Minnkota Power Cooperative stands out as an example of rural energy resilience following President Trump's declaration of a National Energy Emergency, emphasizing the need to protect the nation's electric system and accelerate investments in essential infrastructure. For 85 years, Minnkota Power Cooperative has been a pillar of strength for rural communities across eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Aligned with the administration’s call to ensure the reliable delivery of electricity to all American’s, Minnkota continues its mission to provide dependable, affordable power to over 153,000 member-consumer accounts.

With support from a recent $60 million Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Infrastructure Loan, Minnkota is modernizing its power grid to meet the moment, enhancing reliability, driving rural resilience, and helping to stabilize a national grid under strain. The loan is supporting 40 transmission line projects and 18 power production efforts, including important maintenance projects at the Milton R. Young Coal Unit 1. These projects are vital to maintaining the integrity of Minnkota’s expansive system of 3,340 miles of transmission lines and 265 substations in peak condition.

Minnkota understands the importance of long-term investments in the cooperative’s infrastructure.

“The electric industry is very capital intensive,” said Minnkota Power Cooperative’s Vice President and CFO Kay Schraeder. “We’re making long-term investments, and we need cost-effective, long-term financing to go along with them.”

With decades of partnership with RUS, Minnkota has been able to fund large-scale projects that would otherwise be financially challenging for rural cooperatives. Approximately 40 miles of line were rebuilt in 2024 alone, a major step in strengthening the region’s energy infrastructure. In North Dakota and Minnesota, this infrastructure must withstand 100-degree summer days and 40-below-zero winter nights.

“We’ve already completed several projects and are well into many others,” said Schraeder. “Some of the larger rebuilds span over multiple years, but we expect most of the projects to wrap up by 2025.”

The infrastructure improvements are more than just routine maintenance, they represent a strategic investment in modern technology to make the grid smarter, stronger and more dynamic. Through its distribution automation program, the cooperative is deploying real-time monitoring systems that enable faster response times during outages and greater visibility of the cooperative’s power delivery system.

“When we do have outages, which is the number one thing we hear from our members, these technology advancements help us identify and fix issues faster,” said Schraeder. ““Whether our members live in growing suburban areas or remote rural regions, they all depend on high-quality electric service.”

Minnkota is also expanding technological capabilities to meet the growing energy demands of both traditional rural operations and emerging industries, such as data centers.

“We’re seeing steady load growth every year, and we continue building new lines and substations to support that growth,” said Schraeder. “A reliable and resilient grid is essential for economic development, attracting new businesses, and supporting industries that drive job creation. These investments not only strengthen service for our current members but also ensure our system is ready for future opportunities that benefit the communities we serve.”

Minnkota’s longstanding partnership with RUS has been a cornerstone of its success. The cooperative’s deep-rooted connection to rural electrification, dating back to its founding in 1940 under the Rural Electrification Act.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture and RUS have provided low-cost, long-term, stable financing for decades, allowing us to continually enhance reliability and affordability for our members,” said Schraeder. “We rely on this financing to make these multi-year infrastructure investments. RUS has been a vital partner in helping us keep our transmission system strong and reliable.”

The impact of Minnkota’s infrastructure improvements goes beyond electricity—it strengthens the backbone of rural America. Reliable energy powers farms, businesses, and homes, enabling communities to thrive.

“Our cooperative was formed to bring power to farm and ranch communities, and they remain at the heart of what we do,” said Schraeder. “These communities help feed the world, and they need reliable electric service to do it.

As Minnkota looks to the future, its commitment to innovation and reliability remains unwavering. By updating its infrastructure and adopting new technologies, the cooperative not only powers homes and businesses, but also strengthens rural America's resiliency for future generations.

“This loan is helping us build on our momentum,” said Schraeder. “We’re improving our system today, but we’re also ensuring it’s ready for tomorrow.”