T he MREA Vendor Member program, which was implemented as a service in 1997, provides opportunities for members to meet with sales representatives and technical specialists at MREA conferences and trade shows. The MREA vendors are comprised of a very wide range of companies that provide products and services to electric utility providers. Services like financial, engineering and HR consulting, and products like bucket trucks, fire resistant clothing, utility poles, solar storage batteries and broadband cable to name a few. The program not only strengthens MREA by providing additional margin that offsets co-op membership dues, the vendors also strengthen the cooperatives by providing needed technical training at MREA events. Power Systems Engineering has taught a line staking training series for 14 years and Star Energy has been instrumental in supporting the membership with training in net metering policy, stray voltage issues and electricity 101. Countless other vendors have donated their time providing training at REMA conferences, the Lineworker training conference, and our hotline and hands-on equipment schools. Some of the most valuable work with vendors takes place at our ten trade shows/events each year. Dan, Meier, Steele-Waseca Line Superintendent and President of the REMA Line Superintendent Section said, “MREA trade shows are extremely valuable to the Line Superintendents. Making decisions about the materials and equipment used to build and maintain the distribution system comprises about 50% of our work.” MREA President and CEO Darrick Moe says: “Thank you to our 128 enrolled vendors for their tremendous support over this past year.” The MREA vendor membership renewal period for 2020 is now open. When companies enroll or renew as a vendor by November 15, 2019, their name will be listed on the “Vendor Member Page” of the 2020 MREA Directory & Buyers’ Guide. All members and enrolled vendors will receive the 2020 edition of the MREA Directory & Buyers’ Guide in late December. Vendors can enroll or renew online: New members need to select “Join” at the top of MREA’s homepage. To renew, the "MREA master account holder" must log on and select the "renew my membership" link on the landing page. September 2019 REPORT VENDOR MEMBERS BRING VALUE, SUPPORT, AND INSTRUCTION TO ELECTRIC CO-OPS By Shari Wormwood, MREA Communication Specialist
Transcript
The MREA Vendor Member program which was implemented as a service in 1997 provides opportunities for members to
meet with sales representatives and technical specialists at MREA conferences and trade shows The MREA vendors are comprised of a very wide range of companies that provide products and services to electric utility providers Services like financial engineering and HR consulting and products like bucket trucks fire resistant clothing utility poles solar storage batteries and broadband cable to name a few
The program not only strengthens MREA by providing additional margin that offsets co-op membership dues the vendors also strengthen the cooperatives by providing needed technical training at MREA events Power Systems Engineering has taught a line staking training series for 14 years and Star Energy has been instrumental in supporting the membership with training in net metering policy stray voltage issues and electricity 101 Countless other vendors have donated their time providing training at REMA conferences the Lineworker training conference and our hotline and hands-on equipment schools
Some of the most valuable work with vendors takes place at our ten trade showsevents each year Dan Meier Steele-Waseca Line
Superintendent and President of the REMA Line Superintendent Section said ldquoMREA trade shows are extremely valuable to the Line Superintendents Making decisions about the materials and equipment used to build and maintain the distribution system comprises about 50 of our workrdquo
MREA President and CEO Darrick Moe says ldquoThank you to our 128 enrolled vendors for their tremendous support over this past yearrdquo
The MREA vendor membership renewal period for 2020 is now open When companies enroll or renew as a vendor by November 15 2019 their name will be listed on the ldquoVendor Member Pagerdquo of the 2020 MREA Directory amp Buyersrsquo Guide All members and enrolled vendors will receive the 2020 edition of the MREA Directory amp Buyersrsquo Guide in late December
Vendors can enroll or renew online New members need to select ldquoJoinrdquo at the top of MREArsquos homepage To renew the MREA master account holder must log on and select the renew my membership link on the landing page
September 2019
REPORT
VENDOR MEMBERS BRING VALUE SUPPORT AND INSTRUCTION TO ELECTRIC CO-OPSBy Shari Wormwood MREA Communication Specialist
Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative was selected to host an indoor food production container in its service territory Todd-
Wadena was chosen among several Great River Energy (GRE) member-owner cooperatives interested in partnering with GRE on the two-year demonstration which will kick off in early November
The project will help gather data useful for the future expansion of Minnesotarsquos indoor agriculture industry The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is conducting the project to research indoor food production technology where an entire hydroponic system is built inside a shipping container The shipping container will include all of the components needed for commercial food production
Allison Uselman Todd-Wadena member service manager said ldquoWe are incredibly pleased with the support this project has already received from the communityrdquo
Todd-Wadena will partner with the Ag and Energy Center at Central Lakes College (CLC) to allow students to work in the food container Students from CLCrsquos Horticulture and Agriculture degree programs will have a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about sustainable agriculture practices Lakewood Health System is also a member of their project team and will receive the produce grown to use in their ldquoFood Farmacyrdquo program This program works to address hunger-health disparities throughout their federally designated ldquofood desertrdquo region
The production of crops in the container will be staged in 4-week plantings with the first harvest is expected in January There will be no heat or air conditioning needed in the container only properly sized grow lamps will nurture the crops through our brisk winter
The indoor food production container will provide valuable data for utilities In looking at the electric load the container requires to operate in their region Todd Wadena will use this data for electricity load planning and evaluating beneficial rate designs Indoor agriculture will allow more efficient food production and water efficiency as well
Todd Wadena CEO Dan Carlisle said ldquoIt is exciting to play a part in learning more about this emerging market and studying the most effective ways to grow fresh produce in Minnesota year-roundrdquo
TODD-WADENA TO HOSTAGRICULTURAL POD PROJECT
6CONFIDENTIAL amp PROPRIETARY
Lockup
Preparation is the key to success in many things we do in life Planning practice and thoughtful assessment provide
opportunities to work out potential problems in advance September is National Preparedness Month and the Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all of us to prepare for emergencies For electric cooperatives in Minnesota preparation plays a huge role in ensuring that our members have the electricity they need When a co-op crew pulls a truck into a loading bay warehouse workers have already pulled the parts and equipment needed for that crews scheduled days work When a member services representative discusses balanced billing by telephone theyre helping a member with preparations to ease the impact of high seasonal bills When meteorologists call for exceptionally hot or cold weather electric co-ops work closely with their generation and transmission cooperatives to ensure adequate supplies of electricity are reserved for meeting anticipated demand Minnesotas electric co-ops are continually preparing for the future Engineers and construction crews design build and upgrade the electric system to move electricity from power plants and substations to farms homes and businesses All of these actions prepare electric co-ops to deal with the daily challenges of meeting the electricity needs of their members
