Megan Wittman, megan.wittman@sierraclub.org
Maple Grove, MN – A new report shows that a federal program could cover more than 75 percent of the cost for Great River Energy (GRE) to switch to renewable energy and energy storage. The utility provides electricity to approximately 1.7 million people through its 27 member-owner cooperatives and customers in rural and suburban Minnesota.
The Empowering Rural America, or New ERA, program, which was created through the Inflation Reduction Act, is directed at helping rural communities transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. Funding is available for member-owned rural electric cooperatives. However, GRE has not yet applied for this one-time $9.7 billion program. Great River Energy has until August 31 of this year to apply for this New ERA funding.
An independent analysis conducted on behalf of Sierra Club shows Great River Energy could save its customers more than $130 million per year on their electric bills by pursuing clean energy additions and ending reliance on their Coal Creek coal-fired plant, as well as closing the Spiritwood coal/gas plant. The report recommends that Great River Energy add nearly 1,000 MW of solar photovoltaics, 1,500 MW of wind, and 1,000 MW of battery storage to its system, over 75% of which would be paid for through the New ERA program and Inflation Reduction Act.
Kay Slama, a member-owner of Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, which receives energy from Great River Energy, released the following statement:
“I’ve been trying to persuade both KPC and GRE to abandon fossil fuels as a source of the electricity they provide me. GRE said they would close their North Dakota lignite coal plant, the third worst in the U.S. in terms of coal combustion waste. Then GRE went back on that promise, and over half of my electricity still comes from fossil fuels. When I look at what this is doing to our climate, I’m outraged.”
Laurie Williams, Senior Attorney at Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“Taking advantage of the New ERA program should be a no-brainer for GRE. Doing so will drive economic development in rural Minnesota and North Dakota communities while lowering customer costs.”
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.