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 »
Great River Energy can provide reliable electricity in the summer due in large part to modern, flexible and efficient power plants at strategic locations throughout Minnesota. Known as “peaking stations,” these facilities can feed precise amounts of electricity onto the electric grid when electricity needs spike in the winter and summer. “These plants are able …
Busy spring sets stage for summer electricity demand 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 »
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. …
At a special Feb. 9 meeting, Great River Energy’s member cooperatives approved the updated agreement for the sale of Coal Creek Station and the high voltage direct current (HVDC) system to Rainbow Energy Center, LLC and Nexus Line, LLC, respectively. Great River Energy’s all-requirements members also approved the purchase power agreement with Apex Clean Energy …
Agreement will deliver power from one of the region’s largest renewable resources to Twin Cities via high-voltage direct-current transmission line. Great River Energy has reached an agreement in principle with Apex Clean Energy to receive renewable energy from a 400-megawatt (MW) wind energy project in McLean County, North Dakota. The Discovery Wind project, expected to …
Great River Energy’s partner on its upcoming Cambridge Energy Storage Project, Form Energy, recently revealed long-awaited details about its technology. The primary component of Form Energy’s first-of-its-kind, multi-day battery is also a cornerstone of Minnesota’s economy: iron. Form’s previously closely guarded technology is what sets it apart from other grid-scale batteries. “While other battery technologies …
States across the country have either already enacted policies to decarbonize their economies or are currently working toward implementing them. But different policies, even with the same goals, can have different impacts on each state’s energy system. Over the years, there have been several proposals in Minnesota, including some that would increase the state’s renewable …
Studies evaluate pathways to decarbonization in Minnesota Read More »
During cool weather in March and April, the operations and maintenance crews at Great River Energy peaking stations are hard at work with summer operations in mind. “The maintenance we do in the springtime gets the plants ready for the hot weather in June, July and August — that’s what we prepare for,” said Great …
There are a lot of differing views when it comes to discussing the future of electricity production. One promising technology, however, has gained support from the business community, environmental advocates, the White House and elected officials on both sides of the aisle: carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). By removing the greenhouse gas emissions from …
Power plant sale helps advance critical environmental technology Read More »