Great River Energy joins other utility leaders in a national commitment to energy efficiency

Elk River, Minn. (August 1, 2006)
Great River Energy joined other utilities, regulators and energy users in adopting a new National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (NAPEE). This action plan provides a comprehensive framework to help meet the nation’s growing demand for energy in homes, buildings and industries.

This initiative is the result of a collaboration among the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy along with the support and contributions of more than 50 leading organizations - including Great River Energy.

“At Great River Energy we continuously increase our load management and energy efficiency efforts; we spent nearly $18 million on these programs last year,” said president and CEO, David Saggau. “We are fully committed to this action plan and will do all that we can to contribute to the plan’s success.”

If fully implemented, the action plan could help defer the need for 40 new 500-megawatt power plants, avoid the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of over 35 million vehicles, lower the costs of air pollution controls and reduce prices for natural gas. To achieve these goals, the leaders challenge other energy users and stakeholders to join them in implementing the elements of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

“Our recent hot weather is an important reminder of the need for a national commitment to energy efficiency. By practicing energy conservation and using energy efficient appliances in our homes and businesses we can make a difference,” said Gary Connett, who oversees Great River Energy’s energy efficiency and demand-side management programs. Connett also is a member of the leadership group for the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.

In support of the action plan, Great River Energy is committed to:

- Becoming a leader in demand response and conservation/energy efficiency efforts.
- Striving to meet a portion of its new electrical demand through member conservation efforts and new renewable resources.
- Modeling best practices and policies identified in the Action Plan, such as designation of conservation and energy efficiency as a high priority resource option; adoption of targets for energy conservation and energy efficiency; pursuit of energy efficiency resources under a long-term resource planning and procurement framework.
- Reaffirming cost-effective conservation and energy efficiency as a priority resource for future utility energy needs.
- Recognizing and assessing conservation and energy efficiency resources on an equivalent basis with generation and other supply side resources in future Integrated Resource Plans.
- Developing, funding, and delivering a portfolio of conservation and energy efficiency programs to its member cooperatives.
- Reducing carbon intensity at Great River Energy facilities with conservation and energy efficiency programs.
- Developing a three-year (2007-2009) Conservation and Energy Efficiency Program Action Plan.
- Supporting statewide efforts to explore greater investment in conservation and energy efficiency resources.

For more information on the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, visit: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/eeactionplan.htm.