Board brings relief for members affected by coronavirus

Great River Energy’s board of directors earlier this month allocated funds to assist its 28 member-owner cooperatives with financial challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The cooperative allocated $3 million to assist its member-owners with unforeseen expenses, such as missed payments and forgiven late fees.

“This demonstrates why 28 cooperatives benefit by being united as members of Great River Energy,” said Great River Energy Board Chair Bob Bruckbauer. “When challenges arise, we can lean on our collective strength.”

Bruckbauer, like all Great River Energy directors, also sits on the board of one of the distribution cooperatives that own and receive wholesale energy from Great River Energy.

Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives serve approximately 1.7 million people in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.