While electricity is the main product cooperatives like Great River Energy and its member-owners supply, that isn’t their sole purpose. More than just power supply and lines, co-ops build jobs, trust, communities and hope. They work to improve the quality of life for those they serve; donate time, energy and resources to organizations that help …
Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC), one of Great River Energy’s 28 member-owner cooperatives, recently celebrated a big milestone as its Operation Round Up Trust Board recently distributed its two-millionth dollar back to local organizations. Operation Round Up, a program that originated in 1995, makes quarterly donations to organizations of all types and sizes throughout MVEC’s …
Minnesota Valley marks $2 million donation milestone Read More »
The modern capabilities of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and Great River Energy’s demand response management system (DRMS) made possible a pilot program now in its third year that benefits Great River Energy and its member-owner cooperatives. The pilot tests a new approach to the irrigation load control program offered by most of Great River Energy’s …
Irrigation studied as a way to balance needs of crops, the grid Read More »
A collaboration between electric cooperatives and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is further expanding the state’s electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Great River Energy, its member-owner cooperative East Central Energy and the DNR recently gathered to mark the successful installation of a new EV charging station at Banning State Park, located in Sandstone, Minnesota. …
Following a year’s delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the partners behind ‘Sota Grown gathered last month at the site of their indoor agriculture food project for a celebratory ribbon-cutting event. ‘Sota Grown is an innovative pilot project that’s growing leafy greens inside a renovated shipping container at Central Lakes College’s (CLC) campus in Staples, …
A message from David Saggau, President and CEO, Great River Energy: Great River Energy is focused on building a better future for the member-owners we serve and the stakeholders who are impacted by the things we do. Over the past several years, we have reduced costs, mitigated our carbon risk, added renewables and completed a …
Great River Energy: Working together and doing what’s right Read More »
The best way to preserve the struggling monarch butterfly is through voluntary conservation efforts rather than government regulation, a Minnesota electric cooperative CEO recently told a House panel. “Our goal is to protect this iconic species for posterity,” said Justin Jahnz, CEO of East Central Energy (ECE), in testimony before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee …
Co-op CEO touts voluntary conservation efforts to Congress Read More »
Visitors to the Hemker Park & Zoo can now enjoy a smooth, quiet ride on an electric tram while they observe animals from around the world thanks in part to funds provided by Stearns Electric Association. The co-op, along with its wholesale power provider Great River Energy, used a portion of its annual Conservation Improvement …
After a season off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, communities across Twins Territory again hosted thousands of kids in learning fundamental baseball and softball skills. A partnership between Great River Energy and the Minnesota Twins brought free clinic programs across the Upper Midwest for boys and girls ages 6-12 throughout the summer. Now in its …
Cooperative annual meetings are a time for members to gather, cast their ballots for board of director candidates, ask questions, learn more about their co-op and share a meal together. But with the pandemic taking away the ability for large groups to meet indoors for more than a year now, co-ops have needed to adapt. …