MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN), celebrated historic funding for clean, reliable and low-cost energy for rural Minnesotans. Connexus Energy will use funding secured by Senators Smith and Klobuchar to produce over 280 megawatts of clean energy through hydro, solar and wind energy that will lower costs for its 146,000 members in rural Minnesota while supporting 400 jobs. With $170 million in funding, these projects will reduce climate pollution by more than 1.1 million tons of harmful, climate-warming emissions each year.
Minnesota’s electric cooperatives provide electricity to nearly one-third of the state. Connexus is based in Ramsey, Minnesota and serves 146,000 members across Anoka, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Mille Lacs, Ramsey, Sherburne, and Washington counties.
“The clean energy transition is here, and we can either lead or follow. I want Minnesota to lead, and with this announcement, we will,” said Senator Smith. “With this investment, cooperatives can unleash clean energy in a way that works best for their communities. This will fight climate change. This will lower energy costs. And this will strengthen our energy security and resilience by ensuring our rural communities continue to have safe, reliable and clean, American-made energy for years to come.”
“Domestically produced renewable power strengthens our energy independence and boosts rural economies,” said Senator Klobuchar. “These Empowering Rural America Program grants will lower rural energy costs, create good paying jobs, and support renewable energy projects in Minnesota and across the country.”
Senator Smith was instrumental in securing this funding for rural electric co-ops through her work on the clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. The program, dubbed the Empowering Rural America (or New ERA) program, was partially inspired by Senator Smith’s Flexible Financing for Rural America Act.
This is the fourth Minnesota rural electric co-op to receive funding thanks to provisions authored by Smith. In September 2024, the following co-ops also received funding for clean, affordable energy.
- Dairyland Power Cooperative (Southeast Minnesota)
- This $573 million investment will support eight wind and solar power installations across rural Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois.
- Dairyland’s electric rates are estimated to be 42 percent lower over 10 years than they would have been without this funding.
- Great River Energy (Southern, Central, and Northeast Minnesota)
- Great River Energy will produce 1,275 megawatts of energy across rural portions of Minnesota and North Dakota.
- These investments are estimated to create over 1,600 short and long-term jobs, reduce costs by $30 million on average annually, and reduce carbon emissions by over 5.49 million tons each year.
- Minnkota Power Cooperative (Northwest Minnesota)
- This investment will support Minnkota Power Cooperative’s carbon capture and storage project (Project Tundra) in addition to 370 megawatts of wind energy in North Dakota.
- These projects will create hundreds of short- and long-term jobs, while providing environmental benefits to rural consumers in Minnesota and North Dakota. This proposal will reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 4.3 million tons, the equivalent pollution of 1 million cars each year.
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