As ever more renewable energy is added to the electric grid, utilities continue to preserve one of electricity’s most important qualities: reliability. Large conventional power plants that have shut down in recent years are often replaced with new generators, such as wind turbines and solar panels, that can produce electricity at a lower cost. But […]
$882 million wind development nearly completes cooperative’s plans for renewable transition. With long-term agreements to purchase the output from four large wind energy projects, Great River Energy has secured energy resources to transition to a largely renewable power supply portfolio by 2023. Great River Energy has signed agreements with subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Resources to […]
Agreement will add 200 megawatts of renewable capacity to cooperative’s portfolio Great River Energy has signed a power purchase agreement for 200 megawatts (MW) of wind energy from a project in Deuel County, South Dakota. Through an agreement with Invenergy, a Midwest-based developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions, Great River Energy will supply its […]
Great River Energy was recently presented with a Leadership and Innovation Award by a Cooperative Electric Utility by Clean Grid Alliance (CGA). CGA noted Great River Energy’s “track record of success,” including “clean energy and carbon reduction, adopting renewables, electrification, leading on building new transmission through the CapX2020 initiative, working on long-duration energy storage, service […]
Connexus Energy, one of Great River Energy’s 28 member-owner cooperatives, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on its 3-megawatt solar project in Baldwin Township, Minnesota. Those involved with the building and permitting of Sunflower I – Baldwin Renewable Station, attended the ceremony, including representatives from Connexus Energy, Baldwin Township, City […]
With the help of Dakota Electric Association and Great River Energy, a local data center is powered entirely by renewable energy. DataBank, a leading provider of enterprise-class colocation, connectivity and managed services, announced the milestone was achieved at MSP2, a data center located in Eagan, Minnesota. DataBank entered into an agreement with utility provider Dakota […]
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 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 […]
Dakota Electric Association members are receiving more electricity from the sun through a new 3-megawatt solar facility built specifically for the cooperative’s members. The 15-acre solar site, south of Farmington, Minnesota, is expected to have a 25-year life and will produce enough electricity to power about 600 average homes. The 10,368 panels will produce more […]
The electricity serving cooperative members just got a little greener as another wind energy project has been added to the mix. The Emmons-Logan wind farm located in south central North Dakota began producing electricity in late December, becoming the largest renewable resource serving Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives. The 200-megawatt project will provide carbon-free electricity […]