Community
Incredibly plugged in
A Red Lake Electric Cooperative member is collecting the latest in battery-powered garage tech, including a Tesla Cybertruck.
A community partnership
Minnkota and CoBank donate funds with the help of the Sharing Success program.
Eat, drink and be married at Copper Ridge
One of Red Lake Electric Cooperative’s newest business members is offering rural elegance for life’s big events.
A leap of freedom
This June, Minnkota’s Terry Peoples marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day with a ceremonial paratroop jump into Normandy.
The healing lift of water
Minnkota’s Nelson Lake recently hosted the annual Escape to the Lake event, an opportunity for those with health challenges to try water skiing.
Freeman Awards continue to inspire innovation
An ammonium nitrate project has won Minnkota's annual innovation competition at the University of North Dakota.
‘It was not her time to go’
Minnkota's Troy Karlberg recently performed life-saving CPR on a woman at her granddaughter's wedding reception.
Willow’s cup runneth over
A Wild Rice Electric Cooperative member-family is helping their teen’s mug business reach the boiling point.
McLennan wins charity dance competition
Minnkota CEO Mac McLennan won the Dancing for Special Stars Grand Forks competition, raising nearly $40,000 for the Special Olympics.
Minnkota, employees give big on Giving Hearts Day
Giving Hearts Day is an annual 24-hour giving event that supports charities in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
Safety from the land of the ice and snow
A rare peek into Bosch’s Baudette, Minn., proving grounds – a North Star Electric Cooperative business member – reveals a mission of winter driving innovation.
A man for the membership
Cass County Electric Cooperative CEO Marshal Albright will retire in April after 37 years of service.
The puck stops here – in Hockeytown USA®
NorthStream Fiber and Minnkota Power Cooperative joined the community of Warroad in preparations for Hockey Day Minnesota 2024.
No time to freeze
Minnkota Power Cooperative and Cass County Electric Cooperative recently battled the effects of a rare Christmas ice storm.
Welcoming Walle
Minnkota’s new transmission substation will both fortify power reliability and support regional load growth.
Leader of the cooperative family
North Star Electric Cooperative has named co-op veteran Kevin Holen as its new general manager.
Matriarch of the herd
Beltrami Electric Cooperative member Rachel Gray and her family have received regional honors for agricultural leadership in Minnesota.
Rooted in community success
Minnkota and CoBank have once again teamed up to distribute $40,000 to local organizations in the region.
Minnkota Cares raises $3,947 for local causes
The Minnkota employee giving fund filled up with donations as donors filled up with ice cream.
The lineworkers of the lake
The many challenges of Roseau Electric Cooperative's waterlocked Northwest Angle territory are overcome with grit – and a lot of gratitude.
Project Tundra moves into final development stage
New relationships with TC Energy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kiewit position the project for a final investment decision in early 2024.
Towering Leadership
Cavalier Rural Electric’s line crew responds to downed communication tower with quick thinking, focus on safety
Highway 75 hero
This winter, a Red River Valley Co-op Power lineworker showed courage and calm while assisting an expectant mother following rollover crash.
Lights out!
Sydnee Gorder, daughter of Cass County Electric Cooperative lineworker Kelsey Gorder, has brought a national boxing championship title to the Red River Valley.
Rounding up for their communities
Minnkota members have provided nearly $7.9 million to charitable causes through Operation Round Up®.
Hairnets and helping hands
Minnkota hosts third Feed My Starving Children event at its Grand Forks headquarters.
A cut above the rest
The new Bemidji Steel Company facility has helped to put a laser focus on the benefits of doing business in Beltrami Electric Cooperative territory.
From 10-gallon hats to 10,000 lakes
Texas native Mike Wade is bringing his vast industry experience to Wild Rice Electric Cooperative as their new CEO.
Putting the power in powersports
Arctic Cat is strengthening its legacy in Thief River Falls with diverse employee opportunities and continual product innovation.
Heart of the community
Hospice of the Red River Valley is preparing for a new hospice house in South Fargo, served by Cass County Electric Cooperative.
Cyber Madness strikes at Minnkota headquarters
Middle school students put their cyber skills to the test in first-ever competition.
Family, farming, and feeding carb cravings
Three Farm Daughters has created a pasta empire within Nodak Electric Cooperative’s rural footprint.