But working together we put in just as much effort preparing for the uncertainties posed by flooding tornadoes wildfires hurricanes high winds blizzards and ice storms Our member co-ops maintain and continuously update their emergency response plans Employees train for major events and know in advance what their primary and secondary roles would be
Above and beyond their local responsibility the co-ops participate in mutual aid to assist co-ops in Minnesota and other states with storm restoration Minnesotarsquos mutual aid program is coordinated by MREAs Safety and Loss Control Director Lidia Dilley Jacobson Lidia is on call when a storm hits and mutual aid is needed MREA also provides 247 access to Minnesotas Storm Response Directory which features details about equipment and human resources available for support The directory is available for download on the Line Superintendent group webpage on wwwmreaorg A recent example of a mutual aid effort is hurricane Dorian Before the storm hit Lidia participated in daily phone calls with coordinators from Florida Georgia S Carolina N Carolina and Virginia They watched and waited to prepare for what the unpredictable storm might bring Lidia and the safety and Loss control staff also work with national officials to help ensure that crews can get to your communities when they are needed and have the lodging food and support necessary to work effectively far from home
September may be National Preparedness Month but Minnesotarsquos electric cooperatives are committed to preparedness every dayndashndashfor the routine the extraordinary and the unexpected
Redwood Falls June 2019 tornado
THE POWER IN PREPARATIONBy Derrill Holly NRECA senior writer-editor and Shari Wormwood MREA communication specialist
April 2019 Winter Storm Wesley
Mike Henke
PEOPLES ENERGY COOPERATIVE NAMES NEW CEO
REMA Sept 18-20 REMA engineers and operations conference amp trade show Duluth SAFETY amp LOSS CONTROL Oct 10-11 Designated employer representative (DER) and reasonable suspicion training Maple Grove Oct 15-18 MREAMMUA overhead school and rodeo Marshall Dec 4-6 Safety and loss control conference St Cloud Dec 10-13 MREAMMUA transformer school amp basic connections pre-conference Marshall
GENERAL Sept 17 Dealing with difficult customers St Cloud Sept 18-19 Collections amp disconnects conference St Cloud Sept 23-25 Fall DC legislative visit Washington DC Oct 8-9 Communicators network St Cloud Oct 22-23 New employee orientation St Cloud Oct 23-24 NRECA retirement planning seminar St Cloud Nov 22 Legislative summit Maple Grove Dec 3-4 CFCs statewide financial workshop Brooklyn Park Dec 12 IT users group Maple Grove LEADERSHIP TRAINING Oct 15 Leadership training basic principles Braham Oct 16-17 Leadership training module 1 Braham More upcoming MREA events
DONT MISS THESE UPCOMING MREA FALL EVENTS
The Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors announced the selection of Mike Henke as its new chief
executive officer effective October 1 2019
Henke has served as the Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative chief financial officer (CFO) for the past eight years and will officially succeed Elaine J Garry upon her retirement on September 30 In his role as CFO Mike led the cooperativersquos finance accounting facilities and information technology functions He also helped lead the cooperative through many significant initiatives including the Minnesota Three Solar project the Peoplersquos Community Solar project and the Alliant acquisition among other accomplishments
Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative Board Chair Jerome Wooner said ldquoOur search process identified many strong internal and external candidates but ultimately Mikersquos experience and passion for our industry was the defining factorrdquo He went on to say ldquoWe are thrilled that someone with so much history with our organization and such a depth of experience in the electric cooperative sector will lead PEC into its next chapter We see many new opportunities and challenges ahead in our industry and the board looks forward to working closely with Mike to build upon our rich history of providing elite services to our members and a positive work environment for
our talented employeesrdquo
ldquoI am humbled and honored to be chosen by the board to lead the cooperativerdquo said Henke ldquoWith our strong board leadership and our dedicated staff I am extremely optimistic about the future of the cooperative I am committed to doing my very best for the membershiprdquo He went on to say ldquoElainersquos leadership has built a strong cooperative and she leaves a great legacy My goal is to perpetuate what she has builtrdquo
Before working at Peoplersquos Mike was the VP of finance for ACA International an association for credit and collection professionals where he served its membership for 13 years Before that Mike served Cuneo Communications Group as its general manager and CFO He also co-founded CarSoupcom where he developed and implemented the CarSoup business plan Mike earned a masterrsquos in business administration from Metropolitan State University in St Paul and a bachelorrsquos degree from Minnesota State University Mankato
CO-OPS REGISTER TO VOTE
Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives understand whatrsquos important to our homes and our communities and we understand that registering to vote and voting in every
election is vital to protecting our way of life So is building relationships with elected officials so they understand the unique issues we face
Co-ops Vote is designed to boost voter turnout develop relationships with candidates and elected officials and ensure that issues that matter in rural America are heard everywhere from local councils all the way up to the US Capitol
Co-ops Vote provides the tools to help build those relationships and educate co-op employees directors and consumer members prior to hitting the polls for every election
Please join us and make sure our elected leaders know that we expect them to represent all the people electric cooperatives serve Learn more at votecoop
Follow CO-OPS VOTE on social media and stay updated
WHAT IS CO-OPS VOTECo-ops Vote is a non-partisan campaign focused on enhancing the political strength of electric cooperatives through relationship building and voter engagement The main goal of the campaign is to boost voter turnout in cooperative areas making sure that our members exercise one of their most basic rights - the right to vote Working in collaboration with states and local co-ops this effort will educate and engage candidates and voters on important issues like
bull Expanding broadband coverage throughout rural America
bull Ensuring continued access to reliable electricity
bull Promoting the work of co-ops within the communities they serve
WHY IS THE CO-OPS VOTE PROGRAM IMPORTANT bull We must elect public officials who identify with Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives and will vote to
support the issues important to 42 million electric cooperative members across the nation
bull Electric cooperatives are a trusted resource in the communities we serve Voters want to hear from community leaders (like electric co-ops) about important issues
AMERICArsquoS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
833 distribution and 62 GampT coop- eratives a total of 905 co-op members
For more information on Co-ops Vote please visit votecoop or cooperativecomcoopsvote
Serve a total of 42 million people in 47 states
Own and maintain 26 million miles or 42 of the nationrsquos electric distribution lines covering 56 of the US landmass
Serve 19 million businesses homes schools churches farms irrigation systems and other establishments in 88 of US counties
Generate 5 of the total electricity in the United States
CoopsVote
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan program supported by several organizations including MREA and the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to register voters National Voter Registration Day is on Tuesday September 24 and the program is working to get as many co-ops as possible to do any or all of the following
