Whenever you flip a switch, charge your smart phone or store food in the freezer, you’re relying on the grid to bring you reliable electricity. At a basic level, the electric grid is a set of interconnected wires connecting places where energy is produced to where it is used. Over time, the grid has become […]
How electricity gets to you Read More »
Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Priti Patel recently had the opportunity to tour the LJ Shosten Union Training Center in St. Paul along with Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith. The visit was made in light of President Joe Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law Aug. 16, which will now allow public power to
Patel tours Union Training Center Read More »
The electric system in northern Minnesota is stronger today, thanks to a new Great River Energy transmission project near Bigfork. A ribbon-cutting event was recently held to celebrate the completion of a new 14-mile, 69-kilovolt transmission line Great River Energy constructed that connects the new North Itasca Electric Cooperative substation to the electric grid. The
Completed transmission project will meet new demand for members Read More »
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the region’s grid operator, approved a portfolio of transmission projects last month as part of the first phase of its Long-Range Transmission Plan. In total MISO approved 18 projects across its Midwest sub region, with six in the Upper Midwest. One of these projects is an approximately 150-mile, double-circuit
Investing in a strong electric system Read More »
Minnesota Power, a utility division of ALLETE Inc. (NYSE: ALE), and Great River Energy today announced their intent to build an approximately 150-mile, double-circuit 345-kV transmission line from northern Minnesota to central Minnesota near Becker that will support grid reliability in the Upper Midwest. The transmission line will run from Minnesota Power’s Iron Range Substation
Helicopters provide a great way for Great River Energy to both inspect its lines, equipment and right of way, and to make repairs from overhead when needed. In May and June, Great River Energy used helicopters for all these jobs. Byron Johnson, leader of vegetation management at the cooperative, said efficiency and having a bird’s
Aerial patrols prove effective in many situations 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 »