More than 40 students from North Dakota State University recently got an up-close look at the future of energy during a stop at Great River Energy’s Spiritwood Station as part of the “Bison to the Bakken” program.
The Aug. 21 visit introduced students to one of North Dakota’s most unique energy facilities and provided a firsthand glimpse at the diverse career opportunities available across the energy industry. The group included students, faculty and staff members, and Spiritwood Station employees participating in the day’s activities.
Bison to the Bakken is a three-credit experiential learning program that connects classroom learning with careers throughout North Dakota’s energy sector. Participants visit a variety of energy-related operations to learn about industries such as electricity generation, wind energy, oil and gas, biofuels, agriculture, data centers, workforce development and energy regulation.
At Spiritwood Station, students toured the facility while learning about Great River Energy’s role in providing reliable electricity to member-owner cooperatives across Minnesota. Spiritwood Station is the first of its kind in North Dakota: A power plant that generates two primary products, electricity and steam. The combined heat and power plant is highly efficient because it makes use of the energy in the steam by supplying it to industrial operators near the plant.
Employees shared insights into plant operations, power generation and the wide range of technical, operational and professional careers available within the cooperative.
The visit also highlighted the value of collaboration between educational institutions and industry partners. Great River Energy helped sponsor the initiative through the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives and welcomed the group with lunch during their stop at Spiritwood Station.
“Programs like Bison to the Bakken give students a chance to see the energy industry in action and explore career paths they may not have considered before,” said Spiritwood Station Supervising Manager of Maintenance Eathan Gumke. “We were excited to showcase the power plant, share the work our employees do every day and demonstrate how cooperatives help power communities and economic growth across the region.”
By connecting students with real-world energy operations, Bison to the Bakken helps build awareness of career opportunities and prepares the next generation of professionals who will help shape the future of the energy industry in the Midwest.
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