(St. Paul, MN) — Rural Minnesota electricity providers are sharing concerns after a recent report indicates state residents could feel the impacts of severe winter weather on power in their homes, if supply is not managed properly.
The Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) shared a report released by the North American Reliability Corporation regarding serious weather events and power reliability. Power reliability, a term used by Communications Director Joe Miller, refers to the ability for MREA to use any source they can get their hands on to deliver electricity to homes. Power reliability is potentially impacted by legislation passed by Minnesota Lawmakers in the 2023 legislative session.
“Recently in Minnesota, we had the legislation to have 100% carbon free energy by 2040… One of the things we are trying to communicate out there to those that make decisions in Minnesota is that we should have all generation sources available and not limit things not provide other mandates that tell us how we have to achieve this goal,” said Miller.
The report cited by MREA shows MISO, the Midwest Independent System Operator, has an elevated risk during extreme weather conditions to have insufficient reserves to keep homes powered in above-normal power use conditions. The report says several regions fall into the elevated risk category, that includes states across the Midwest, the East Coast, in Texas, and some provinces in Canada.
“This report is a serious reminder that decisions we make today will impact our power reliability tomorrow,” Darrick Moe, CEO of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association said. “According to the report, a large portion of the continent, including Minnesota, is at risk in the winter months if the weather is severe. In a state like Minnesota, having reliable power during dangerously cold winter weather can mean life or death.”
Miller and Moe say one solution MREA wants to be able to have access to is all available energy sources. The 2040 carbon neutral plan, signed by Governor Walz in February of 2023, calls for the state to lower greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change, and create jobs in clean energy fields.
“Climate change impacts lives and livelihoods in every corner of our state,” said Governor Walz in a statement released in February at the time of the bill’s signing. “Minnesota will continue to lead the way on combating climate change and we’ll create clean energy jobs in the process. This bill is an essential investment in our future that will continue to pay off for generations to come.”
“In our industry, it is imperative we plan for the worst,” Moe said. “A lot needs to happen for the lights to come on every time you flip the switch. Having emergency sources of energy is a smart and sensible solution to the serious reliability concerns facing our grid.”
