Dairyland’s generation and transmission facilities have been operating reliably during this week's extreme heat. This is good news with electricity usage at potential record levels and more hot weather in the forecast through Friday. (Pictured: Dairyland's newly modernized System Operations Center.)

“Delivering sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity is essential,” said Dairyland President and CEO Brent Ridge. “I credit our Board and members for investing in safe, reliable power plant operations. I am also grateful for the diligence of our teams to maintain and prepare facilities for operations during the extreme weather swings we experience in our service territory.”

Ridge added, “The high demand for electricity during these extreme temperatures also reinforces the need for both the Nemadji Trail Energy Center power plant and the Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission line. The completion of these projects is critical to strengthen reliability and help us achieve our goals to reduce carbon throughout the entire region.”

The Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) will reinforce renewable energy resources with the ability to deliver up to 625 MW of flexible energy to the electric grid. Dairyland and project partners, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and ALLETE’s Minnesota Power, are consistently working towards low-carbon goals with additional renewable energy. NTEC will be able to ramp up and down in minutes to adjust for when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. For more, visit Nemadji Trail Energy Center.

The Cardinal-Hickory Creek Project will reduce energy costs, improve the reliability and flexibility of the region’s transmission system, and support the interconnection of renewable generation in the Upper Midwest resulting reduced carbon emissions. The co-owners of the Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission Line Project are ATC, ITC Midwest and Dairyland Power Cooperative. Visit Cardinal-Hickory Creek.