Great River Energy supports wood waste plant near Northome
Elk River, MN (May 5, 1999) - Great River Energy (GRE) announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Itasca Power Company (IPC) to purchase the output from its 15MW wood waste-fueled power plant to be built near Northome, Minnesota. In addition, GRE agrees to construct approximately 11 miles of 69 kV transmission line from an existing substation near Alvwood to the vicinity of Northome, connecting the new project to the transmission system. North Itasca Electric Cooperative, located in Bigfork, will provide transmission distribution services to the facility.
“We’re pleased to enable the development of this project, which we think is an innovative renewable power project,” said Tony Rude, co-CEO for Great River Energy.
Dean Sedgwick, president of Itasca Power Company said, “I’m glad we are in a position to move ahead with construction of this project and its successful operation. This is a great project for the area; it will help the local economy in an environmentally responsible way.”
The project will make use of wood waste resulting from the forest products industry in the surrounding area. The wood waste will be trucked to the centrally located power plant for conversion into electricity. The plant, which will provide 20 long-term jobs to the area, will utilize some of the most recently developed technologies in the industry for its operation.
The 69 kV transmission line will serve as an outlet for the electric power generated at the plant, as well as improve the reliability of the Great River Energy transmission system in northern Minnesota. The line will run from the power plant facility located one mile east of Northome to an existing transmission line north of Alvwood. Construction is expected to begin in late 1999 with completion during the summer of 2000.
“This project will make good use of what is otherwise a waste stream for the forest products industry,” said Jerry Richards, a director for both North Itasca Electric Cooperative and Great River Energy. “Building the transmission line and purchasing the output from this project fits well with the electric cooperative philosophy – to not only provide electric service but also support and provide a channel to the marketplace for the energy generated in rural areas.”
Jeff Ortman, general manager of North Itasca Electric Cooperative, the cooperative offering distribution services to the facility, looks forward to “the potential for improved service levels for customers of North Itasca Electric Cooperative resulting from the successful completion of this project.”
Great River Energy is an electric generation and transmission cooperative based in Elk River, Minnesota. The company serves 29-member distribution cooperatives that in turn provide electricity and related services to more than 1.5 million people in Minnesota and part of Wisconsin.
