Building a stronger regional grid

Courtesy: Great River Energy (GRE)

An evolving industry landscape is reshaping how electricity is made, moved and used, which means the power grid used to deliver that electricity needs to change, too. 

To help maintain a reliable local and regional power grid, Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric’s wholesale power provider Great River Energy is making strategic transmission investments to move power efficiently, from where it is generated to where it is needed, and to support the delivery of dependable energy every hour of every day. 

The latest major regional project for GRE is PowerOn Midwest, which is a series of new electric transmission projects anchored by a 765-kV backbone transmission line being developed by Great River Energy, ITC Midwest, Otter Tail Power Company and Xcel Energy. 

PowerOn Midwest is currently in the routing phase. If approved, it will connect eastern South Dakota, southern Minnesota and the broader region, enhancing grid reliability in the Upper Midwest to meet growing and evolving energy needs in the coming decades. PowerOn Midwest will help deliver reliable energy every hour of every day, regardless of the weather, the time of day or the source of generation. It was one of 24 transmission projects in the Tranche 2.1 portfolio approved by MISO. 

Together, these projects reflect Great River Energy’s commitment to proactive planning and regional collaboration. Investments in large-scale transmission are not just about meeting today’s needs. They are about positioning the grid to remain reliable while supporting economic growth, electrification and a cleaner energy mix for decades to come. 

A second round of county commissioner presentations were being conducted in May and June 2026. 

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