Great River Energy

Great River Energy
Company type	Cooperative
Industry	Electric generation and transmission
Predecessor	Cooperative Power Association, United Power Association
Founded	1999
Headquarters	Maple Grove, Minnesota, United States
Area served	Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin
Products	Electricity generation and transmission; wind and solar energy
Owner	Member cooperatives
Website	greatriverenergy.com

Great River Energy is an electric generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Minnesota, recognized as the state's second largest utility in terms of generation capacity and ranking fifth nationwide among generation and transmission cooperatives by asset size. Established in 1999 through the consolidation of Cooperative Power Association and United Power Association, it provides service to more than 1.7 million residents through 27 member distribution cooperatives, covering approximately 60 percent of Minnesota's territory. The cooperative owns or holds joint ownership in over 100 energy transmission substations and more than 500 distribution substations, with transmission lines reaching into both North Dakota and Wisconsin.

Company headquarters

Situated in Maple Grove, Minnesota, Great River Energy’s main office incorporates a 160-foot tall, 200 kW NEG Micon M700 wind turbine alongside a 72 kW solar array installed on both rooftop and ground level. The building operates at about half the energy consumption typical of similar facilities, utilizing 40% less electricity for lighting purposes and reducing water usage by 90% compared to conventional corporate campuses. Since its inauguration in April 2008, this structure became the first in Minnesota to achieve LEED Platinum certification as of October 2008.

Transmission operations

The transmission network operated by Great River Energy is part of a regional grid coordinated through the Minnesota Electric Transmission Planning group. Since 2002, the cooperative’s operations have been integrated within the MISO, a nonprofit Regional Transmission Organization that manages transmission across 15 U.S. states and Manitoba, Canada. MISO oversees system operation, planning, and enhancements to guarantee efficient power delivery throughout the upper Midwest.

Grid North Partners (Formerly CapX2020 project)

Great River Energy is a member of Grid North Partners, a partnership consisting of ten investor-owned and cooperative utilities working jointly to ensure electric service that is safe, dependable, and cost-effective. These members collectively manage transmission infrastructure across their respective Upper Midwest service territories.

Electric plants

Spiritwood Station – Located near Spiritwood, North Dakota, this combined heat and power facility was completed in 2012 and has been commercially operational since November 2014, generating steam for nearby industrial users along with electricity.
Cambridge Station – Based in Cambridge, Minnesota.
Lakefield Junction Station – Found in Trimont, Minnesota.
Pleasant Valley Station – Situated in Dexter, Minnesota.
Elk River Peaking Station – Operating in Elk River, Minnesota.

Wind

Great River Energy procures 669 megawatts of wind-generated electricity from farms located throughout Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota.

Solar

The cooperative manages solar installations totaling 650 kilowatts, including a 250 kW system at its Maple Grove headquarters that employs diverse technologies to enhance integration with cooperative networks.

Purchases

To supplement its energy portfolio when needed, Great River Energy acquires electricity through MISO. Purchase agreements limit local distribution cooperatives to a maximum self-generation capacity of 5%.

Management and governance

Great River Energy operates as one of the 44 rural electric cooperatives within Minnesota. Its members possess voting privileges and have the opportunity to stand for election to the board of directors, although comprehensive instructions regarding member involvement may be scarce.

External links