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Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Held for Onida Substation

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Held for Onida Substation

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the new Onida substation on Friday, August 23. The substation is owned by East River Electric Power Cooperative and serves the member-owners of Oahe Electric Cooperative, including the city of Onida and Ringneck Energy ethanol plant.

During the event, representatives from East River Electric, Oahe Electric, Ringneck Energy, the Onida Area Development Corporation and the Onida Chamber of Commerce discussed the benefits that the new substation brings to the area. The event concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“We are excited for the enhanced capabilities of this new facility in meeting the growing energy needs of Onida, Ringneck Energy and the surrounding area,” said East River Chief Operations Officer Mark Hoffman. “This new substation will have the ability to serve new growth in the area for years to come, just further enhancing the region’s economic development opportunities. East River and Oahe Electric are strong supporters of the ethanol industry and are pleased to work with Ringneck Energy to meet their power needs.”

The new substation replaces a substation that was built in the 1970s and brings increased capacity to reliably meet the area’s current and future energy needs. Construction began in September 2016 and was completed in fall 2018.

“We appreciate the great working relationships with East River Electric, Ringneck Energy and the city of Onida,” said Oahe Electric General Manager Rodney Haag. “This new substation has improved the reliability of Oahe Electric’s energy delivery system to our member-owners.”

In addition to the Onida substation, East River Electric is currently planning several other facilities in the area. These facilities include a new substation west of Blunt in Hughes County that is currently under construction, plans for a new substation north of Pierre and a rebuild of a current substation west of Onida. These projects will improve reliability and provide additional capacity for the region’s growing energy needs.

Photo: East River Electric Business Development Director Mike Jaspers (left), East River Electric Chief Member and Public Relations Officer Chris Studer, East River Electric Chief Operations Officer Mark Hoffman, Oahe Electric General Manager Rodney Haag, Onida Chamber of Commerce President Marileen Tilberg, Onida Area Development Corporation President Brian Ring, Onida Chamber of Commerce Member Leann Weischedel, Ringneck Energy CEO Walt Wendland and Oahe Electric Board President Ken Gillaspie

 

East River Employees Volunteer at Gathering Meal

East River Employees Volunteer at Gathering Meal

East River employees volunteered their time and talents to help serve 116 meals at the monthly Gathering Meal at the Madison United Methodist Church. East River employees baked desserts or assisted with preparing, serving and cleaning up after the meal. This is a great chance for our employees to give back and live out the 7th cooperative principle of commitment to community. Thank you to everyone who volunteered at this event!

Madison’s Lindsey Dockendorf Receives $1,000 Basin Electric Scholarship

Madison’s Lindsey Dockendorf Receives $1,000 Basin Electric Scholarship

Lindsey Dockendorf of Madison is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from Basin Electric Power Cooperative based in Bismarck, N.D. She is the daughter of Tim and Amy Dockendorf of Madison.

Basin Electric awards 180 scholarships per year to children of member cooperative employees across the region. Dockendorf’s father, Tim, works as the Communications & Control Systems Administrator for East River Electric Power Cooperative in Madison, a Basin Electric member.

Lindsey will attend South Dakota State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human biology with a career focus on pre-medicine. She then plans to attend the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota to receive her medical degree. Throughout high school, Lindsey participated in volleyball, softball, track and 4-H Archery. Lindsey is the president of the National Honor Society, a student ambassador and is involved in the Youth Discipleship group at her church.

“We congratulate Lindsey and her family on this tremendous honor,” said East River Electric CEO/General Manager Tom Boyko. “Lindsey’s commitment to both academics and athletics shows her dedication to attaining her goals. We wish Lindsey well as she continues her education at South Dakota State University.”

Since the scholarship program began, over 3,000 students in the Basin Electric system have benefited from this program. Recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, a statement of education and career goals and an outside appraisal by a teacher or adviser.

Cutline: (Left to Right) Tom Boyko, Lindsey Dockendorf and Tim Dockendorf. Tom presents Lindsey with the $1,000 Scholarship.

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