Great River Energy on June 6 said that by 2030, it will get half the electricity it needs to supply its member distribution cooperatives from renewable resources. The company also set interim targets of 30% of renewable energy by 2020 and 40% by 2025.
Last year, the cooperative reached Minnesota's 25% renewable energy standard, eight years ahead of requirement, after retiring its Stanton Station and terminating two contracts for coal-based electricity in recent years. Great River Energy has also reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 35% since 2005.
Also in 2017, Great River Energy filed an integrated resource plan with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, projecting that it would need to add 600 MW starting 2029, and selected wind energy as its lowest-cost option and its sole new resource need over the next 15 years. The cooperative expects to add 100 MW of wind energy to reach its 2030 target, subject to the electricity needs of its members. Great River provides generation and transmission service to 28 member distribution cooperatives across Minnesota.
Great River Energy recently inked a power purchase agreement for a new 300-MW wind facility in North Dakota. Construction of the project is set to begin in 2019 and to be completed by the end of the same year. The cooperative also signed an agreement to add 100 MW of wind in Minnesota starting in 2021.
Great River Energy's renewable portfolio currently includes 468 MW of wind energy, 200 MW of hydropower, 4 MW of solar and 30 MW of biomass.
