Events > Coal Creek Tour

Coal Creek Tour

Get ready to explore North Dakota on an exciting energy tour with your friends, family and Stearns Electric Association!

The tour has been widely attended by hundreds of other co-op members across the state and is a popular tradition enjoyed by many. Take a ride with Stearns Electric Association on a comfortable, air-conditioned charter bus to see how your electricity is generated and transmitted using the rich reserves of coal in North Dakota.

Every other year, Stearns Electric Association sponsors a bus tour to Coal Creek Station, located about 50 miles north of Bismarck, North Dakota, near Underwood. This is one of the world’s largest and cleanest lignite coal-fired power plants and it’s where most of Stearns Electric Association’s electricity comes from. Coal Creek Station uses between 7.5 and 8 million tons of lignite per year to generate electricity for Great River Energy’s members.

The highlight of this three day trip is the tour of Coal Creek Station and Falkirk Mine – supplier of the lignite coal. Although those are the main attractions, you will also see:

• Garrison Dam
• Fort Mandan Visitor Center
• Co-op Hosted Dinner in Bismarck

Stearns Electric’s next Coal Creek Tour will be June 2021.

Check back to this page, the Power Connection and our Facebook page for additional details and upcoming dates.