bull Host a voter registration drive at your co-op location (See link below)
bull Post the logo and link to wwwvotecoop on your website(s)
bull Share your efforts on social media and in any employee or member communications
Democratic Member Control is one of the seven core principles of every co-op This effort helps showcase that principle in action The Co-ops Vote program is NOT in support of any one candidate or party It is simply an effort to get as many people as possible to register and vote in all elections Cooperatives thrive in societies with robust democratic participation
The link below is personalized for co-ops to use to sign up to host a voter registration drive
If you need any additional information please contact Laura Vogel at lauravogelnrecacoop or (703) 907-5717 or Adam Schwartz at aschwartzthecooperativewaycoop or (703) 608-0534
ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATION
Minnkotarsquos Grand Forks campus was charged up Aug 7-8 with two events aiming to introduce local leaders and the
public to the present and future potential of driving electric The events revolved around a two-day visit from the West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS) ell-electric Blue Bird school bus purchased by the school district earlier this year with support from Minnkota and other partners
Electric bus or bust
The morning of Aug 7 Minnkota invited its employees and visiting cooperative and municipal representatives to tour the electric bus ask the mechanic questions about its capabilities and take a short ride around town Passengers experienced the surprisingly quiet and zippy ride of the 70-seat bus which boasts a 120-mile range and zero emissions
That afternoon Minnkota welcomed city leaders economic development groups universities and public schools transportation officials lawmakers and more to check out the bus themselves They came with many insightful questions about what it takes to incorporate an electric bus into a standard fleet and walked away with new transportation ideas for their organizations and neighborhoods
Plugged in to the Future
On Aug 8 Minnkotarsquos visitor parking lot was packed with powerful plug-in cars a battery-boosted bus and bikes special guests and giveaways and food trucks serving up brisket street tacos gyros and more
More than 275 people popped by the cooperative for ldquoPlugged
in to the Futurerdquo ndash a ldquoBack to the Futurerdquo-inspired celebration of electric transportation The event was the first of its kind in the Greater Grand Forks community and drew around a dozen electric vehicle (EV) owners from around North Dakota and Minnesota all of them thrilled to showcase their cars and answer questions for those interested in Teslas Chevy Bolts plug-in hybrids and other models
Organizers urged attendees to fill out a survey after the event to assess what they learned about electric vehicles Nearly 99 of respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about EVs after the event and 91 said they were now more open to owning an EV of their own
Excerpts from newsminnkotacom by Kaylee Cusack Minnkota Power Cooperative
The West Fargo Public Schools 100 electric school bus (Kevin JeffreyMinnkota)
With charging stations and electric cars as a backdrop families found space for a food truck picnic to re-energize themselves (Kevin Jeffrey
Minnkota)
Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative was selected to host an indoor food production container in its service territory Todd-
Wadena was chosen among several Great River Energy (GRE) member-owner cooperatives interested in partnering with GRE on the two-year demonstration which will kick off in early November
The project will help gather data useful for the future expansion of Minnesotarsquos indoor agriculture industry The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is conducting the project to research indoor food production technology where an entire hydroponic system is built inside a shipping container The shipping container will include all of the components needed for commercial food production
Allison Uselman Todd-Wadena member service manager said ldquoWe are incredibly pleased with the support this project has already received from the communityrdquo
Todd-Wadena will partner with the Ag and Energy Center at Central Lakes College (CLC) to allow students to work in the food container Students from CLCrsquos Horticulture and Agriculture degree programs will have a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about sustainable agriculture practices Lakewood Health System is also a member of their project team and will receive the produce grown to use in their ldquoFood Farmacyrdquo program This program works to address hunger-health disparities throughout their federally designated ldquofood desertrdquo region
The production of crops in the container will be staged in 4-week plantings with the first harvest is expected in January There will be no heat or air conditioning needed in the container only properly sized grow lamps will nurture the crops through our brisk winter
The indoor food production container will provide valuable data for utilities In looking at the electric load the container requires to operate in their region Todd Wadena will use this data for electricity load planning and evaluating beneficial rate designs Indoor agriculture will allow more efficient food production and water efficiency as well
Todd Wadena CEO Dan Carlisle said ldquoIt is exciting to play a part in learning more about this emerging market and studying the most effective ways to grow fresh produce in Minnesota year-roundrdquo
TODD-WADENA TO HOSTAGRICULTURAL POD PROJECT
6CONFIDENTIAL amp PROPRIETARY
Lockup
Preparation is the key to success in many things we do in life Planning practice and thoughtful assessment provide
opportunities to work out potential problems in advance September is National Preparedness Month and the Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all of us to prepare for emergencies For electric cooperatives in Minnesota preparation plays a huge role in ensuring that our members have the electricity they need When a co-op crew pulls a truck into a loading bay warehouse workers have already pulled the parts and equipment needed for that crews scheduled days work When a member services representative discusses balanced billing by telephone theyre helping a member with preparations to ease the impact of high seasonal bills When meteorologists call for exceptionally hot or cold weather electric co-ops work closely with their generation and transmission cooperatives to ensure adequate supplies of electricity are reserved for meeting anticipated demand Minnesotas electric co-ops are continually preparing for the future Engineers and construction crews design build and upgrade the electric system to move electricity from power plants and substations to farms homes and businesses All of these actions prepare electric co-ops to deal with the daily challenges of meeting the electricity needs of their members
But working together we put in just as much effort preparing for the uncertainties posed by flooding tornadoes wildfires hurricanes high winds blizzards and ice storms Our member co-ops maintain and continuously update their emergency response plans Employees train for major events and know in advance what their primary and secondary roles would be
Above and beyond their local responsibility the co-ops participate in mutual aid to assist co-ops in Minnesota and other states with storm restoration Minnesotarsquos mutual aid program is coordinated by MREAs Safety and Loss Control Director Lidia Dilley Jacobson Lidia is on call when a storm hits and mutual aid is needed MREA also provides 247 access to Minnesotas Storm Response Directory which features details about equipment and human resources available for support The directory is available for download on the Line Superintendent group webpage on wwwmreaorg A recent example of a mutual aid effort is hurricane Dorian Before the storm hit Lidia participated in daily phone calls with coordinators from Florida Georgia S Carolina N Carolina and Virginia They watched and waited to prepare for what the unpredictable storm might bring Lidia and the safety and Loss control staff also work with national officials to help ensure that crews can get to your communities when they are needed and have the lodging food and support necessary to work effectively far from home
