Energy

The co-op is free and open to homeowners and business owners in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena. Members will leverage their numbers to buy solar energy at a competitive price.

City and power officials expressed optimism about the partnership slated to invest in clean energy and energy resiliency, while environmental advocates noted review is still required and necessary.

The Public Utilities Commission declined the request from environmental group CURE and said further discussion and regulation of data centers could take place in separate cases.

Minnesota now has just 19 electric school buses, but more than 20 districts are waiting on deliveries, some by the 2026-2027 school year.

Minnesota Power and American Transmission Co. LLC are proposing to construct approximately 67.5 miles of transmission line between Grand Rapids and Hermantown.

Environmental organization CURE is asking the Public Utilities Commission to investigate the Minnesota Power sale further, given new information about data centers in the region.

KAXE covered natural disasters, federal funding chaos, Eichorn's arrest and resignation, mining permits and wild rice, library budget cuts, sheriffs teaming with ICE and more.

High‑performance and low‑emissions are key goals laid out by the recently launched Minnesota Efficient Builders Coalition.

The sale of ALLETE closed Dec. 15, 2025. The Public Utilities Commission approved the controversial move in October.

Nine Northern Minnesota electric cooperatives and municipal utilities were awarded state dollars for grid resilience, including Virginia and Clearwater-Polk Electric Coop.