Well, that’s a wrap! Fair season is over.

The NRS Development Team is still buzzing about all of the county fairs they were able to attend this July and August. Not only were we able to attend the fairs and talk to folks who visited our booths, but we were able to support the local 4-H chapters in all of the county fairs we attended, including our own landowners.

The amount of time, effort, and hard work these kids put into raising and caring for their animals was a real treat to witness.

Here are some of the successes we saw this past month:

In support of our Overland Pass Energy and Honors Energy projects, we visited the Logan County (CO) and Sedgewick County (CO) fairs. Bren Moore (Director of Wind Development) is pictured above with Kaitlyn and the rabbit she raised and showed. NRS was able to purchase the rabbit in support of Kaitlyn and the local 4-H chapter.

We received this handwritten Thank You note (right) from Ryder for buying his chicken at the auction in Sedgewick County Fair. The funds are going to help buy a car. Good luck, Ryder!

The last week of July in Minnesota resulted in an unusual 100-degree stint, but the NRS team wasn’t going to let that keep them from competing in the 2nd Annual NRS Table Tennis Tournament at the All Hands Meeting. 

Playing off last year’s rules, it was a single-elimination tournament, resulting in 25+ games over two days, fit between productive group meetings and team meals. This year, NRS decided to increase incentive for the team and added an epic 3-tier trophy for the winner to take home (right). To say the competition was heated, is an understatement, including an intense battle between Lindsey (COO, pictured above, left) and Jesse (CDO, pictured above middle).

Before crowning the champion Thursday afternoon, a Ben & Jerry’s sundae party re-energized the crew. Ice cream may (or may not) have contributed to the wins or losses that were played afterward, but it all came down to the Balmy Battle of the Brians. 

Brian Hemminger (Finance Manager) and Brian Reindl (Director of Solar Development) had defeated every opponent in their brackets to face off in the championship game. In the end, Brian Reindl became the first recipient of the NRS Table Tennis Trophy! He will hold onto the trophy for the next year until next summer’s All Hands meeting when we will crown the next champion of the 3rd Annual NRS Table Tennis Tournament.

We had some amazing department and breakout meetings, checked some of the smaller items off the bottom of our lists, and created more efficiency with our processes. The NRS team celebrated their constructive days with two nights of team-building events where they could choose from Top Golf, dinner and a show at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and a MN Loons Soccer Game at Allianz Field in St. Paul. 

It was an amazing week of fun and productivity – especially welcoming all the new faces of the NRS Team to the Annual Table Tennis Tournament! A big shot out to our local title company for joining us for the Wednesday morning session, sharing their title wisdom, and bringing us yummy Kolacky treats!

We continue to be amazed with the work our team has produced. We are very grateful for their hard work, determination, and ability to let loose, too!

We were very proud to have Mark Russell, Director of Transmission, represent NRS in the transmission panel discussion at the Colorado Solar and Storage Association (COSSA) Conference in Denver, Colorado, Feb 28th.

The goal of the panel was to bring transmission to the forefront as a paramount and critical path to a low-carbon future as the State of Colorado determines transmission buildout. The expert panel from the Mountain West region included Colorado Energy Transmission Authority (CETA), New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (NM RETA), and National Renewable Solutions (NRS). The discussion tackled the big questions of transmission planning, resource scarcity, and access.  

Erik Aaboe (left) started the conversation on the success in New Mexico with NM RETA and how the lessons learned over the last 15 years on its process, challenges, and benefits could be incorporated into forming of the CETA charter.  Mark (middle) followed up with interaction with both NM RETA and Kathleen Staks (right) from CETA and described what benefits developers need from CETA to achieve both Gen Tie and transmission line success in Colorado and New Mexico. 

It was an honor to share the stage with fellow colleagues and bring transmission knowledge alive. We want to thank COSSA for this opportunity and look forward to our continued partnership with both CETA and NM RETA.

*Photos courtesy of COSSA