Great River Energy supports Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library with $1 million donation
Great River Energy’s longstanding commitment to strengthening communities and investing in the future is reflected in its $1 million contribution to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota.
The donation supports a landmark institution dedicated to preserving the legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt while inspiring future generations through education, conservation and leadership.
The contribution was first approved by the Great River Energy board in 2022 and reinforces the cooperative’s commitment to making a positive impact beyond the electric grid.
The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library officially opened this summer in the North Dakota Badlands, a location that played a pivotal role in shaping Roosevelt’s views on land stewardship and public service. The library is designed to educate visitors about Roosevelt’s life and legacy while serving as a gathering place for civic engagement and learning.
“Leadership, citizenship, conservation — those three ideas ran through Theodore Roosevelt’s whole life, and they are what this library exists to hand forward. Not as history under glass, but as questions worth carrying home. Great River Energy understood that ambition early and helped make it real.”
— Ted Roosevelt V, great-great grandson of Theodore Roosevelt and trustee of the library.
Representing Great River Energy at the grand opening was David Saggau, the cooperative’s president and chief executive officer. Saggau joined the library’s board of trustees early in the planning stages of the project and chaired the development committee and also served on the construction committee. Gary Wilson, a recently retired Great River Energy director, also attended the library’s grand opening in recognition of his family’s support of the project.
“As one of the initial donors, Great River Energy recognized the powerful mission the library represents,” Saggau said. “We believe investments like this help strengthen communities, inspire future generations and preserve an important part of our nation’s history.”
The contribution is part of Great River Energy’s broader commitment to charitable giving and community support across its service territory. In 2025, the cooperative made approximately $2 million in charitable contributions to nonprofit organizations and community initiatives.
“Beyond providing electric service, cooperatives are dedicated to supporting vibrant communities,” Saggau said.
Whether supporting local nonprofits, educational opportunities, economic development efforts or significant cultural institutions such as the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, the cooperative seeks to create lasting benefits for the regions and people it serves.
Great River Energy has deep roots in the Roughrider State. The cooperative owns and operates energy and transmission assets in the state, including a power plant and transmission service center, and recently began work on a major grid-scale battery project in Emmons County.
It also relies on North Dakota’s world-class wind resource as part of its power supply portfolio and is developing additional wind generation in the state, including what is expected to be one of North Dakota’s largest wind farms. Together, those investments help to meet growing electricity demand, support local economic development and strengthen the cooperative’s diverse mix of energy resources.
The $1 million donation to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library reflects Great River Energy’s belief that strong communities are built not only through reliable energy service, but also through meaningful support of organizations and institutions that enrich society and preserve important stories for the future.
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