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2026 Energy Issues Summit & Reception and Tradeshow

August 5, 2026 8:00 AM - August 6, 2026 12:00 PM (CDT)

Description

ENERGY ISSUES SUMMIT
August 5-6, 2026 (W 8am-4:45pm, Th 8am-12pm)
Doubletree Bloomington
7800 Normandale Blvd,
Bloomington, MN 55439

Pre-conferences:
Mon Aug. 3 (1-5pm) - Tues. Aug. 4 (8:30am-3:30pm) New Director Orientation
Tues. Aug. 4, 9:00-4pm Board Chair Roundtable
Tues. Aug. 4, 8:30-4pm NRECA BLC 978.1 The State of Nuclear Energy
 
*Directors with their Director Gold Status will receive one credit towards their continuing education to keep their Gold status for attending our Energy Issues Summit. If you attend the pre-conference BLC, you will also receive one credit for that course. Two credits in total for attending both.

Through the support and embrace of the members, the MREA Energy Issues Summit has evolved into an exclusive environment for electric co-ops in Minnesota and the Midwest region to become informed on key issues, exchange ideas, share experiences, and talk through various co-op strategies. Co-op directors, CEOs and staff come to the Summit to learn how to address a swarm of new challenges in the energy industry that are evolving our co-op business, changing member expectations and causing regulatory models to adapt. As the agenda is formed, details will be added here.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Co-op directors, CEOs and any/all cooperative staff

AGENDA 
Weds. August 5
7:30am            Registration & Breakfast - Grand Ballroom Foyer
8:00am            Welcome - Darrick Moe, MREA
8:10am            Understanding "Affordability" in Our Industry Today - Tricia Elite, MREA
9:00am            Evaluating the Benefits of Merging Two Cooperatives - Moderator: Syd Briggs, Panelists: Kelly Hovel (Goodhue),
                        Rodney(SW) & Gary(GH)
9:45am            Dairyland - Distinguishing between Infrastracture Buildout and Negotiating with Data Centers - Chris Giesen
10:05am          Break
10:30am          Impacts of Current Federal Policy Shifts - Brian Cavey, Senior VP of Government Affairs, CoBank
11:30am          Lunch 
12:30pm          Follow Me! What the Best Leaders Do to Get People to Follow - Ted Schick
1:30pm            Minnkota - Distinguishing between Infrastracture Buildout and Negotiating with Data Centers - Marcy Douglas
1:50pm            The Need for Nuclear, a National Perspective - Kati Austgen, Director, Public Engagement & New Nuclear -
                        Nuclear Energy Institute
2:50pm            Break
3:05pm            The State Utility Policy and the Cooperative Role: 
                        Moderator - Dan Lipschultz
                            Panelists: Audrey Patridge, PUC Comissioner 
                                            Mike Bull, Deputy Executive Secretary
4:05pm           Legislator of the Year Award/REPAC - Jenny Glumack
4:30pm           Adjourn
4:30-6pm        Reception & Tradeshow

Thurs. August 6
7:00am           Breakfast - Grand Ballroom Foyer
8:00am           Welcome Day 2
8:05am           Cooperatives Working with Data Centers-From the Trenches - Adam Tromblay, Nobles & Ryan Butterfield,
                       Geronimo
9:00am           Great River Energy - Distinguishing between Infrastracture Buildout and Negotiating with Data Centers - Matt Ellis
9:20am           Economic Update - Mark Santero, CEO, Homestead Funds
9:50am           Break
10:05am         Serving the Local Communities with Cooperative Partnership -  Katy Marty, CoMinnesota 
10:25am         Basin - Distinguishing between Infrastracture Buildout and Negotiating with Data Centers -Chad Reisenauer
10:45am         Building Teams That Rise Under Today's Pressure & Tomorrow's Uncertainty - Caleb Campbell
12:00pm         Adjournment - Wes Waller

COST
Please click on the register button to see pricing.

HOTEL
Doubletree Bloomington
7800 Normandale Blvd,
Bloomington, MN 55439
Reservation Link 

Event Policies
MREA Event Cancellation Policy (Link to Full Policy) updated 12.19.2025

MREA Event Code of Conduct (Link to Full Policy)
MREA is committed to providing a safe, productive and welcoming environment for all participants and staff in MREA meetings, conferences, training programs, and events both online and in-person. All Event participants including but not limited to attendees, speakers, exhibitors, staff, students, guests and vendors, are expected to abide by this MREA Event Code of Conduct, and this code applies to all space and situations in which MREA meeting-related activities are being conducted, including virtual meetings and those sponsored by organizations other than MREA but held in conjunction with MREA Events. Participation constitutes agreement to comply with the Code of Conduct as a condition of attendance. 

2026 Late Registration
All events in 2026 will be subject to a $50 late registration fee for anyone that registers 2 weeks prior to the published event dates.

Time

Wed 8:00am-4:45pm

Thurs 8:00am-12:00pm

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Contact Information

Minnesota Rural Electric Association | MREA
Name: Amanda Meredith
Email: amanda@mrea.org
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