Are you interested in serving as a director on the North Star Electric Cooperative Board for your district? District elections will be held for districts 2, 3, and 7 at this year’s annual meeting. The elections for districts 2 and 3 are for four-year terms, and the election for district 7 is for one year. (The normal four-year term election for district 7 will be held in October 2023.) Director candidate materials are available by contacting our Baudette office at 218-634-2202.
North Dakota, Minnesota at risk of power outages this summer
America’s electric grid has become increasingly unstable – and it could begin impacting Minnkota Power Cooperative’s members this summer.
That’s why Minnkota and North Star Electric are joining many of our nation’s grid operators and regulators in sounding the alarm on the vulnerabilities that are affecting power reliability. As the pace of change in the energy industry continues to accelerate, so does the risk of rotating power outages and other extended service interruptions. Minnkota’s eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota service area is no longer immune to the large-scale grid challenges that have been experienced in Texas and California in recent years.
As North Star’s wholesale power provider, Minnkota takes its responsibility to provide reliable, resilient and responsible electricity seriously. The cooperative has more than enough generating capacity to meet the demands of its members through its coal, wind and hydro resources. But Minnkota does not operate on the grid alone. Utilities across the Upper Midwest are connected through Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO). Emergency events experienced in other parts of the MISO region can and do have impacts back into the Minnkota system.
One of the most significant industry issues is the retirement of baseload and dispatchable power plants – including coal, nuclear and natural gas – without adequate replacements. Wind and solar make up the majority of the new resources being added to the grid, but they are limited by the fact that they are only able to operate intermittently – when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. While Minnkota supports moving toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, it is not something that can happen with the flip of the switch. It will take decades of planning and unprecedented technology development to achieve significant carbon reduction.
MISO expresses concerns
Minnkota is not alone in coming to these conclusions. MISO issued a dire warning in April that it does not have enough reliable power plant capacity on its system to meet its projected peak demand this summer. The result is an increasing risk of power outage events.
Minnkota both buys and sells surplus power in the MISO system, which estimates a 1,230-megawatt (MW) shortfall in power plant capacity to meet its reserve margin. For context, one megawatt-hour (MWh) is enough electricity to serve more than 800 homes with an hour’s worth of power.
“Due in large part to decarbonization goals set by our members and the states in our region, our resource fleet is increasingly reliant on intermittent and weather-dependent resources,” said Wayne Schug, vice president of strategy and business development at MISO. “As this trend continues in the future, MISO needs to evolve the grid, our markets, and our operational capabilities, which is just as complex as it sounds.”
In a recent interview in the Wall Street Journal, MISO CEO John Bear added to this point by saying, “As we move forward, we need to know that when you put a solar panel or a wind turbine up, it’s not the same as a thermal resource.”
MISO’s peak demand for electricity typically occurs in the summer months during the hottest days of the year. The organization is conducting training and exercises to prepare for worst-case scenarios and is also implementing lessons learned and best practices. Likewise, Minnkota’s energy marketing team is working to ensure it’s ready to respond to volatile market and reliability conditions.
NERC issues grim report
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) – the federal regulatory entity responsible for the reliability of the nation’s electric grid – is also expressing concerns heading into the summer season. According to NERC, MISO is in the “high risk” category, and has the potential of “facing capacity shortfalls in its north and central areas during both normal and extreme conditions due to generator retirements and increased demand.”
NERC’s Summer Reliability Assessment notes that reliability challenges are being compounded by evolving demands on the power grid, which has grown increasingly complex as renewable energy assets are added.
“There’s clear, objective, inclusive data indicating that the pace of our grid transformation is a bit out of sync with the underlying realities and the physics of the system,” said John Moura, NERC’s director of reliability assessment.
Along with the changing power supply mix, NERC also identified extreme weather conditions, high seasonal demand for electricity, supply chain issues and cybersecurity threats as other risks impacting reliability.
What is Minnkota doing?
