Voices for grid reliability

America’s electric grid is beginning to face significant reliability risks. As more baseload and dispatchable power
plants are retired without adequate replacement, the margin for error is becoming razor thin.

Minnkota Power Cooperative, Cass County Electric Cooperative's wholesale power provider, maintains a diverse
resource mix that includes coal, wind, and hydropower that contribute to a reliable grid. However, the Minnkota
system is connected with other utilities across the central United States – from North Dakota and Minnesota down
through Louisiana. Challenges in other parts of the country can contribute to reliability issues in our region.

Regulators, policymakers, utilities, and others are voicing their concerns about transitioning too quickly toward
intermittent resources – like wind and solar – without retaining the stability provided by coal, nuclear, and natural
gas power plants. Here’s what some of the major entities responsible for reliability are saying.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

"We are heading for potentially very dire consequences, potentially catastrophic consequences in the United States in terms of the reliability of our grid.”
– _{^{MARK CHRISTIE, FERC COMMISSIONER, AT A HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE, ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON JUNE 13, 2023}}.

North America Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

"… one of the important things that these plants provide is the ability for the grid to maintain voltage and maintain frequency and to resist disturbances. Other resources can’t do that nearly as well as large spinning mass generation. And that’s why the loss of coal plants and natural gas plants and nuclear plants is so concerning from a grid reliability perspective.”
_{^{– JIM ROBB, NERC PRESIDENT AND CEO, AT A SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES HEARING ON JUNE 1, 2023.}}

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)

"The recent acceleration in the pace of fleet change is increasing risks to system reliability for MISO. Dispatchable generators that we need to ensure reliability are being removed from the system before new resources with the needed reliability attributes are being brought online.”
_{^{– TODD RAMEY, MISO SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETS AND DIGITAL STRATEGY, AT A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY, CLIMATE AND GRID SECURITY HEARING ON SEPT. 28, 2023.}}

North Dakota Public Service Commission (NDPSC)

"We’re talking about these reliability challenges in a nation that is so blessed with an abundant array of affordable, reliable energy resources like America is, it really doesn’t seem plausible that we should ever fall short. Yes, we have storms. Yes, there are power outages. That’s going to happen. But not having enough? That should never happen. Ever.”
_{^{– JULIE FEDORCHAK, NDPSC COMMISSIONER, AT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGULATORY UTILITY COMMISSIONERS’ ANNUAL MEETING IN NOV 2023.}}

Minnkota Power Cooperative

"Despite all the regulatory uncertainty, our board and staff have committed to the view that we are going to live in a carbon-managed world and we’ll need to develop technologies and strategies to help us navigate this challenge. We want to be part of the solution, but there needs to be an understanding that America’s electric grid can’t be completely transformed overnight.”
_{^{– MAC MCLENNAN, MINNKOTA PRESIDENT AND CEO, IN AN OCT. 9, 2023, ARTICLE ON PROPOSED ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RULES.}}