Do you know where your energy comes from? For most people, the answer to this question is “no.”
If this is true for your company, too, it’s a missed opportunity. You could be saving money and meeting sustainability goals with a closer look at the energy you’re using.
Corporate environmental sustainability goals are becoming increasingly critical as they can help companies across all industries remain competitive, attract new customers and boost their bottom line. Consumers expect more from businesses in terms of sustainability. One path to making headway in this area is by working with an electricity provider that can give you access to intentional and sustainable energy resources.
Great River Energy is a not-for-profit wholesale power cooperative serving 28 member-owners that provide electricity to approximately two-thirds of Minnesota’s geography. The cooperative is dedicated to keeping its members informed of exactly where their energy is coming from and keeping it reliable, affordable and sustainable.
Tom Lambrecht, Great River Energy
What was once a historically coal-based utility, Great River Energy is evolving rapidly to a power supply portfolio that relies more on renewable energy sources. This shift has positioned the cooperative to meet Minnesota’s 80% greenhouse gas reduction goal nearly two decades ahead of schedule while keeping it affordable.
Great River Energy’s evolution includes the addition of 900 megawatts of wind energy by 2025 — more than doubling Great River Energy’s current renewable energy capacity. Many of these resources will be located near existing power plants, offering a direct pathway to supply renewable energy to the electric grid — as well as a backup when the wind subsides.
The cooperative is also developing an innovative energy storage project that can store electricity and discharge it over several days. This capability has the potential to solve challenges posed by the variable nature of energy sources fueled by the wind and sun.
As Great River Energy continues its energy evolution, electricity will remain as dependable as ever. While the cooperative transitions to a primarily renewable energy resource mix, its fleet of flexible natural gas peaking stations combined with access to market energy will provide the reliability member-owners expect.
“Great River Energy takes pride in serving the region with competitively priced, reliable energy,” said Tom Lambrecht, manager of economic development services. “We understand the importance in meeting corporate environmental sustainability goals and our economic development team is here to help make that happen.”
Great River Energy is prepared to meet all of its members’ energy needs while living its mission to provide them with affordable, reliable energy in harmony with a sustainable environment.
The economic development team at Great River Energy is committed to working with its distribution cooperatives throughout Minnesota and part of Wisconsin to foster economic activity in cooperative communities by helping entrepreneurs start and grow businesses and manage their energy needs. For more information about Great River Energy’s economic development programs, contact Lambrecht at 763-445-6105.