IN THE NEWS...
As we celebrate 90 years of Nobles Cooperative Electric, I find myself feeling both proud and humbled. Proud of how far our cooperative has come since 1936, and humbled to play even a small role in a legacy built by generations of members, employees, and community leaders who believed in working together for the common good.
A Legacy to Honor — and a Future to Shape
Over time, our role has continued to evolve. Here in southwest Minnesota, especially along the Buffalo Ridge, our region has become a major producer of renewable energy. The area is generating a tremendous amount of wind power — sometimes more than the grid can move or use at a given moment. When that happens, turbines are slowed or shut down, even when the wind is blowing. That’s potential energy going unused — a situation known as curtailment.
Today, the conversation is shifting from just producing power to thinking carefully about what we do with it. That’s where proposals like the Nobles County Powered Data Park from Geronimo Power enter into the discussion. What stands out to me is the idea of placing large electrical load close to where the power is already being generated. Too often, new facilities require significant transmission expansion to deliver electricity — a process that is expensive, time-consuming, and increasingly difficult. Placing energy-intensive uses near existing generation is a more practical and efficient approach.
While no single project guarantees outcomes, I believe developments like this have the potential to support long-term benefits to our members. Beyond the electric system, there are also broader considerations — local investment, long-term jobs, and tax revenue that supports counties, townships, schools, and essential services right here at home.
As we reflect on 90 years of cooperative history, it’s clear that every generation has faced change. Those who came before us built an electric system they couldn’t fully envision — but they did so with care and intention. Now it’s our responsibility to do the same.
I encourage our members to stay engaged, ask questions, and give Geronimo Power the opportunity to share their vision. Thoughtful conversations today help ensure our cooperative — and our communities remain strong, reliable, and well-positioned for generations to come.
As we honor our past, let’s continue thinking about the future. Ninety years from now, I hope people will look back and see that we respected our history, embraced change, and made decisions that served our members and our region well.
