Dakota Electric officially broke ground in June on a new headquarters facility in Lakeville, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for the cooperative.
The new Energy Center will be located off 225th Street West and Cedar Avenue — just a few miles from the current headquarters in Farmington — and is expected to be operational by summer 2027. The 210,000-square-foot facility will bring all employees, vehicles, dispatch and operations under one roof to better serve the growing needs of our members.
Dakota Electric has called Farmington home since 1937, when the cooperative was founded by a group of local farmers. The current headquarters, built in 1978, no longer meets operational needs. Over the years, the cooperative has grown from 15,000 members to more than 120,000 and now maintains over 4,000 miles of electric line.
“We’re deeply grateful for Farmington’s support over the years,” said CEO Ryan Hentges. “We’re excited to continue our strong tradition of service in a new facility designed to meet today’s needs and support tomorrow’s energy goals.”
The new site will include improved equipment and vehicle storage, and areas for future expansion.
“This is more than just a building,” Hentges said. “It’s a center for energy leadership and innovation — a place where our members, employees and communities can come together to plan for the future of energy.”
Dakota Electric looks forward to continuing its strong partnerships with both Farmington and Lakeville, and to providing safe, reliable and affordable electric service to members for generations to come.
To learn more about why a new facility is necessary, visit our Energy Center website. It outlines the extensive planning and research that led to this decision and provides answers to common questions.
