Five local high school students were recently selected to receive a trip to Washington, D.C., sponsored by Dakota Electric Association. The winners are Jenna Conzemius, Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Sarah Crippes, Apple Valley High School, Emily Haberlack, Burnsville High School; Liesl Larson, Christian Life Academy; and Erin Mayer, Eastview High School. The students will participate in [...]

Dakota Electric Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, April 28, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church social hall at 22120 Denmark Ave., Farmington (next to Dakota Electric’s office). The meeting begins at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m., and refreshments will be served before the meeting. Dakota Electric members will have the opportunity to [...]

Dakota Electric Association is seeking educators who desire to learn about the energy industry from June 13-16. The Lignite Council is offering the seminar again in 2016 due to overwhelming positive feedback it has received from past participants. Teachers of all grade levels are accepted, and Great River Energy, Dakota Electric’s power supplier, will cover the [...]

Dakota Electric Association distributed $28,719 in 2015 through its Helping Neighbors® program to the Community Action Program, The Salvation Army and 360 Communities for local energy assistance. In 2015, giving was up almost $1,500 from the previous year. “This money is available because of our members’ generous donations to the Helping Neighbors program,” Greg Miller, Dakota [...]

Dakota Electric Association and its employees have raised $24,717 for charities through its employee led program called Dakota Cares. Each year Dakota Electric’s employees hold a variety of fundraising events and pledge drives to bring in donations for three charities: United Way, $8,539; Community Health Charities, $10,566; and the Fallen Lineman Organization, $5,612. “We could not [...]

Dakota Electric Association recently presented DataBank with a rebate check for $108,566 for installing high-efficiency air conditioning, a computer room cooling system, building automation and LED lighting in its new Eagan facility. One of the energy-efficient systems installed uses cool Minnesota air when it can to reduce temperatures in the room holding the computer servers. “This [...]

Dakota Electric Association, along with CoBank, one of its lenders, recently donated $10,000 to 360 Communities. Dakota Electric’s $5,000 donation was matched by CoBank through the company’s “Sharing Success” grant program. Dakota Electric’s Board of Directors and CoBank’s Cliff Bolstad, and Rachel Hanson, presented the check to Sal Mondelli, president and CEO of 360 Communities, and [...]

Dakota Electric Association recently awarded $10,000 from unclaimed capital credits to go toward specific needs within four different school districts. Superintendents and representatives from Cannon Falls, Northfield, Randolph and Red Wing attended a recent Dakota Electric board meeting to receive the donations. Cannon Falls will use the money to purchase equipment to enhance its STEAM program [...]

Dakota Electric Association recently awarded Jamie Elvestad, Farmington, the Township Leader of the Year award. Each year, Dakota Electric seeks to recognize outstanding leadership with the award, and Dakota Electric Director Jerry Pittman attended a recent Dakota County Township Officers Association meeting to present the award to Elvestad. Elvestad has been an Empire Township Supervisor since [...]

Dakota Electric Association was recently nominated for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Cooperative Purpose Award. The award, new in 2015, recognizes cooperatives for their efforts at improving the quality of life for their members and communities.  “The award will go to a co-op for working with its membership to make outstanding contributions that result [...]