September may be National Preparedness Month but Minnesotarsquos electric cooperatives are committed to preparedness every dayndashndashfor the routine the extraordinary and the unexpected
Redwood Falls June 2019 tornado
THE POWER IN PREPARATIONBy Derrill Holly NRECA senior writer-editor and Shari Wormwood MREA communication specialist
April 2019 Winter Storm Wesley
Mike Henke
PEOPLES ENERGY COOPERATIVE NAMES NEW CEO
REMA Sept 18-20 REMA engineers and operations conference amp trade show Duluth SAFETY amp LOSS CONTROL Oct 10-11 Designated employer representative (DER) and reasonable suspicion training Maple Grove Oct 15-18 MREAMMUA overhead school and rodeo Marshall Dec 4-6 Safety and loss control conference St Cloud Dec 10-13 MREAMMUA transformer school amp basic connections pre-conference Marshall
GENERAL Sept 17 Dealing with difficult customers St Cloud Sept 18-19 Collections amp disconnects conference St Cloud Sept 23-25 Fall DC legislative visit Washington DC Oct 8-9 Communicators network St Cloud Oct 22-23 New employee orientation St Cloud Oct 23-24 NRECA retirement planning seminar St Cloud Nov 22 Legislative summit Maple Grove Dec 3-4 CFCs statewide financial workshop Brooklyn Park Dec 12 IT users group Maple Grove LEADERSHIP TRAINING Oct 15 Leadership training basic principles Braham Oct 16-17 Leadership training module 1 Braham More upcoming MREA events
DONT MISS THESE UPCOMING MREA FALL EVENTS
The Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors announced the selection of Mike Henke as its new chief
executive officer effective October 1 2019
Henke has served as the Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative chief financial officer (CFO) for the past eight years and will officially succeed Elaine J Garry upon her retirement on September 30 In his role as CFO Mike led the cooperativersquos finance accounting facilities and information technology functions He also helped lead the cooperative through many significant initiatives including the Minnesota Three Solar project the Peoplersquos Community Solar project and the Alliant acquisition among other accomplishments
Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative Board Chair Jerome Wooner said ldquoOur search process identified many strong internal and external candidates but ultimately Mikersquos experience and passion for our industry was the defining factorrdquo He went on to say ldquoWe are thrilled that someone with so much history with our organization and such a depth of experience in the electric cooperative sector will lead PEC into its next chapter We see many new opportunities and challenges ahead in our industry and the board looks forward to working closely with Mike to build upon our rich history of providing elite services to our members and a positive work environment for
our talented employeesrdquo
ldquoI am humbled and honored to be chosen by the board to lead the cooperativerdquo said Henke ldquoWith our strong board leadership and our dedicated staff I am extremely optimistic about the future of the cooperative I am committed to doing my very best for the membershiprdquo He went on to say ldquoElainersquos leadership has built a strong cooperative and she leaves a great legacy My goal is to perpetuate what she has builtrdquo
Before working at Peoplersquos Mike was the VP of finance for ACA International an association for credit and collection professionals where he served its membership for 13 years Before that Mike served Cuneo Communications Group as its general manager and CFO He also co-founded CarSoupcom where he developed and implemented the CarSoup business plan Mike earned a masterrsquos in business administration from Metropolitan State University in St Paul and a bachelorrsquos degree from Minnesota State University Mankato
CO-OPS REGISTER TO VOTE
Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives understand whatrsquos important to our homes and our communities and we understand that registering to vote and voting in every
election is vital to protecting our way of life So is building relationships with elected officials so they understand the unique issues we face
Co-ops Vote is designed to boost voter turnout develop relationships with candidates and elected officials and ensure that issues that matter in rural America are heard everywhere from local councils all the way up to the US Capitol
Co-ops Vote provides the tools to help build those relationships and educate co-op employees directors and consumer members prior to hitting the polls for every election
Please join us and make sure our elected leaders know that we expect them to represent all the people electric cooperatives serve Learn more at votecoop
Follow CO-OPS VOTE on social media and stay updated
WHAT IS CO-OPS VOTECo-ops Vote is a non-partisan campaign focused on enhancing the political strength of electric cooperatives through relationship building and voter engagement The main goal of the campaign is to boost voter turnout in cooperative areas making sure that our members exercise one of their most basic rights - the right to vote Working in collaboration with states and local co-ops this effort will educate and engage candidates and voters on important issues like
bull Expanding broadband coverage throughout rural America
bull Ensuring continued access to reliable electricity
bull Promoting the work of co-ops within the communities they serve
WHY IS THE CO-OPS VOTE PROGRAM IMPORTANT bull We must elect public officials who identify with Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives and will vote to
support the issues important to 42 million electric cooperative members across the nation
bull Electric cooperatives are a trusted resource in the communities we serve Voters want to hear from community leaders (like electric co-ops) about important issues
AMERICArsquoS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
833 distribution and 62 GampT coop- eratives a total of 905 co-op members
For more information on Co-ops Vote please visit votecoop or cooperativecomcoopsvote
Serve a total of 42 million people in 47 states
Own and maintain 26 million miles or 42 of the nationrsquos electric distribution lines covering 56 of the US landmass
Serve 19 million businesses homes schools churches farms irrigation systems and other establishments in 88 of US counties
Generate 5 of the total electricity in the United States
CoopsVote
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan program supported by several organizations including MREA and the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to register voters National Voter Registration Day is on Tuesday September 24 and the program is working to get as many co-ops as possible to do any or all of the following
bull Host a voter registration drive at your co-op location (See link below)
bull Post the logo and link to wwwvotecoop on your website(s)
bull Share your efforts on social media and in any employee or member communications
Democratic Member Control is one of the seven core principles of every co-op This effort helps showcase that principle in action The Co-ops Vote program is NOT in support of any one candidate or party It is simply an effort to get as many people as possible to register and vote in all elections Cooperatives thrive in societies with robust democratic participation
The link below is personalized for co-ops to use to sign up to host a voter registration drive
If you need any additional information please contact Laura Vogel at lauravogelnrecacoop or (703) 907-5717 or Adam Schwartz at aschwartzthecooperativewaycoop or (703) 608-0534
ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATION
Minnkotarsquos Grand Forks campus was charged up Aug 7-8 with two events aiming to introduce local leaders and the
public to the present and future potential of driving electric The events revolved around a two-day visit from the West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS) ell-electric Blue Bird school bus purchased by the school district earlier this year with support from Minnkota and other partners
Electric bus or bust