Minnkota and CoBank show concern for community
The CoBank Sharing Success program matches Minnkota's donations to local organizations.
Minnkota helps take ag safety on the road
Minnkota donates a truck to support North Dakota Safety initiative.
A circle of benefits from Minnesota milk
State-of-the-art Waukon Dairy is producing gallons of opportunity in Wild Rice Electric Cooperative territory.
Sending care from North Dakota
Minnkota employees assembled care packages this September for plant workers serving on the border in the North Dakota National Guard.
Living great in the 218
Greater Bemidji’s relocation program is attracting telecommuters to Beltrami Electric Cooperative’s service area.
Old car, new tricks
Minnkota's plant fuel supervisor, Tony Aman, has made the cooperative proud with his completion of the famous Great Race.
Food for the community, food for the soul
The Rural Access Distribution (RAD) Cooperative is combatting North Dakota grocery store closures with some small-town collaboration.
5 questions with Matt Marshall, Minnkota's economic development administrator
Matt Marshall, Minnkota’s economic development administrator, answers our five questions on his role at Minnkota and how he is helping our members and municipals promote growth and opportunity in their service territories.
Minnkota, NRECA CEOs publish op-ed on reliability
Minnkota CEO Mac McLennan and NRECA CEO Jim Matheson published a joint opinion column focused on projected grid challenges and what can be done to maintain electric reliability.
Answering the call
When a historic late-season winter storm left members of the Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative without power, Minnkota and other electric cooperatives stepped up to help.
Community and cooperative connector
Marty Tetrault has taken another step into service as Cavalier Rural Electric’s newest general manager.
Bringing the heat in the glass industry
Fargo’s Cardinal IG glass plant has found growing power in its partnership with Cass County Electric Cooperative.
Minnkota Communications team collects national awards
Minnkota was recently honored with two NRECA Spotlight on Excellence awards for its digital and written communication efforts in 2021.
WoundAssure wins 2022 Freeman Design Awards
The 2022 Andrew Freeman Design Innovation Awards were held on May 10 at the University of North Dakota.
The wrath of the Red
Twenty-five years after the historic 1997 ice storm and flood, current Minnkota employees reflected on the natural disasters that tested the resilience of the cooperative.
A place for volts and vitamins
Minnkota joins community partners to host Grand Forks Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event for a second year.
The ice (and nice) is stronger here
Brutal winter conditions won’t keep the community of Warroad, Minn., from a second year of Riverbend Skate Path fame.
The Digi-Key difference
A major facility expansion will allow an electronics distribution company to thrive within its rural Minnesota community.
Employees donate $3,507 to holiday causes
A local food pantry and children’s gift program were the recipients of employees' extra December support.
The lineworker treatment
Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative recently created a dream experience for a young power enthusiast diagnosed with leukemia.
Fresh power in the old power plant
A new Grand Forks research facility is unearthing an energy future in Minnkota’s energy past.
Hard hats and fire helmets
Red Lake Electric Cooperative boasts six employees on the local volunteer fire department.
Minnkota celebrates Drive Electric Week with co-op partners
Two EV ride-and-drive events drew crowds to electric cooperatives in Bemidji and Roseau, Minn., during National Drive Electric Week.
Minnkota and CoBank team up to “Share Success”
Minnkota Power Cooperative and Square Butte Electric Cooperative donated $20,000 to local programs as a part of CoBank's matched giving program.
Minnkota and Jamestown students partner for improvement
University of Jamestown engineers-in-training used a senior project to help enhance Minnkota's plant systems.
Built for service
Roseau Electric Cooperative is expanding its fiber-to-the-home network to more rural members and the City of Roseau.
Recipe for success
Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative’s Deanna Lefebvre has been chosen to lead as the next general manager.
Clear leadership
Bruce Bjerke has retired after 15 years as Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative’s general manager.
Minnkota produces Project Tundra video
Minnkota has released a new 12-minute video that tells the story of its carbon capture initiative, Project Tundra.
Popping into business
A North Dakota farm family has built a packaging company to support the local economy, give back to the community and create a generational legacy.
Minnkota Jeans Day Fund gives big on Giving Hearts Day
Minnkota's Grand Forks employees used an annual February giving event to make their donations dollars go further.
Minnkota donates pump to BSC
A recent Young Station upgrade led to an unexpected equipment gift to Bismarck State College's power plant technology program.
