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LREC Energy Forum Offers Engagement and Information // July 2025 CEO Column

As your cooperative, education is one of our core principles. It’s our responsibility to provide regular, transparent communication that allows our members to stay informed on the trends, outlook, and legislation that will shape how energy is delivered in the months and years ahead.

For the fourth consecutive year, LREC worked with industry partners to create an Energy Forum panel of diverse experts ready to share their perspectives on the planning and preparation required to meet the challenges presented by the current energy transition. 

Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), began the morning by discussing the increased demand driven by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and emergence of data centers. He emphasized the need for a balanced mix of energy that relies not only on increased renewables but also making sure dispatchable resources – those readily available such as natural gas and coal – are part of future portfolios. In addition, he gave information on federal grant monies that could fund renewable projects such as new wind and solar.

Darrick Moe, CEO of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA), took a more regional approach to his presentation, reiterating the need for a balanced energy portfolio before sharing MREA’s advocacy efforts toward net metering reform and lifting the state’s nuclear moratorium. Moe made the case for nuclear as the clean energy source of the future, citing its safety and small carbon and environmental footprint. He presented small modular reactors as an efficient, and relatively inexpensive, option to traditional plants.

First-time presenter Justin Kringstad of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority was on hand to give attendees a deeper understanding of North Dakota (ND) as a major source of natural gas. Kringstad also outlined new projects the state is developing to address growing volume needs in the region, delivering production from the western part of the state to markets in eastern ND and into Minnesota.

Remaining Forum panelists included Zac Ruzycki and Priti Patel from our wholesale power provider, Great River Energy (GRE). Ruzycki, director of resource planning, covered how GRE is meeting the Midwest region’s current capacity requirements and their plans for developing additional resources by 2030. Vice President and Chief Transmission Officer Patel gave an overview of projects led by GRE to increase high-voltage transmission throughout the state, including a 765-kV “superhighway” needed to transport energy generated by wind and solar.

Presentations were followed by a brief trade show, hosted by the LREC Energy Services team, providing consultation on our generator, water heater, and solar programs and information on vendor partners such as Briggs & Stratton.

For members interested in these issues who were unable to attend this year’s Forum, a video is available by visiting the Energy Forum page on our website. We encourage you to give it a watch.

I appreciated the invitation I received to attend this year’s Forum; as I was not yet CEO, it served as a welcome introduction to LREC’s culture of interacting with the community. Along with the content provided within the presentations, your engagement and willingness to ask questions helped provide a clearer picture of the issues facing Minnesota. I look forward to hearing from more of our members in the coming months.

Cooperatively yours, 

Joel Janorschke, CEO