The morning of Aug 7 Minnkota invited its employees and visiting cooperative and municipal representatives to tour the electric bus ask the mechanic questions about its capabilities and take a short ride around town Passengers experienced the surprisingly quiet and zippy ride of the 70-seat bus which boasts a 120-mile range and zero emissions
That afternoon Minnkota welcomed city leaders economic development groups universities and public schools transportation officials lawmakers and more to check out the bus themselves They came with many insightful questions about what it takes to incorporate an electric bus into a standard fleet and walked away with new transportation ideas for their organizations and neighborhoods
Plugged in to the Future
On Aug 8 Minnkotarsquos visitor parking lot was packed with powerful plug-in cars a battery-boosted bus and bikes special guests and giveaways and food trucks serving up brisket street tacos gyros and more
More than 275 people popped by the cooperative for ldquoPlugged
in to the Futurerdquo ndash a ldquoBack to the Futurerdquo-inspired celebration of electric transportation The event was the first of its kind in the Greater Grand Forks community and drew around a dozen electric vehicle (EV) owners from around North Dakota and Minnesota all of them thrilled to showcase their cars and answer questions for those interested in Teslas Chevy Bolts plug-in hybrids and other models
Organizers urged attendees to fill out a survey after the event to assess what they learned about electric vehicles Nearly 99 of respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about EVs after the event and 91 said they were now more open to owning an EV of their own
Excerpts from newsminnkotacom by Kaylee Cusack Minnkota Power Cooperative
The West Fargo Public Schools 100 electric school bus (Kevin JeffreyMinnkota)
With charging stations and electric cars as a backdrop families found space for a food truck picnic to re-energize themselves (Kevin Jeffrey
Minnkota)
Preparation is the key to success in many things we do in life Planning practice and thoughtful assessment provide
opportunities to work out potential problems in advance September is National Preparedness Month and the Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all of us to prepare for emergencies For electric cooperatives in Minnesota preparation plays a huge role in ensuring that our members have the electricity they need When a co-op crew pulls a truck into a loading bay warehouse workers have already pulled the parts and equipment needed for that crews scheduled days work When a member services representative discusses balanced billing by telephone theyre helping a member with preparations to ease the impact of high seasonal bills When meteorologists call for exceptionally hot or cold weather electric co-ops work closely with their generation and transmission cooperatives to ensure adequate supplies of electricity are reserved for meeting anticipated demand Minnesotas electric co-ops are continually preparing for the future Engineers and construction crews design build and upgrade the electric system to move electricity from power plants and substations to farms homes and businesses All of these actions prepare electric co-ops to deal with the daily challenges of meeting the electricity needs of their members
But working together we put in just as much effort preparing for the uncertainties posed by flooding tornadoes wildfires hurricanes high winds blizzards and ice storms Our member co-ops maintain and continuously update their emergency response plans Employees train for major events and know in advance what their primary and secondary roles would be
Above and beyond their local responsibility the co-ops participate in mutual aid to assist co-ops in Minnesota and other states with storm restoration Minnesotarsquos mutual aid program is coordinated by MREAs Safety and Loss Control Director Lidia Dilley Jacobson Lidia is on call when a storm hits and mutual aid is needed MREA also provides 247 access to Minnesotas Storm Response Directory which features details about equipment and human resources available for support The directory is available for download on the Line Superintendent group webpage on wwwmreaorg A recent example of a mutual aid effort is hurricane Dorian Before the storm hit Lidia participated in daily phone calls with coordinators from Florida Georgia S Carolina N Carolina and Virginia They watched and waited to prepare for what the unpredictable storm might bring Lidia and the safety and Loss control staff also work with national officials to help ensure that crews can get to your communities when they are needed and have the lodging food and support necessary to work effectively far from home
September may be National Preparedness Month but Minnesotarsquos electric cooperatives are committed to preparedness every dayndashndashfor the routine the extraordinary and the unexpected
Redwood Falls June 2019 tornado
THE POWER IN PREPARATIONBy Derrill Holly NRECA senior writer-editor and Shari Wormwood MREA communication specialist
April 2019 Winter Storm Wesley
Mike Henke
PEOPLES ENERGY COOPERATIVE NAMES NEW CEO
REMA Sept 18-20 REMA engineers and operations conference amp trade show Duluth SAFETY amp LOSS CONTROL Oct 10-11 Designated employer representative (DER) and reasonable suspicion training Maple Grove Oct 15-18 MREAMMUA overhead school and rodeo Marshall Dec 4-6 Safety and loss control conference St Cloud Dec 10-13 MREAMMUA transformer school amp basic connections pre-conference Marshall
GENERAL Sept 17 Dealing with difficult customers St Cloud Sept 18-19 Collections amp disconnects conference St Cloud Sept 23-25 Fall DC legislative visit Washington DC Oct 8-9 Communicators network St Cloud Oct 22-23 New employee orientation St Cloud Oct 23-24 NRECA retirement planning seminar St Cloud Nov 22 Legislative summit Maple Grove Dec 3-4 CFCs statewide financial workshop Brooklyn Park Dec 12 IT users group Maple Grove LEADERSHIP TRAINING Oct 15 Leadership training basic principles Braham Oct 16-17 Leadership training module 1 Braham More upcoming MREA events
DONT MISS THESE UPCOMING MREA FALL EVENTS
The Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors announced the selection of Mike Henke as its new chief
executive officer effective October 1 2019
Henke has served as the Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative chief financial officer (CFO) for the past eight years and will officially succeed Elaine J Garry upon her retirement on September 30 In his role as CFO Mike led the cooperativersquos finance accounting facilities and information technology functions He also helped lead the cooperative through many significant initiatives including the Minnesota Three Solar project the Peoplersquos Community Solar project and the Alliant acquisition among other accomplishments
Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative Board Chair Jerome Wooner said ldquoOur search process identified many strong internal and external candidates but ultimately Mikersquos experience and passion for our industry was the defining factorrdquo He went on to say ldquoWe are thrilled that someone with so much history with our organization and such a depth of experience in the electric cooperative sector will lead PEC into its next chapter We see many new opportunities and challenges ahead in our industry and the board looks forward to working closely with Mike to build upon our rich history of providing elite services to our members and a positive work environment for
our talented employeesrdquo
ldquoI am humbled and honored to be chosen by the board to lead the cooperativerdquo said Henke ldquoWith our strong board leadership and our dedicated staff I am extremely optimistic about the future of the cooperative I am committed to doing my very best for the membershiprdquo He went on to say ldquoElainersquos leadership has built a strong cooperative and she leaves a great legacy My goal is to perpetuate what she has builtrdquo
Before working at Peoplersquos Mike was the VP of finance for ACA International an association for credit and collection professionals where he served its membership for 13 years Before that Mike served Cuneo Communications Group as its general manager and CFO He also co-founded CarSoupcom where he developed and implemented the CarSoup business plan Mike earned a masterrsquos in business administration from Metropolitan State University in St Paul and a bachelorrsquos degree from Minnesota State University Mankato
