News > Riding the Wind: Great River Energy Delivers Clean Power to Minnesota Homes

Riding the Wind: Great River Energy Delivers Clean Power to Minnesota Homes

March 11, 2026

Great River Energy (GRE) is leading the way in supplying reliable, affordable and increasingly sustainable electricity to its 26 member-owner cooperatives.

At the heart of its power supply strategy is a strong commitment to wind energy, which has become a cornerstone of the cooperative’s efforts to meet both member needs and Minnesota’s ambitious carbon-free goals.

Over the past decade, GRE has made significant investments in wind power, recognizing early on the potential of renewables to transform the energy landscape. Today, the cooperative sources more than 950 megawatts (MW) of wind energy from eight large wind farms in the Midwest, and plans are underway to double this capacity in the coming years. Technological advances and the region’s favorable wind conditions have made wind a competitive and reliable energy choice, allowing GRE to steadily increase the share of renewables in its portfolio.

Wind power now accounts for more than a quarter of GRE’s electricity supply and the cooperative is actively expanding its wind resources with several large projects planned. By 2026, an additional 866 MW of new wind generation will come online, further enhancing renewable energy capacity and helping the cooperative move closer to its goal of providing 90% carbon-free retail electric sales by 2035.

HOW WIND ENERGY GETS TO MEMBERS
Once wind energy is produced at wind farms, it is transmitted through an extensive network of high-voltage transmission lines owned and operated by GRE.

These lines carry electricity from remote wind generation sites across Minnesota to substations located near member communities. At the substations, the voltage is reduced and the power is distributed through local electric cooperatives, which deliver electricity directly to homes, farms and businesses.

This seamless process ensures that clean, renewable wind energy reliably reaches members, supporting daily life and local economies while advancing Minnesota’s clean energy goals.

MAINTAINING A BALANCED MIX
While wind is important, GRE maintains a balanced mix of resources to ensure reliability. Natural gas-fueled peaking plants are used to quickly ramp up electricity production during periods of high demand or when wind generation is low, such as during heat waves or cold snaps. Hydropower, solar and market energy purchases also play supporting roles, while coal and fuel oil have been steadily reduced as part of the cooperative’s transition to cleaner energy sources.

“We are procuring wind contracts consistently as that resource has been historically economically efficient, and that resource class continues to be the major contributor to our energy portfolio,” said GRE Director of Resource Planning Zac Ruzycki. “These efforts directly benefit our members by keeping rates competitive and stable, improving reliability and ensuring we’re doing our part for the environment.”

As new wind resources come online and energy storage technologies are developed, GRE remains committed to delivering dependable electricity while advancing environmental stewardship.