Lake Region Electric Cooperative
On July 26th, 2022, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Board of Directors unanimously selected Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) to receive the 2022 prestigious Electric Cooperative Purpose Award. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, NRECA represents more than 900 consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives, public power districts, and public utility districts in the United States, and is guided by a 48 person board of directors.
The Electric Cooperative Purpose Award recognizes electric cooperatives that work with their membership to make outstanding contributions, which result in visible, lasting improvements to the quality of life and the purpose of the cooperative in the community.
In its letter giving notice to LREC of the award, NRECA recognized LREC’s great advancement of its solar-wind hybrid facilities, as well as its GoWest Solar program offering renewable energy solutions to meet the needs of LREC members.
The Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) Board of Directors, consisting of representatives from other Minnesota electric cooperatives, nominated LREC for the award. “The Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) board was pleased to nominate LREC as a shining example of the dedicated and innovative work Minnesota’s cooperatives are doing to improve the lives of those within their communities,” said MREA CEO Darrick Moe.
After LREC was informed that it had been nominated for this award, LREC submitted information and letters of support, all of which collectively highlighted its solar-wind hybrid facilities, GoWest Solar program, Lake Region Energy Services (LRES)–the natural gas subsidiary of LREC, Grid-interactive Electric Thermal Storage Water Heater Controllers Pilot Program, Community Solar Project, Hydroponic GroShed, Distribution Grid Improvement Plan, Generator Program, and Battery Storage Pilot Program, as well as engagement opportunities provided for members who are interested in learning more about LREC.
Current NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, and former Utah congress member, dialed into LREC headquarters to virtually announce that LREC was the recipient of the award. The board and employees of LREC were honored to receive this award on behalf of LREC’s membership. LREC CEO Tim Thompson said the award is a testament to the LREC members, board of directors, and employees. “We’re member focused and our board and employees all want LREC to be our members’ local, trusted energy services provider,” Thompson said.
LREC will be recognized at the NRECA Regional meeting in Minneapolis in September and will be officially presented the award at the 2023 NRECA PowerXchange conference in Nashville, where industry leaders from across the country share ideas, strategies, and best practices.