CO-OPS REGISTER TO VOTE
Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives understand whatrsquos important to our homes and our communities and we understand that registering to vote and voting in every
election is vital to protecting our way of life So is building relationships with elected officials so they understand the unique issues we face
Co-ops Vote is designed to boost voter turnout develop relationships with candidates and elected officials and ensure that issues that matter in rural America are heard everywhere from local councils all the way up to the US Capitol
Co-ops Vote provides the tools to help build those relationships and educate co-op employees directors and consumer members prior to hitting the polls for every election
Please join us and make sure our elected leaders know that we expect them to represent all the people electric cooperatives serve Learn more at votecoop
Follow CO-OPS VOTE on social media and stay updated
WHAT IS CO-OPS VOTECo-ops Vote is a non-partisan campaign focused on enhancing the political strength of electric cooperatives through relationship building and voter engagement The main goal of the campaign is to boost voter turnout in cooperative areas making sure that our members exercise one of their most basic rights - the right to vote Working in collaboration with states and local co-ops this effort will educate and engage candidates and voters on important issues like
bull Expanding broadband coverage throughout rural America
bull Ensuring continued access to reliable electricity
bull Promoting the work of co-ops within the communities they serve
WHY IS THE CO-OPS VOTE PROGRAM IMPORTANT bull We must elect public officials who identify with Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives and will vote to
support the issues important to 42 million electric cooperative members across the nation
bull Electric cooperatives are a trusted resource in the communities we serve Voters want to hear from community leaders (like electric co-ops) about important issues
AMERICArsquoS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
833 distribution and 62 GampT coop- eratives a total of 905 co-op members
For more information on Co-ops Vote please visit votecoop or cooperativecomcoopsvote
Serve a total of 42 million people in 47 states
Own and maintain 26 million miles or 42 of the nationrsquos electric distribution lines covering 56 of the US landmass
Serve 19 million businesses homes schools churches farms irrigation systems and other establishments in 88 of US counties
Generate 5 of the total electricity in the United States
CoopsVote
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan program supported by several organizations including MREA and the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to register voters National Voter Registration Day is on Tuesday September 24 and the program is working to get as many co-ops as possible to do any or all of the following
bull Host a voter registration drive at your co-op location (See link below)
bull Post the logo and link to wwwvotecoop on your website(s)
bull Share your efforts on social media and in any employee or member communications
Democratic Member Control is one of the seven core principles of every co-op This effort helps showcase that principle in action The Co-ops Vote program is NOT in support of any one candidate or party It is simply an effort to get as many people as possible to register and vote in all elections Cooperatives thrive in societies with robust democratic participation
The link below is personalized for co-ops to use to sign up to host a voter registration drive
If you need any additional information please contact Laura Vogel at lauravogelnrecacoop or (703) 907-5717 or Adam Schwartz at aschwartzthecooperativewaycoop or (703) 608-0534
ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATION
Minnkotarsquos Grand Forks campus was charged up Aug 7-8 with two events aiming to introduce local leaders and the
public to the present and future potential of driving electric The events revolved around a two-day visit from the West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS) ell-electric Blue Bird school bus purchased by the school district earlier this year with support from Minnkota and other partners
Electric bus or bust
The morning of Aug 7 Minnkota invited its employees and visiting cooperative and municipal representatives to tour the electric bus ask the mechanic questions about its capabilities and take a short ride around town Passengers experienced the surprisingly quiet and zippy ride of the 70-seat bus which boasts a 120-mile range and zero emissions
That afternoon Minnkota welcomed city leaders economic development groups universities and public schools transportation officials lawmakers and more to check out the bus themselves They came with many insightful questions about what it takes to incorporate an electric bus into a standard fleet and walked away with new transportation ideas for their organizations and neighborhoods
Plugged in to the Future
On Aug 8 Minnkotarsquos visitor parking lot was packed with powerful plug-in cars a battery-boosted bus and bikes special guests and giveaways and food trucks serving up brisket street tacos gyros and more
More than 275 people popped by the cooperative for ldquoPlugged
in to the Futurerdquo ndash a ldquoBack to the Futurerdquo-inspired celebration of electric transportation The event was the first of its kind in the Greater Grand Forks community and drew around a dozen electric vehicle (EV) owners from around North Dakota and Minnesota all of them thrilled to showcase their cars and answer questions for those interested in Teslas Chevy Bolts plug-in hybrids and other models
Organizers urged attendees to fill out a survey after the event to assess what they learned about electric vehicles Nearly 99 of respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about EVs after the event and 91 said they were now more open to owning an EV of their own
Excerpts from newsminnkotacom by Kaylee Cusack Minnkota Power Cooperative
The West Fargo Public Schools 100 electric school bus (Kevin JeffreyMinnkota)
With charging stations and electric cars as a backdrop families found space for a food truck picnic to re-energize themselves (Kevin Jeffrey
Minnkota)
Mike Henke
PEOPLES ENERGY COOPERATIVE NAMES NEW CEO
REMA Sept 18-20 REMA engineers and operations conference amp trade show Duluth SAFETY amp LOSS CONTROL Oct 10-11 Designated employer representative (DER) and reasonable suspicion training Maple Grove Oct 15-18 MREAMMUA overhead school and rodeo Marshall Dec 4-6 Safety and loss control conference St Cloud Dec 10-13 MREAMMUA transformer school amp basic connections pre-conference Marshall
GENERAL Sept 17 Dealing with difficult customers St Cloud Sept 18-19 Collections amp disconnects conference St Cloud Sept 23-25 Fall DC legislative visit Washington DC Oct 8-9 Communicators network St Cloud Oct 22-23 New employee orientation St Cloud Oct 23-24 NRECA retirement planning seminar St Cloud Nov 22 Legislative summit Maple Grove Dec 3-4 CFCs statewide financial workshop Brooklyn Park Dec 12 IT users group Maple Grove LEADERSHIP TRAINING Oct 15 Leadership training basic principles Braham Oct 16-17 Leadership training module 1 Braham More upcoming MREA events
DONT MISS THESE UPCOMING MREA FALL EVENTS
The Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors announced the selection of Mike Henke as its new chief
executive officer effective October 1 2019
Henke has served as the Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative chief financial officer (CFO) for the past eight years and will officially succeed Elaine J Garry upon her retirement on September 30 In his role as CFO Mike led the cooperativersquos finance accounting facilities and information technology functions He also helped lead the cooperative through many significant initiatives including the Minnesota Three Solar project the Peoplersquos Community Solar project and the Alliant acquisition among other accomplishments
