source of power. Owatonna-based Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric, one of Great River Energy’s 27 …

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Innovative mobile substation helps keep the lights on

In an era where electricity plays an indispensable role in our daily lives, maintaining a reliable and robust power grid is important. To help tackle this challenge, innovative solutions like mobile substations can enhance the resilience of distribution networks. These units are equipped with transformers, circuit breakers, protective relays and other necessary equipment to step …

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Heinz joins board of directors

Cooperatives like Great River Energy and its member-owners are unique. They operate at cost, only collecting enough revenue to serve their members and meet their financial obligations. They are also governed by boards of directors elected by, and from, the membership. The Great River Energy board of directors welcomed its newest member in January when …

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Members see value from new meter technology

Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives have something new to be proud of: 96% of the meters in Great River Energy’s service area are now smart meters, which is ahead of the curve for co-ops nationally. All of Great River Energy’s 27 member co-ops are nearly finished installing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) to replace traditional analog …

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Locally sourced renewable energy

Contract change recognizes growing interest and opportunities for local renewable energy Most of Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives now have an increased opportunity to self-supply renewable energy following the approval of an amendment to their wholesale power contracts. What was previously an option for members that receive all their wholesale power from Great River Energy …

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Electric pickup truck powers local concert

An electric cooperative recently demonstrated the versatility of what electric vehicle (EV) batteries are capable of by powering a local outdoor concert with a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. For more than six hours, Kandiyohi Power Cooperative (KPC) helped put on a live music show featuring two bands at The Land, an outdoor event space located …

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Great River Energy and member-owners apply for New ERA funding

Great River Energy, a not-for-profit wholesale electric cooperative, along with a majority of its member-owners are pleased to announce they have filed a Letter of Interest with the United States Department of Agriculture to participate in the department’s Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program to become eligible for nearly $1 billion in federal funds to …

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USDA awards $434 million to co-ops for infrastructure upgrades

More than $430 million in rural infrastructure awards recently announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will help electric cooperatives strengthen their systems and increase grid reliability and security. The latest round of funding from USDA’s Electric Loan Program, announced Aug. 28, will go to 19 co-ops in 10 states and will also help …

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