Now Hiring a Heavy Equipment Operator

April 2026

North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc. is seeking a full-time heavy equipment operator. This position is responsible for operating a variety of equipment including horizontal direction drill (HDD), locators, excavators, skid steers, mowers, associated support vehicles, and other similar equipment used for constructing, installing, and replacing underground electrical services. Previous experience with heavy equipment is required, with utility experience preferred. A high school diploma or equivalent and the ability to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver’s License is also required.

This position is located in Baudette, Minnesota, with no more than a 20-minute drive time from home to office required. This position includes current union compensation and an excellent benefit package.  A pre-employment physical and drug screening is required.

Application form can be downloaded here. Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m., April 20, 2026.  Please call Tim Pelach at North Star Electric Cooperative (218-634-2202) with questions. Please mail, fax or e-mail application and resume to:

North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc., PO Box 719, Baudette, MN 56623

Fax number: 218-634-2203 E-mail – tim.p@northstarelectric.coop

North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2026 Knowledge Scholarships

It’s that time of year for our Knowledge Scholarship program! Representatives from North Star will soon be visiting schools in Littlefork, International Falls, Warroad, and Baudette to provide information to students about this scholarship opportunity!

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Lake of the Woods County Looking for Public Input

BAUDETTE, MN 56623
LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
February 12, 2026


Public Input Wanted as Lake of the Woods County Updates Hazard Mitigation Plan

Lake of the Woods County residents, community leaders, business owners, area agencies, and organizations now have an opportunity to share how severe weather events impact their property and lives. There is also an opportunity to share their ideas on how to reduce local impacts in the future.


The Lake of the Woods County Office of Emergency Management is working with U-Spatial at the University of Minnesota Duluth to update the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The plan assesses the natural hazards that pose risk to the county, such as flooding, tornadoes, windstorms, winter storms, extreme temperatures, wildfire, and drought. The plan further identifies local vulnerabilities and ways to minimize damage from future events. As the county works to update the plan, it wants to hear from the public.


The Lake of the Woods County HMP is a multi-jurisdictional plan that covers Lake of the Woods County, including all cities and townships within the county. The Lake of the Woods County HMP also incorporates the concerns and needs of school districts, watershed districts, and other related agencies, organizations, or businesses participating in the planning process. The plan will be updated by a planning team made up of representatives from county departments, local municipalities, and other key stakeholders. When completed, the plan will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval.


“Hazard mitigation planning is a central part of our emergency management program,” said Jill Hasbargen Olson, Lake of the Woods County Emergency Management Director. “Understanding the natural hazards that can cause serious impact to our communities and taking action to reduce or eliminate the impact of future disasters makes us more resilient. Hazard mitigation helps us to break the cycle of damage and repair caused by things like flooding, ice storms, and severe wind events that can damage property, stress economies, and threaten life safety in our county.”
Examples of hazard mitigation include:

  • Conducting public outreach on severe weather awareness and preparedness
  • Improving stormwater management systems to better handle high-rain events
  • Removing existing buildings from flood or erosion prone hazard areas
  • Increasing defensible space around homes in high-risk wildfire areas
  • Constructing tornado safe rooms in vulnerable areas such as mobile home parks
  • Burying overhead powerlines that may fail due to heavy snow, ice, or windstorms

Some mitigation activities may be eligible for future FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding.

As part of the planning process, gathering input from the public is an important and required step. Residents of cities and townships, local businesses, and other stakeholders are encouraged to share feedback on the following to incorporate into the plan:

  • What are the natural hazards you feel pose the greatest risk to your community?
  • Are there specific populations or assets in your community that you feel are more vulnerable to future storm events?
  • What concerns do you have, and what sorts of actions do you feel would help to reduce damages of future hazard events in your community or the county as a whole?

To provide your feedback, please contact Lake of the Woods County Emergency Management or submit your comments via the online HMP public feedback form.


There will be additional opportunities for public feedback throughout the planning process. A draft of the plan will be made available for public review prior to submission of the plan to the State of Minnesota. Future news releases will be shared with the media to notify the public of these opportunities.


The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) requires counties to update their plan every 5 years to maintain eligibility for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs.
Contact
Jill Hasbargen Olson
Lake of the Woods County Emergency Management Director
Phone: 218-634-4547
Email: jill_o@co.lotw.mn.us

NRECA Calls for Swift Action to Address Worsening Grid Reliability Outlook

Published: January 29, 2026
Author: Molly Christian, NRECA
 

The U.S. grid reliability outlook is “worsening” amid projections for more power plant retirements and surging demand from data centers and other large loads in the next decade, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said on Thursday. 

