Basin Electric CEO and General Manager Paul Sukut said the cooperative will continue operating Basin Electric’s coal facilities as long as it is financially feasible to do so and positions the cooperative to provide flexibility for members in the future.
Great River Energy, an electric cooperative based in Maple Grove, Minnesota, announced May 7 the utility will close its Coal Creek Station near Underwood, North Dakota, in 2022.
“Basin Electric is committed to an all-of-the-above energy solution, and at this time that includes continued operation of our coal-based power plants,” Sukut said.
He said a balanced generation portfolio mix provides reliable, affordable energy for members at the end of the line. That diverse resource portfolio includes coal, gas, wind, hydro, nuclear, and solar.
Sukut said Basin Electric has always been a cost-conscious, reliable electricity provider, and with increased competition brought about by a market-driven economy, has taken a more aggressive look at its spending.
Since 2017, significant cost-cutting efforts have supported Basin Electric facility operations, and those efforts continue as opportunities for further savings are constantly being evaluated. “These actions have helped put our facilities on better financial footing,” Sukut said. “Additionally, the value of the capacity markets are determined very differently in SPP (Southwest Power Pool), giving greater value to baseload facilities than in MISO."
