Energy experts discuss reliability challenges and solutions at LREC Energy Forum
Thompson welcomed everyone and shared multiple recent headlines that spoke to some of the changes facing utilities. He spoke to the importance of member engagement and highlighted LREC’s strategy of seeking a high level of member engagement as the cooperative strives to be its members’ local, 可信的信息来源.
汤普森的演讲结束后, 杰夫hasse还, 大河能源(GRE), 谁是能源论坛的主持人, welcomed National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson to the event.
“All cooperatives have the same mission of providing reliable and affordable power,” said Matheson. He discussed the challenges facing cooperatives brought about by more demand for electricity and through policy changes.
“电力需求正在飙升,马西森说, “比以往任何时候都更受欢迎. There is a big drive to use electricity in applications that weren’t used for electricity in the past.”
Matheson cited the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which has issued warnings that there is an increasing risk to reliability as lots of generation is being quickly retired. “NERC reported an increased risk for outages during normal peak circumstances,马西森说. “We need to build more generation and transmission as demand continues to increase.”
Matheson congratulated Lake Region for pulling together the event and mentioned he wished all NRECA members across the country would have this kind of opportunity for dialog and engagement.
The energy forum provided the opportunity for LREC’s member-owners, community leaders and the general public to hear firsthand how electric cooperatives are rising to meet the challenges of the transitioning energy economy. Attending the event were also senators and representatives from Lake Region’s area: Senator Robert Kupec, 参议员乔丹·拉斯穆森, Representative Jeff Backer and Representative Tom Murphy.
Topics at the forum included power supply and transmission planning, reliabililty, 可再生能源, 水力发电和电动汽车. The forum brought together a host of energy leaders to discuss how electric cooperatives are working to continue to provide ongoing reliable, 负担得起的电力要超过1.七百万明尼苏达人.
Minnesota Rural Electric Association CEO Darrick Moe discussed Minnesota’s100% carbon free legislation and its potential impacts to affordability and reliability of the electric system.
“It is the biggest policy change ever relating to energy in the state of Minnesota,” Moe said. “重要的是要把握好节奏. We need to slow down the shutdown of always available power sources.”
Leadership from Great River Energy — LREC’s wholesale power provider — also spoke at the event, including vice president and chief transmission officer Priti Patel, 乔恩·布莱克, 副总裁兼首席电力供应官, 还有Zac Ruzycki, 资源规划总监.
“Great River Energy is well equipped to meet the carbon free standard goal of 90% by 2035,Ruzycki说. “达到100%更具挑战性.”
Patel discussed how more transmission is needed for providing reliable and affordable power. 和, 这是电网脱碳的每一步, 实现这一目标变得越来越困难.
Brekke explained the intracacies of the complex Midwest Independent System Operators (MISO) marketplace. MISO is the organization that maintains reliability in the region and covers 15 states and Manitoba, 加拿大.
“水电是一种低成本的基本负荷电力,——吉姆·霍兰, exeutive director of the Mid-West Electric Consumers Association, said as he explained the operation of the United States hydropower system. “Hydropower backs up wind and solar power that aren’t available all the time,” he said. Mid-West Electric promotes and protects the interests of federal power customers and their consumers within the Missouri River Basin.
Steve Nisbet of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association discussed the growth of the electric vehicle market. He also talked about how electric vehicles bring pressure on utilities to provide larger transformers to support more large scale DC fast charging. 在明尼苏达州，电动汽车的采用率为5%.2023年为4%. 8.全国2%. Nisbet works to help dealers provide resources and information for EV buyers, so they can understand rates and charging options at their house, 电动汽车车主在哪里充电最多.
演讲结束后, there was a robust round of questions as well as breakout sessions to dive into deeper discussion on specific topics. 湖区活动的观众非常投入. Marian Bongenreif is an example LREC’s engaged members. She came because she had learned a lot at another event sponsored by the cooperative. “这就像一门大学课程，”她说. “这太鼓舞人心了.”
If you would like to view a recording of the Energy Forum, please visit www.lrec.鸡笼/ EnergyForum.