Minnesota’s electric cooperatives discuss state’s energy future at Cooperative Energy Forum
Elk River, MN (February 17, 2003) - Minnesota’s electric cooperatives will meet in downtown St. Paul this week to discuss energy issues and talk with legislators about Minnesota’s energy future during the Cooperative Energy Forum.
Directors from Minnesota’s 44 distribution cooperatives and six generation and transmission cooperatives will attend the Cooperative Energy Forum on February 18-20 at the Radisson Riverfront, St. Paul. The event will include the annual meetings of Great River Energy and the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA), a dialogue with Minnesota legislative leaders, and conference speakers on a variety of energy-related topics.
On Tuesday, February 19, electric cooperative leaders will host a town meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger (DFL-St. Peter), Senate Minority Leader Dick Day (R-Owatonna), House Majority Erik Paulsen (R-Eden Prairie) and House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon). These legislative leaders will discuss energy and utility issues.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty will join the meeting on February 20 to present the Touchstone Energy® Child ID proclamation along with former Vikings Coach Bud Grant. Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-Minn.) will also address the Cooperative Energy Forum. Other meeting speakers will discuss topics on the changing electric industry.
Minnesota’s electric co-ops are consumer-owned, non-profit utilities that serve approximately 620,000 customer meters, or about 1.3 million people, covering 80 percent of the geographic area of the state. They own and maintain over 113,000 miles of distribution line, averaging 5.4 consumers per mile of line. About 95 percent of electric co-op members are farm and non-farm residential customers. Co-ops range in size from 2,000 to 105,000 consumers; they sell over 10 billion kWh of electricity per year. Electric co-ops employ over 2,300 people in Minnesota.
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