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Dairyland Power Natural Gas Plant Partnership Will Enable More Renewable Energy
 Dairyland Power Cooperative has announced plans for a 525-550 MW combined cycle natural gas plant, in partnership with Minnesota Power. The Nemadji Trail Energy Center, which will be co-developed by Dairyland and Minnesota Power, will be located along the Nemadji River in Superior, Wis. The location is adjacent to the service territories of Bayfield Electric Cooperative and other Dairyland member cooperatives which serve northern Wisconsin.
The Nemadji Trail Energy Center will support the major wind and solar energy investments Dairyland continues to implement. “Natural gas is a renewable enabling resource,” said Barbara Nick, Dairyland President and CEO. “Natural gas plants provide critical back-up to intermittent renewable sources of power, like solar and wind. Dairyland’s resource diversification strategy enables renewable forms of generation and ensures reliability, sustainability and affordability.”
Construction on the proposed project is expected to commence in 2020 after receiving regulatory approval and it is anticipated that the plant will be operational in 2025. The Nemadji Trail Energy Center would be the largest private investment in Douglas County and could result in over $1 billion in regional economic benefit over 20 years including approximately $1 million in local tax benefit. It is estimated that the project could create as many as 260 jobs during peak construction and up to 25 full-time permanent jobs.
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Chatfield, Minnesota Industrial Property Developed with MiEnergy Loan
Photo: Ted Kjos (far left), MiEnergy VP of Marketing and External Relations, and Pat Boyle (far right), MiEnergy Marketing/Member Services Representative, present a check to City of Chatfield representatives Chris Giesen and Joel Young.
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The City of Chatfield struggled with the cost of planned infrastructure improvements for the City’s industrial development area. Then MiEnergy, an electric cooperative that provides electric service to the community, stepped forward and offered to provide the City with 0% interest rate financing for the project. The $300,000 Rural Economic Development Loan will be used to help develop infrastructure – street, sewer, water and sanitary sewer - serving available industrial lots in the community. This infrastructure will also support nearby residential development.
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Heartland Power Cooperative Helps Finance New Fine Arts Center
Heartland Power Cooperative of Thompson, Iowa is providing the City of Forest Lake a $1,000,000 0% interest Rural Economic Development Loan to be used to finance the construction of a new fine arts center. The City, in partnership with the Forest City School District and Waldorf University, is constructing the new $10.3 million Hanson Family Fine Arts Center. The 29,743 square foot facility will house a 600-seat theater. The Center will also feature an art gallery and a 200-seat banquet hall. While the Fine Arts Center will be owned by the City, Waldorf University will operate and maintain the facility as a community hub for theater, art, public performances and public events. In addition, the Forest City School District has also agreed with the City on a long-term use and maintenance contract.
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People's Energy Cooperative Cares About Childcare
Photo: Gwen Stevens (second from left), People’s Energy Cooperative Director of Member and Community Relations, participated in the groundbreaking for the Little Eagles Childcare Center in Eyota, Minn.
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Adequate childcare services are essential to business and industry growth in any community. People’s Energy Cooperative is responding to the need for childcare by providing Rural Economic Development Loans to new childcare facilities in rural communities adjacent to the City of Rochester.
Thanks to People’s Energy Cooperative, Sprouts Childcare and Early Education Center will be constructing a new 7,500 square foot childcare facility in Stewartville, Minnesota. The Cooperative is providing a $125,000 loan for the project which will be located in the Stewartville Industrial Park adjacent to Interstate 90 and the Rochester International Airport. The new facility plans to open in the Fall of 2018.
Another project, Little Eagles Childcare Center recently broke ground on their new 96-slot facility which will be located in Eyota, Minnesota. People’s Energy’s loan in the amount of $75,000 helped make this much needed community facility possible.
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Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative Loan Fund Assisting Communities and Business
When the City of West Union, Iowa announced their need to update the City’s wastewater treatment plant, Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative stepped forward and offered to help. The Cooperative provided the City with a $340,000 0% interest loan for the project. Hollee-McCormick, Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative’s Manager of Economic Development and Community Relations says it’s a win-win for the Cooperative and the region. “As the City pays back the loan the funds will go back into a revolving loan fund administered by the Cooperative and will be relent to other community and business development projects.”
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0% Interest Economic Development Financing Available for Your Project
 One of the best kept secrets in regional economic development is the Rural Economic Development Loan Program (REDL) available through electric cooperatives. The program provides business and community development loans of up to $1 million at 0% interest. Funds can be used for business expansion and start-up. Eligible purposes include real estate, buildings (new and existing), machinery and equipment and/or working capital. Community facilities and infrastructure are also eligible purposes. Loan amount is determined by overall project scale, local cooperative policies, job creation/retention and other typical loan approval criteria.
Are you wondering whether this financing might be available for your project? Contact your local electric cooperative or Craig Harmes, Dairyland Power Cooperative, at (608) 787-1310 or Craig.Harmes@DairylandPower.com.
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Dairyland Power is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
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