While there are challenges, Minnkota supports efforts to reimagine how electricity can be produced, delivered and consumed. But the implementation of these ideas must be met with caution and common sense. After all, there is a lot on the line. A resilient and reliable electric grid that affordably keeps the lights on is the cornerstone of the American economy and our national security. Any missteps in an energy transition of this magnitude can have irreversible consequences.
So, what can be done? Minnkota is only one of thousands of utilities across the country, but it is taking its own steps to protect itself from power reliability challenges.
Minnkota’s energy portfolio consists of a diverse mix of coal, wind and hydro resources. Working together, these facilities help ensure 24/7 reliability on the Minnkota system. Coal-based facilities remain the workhorse of the system and are routinely available to produce power during the vast majority of each year.
May 31, 2022 – **UPDATE** We have been answering lots of questions from members, who are asking if we plan to cut their power due to the flooding on area lakes and waterways. We do not plan to cut any power at this time. Our equipment can withstand submersion in water, but if there is an outage situation that involves equipment that is under water, power will likely need to remain out until water recedes and the equipment is accessible again.
May 21, 2022 – We’ve been fielding questions recently from members concerned about our electric equipment being under water in flooded areas. Our equipment can withstand submersion in water, but if an abnormal outage situation occurs, please be aware power may not be able to be restored until water levels recede. If you have any questions, please reach out to either the Littlefork office at 218-278-6658 or the Baudette office at 218-634-2202.
Mark your calendar with our Littlefork and Baudette Member Appreciation Open House dates! They will be held on Tuesday, June 21, in Littlefork, and Wednesday, June 22, 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!
The 2022 Knowledge Scholarship competition has been completed! Congratulations to these winners!
$1,000.00 – Bryanna Wichner from Littlefork-Big Falls School
$400.00 – Destiny Piekarski from Littlefork-Big Falls School
$400.00 – Mackinley Imes from Lake of the Woods School
$400.00 – Mya Ballard from Roseau Community School
$400.00 – Chase Steinback from Indus School
North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc. is looking to hire two (2) 1,000 hour temporary apprentice lineworkers for our summer and fall construction and maintenance season on our overhead and underground distribution system.
Qualifications include:
North Star Electric serves over 5,500 members with over 1,450 miles of line in beautiful northern Minnesota, with much of our service area bordering Canada along the Rainy River. Our members are located in Lake of the Woods, Koochiching, Roseau, and St. Louis counties. One position is located in Baudette, MN, and the other position is located in Littlefork, MN.
To learn more about the northern Minnesota area, specifically Baudette, which is also known as the Walleye Capital of the World, visit https://gethookedforlife.com.
Our values are integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. If you have similar values, a strong work ethic, and are a qualified candidate, please apply. An application form can be downloaded from application-for-employment.pdf (northstarelectric.coop). Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m., April 15, 2022. 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.
North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc. is looking to hire a full-time qualified journeyman or advanced-apprentice electrical lineworker. Requirements include successful completion of an accredited lineworker school. Must have experience with overhead and underground electric distribution power lines, including line construction, line maintenance, troubleshooting, and rubber gloving voltages of 7,200 and 14,400. A valid Minnesota driver’s license with a CDL is required. Our values are integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. If you have similar values, a strong work ethic, and are a qualified electrical lineworker, please apply.
This position is located in Littlefork, Minnesota, with a no more than 20-minute drive time from home to office. This position includes current union compensation and an excellent benefit package. A pre-employment physical and drug screenings are required.
Application form can be downloaded from application-for-employment. Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m., June 13, 2022. Please call Tim Pelach at North Star Electric Cooperative (218-634-2202) with questions.
Please mail, fax or e-mail resume and application to:
North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc.
PO Box 719
Baudette, MN 56623
Fax number: 218-634-2203
E-mail – tim.p@northstarelectric.coop
www.northstarelectric.coop
North Star Electric Cooperative, Inc. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