Peoplersquos Energy Cooperative Board Chair Jerome Wooner said ldquoOur search process identified many strong internal and external candidates but ultimately Mikersquos experience and passion for our industry was the defining factorrdquo He went on to say ldquoWe are thrilled that someone with so much history with our organization and such a depth of experience in the electric cooperative sector will lead PEC into its next chapter We see many new opportunities and challenges ahead in our industry and the board looks forward to working closely with Mike to build upon our rich history of providing elite services to our members and a positive work environment for
our talented employeesrdquo
ldquoI am humbled and honored to be chosen by the board to lead the cooperativerdquo said Henke ldquoWith our strong board leadership and our dedicated staff I am extremely optimistic about the future of the cooperative I am committed to doing my very best for the membershiprdquo He went on to say ldquoElainersquos leadership has built a strong cooperative and she leaves a great legacy My goal is to perpetuate what she has builtrdquo
Before working at Peoplersquos Mike was the VP of finance for ACA International an association for credit and collection professionals where he served its membership for 13 years Before that Mike served Cuneo Communications Group as its general manager and CFO He also co-founded CarSoupcom where he developed and implemented the CarSoup business plan Mike earned a masterrsquos in business administration from Metropolitan State University in St Paul and a bachelorrsquos degree from Minnesota State University Mankato
CO-OPS REGISTER TO VOTE
Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives understand whatrsquos important to our homes and our communities and we understand that registering to vote and voting in every
election is vital to protecting our way of life So is building relationships with elected officials so they understand the unique issues we face
Co-ops Vote is designed to boost voter turnout develop relationships with candidates and elected officials and ensure that issues that matter in rural America are heard everywhere from local councils all the way up to the US Capitol
Co-ops Vote provides the tools to help build those relationships and educate co-op employees directors and consumer members prior to hitting the polls for every election
Please join us and make sure our elected leaders know that we expect them to represent all the people electric cooperatives serve Learn more at votecoop
Follow CO-OPS VOTE on social media and stay updated
WHAT IS CO-OPS VOTECo-ops Vote is a non-partisan campaign focused on enhancing the political strength of electric cooperatives through relationship building and voter engagement The main goal of the campaign is to boost voter turnout in cooperative areas making sure that our members exercise one of their most basic rights - the right to vote Working in collaboration with states and local co-ops this effort will educate and engage candidates and voters on important issues like
bull Expanding broadband coverage throughout rural America
bull Ensuring continued access to reliable electricity
bull Promoting the work of co-ops within the communities they serve
WHY IS THE CO-OPS VOTE PROGRAM IMPORTANT bull We must elect public officials who identify with Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives and will vote to
support the issues important to 42 million electric cooperative members across the nation
bull Electric cooperatives are a trusted resource in the communities we serve Voters want to hear from community leaders (like electric co-ops) about important issues
AMERICArsquoS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
833 distribution and 62 GampT coop- eratives a total of 905 co-op members
For more information on Co-ops Vote please visit votecoop or cooperativecomcoopsvote
Serve a total of 42 million people in 47 states
Own and maintain 26 million miles or 42 of the nationrsquos electric distribution lines covering 56 of the US landmass
Serve 19 million businesses homes schools churches farms irrigation systems and other establishments in 88 of US counties
Generate 5 of the total electricity in the United States
CoopsVote
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan program supported by several organizations including MREA and the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to register voters National Voter Registration Day is on Tuesday September 24 and the program is working to get as many co-ops as possible to do any or all of the following
bull Host a voter registration drive at your co-op location (See link below)
bull Post the logo and link to wwwvotecoop on your website(s)
bull Share your efforts on social media and in any employee or member communications
Democratic Member Control is one of the seven core principles of every co-op This effort helps showcase that principle in action The Co-ops Vote program is NOT in support of any one candidate or party It is simply an effort to get as many people as possible to register and vote in all elections Cooperatives thrive in societies with robust democratic participation
The link below is personalized for co-ops to use to sign up to host a voter registration drive
If you need any additional information please contact Laura Vogel at lauravogelnrecacoop or (703) 907-5717 or Adam Schwartz at aschwartzthecooperativewaycoop or (703) 608-0534
ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATION
Minnkotarsquos Grand Forks campus was charged up Aug 7-8 with two events aiming to introduce local leaders and the
public to the present and future potential of driving electric The events revolved around a two-day visit from the West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS) ell-electric Blue Bird school bus purchased by the school district earlier this year with support from Minnkota and other partners
Electric bus or bust
The morning of Aug 7 Minnkota invited its employees and visiting cooperative and municipal representatives to tour the electric bus ask the mechanic questions about its capabilities and take a short ride around town Passengers experienced the surprisingly quiet and zippy ride of the 70-seat bus which boasts a 120-mile range and zero emissions
That afternoon Minnkota welcomed city leaders economic development groups universities and public schools transportation officials lawmakers and more to check out the bus themselves They came with many insightful questions about what it takes to incorporate an electric bus into a standard fleet and walked away with new transportation ideas for their organizations and neighborhoods
Plugged in to the Future
On Aug 8 Minnkotarsquos visitor parking lot was packed with powerful plug-in cars a battery-boosted bus and bikes special guests and giveaways and food trucks serving up brisket street tacos gyros and more
More than 275 people popped by the cooperative for ldquoPlugged
in to the Futurerdquo ndash a ldquoBack to the Futurerdquo-inspired celebration of electric transportation The event was the first of its kind in the Greater Grand Forks community and drew around a dozen electric vehicle (EV) owners from around North Dakota and Minnesota all of them thrilled to showcase their cars and answer questions for those interested in Teslas Chevy Bolts plug-in hybrids and other models
Organizers urged attendees to fill out a survey after the event to assess what they learned about electric vehicles Nearly 99 of respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about EVs after the event and 91 said they were now more open to owning an EV of their own
Excerpts from newsminnkotacom by Kaylee Cusack Minnkota Power Cooperative
The West Fargo Public Schools 100 electric school bus (Kevin JeffreyMinnkota)
With charging stations and electric cars as a backdrop families found space for a food truck picnic to re-energize themselves (Kevin Jeffrey
Minnkota)
CO-OPS REGISTER TO VOTE
Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives understand whatrsquos important to our homes and our communities and we understand that registering to vote and voting in every
election is vital to protecting our way of life So is building relationships with elected officials so they understand the unique issues we face
