Missouri River Energy Services history

1966: The MBMPA Board of Directors approves expansion beyond Iowa and accepts Minnesota municipal utilities as members.

1974: The MBMPA Board of Directors approves South Dakota municipal utilities as members.

1976: The Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (WMMPA) was established.

1978: The Watertown Power Plant, a diesel-fuel fired peaking plant, is dedicated and begins commercial operations.

1980: After four years of construction, the Missouri Basin Power Project (MBPP) dedicates the first unit of the coal-fired Laramie River Station (LRS). Unit 1 serves MBPP customers on the east side of the transmission grid, including MBMPA members.

1985: All S-1 members agree to 10-year extensions of their long-term power sales agreements with MBMPA.

1990: MBMPA celebrates its 25th anniversary, including a publication of a MBMPA history book, titled "They Said It Couldn't Be Done!''

2000: MRES is the first joint-action agency to earn the American Public Power Association's "Golden Tree Award" as members plant more than 125,000 trees in their communities.

2002: MRES launches RiverWinds℠ program and builds a wind farm near Worthington, Minn.

2004: MRES takes steps to expand and diversify its generation resources by building the Exira Station, which began operating commercially in May as a natural gas peaking power plant.

2005: MRES celebrates 40 years of working together with its members.

2007: MRES launches Bright Energy Solutions®, a demand-side management program that can help MRES and its members save 85 megawatts (MW) over the next 12 years and help delay the need for new power plants.

2008: In July, the Odin Wind Farm, located in Minnesota, becomes operational.

2009: MRES added 40 MW of renewable energy to its power supply portfolio when the Rugby, N.D. Wind Project began commercial operation Dec.

2010: MRES launches Get the Load Down℠, a coordinated demand response program that encourages the reduction of peak demand usage in member communities by cycling air conditioners and electric water heaters when demand for electricity is greatest.

2011: MRES announces plans to build a hydroelectric generating facility at the Red Rock Reservoir on the Des Moines River in Iowa.

2012: The city of Pella, Iowa, becomes the 6oth member of MRES, and begins purchasing all of its electrical requirements from MRES.

2018: The MRES Board of Directors approved an agreement April 23 granting membership to Willmar, Minn., in MRES. Willmar becomes the 61st member and the 25th from Minnesota.

MRES joins CapX 2020, which is a group of regional transmission-owning utilities, to address the region's growing demand for electricity.

MRES Annual Report 2021