Power Generation

No matter where you travel across the U.S., you’ll always find a place to plug in your phone charger. But while the power itself may be consistent, the organizations behind it often are not. Learn how electric co-ops stand out from other providers.

When Winter Storm Nyla’s ice, snow and gusty winds toppled 11 miles of transmission lines and rendered 20 substations inoperable on March 19, the staff at Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) knew they were facing one of their most significant challenges in recent history.

If you are interested in installing solar, it is important to understand your motivations. Learn what to consider before investing in solar.

On Feb. 10, 1937, northern Iowa farmers joined together to incorporate the generation cooperative Federated REA. Days later, a $222,000 loan laid the groundwork for Iowa’s Reeve Power Plant south of Hampton.

Electric cooperatives use a variety of generation and grid technologies to provide power, including battery energy storage – but not all battery storage systems are the same, and understanding the key differences between each is important.

Across the nation, 64 generation and transmission (G&T) cooperatives provide access to wholesale (at-cost) power at a better price than each of their member co-ops could obtain on their own. In Iowa, electric co-ops are members of various G&T cooperatives, which generate electricity at multiple sites using a diverse mix of fuels such as coal, natural gas, wind, solar, hydro and landfill gas.

We’ve all had firsthand experiences with supply chain issues in recent years. Parts and components electric co-ops use every day are also in short supply.

The electric grid gathers and distributes power from many sources, including those considered baseload or intermittent. Learn about the differences, and why a diverse energy portfolio is necessary.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released its long-anticipated final rules aimed at existing coal and new natural gas power plants. The four new rules to regulate power plants represent the wrong approach at a critical time for our nation’s energy future.

With advancements in technology and safety measures, nuclear offers potential for sustainable electricity generation.