Today, Great River Energy (GRE), a not-for-profit wholesale electric power cooperative providing power in Minnesota and Wisconsin, announced plans to retire its 1,151-megawatt (MW) coal generating power plant, Coal Creek Station, in Underwood, N.D., during the second half of 2022. Click here to read a press release issued by North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum regarding the closure.
Local 49 Business Manager, Jason George, issued a statement in response to the closure:
“The news about the potential closure of Coal Creek Station is a shock to the union members who have worked and performed critical maintenance at the plant over many years. Beyond good paying jobs, Coal Creek Station has provided affordable and reliable electricity to families across the region. We are committed to working with the State of North Dakota and Governor Burgum as his administration looks for a solution to help protect the thousands of jobs that could be lost due to the closure.”