Co-ops Vote is designed to boost voter turnout develop relationships with candidates and elected officials and ensure that issues that matter in rural America are heard everywhere from local councils all the way up to the US Capitol
Co-ops Vote provides the tools to help build those relationships and educate co-op employees directors and consumer members prior to hitting the polls for every election
Please join us and make sure our elected leaders know that we expect them to represent all the people electric cooperatives serve Learn more at votecoop
Follow CO-OPS VOTE on social media and stay updated
WHAT IS CO-OPS VOTECo-ops Vote is a non-partisan campaign focused on enhancing the political strength of electric cooperatives through relationship building and voter engagement The main goal of the campaign is to boost voter turnout in cooperative areas making sure that our members exercise one of their most basic rights - the right to vote Working in collaboration with states and local co-ops this effort will educate and engage candidates and voters on important issues like
bull Expanding broadband coverage throughout rural America
bull Ensuring continued access to reliable electricity
bull Promoting the work of co-ops within the communities they serve
WHY IS THE CO-OPS VOTE PROGRAM IMPORTANT bull We must elect public officials who identify with Americarsquos Electric Cooperatives and will vote to
support the issues important to 42 million electric cooperative members across the nation
bull Electric cooperatives are a trusted resource in the communities we serve Voters want to hear from community leaders (like electric co-ops) about important issues
AMERICArsquoS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES
833 distribution and 62 GampT coop- eratives a total of 905 co-op members
For more information on Co-ops Vote please visit votecoop or cooperativecomcoopsvote
Serve a total of 42 million people in 47 states
Own and maintain 26 million miles or 42 of the nationrsquos electric distribution lines covering 56 of the US landmass
Serve 19 million businesses homes schools churches farms irrigation systems and other establishments in 88 of US counties
Generate 5 of the total electricity in the United States
CoopsVote
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan program supported by several organizations including MREA and the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to register voters National Voter Registration Day is on Tuesday September 24 and the program is working to get as many co-ops as possible to do any or all of the following
bull Host a voter registration drive at your co-op location (See link below)
bull Post the logo and link to wwwvotecoop on your website(s)
bull Share your efforts on social media and in any employee or member communications
Democratic Member Control is one of the seven core principles of every co-op This effort helps showcase that principle in action The Co-ops Vote program is NOT in support of any one candidate or party It is simply an effort to get as many people as possible to register and vote in all elections Cooperatives thrive in societies with robust democratic participation
The link below is personalized for co-ops to use to sign up to host a voter registration drive
If you need any additional information please contact Laura Vogel at lauravogelnrecacoop or (703) 907-5717 or Adam Schwartz at aschwartzthecooperativewaycoop or (703) 608-0534
ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATION
Minnkotarsquos Grand Forks campus was charged up Aug 7-8 with two events aiming to introduce local leaders and the
public to the present and future potential of driving electric The events revolved around a two-day visit from the West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS) ell-electric Blue Bird school bus purchased by the school district earlier this year with support from Minnkota and other partners
Electric bus or bust
The morning of Aug 7 Minnkota invited its employees and visiting cooperative and municipal representatives to tour the electric bus ask the mechanic questions about its capabilities and take a short ride around town Passengers experienced the surprisingly quiet and zippy ride of the 70-seat bus which boasts a 120-mile range and zero emissions
That afternoon Minnkota welcomed city leaders economic development groups universities and public schools transportation officials lawmakers and more to check out the bus themselves They came with many insightful questions about what it takes to incorporate an electric bus into a standard fleet and walked away with new transportation ideas for their organizations and neighborhoods
Plugged in to the Future
On Aug 8 Minnkotarsquos visitor parking lot was packed with powerful plug-in cars a battery-boosted bus and bikes special guests and giveaways and food trucks serving up brisket street tacos gyros and more
More than 275 people popped by the cooperative for ldquoPlugged
in to the Futurerdquo ndash a ldquoBack to the Futurerdquo-inspired celebration of electric transportation The event was the first of its kind in the Greater Grand Forks community and drew around a dozen electric vehicle (EV) owners from around North Dakota and Minnesota all of them thrilled to showcase their cars and answer questions for those interested in Teslas Chevy Bolts plug-in hybrids and other models
Organizers urged attendees to fill out a survey after the event to assess what they learned about electric vehicles Nearly 99 of respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about EVs after the event and 91 said they were now more open to owning an EV of their own
Excerpts from newsminnkotacom by Kaylee Cusack Minnkota Power Cooperative
The West Fargo Public Schools 100 electric school bus (Kevin JeffreyMinnkota)
With charging stations and electric cars as a backdrop families found space for a food truck picnic to re-energize themselves (Kevin Jeffrey
Minnkota)
ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION CELEBRATION
Minnkotarsquos Grand Forks campus was charged up Aug 7-8 with two events aiming to introduce local leaders and the
public to the present and future potential of driving electric The events revolved around a two-day visit from the West Fargo Public Schools (WFPS) ell-electric Blue Bird school bus purchased by the school district earlier this year with support from Minnkota and other partners
Electric bus or bust
The morning of Aug 7 Minnkota invited its employees and visiting cooperative and municipal representatives to tour the electric bus ask the mechanic questions about its capabilities and take a short ride around town Passengers experienced the surprisingly quiet and zippy ride of the 70-seat bus which boasts a 120-mile range and zero emissions
That afternoon Minnkota welcomed city leaders economic development groups universities and public schools transportation officials lawmakers and more to check out the bus themselves They came with many insightful questions about what it takes to incorporate an electric bus into a standard fleet and walked away with new transportation ideas for their organizations and neighborhoods
Plugged in to the Future
On Aug 8 Minnkotarsquos visitor parking lot was packed with powerful plug-in cars a battery-boosted bus and bikes special guests and giveaways and food trucks serving up brisket street tacos gyros and more
More than 275 people popped by the cooperative for ldquoPlugged
in to the Futurerdquo ndash a ldquoBack to the Futurerdquo-inspired celebration of electric transportation The event was the first of its kind in the Greater Grand Forks community and drew around a dozen electric vehicle (EV) owners from around North Dakota and Minnesota all of them thrilled to showcase their cars and answer questions for those interested in Teslas Chevy Bolts plug-in hybrids and other models
Organizers urged attendees to fill out a survey after the event to assess what they learned about electric vehicles Nearly 99 of respondents said they felt more knowledgeable about EVs after the event and 91 said they were now more open to owning an EV of their own
Excerpts from newsminnkotacom by Kaylee Cusack Minnkota Power Cooperative
The West Fargo Public Schools 100 electric school bus (Kevin JeffreyMinnkota)
With charging stations and electric cars as a backdrop families found space for a food truck picnic to re-energize themselves (Kevin Jeffrey
