Making Electricity

A diverse mix of generation resources

We own and operate nine power plants that generate more than 2,500 megawatts of electricity, plus we purchase additional power from several wind farms and other generating facilities.

Our energy comes from:

• Coal-based power plants in North Dakota
• Natural gas-fired peaking plants
• Biomass
• Wind energy in Minnesota and North Dakota
• Purchased power
• Hydropower
• Distributed generation

We own and operate two baseload generation coal plants in North Dakota. These plants serve as the backbone of our generation system.

Elk River Station, our waste-to-energy plant, converts refuse derived fuel from mixed municipal waste into energy. This fuel is considered a "biomass" fuel, such as plant matter and animal waste, because – as we all know – municipal waste is a replenishable resource.

Approximately 77 percent of our energy is generated from coal. On average, Minnesota consumers receive approximately 63 percent of their electricity from coal-based generation.

Our resource plan outlines what power resources are currently available to our members and how we will consider new resources for the future. The plan also analyzes the future electricity needs of our members. Great River Energy files its resource plan with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission every other year.

Great River Energy operates its peaking plants on the hottest and coldest days of the year, when demand for electricity is especially high. The plants use natural gas or fuel oil to generate electricity. Because peaking plants are more expensive to operate, we put them into service only when necessary to increase capacity.

Our generation portfolio includes environmentally sound renewable energy sources: wind energy, refuse-derived fuel and hydropower. Great River Energy is looking at ways to further diversify its energy portfolio by exploring biomass, fuel cells, clean coal and other technologies as they become available.

We are currently building a combined heat and power plant - Spiritwood Station - near Jamestown, N.D. Also underway is our patented coal refining project at Coal Creek Station.