by Brad Dolinski, CEO
Good afternoon NIECI,
I’m writing to you from one of my most beloved locations. I’m celebrating my anniversary with my wife and aunt and uncle in Sioux Narrows. Spending a few days relaxing at the lake, chasing Lake Trout, and eating way too much is just what we needed to recharge the personal battery.
I spent the last week working with Great River Energy on Strategic planning. GRE is laying out the plan to accomplish the carbon free legislation. We will need to replace centralized power to the new grid that is much more spread out. This will require significant investments in transmission assets both in Minnesota and other states. I was very pleased to hear how far along GRE is in planning. This will be a challenge to overcome certainly, but I am confident GRE will get there on our behalf.
To get to 100% carbon free, GRE will be purchasing the output from various wind resources in ND, SD, IA, and MN. These contracts have price points based on the years we are willing to accept output. GRE’s Board has requested contract extensions with all members. GRE cannot sign contracts for wind resources beyond the contracts they have with us. Our current contract runs through 2035, GRE is requesting an extension to 2045. I support this extension. This will help us to keep costs competitive for years to come.
After hearing all the exciting news at GRE, I headed to Lake Country Power with our board of directors for an MREA District 2 meeting. We got an update on Minnesota Rural Electric Association and the changes they are making for the benefitof all Minnesota Electrical Cooperatives. We work closely with MREA. They provide safety training, record assistance, political leadership and educational classes. Mr. Wes Waller from North Itasca is the Chairman of the MREA Board of Directors. We are extremely fortunate to have the benefit of a strong Statewide Association.
This next month I will send a bill stuffer out with information about electrical cooperative political action. We were successful leveraging the voices of rural Minnesota down at the capitol. This is another way to stay informed if you would like. If you sign up for this information, you will receive updates on issues we are dealing with. You can then enter your address and a letter will be sent to your legislators informing them you are for or against a particular issue. This will streamline the process, making it as convenient as possible. I encourage you to participate in this opportunity provided by MREA.
While we were at the District 2 meeting, Senator Grant Hauschild visited with us. Senator Hauschild fielded many questions from the group and gave us a rundown of the most recent session. Grant is a friend of rural electric cooperatives and myself. He is willing to hear what we are dealing with. He will pick up bills for our benefit and carry them through the political process. We had a great discussion with the Senator and I look forward to working with him in the future. Senator Hauschild was leaving our group in Cohasset to go to Bigfork that afternoon. This is a great time to contact legislators, they have more time when they are not serving us at the Capitol.
My wife and I looked at our schedules back in May; we were booked every weekend through the end of July. Now these are some fun times of fishing, friends, family, and events. I’m not complaining a bit, it just shocks me how fast summer flies by. The kids will be school shopping and getting ready for school before we know it. I hope you are having a fun filled summer enjoying the nice weather and great times.
By your side! Miigwech
Brad