NERC’s latest Long-Term Reliability Assessment reinforces the need for smart energy policies that support reliable, affordable generation for electric cooperatives, NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said. 

“Today’s report is yet another stark warning about the intensifying reliability risks facing America’s electric grid,” Matheson said. “This report clearly highlights the need for smart, swift actions and serious conversations about how we will meet tomorrow’s energy needs as a country.” 

Over half the areas that NERC analyzed in its latest long-term assessment are expected to face resource adequacy challenges in the coming decade.

In the next five years, areas at high risk of energy supply shortfalls include Texas and parts of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northwest. Regions at elevated risk of shortfalls—meaning demand could exceed supply during extreme conditions such as above-normal temperatures or fuel supply disruptions—include New England, New York and parts of the Southeast and Southwest Power Pool. 

The loss of always-available generation is one key risk. Although expected plant retirements have shrunk from last year’s long-term assessment, NERC said closures could total over 105 gigawatts of peak seasonal capacity in the next 10 years—enough energy to power up to 100 million homes. 

At the same time, aggregated peak demand is expected to soar by more than 224 GW for summer and 245 GW for winter over the 10-year period, up by 69% and 65% from last year’s 10-year growth projections, respectively.  

Power demand from data centers and other large industrial and commercial loads is driving much of that increase, particularly in Texas, the PJM Interconnection and the West. 

Grid operations are also becoming more complex due to rising deployment of inverter-based, weather-dependent resources such as battery storage and solar energy, NERC said. 

“The overall resource adequacy outlook for the North American [bulk power system] is worsening,” the new report said. “Projections for resource and transmission growth lag what is needed to support new data centers and other large loads that drive escalating demand forecasts.” 

NERC called on industry, regulators and policymakers to speed the addition of new energy resources, manage the reliability risks of large load growth, improve coordination between electric and natural gas systems, and streamline siting and permitting of energy and transmission resources, among other recommendations. 

NRECA has advocated for such policy reforms. The association has backed legislation in Congress to ease the federal permitting process for energy projects and urged key agencies to remove regulatory threats to power generation and help electric cooperatives serve data centers and other large load growth. 

“Reliable and affordable electricity is the cornerstone of America’s national security and our economy,” Matheson said. “As electricity demand skyrockets, we urge policymakers to continue working with electric cooperatives to prioritize grid reliability and pursue smart energy policies that help set our nation on a more stable path.” 

Molly Christian is a staff writer for NRECA.

New Demand Response Website

November 13, 2025

If you participate in North Star Electric Cooperative’s Demand Response Program (also called off-peak), we have an exciting upgrade to show you! Our old website has undergone a facelift thanks to our partners at Minnkota Power Cooperative. Take a look at : Demand Response

This new website features:

· Easy-to-understand interface

· Control probability

· Load group detail still available

 

Real Power Now: Power Disconnect

Can our national electric grid hold the weight of changing policy, increased energy demand and fewer 24/7 resources? In Power Disconnect – a mini documentary produced by Minnkota Power Cooperative – industry leaders reveal the challenges facing a rapidly evolving electric grid as it heads into an era of skyrocketing energy needs. How do we find a balance of reliability, sustainability and affordability? It all starts with an honest conversation.

 

 

2025 Summer Reliability Assessment

As temperatures rise and millions of Americans rely on power to keep their lights on and air conditioners running, the nation’s grid reliability watchdog, the North American Reliability Corporation (NERC), has issued an important update confirming that reliability risks remain front and center.

This summer, electricity demand across North America is forecast to hit record highs. According to the 2025 Summer Reliability Assessment, states across the Midwest and New England face elevated risks of energy shortfalls.


This report underscores a simple truth: Americans expect safe, reliable, affordable power. Meeting that expectation requires lawmakers to keep reliability front and center by passing smart energy policies that will keep the lights on.

To learn more about the threats to reliable energy and the areas most at risk this summer, the full 2025 Summer Reliability Assessment can be found here.

2025 Member Appreciation Open House

Mark your calendar with our Littlefork and Baudette member appreciation open house dates! They will be held on Thursday, June 12, in Littlefork, and Friday, June 13, in Baudette, each day from 11 am to 2 pm. The linemen will be grilling brats for lunch, and we will have door prizes for both kids and adults! Hope to see you there!

2025 Knowledge Scholarship Winners

The 2025 Knowledge Scholarship competition has been completed!  Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to these winners!

  • $1,000 scholarship – Sarah Eck – Lake of the Woods High School
  • $500 scholarship – Riley Carlson – International Falls High School
  • $500 scholarship – Brant Baron – Lake of the Woods High School
  • $500 scholarship – Leah Johnson – Lake of the Woods High School
  • $500 scholarship – Dominick Juen – Littlefork-Big Falls High School