St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (Commission) accepted Great River Energy’s (GRE) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which guides investments between 2023-2037. The IRP keeps costs low for residential customers and businesses and reduces carbon emissions.
Great River Energy’s accepted IRP includes provisions to acquire or build more than 1,200 megawatts (MW) of wind, 200 MW of energy storage, and 200 MW of solar by 2037. GRE is on track to meet the 30 percent carbon free goal in 2025 and estimates that by 2035, they will be 90 percent carbon free and carbon emissions will be reduced by more than 90 percent from the 2005 base.
The Commission requested that GRE file its next IRP by April 1, 2026. Additionally, GRE will submit an interim update in 2025 regarding solar resources, electric vehicle adoption, and new carbon price modeling. The Commission also required GRE to develop plans with communities who will experience plant closures and to work with state agencies and labor organizations to support affected workers.
"Great River Energy developed, and the Commission accepted, a plan that minimizes costs to consumers, while continuing to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable service,” said Commissioner Joseph Sullivan. “I also want to thank participants in the docket, community leaders and members of the public for engaging in the resource planning process, your participation helped create a better outcome.”
GRE is a wholesale electric power cooperative serving 27 member-owner cooperatives. Through its member-owners, GRE is the second-largest power supplier in Minnesota, providing electricity to approximately 1.7 million people.
An IRP is a forward-looking document that requires utilities to give advance notice of how they plan to generate electricity over the next 15 years. The PUC plays an advisory role on resource planning for cooperatives like Great River Energy, giving less oversight compared to investor-owned utilities. More information about the IRP process is on our website.
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The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission regulates three cornerstone service industries in Minnesota's economy: electricity, natural gas and telephone. The Commission’s mission is to create and maintain a regulatory environment that ensures safe, adequate and efficient utility services at fair, reasonable rates consistent with State telecommunications and energy policies. It does so by providing independent, consistent, professional and comprehensive oversight and regulation of utility service providers. Learn more at mn.gov/puc.