Minnkota donates food and supplies to community
Minnkota's Young Station used a unique surplus of supplies to support the holiday needs of its home communities.
Minnkota gives thanks for healthcare heroes
Minnkota and Nodak Electic Cooperative treated Greater Grand Forks' healthcare workers with an appreciation lunch and posters of gratitude.
For the heat of the hunt
This October, a national cocker spaniel competition found a host home on the shore of Minnkota’s Nelson Lake.
A positive charge
Minnkota’s chief money maven Karen Thingelstad is preparing for retirement after an impressive 27-year cooperative career.
Cooperation for travel electrification
Minnkota’s member cooperatives are building out a network of electric vehicle fast chargers to help connect the service area.
Electric bus makes the grade
West Fargo Public Schools has experienced transportation savings and benefits after a year with an electric addition to the fleet.
Powered-up park patrol
Fargo Parks and Fargo Police are enjoying the benefits of an electric patrol motorcycle, supported in part by Cass County Electric Cooperative.
Dinos, drive-ins and democracy
This summer, PKM Electric Cooperative spun its pandemic precautions into a unique annual meeting engagement.
Klinger family experiences international spotlight
A member of the Minnkota team is one half of an inspirational duo that brought home the 2020 Mrs. International crown.
Minnkota lineworker Kemnitz receives Lifesaver Award
This summer, lineworker Ryan Kemnitz stood strong under pressure and potentially saved a life in the Bemidji, Minn. area.
Minnkota honored for GFPD support
Minnkota has received recognition from the Grand Forks Police Department for providing last-minute materials for the funeral service of a fallen officer.
The business of caring
Co-op member companies altered operations and gave generously to fulfill the region’s pandemic needs.
Co-op values conquer COVID-19
Minnkota’s member cooperatives used their resources and ingenuity to safely and effectively serve their communities through the pandemic.
“Give Back” drive raises $5,496
An employee-led giving program has brought in big dollars for local coronavirus response efforts.
Minnkota communications team honored
Projects promoting electric transportation and Minnkota’s carbon capture initiative have garnered accolades from the NRECA.
Every dimension of development
A 3D printing entrepreneur is finding community support in printing a future for Bemidji businesses.
Minnkota prepared with COVID-19 response plan
As the global coronavirus pandemic spreads to the United States, Minnkota will continue to keep power flowing to its members.
Minnkota named “Best Place to Work” for young professionals
It is the first time the cooperative has received the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals’ Grow Grand Award.
Minnkota employees top $50,000 in giving
Minnkota employees' Jeans Day Fund has reached a milestone, touching dozens of charities over the decade.
Minnkota hosts electrical code training
Minnkota has marked its 32nd year of offering continuing education courses for area electricians.
Baudette scores a big donation
An anonymous donor has paved the way for a new energy-efficient hockey arena in Baudette, Minnesota.
A northern connection
Baudette’s LakeWood Health Center is one of more and more northern Minnesota facilities that are incorporating telemedicine into their care.
Keeping it clean
In Fosston, Minn., a small-town soap company is finding big opportunities with online sales and marketing.
Bringing broadband home
Roseau Electric Cooperative’s NorthStream Fiber aims to provide a high-speed internet connection for unserved and underserved Minnesotans.
Repurposing wood
The owners of Buffalo Coulee Wood Products bring lumber to life near Cummings, N.D.
Electric transportation celebration
Minnkota and Nodak Electric Cooperative invite the community to two days of EVs, eats and education.
Revamped to recycle
Six Minnesota counties are now bringing their garbage to a unique and efficient waste and recyclable material processing facility in Fosston.
King of the cuts
A Bemidji native is blazing a new path for processing and promotion to boost his family meat business.
Plugged-in pioneers for education transportation
Minnkota joined West Fargo Public Schools and its partners to unveil North Dakota's first all-electric school bus.
Student engineers honored with Freeman Awards
Minnkota recognizes team of University of North Dakota students for developing an innovative health prototype for patients with stability impairments.
Minnkota hosts Feed My Starving Children mobile event
Local volunteers and Minnkota employees help pack more than 400,000 meals for undernourished children around the world.
A hot ice sport
Across Minnkota's service area in North Dakota and Minnesota, the sport of curling has seen an uptick after the U.S. won Olympic gold in 2018.