Powering Your Future
MRES is committed to providing members and communities with efficient, cost-effective, reliable and ever-increasing clean energy. We’ve built a diverse portfolio of generation resources to reduce risk, increase reliability and focus on environmental stewardship. We work hard every day to find balanced solutions that will meet the electrical needs of our members and the thousands of customers they serve across our four-state service area.
Learn more about MRES, including our mission and vision.
Toronto Power Plant
MRES is evaluating the feasibility of building a relatively small, 145-MW natural gas plant near Toronto, South Dakota. This facility would help ensure the delivery of reliable, cost-effective and long-term energy to meet the evolving needs of electric consumers across the region. The project is currently in the design phase.
As coal plants are gradually retired and more renewable energy generation is added to the energy mix, the Toronto Power Plant will provide a fast power ramp-up to help maintain reliability during times when renewable energy may not be available.
PROPOSED PROJECT COMPONENTS:
- 145-MW combustion-turbine generators
- Approximately 4-mile 345 kV transmission line
- Natural gas pipeline connection
- Substation interconnection in the regional energy market
Developing and constructing a power plant is a multi-year effort. We'll continue to work closely with landowners, local governments, agencies, and other stakeholders throughout the project development.
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE: From RICE to Combustion Turbines
In May 2025, we decided to change engine technology of the generators of the proposed plant using combustion turbines (CT) instead of reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE). CTs generate an equivalent amount of energy as RICE in a smaller physical footprint. Additionally, CTs are light in weight, which means they do not require substantial support foundations. This change is expected to help reduce overall project costs. the proposed plant’s generator technology from reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) to combustion turbines (CT)
CURRENT STATUS:
We plan to submit our Facility Permit application to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (SD PUC) in July 2025. Once submitted, the PUC will hold a public input meeting to provide residents and stakeholders an opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions about the project. We expect the SD PUC to make the final decision on the application by mid-2026.
Click on the link below to track this submission on the SD PUC website.
PAST EVENTS:
MRES held a public open house for the project on June 11, 2024.
In mid-June 2024, Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (WMMPA) filed a Notification of Intent (NOI) with the SD PUC to apply for a permit to construct an energy conversion facility, which is the proposed Toronto Power Plant. WMMPA finances the construction and acquisition of the generation and transmission facilities for MRES.
On Nov. 18, 2024, the Local Review Committee (LRC) and the First District Association of Local Governments hosted an informational meeting to review the findings of the Social and Economic Effect/Impact Study for the proposed Toronto Power Plant. The study, conducted by the First District Association of Local Governments, examined the potential impacts of the plant on the local community. MRES also shared project updates, and the public was invited to attend.
CONTACT US:
If you have questions about the Toronto Power Plant, connect with our team by email at connect@torontopowerplant.com, or call us at 605-977-7775.
Energy Sources
Fifty-nine of our 61 members receive an allocation of hydropower from the dams on the Missouri River, and they purchase, on average, about 40% of their energy needs from the federal government’s Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). MRES meets their remaining power supply needs with our diverse and reliable energy sources below.
Creating a Clean and Resilient Energy Future
Creating a clean and resilient energy future is a top priority for MRES and our members, and we are delivering affordable, reliable, and ever-increasing clean energy to our members and their customers.
For nearly two decades, MRES has added renewable and carbon-free resources to our power supply mix, including nuclear, wind and solar resources. In addition, MRES built a new hydroelectric power plant — the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project — near the member community of Pella, Iowa, that began commercial operation in June 2021.
Bright Energy Choices
For many years, a wide range of “green energy” programs were developed and offered by electric utilities. As these programs have matured, there has been increased regulatory guidance on how utilities and their customers may make claims regarding the renewable or carbon-free nature of the energy they consume.
Effective Jan. 1, 2025, MRES revised its Bright Energy Choices program, which was launched in 2020, to align with current guidance and give our local member utilities and their customers an easy, affordable way to increase their use of renewable and carbon-free energy. Through this program, utilities and retail customers can purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), directly supporting clean energy and helping reduce the community’s carbon footprint.
A REC is a digital certificate created when 1 megawatt-hour (1,000 kWh) of electricity is generated by a qualifying renewable facility — such as hydro, wind or solar generator — and fed into the electric grid. Each REC is assigned a serial number so it can be tracked. These certificates have value and can be bought and sold.
RECs represent environmental attributes, but not the energy itself. In fact, RECs and energy are separate products and are often purchased and sold separately. To claim a specific percentage of renewable energy use, corresponding RECs must be “retired,” meaning they cannot be used again.
MRES retires RECs in our members’ names, as directed by
members. Members participating in the program receive a
report each spring detailing the RECs retired on their behalf.