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wanted to be aligned with other like-minded utilities," including Anoka, Arlington, Browntown, <br /> Buffalo, Chaska, East Grand Forks,North Saint Paul, Olivia, Shakopee, and Winthrop.154 <br /> On May 13,2013, the ERMU Commission unanimously adopted a resolution requesting membership in MMPA <br /> Left to right: Oncu Er,MMPA;David Niles,MMPA;Al Nadeau,ERMU Commission;Daryl Thompson,ERMU <br /> Commission;John Dietz,ERMU Commission;Derick Dahlen,MMPA; Troy Adams,P.E.,ERMU <br /> (Elk River Municipal Utilities) <br /> Joining the MMPA gave ERMU a voice in the organization's decision-making process. Each <br /> member of MMPA had a seat on the board of directors and could vote on all decisions. This was <br /> a welcome change from ERMU's lack of input on decisions in its previous contract. The MMPA <br /> also used very little coal in its operations, which reduced related regulations and costs.155 <br /> Rising rates were one of the primary reasons that the ERMU commission decided to find a new <br /> supplier and not renew with Connexus and GRE, the state's second-largest electric supplier, <br /> which had raised its rates 58 percent since 2006. "The number one driving reason" for the <br /> change, Adams confirmed, "is we want to remain competitive, and wholesale power rates are 75 <br /> percent of our costs." He also indicated that ERMU had environmental concerns about GRE's <br /> dependency on coal-fired facilities, which could face new regulation in the future."We were <br /> worried about potential rate increases because of all of this coal infrastructure. . . . MMPA is in a <br /> much better position."156 <br /> MMPA had several green energy initiatives that made it a favorable partner for ERMU. MMPA <br /> board chairman Steve Schmidt, a city council member in Anoka, said that"our member <br /> municipal utilities will benefit from our mix of cost-effective and local renewable energy <br /> generation sources." MMPA's eight-megawatt bioenergy facility in LeSueur,Minnesota, for <br /> 154 Minnesota Municipal Power Agency to Troy Adams,letter,June 5,2013;"Elk River Municipal Utilities to Join <br /> Minnesota Municipal Power Agency,"Le Sueur News-Herald,June 21,2013;Minnesota Municipal Power Agency <br /> website,http://www.mtnpa.org/Our-Comtnunities/Elk-River.aspx(accessed March 7,2014). <br /> "'Troy Adams in conversation with Rachel Peterson,June 2,2014. <br /> 156 David Shaffer,"Rates Cost Great River Big Customer:Elk River,"Minneapolis Star Tribune,June 21,2013. <br /> 44 <br />