Wellspring (Renewable Energy Credits)

wellspring logo The Wellspring program (Renewable Energy Credits) provides co-op members with an easy, affordable and meaningful way to support sustainable energy efforts.

This program enables you to offset your conventional energy use and take pride in helping promote and expand renewable energy development. Small acts can make a big impact. As more members support the program, more opportunities arise to generate power from renewable sources. Together, we can power the future.

The Wellspring renewable wind energy program is a voluntary program that offers wind-generated electricity to co-op members. Electricity provided by wind generation is a coordinated effort between Great River Energy and its distribution coops.

Currently, wind energy for the Wellspring program comes from the Chandler Hills Wind Farm, the Trimont Area Wind Farm and the G. McNeilus Wind Farm. Since SWCE is one of the distribution coops of Great River Energy, SWCE members can elect to buy electricity from the Wellspring program.

Members can buy 100 kWh blocks at $0.45 per block. (A typical SWCE residential account uses 1,100 kWh per month would cost an additional $4.95/mo) Members who sign up for Wellspring will have a minimum of one-year commitment to the program. The additional amount for participation in the Wellspring program will be added to your monthly electric bill.

To learn more about the program, click the Learn More button. To join the Wellspring program, please use the Apply button.

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Renewable energy is produced from large wind turbines located in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota as well as qualifying hydroelectric facilities in Manitoba. In 2022, approximately 30 megawatts (MW) of wind generation were dedicated to the Wellspring wind program. In 2023, wind resources accounted for over 950 MW of Great River Energy’s total generation capacity and are expected to grow to over 1,800 MWs. Currently, Great River Energy solar resources include 21 solar installations throughout Minnesota totaling 650 kW of generation capacity. Approximately 272 kW are dedicated to the Wellspring solar program.

Those who participate in the Wellspring program are purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs). For every 1,000 kWhs of clean, renewable electricity generation, a REC is created. A REC embodies all of the environmental attributes of the generation and can be tracked separately from the underlying electricity.

While the electricity that is delivered to your home includes increasing amounts of renewable energy, our Wellspring Renewable and Solar Energy® programs allows energy-conscious members the option of helping us do even more for the environment.

By making the choice to participate in Wellspring, you not only help support wind energy development in Minnesota, but also help reduce our dependency on non-renewable energy sources.

No. The electricity generated by the wind turbines and solar panels is fed into the region’s electric system called the grid. It is like pouring a pitcher of water into a pond. Once it is poured into the pond, you cannot get the water from the pitcher back out again. The same holds true for recapturing wind and solargenerated electricity from the grid. It is there and available to use, but to deliver the exact electrons generated by the wind turbine or the solar panel is not possible. The wind and solar power you purchase replaces electricity that would have been generated by conventional fossil fuels.

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What does participating in Wellspring mean?

How does the program work?

How long do I have to stay on the program?

Where is Wellspring renewable energy produced?

What exactly am I buying?

Is the Wellspring energy supplied directly to my home?

Will I still receive conventional power sources?

Will power in my home be dependent on the wind blowing or the sun shining?

Can we generate all our electricity from wind and solar?

Who can participate?