LA CROSSE, Wis., June 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dairyland Power
Cooperative announced plans for a renewable energy enabling 525-550
MW combined cycle natural gas facility at its 76th
annual meeting today. This project is in partnership with Minnesota
Power, a utility division of ALLETE (NYSE: ALE), based in
Duluth.
The Nemadji Trail Energy Center will be co-developed by
Dairyland and Minnesota Power. The
site is located along the Nemadji River in Superior, Wis., adjacent to the service
territories of both partners. Bayfield Electric and other
Dairyland member cooperatives have
served northwestern Wisconsin for
decades.
Barbara Nick, President and CEO,
announced this expansion as a significant component of Dairyland's ongoing "Preferred Plan" for
resource diversification during her annual meeting address. The
Nemadji Trail Energy Center will provide an agile and affordable
resource that supports the major wind and solar energy investments
Dairyland continues to implement.
The partnership announcement aligns with Dairyland's annual meeting theme, United We
Shine.
"We've talked for a long time about the need to add natural gas
as a renewable-enabling resource," said Nick. "Dairyland's resource diversification strategy
enables renewable forms of generation and ensures reliability,
sustainability and affordability. Natural gas plants provide
critical back-up to intermittent renewable sources of power, like
solar and wind. The Nemadji Trail Energy Center will respond on
demand, providing the energy required by our membership and
Minnesota Power's customers exactly when they need it—at the flip
of a switch."
Nemadji Trail Energy Center Facts
- Agile, flexible and affordable energy source to enable
renewable resources such as wind and solar.
- Proposed 525 to 550 MW combined cycle natural gas plant. It is
scheduled to be in service by 2024, contingent on regulatory
approvals.
- Proposed at shovel-ready, industrial site controlled by the
project partners in northwest Wisconsin. Fuel availability is excellent,
with access to natural gas pipelines.
- Co-developed by Dairyland Power Cooperative and Minnesota
Power. Both organizations have served the region for decades.
- Will serve as an economic engine for the region through job and
commerce stimulus.
- Will support energy-intensive regional industries
(manufacturing, forestry, mining).
Additional 76th Annual Meeting Highlights
Approximately 600 electric cooperative leaders and guests
attended Dairyland's 76th annual
meeting at the La Crosse Center earlier today. Roger Tjarks, Chairman of the Board and director
representing Heartland Power Cooperative, presided over the
meeting.
Dairyland Chief Financial and
Administrative Officer (CFO/CAO) Phil Moilien provided a 2016
Financial Report: "Dairyland
focuses on maintaining strong credit ratings and financial strength
to maintain access to economical financing. Stable rates for
2017 reflect Dairyland's
efficiency improvements and wise management of controllable costs
and risk. Ensuring rates and services are competitive is critical
to the economic well-being of the region as well as the long-term
viability of Dairyland and our
cooperative members."
For 2016, net margins were $23.1
million, compared to 2015 margins of $26.7 million. A mild winter and decreased energy
use by some commercial customers contributed to slightly lower
energy loads.
Total operating revenues for 2016 decreased slightly to
$414.8 million, as compared to
$418.3 million in 2015, due to a mild
winter and low energy market prices. Total operating expenses also
decreased slightly, due to lower fuel and purchased power
costs.
Dairyland Vice President, External and Member Relations,
Brian Rude welcomed legislators and
special guests. "Since politics impacts many aspects of the energy
industry, bipartisan collaboration between cooperatives and
legislators is very important," said Rude.
The meeting also included a video highlighting the history of
Dairyland's shut-down nuclear
facility, LACBWR, and current decommissioning activities. Longtime
Dairyland employees received service awards at the annual meeting.
Employees staffed informational booths on sustainability, solar
energy projects, energy efficiency and information technology. A
variety of electric vehicles were on site for cooperative members
and employees to view and test drive.
About Dairyland Power Cooperative: Dairyland, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative,
was formed in December 1941.
Headquartered in La Crosse, Wis.,
Dairyland provides the wholesale
electrical requirements for 24 distribution cooperatives and 17
municipal utilities. These cooperatives and municipals, in turn,
supply the energy needs of more than a half-million people in the
four-state service area. Today, the cooperative's generating
resources include coal, natural gas, hydro, wind, solar and biogas.
Dairyland delivers electricity via
3,195 miles of transmission lines and 292 substations located
throughout the system's 44,500 square mile service area. Visit
www.DairylandPower.com.
About Minnesota Power: Minnesota Power is a utility
company based in Duluth, Minn.,
and is owned by ALLETE, Inc., a provider of affordable, reliable
energy services in the Upper Midwest. Minnesota Power serves about
145,000 residential and commercial customers, 16 municipalities and
some of the nation's largest industrial customers in northeastern
Minnesota.
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SOURCE Dairyland Power Cooperative