Lake Region Electric Cooperative & Energy Transition

There has been a lot of meaningful discussions about climate change and emissions targets over the years in places like Paris, Washington D.C., and St. Paul.   There has been a lot of action taking place at LREC and it is benefiting families and businesses in our service territory.  

We are on the path to clean energy. We believe LREC’s members have the best electric service around, whether you value cost, reliability, environmental responsibility—or all three.  In partnership with our wholesale electricity provider Great River Energy, we will dramatically reduce the energy we receive from coal. Not only will we meet Minnesota’s goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 80% from 2005 levels, we will get there next year—27 years before the 2050 target.

Our renewable energy portfolio – which already meets Minnesota’s renewable energy standard of 25% – will nearly triple in output by 2025.  As these changes occur, LREC’s wholesale power costs will flatten. As inflation is causing other costs to rise, Great River Energy’s wholesale power rate remains well below the average cost of electricity in the region and is projected to remain flat for years to come.

The changes to the way we generate electricity have occurred intentionally for over a decade. We have closed two power plants and recently sold a third. Your elected directors have faced decisions that will have wide-ranging and long-lasting effects. They take into careful consideration the impact their decisions will have on the environment, reliability, community and the state and local economy. Through it all, they have focused on doing what’s best for LREC’s membership. 

LREC and Great River Energy are in the strong position we are today because of the way we do business, as cooperatives. Your co-op, LREC, is an owner of Great River Energy in the same way you are an owner of LREC.  Cooperatives are owned by those we serve, governed by democratically elected directors, and guided by a simple goal: to do what’s best for the membership, in every scenario. By continuing to listen to our members and work with partners like Great River Energy, LREC will remain innovative, nimble and deliver on our promise to members for generations.

Your cooperative, LREC, is focused on listening to all of you, the members of LREC, and the energy and passion demonstrated by the members who recently attended one or more of our three recent district meetings is what makes this co-op such a great place to be a part of!  Thank you to all of you that were able to attend the recent district meetings earlier this month either in-person or by livestream.  If you were not able to attend any of the recent district meetings, please visit the district meeting page to see replays of all three of them.