Bill Text: MN SR81 | 2023-2024 | 93rd Legislature | Draft
Bill Title: A Senate resolution congratulating Connexus Energy CEO Greg Ridderbusch on his retirement
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-13 - Referred to Rules and Administration [SR81 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2023-SR81-Draft.html
1.1A Senate resolution
1.2congratulating Connexus Energy CEO Greg Ridderbusch on his retirement.
1.3WHEREAS, after 25 years of using his passion for and expertise in business innovation and
1.4technology commercialization on behalf of the utilities industry, Connexus Energy CEO Greg
1.5Ridderbusch has announced his retirement; and
1.6WHEREAS, in his time at Connexus, Greg has kept electric rates steady while investing in
1.7the growth and sustainability of the distribution grid. Serving the area immediately north of the
1.8Twin Cities, Connexus is the largest consumer-owned electric utility in the Midwest, with 145,000
1.9accounts over approximately 1,000 square miles; and
1.10WHEREAS, Greg graduated from West Point in 1980 and Georgia Tech in 1986, and earned
1.11his MBA from the Northwestern Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1992. He served ten
1.12years as an engineer officer in the Army, the Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard. As a
1.13development engineer, he worked on low-emission, high-efficiency process development; and
1.14WHEREAS, during Greg's tenure as CEO of Connexus Energy he has made a huge impact
1.15on Minnesota's clean energy policy and maximized the use of federal grants for cooperatives. The
1.16utility's service territory is growing from 1,400 electric vehicles today to an estimated 30,000 by
1.172030. Alongside this growth, they have invested in local, distribution-scale solar and storage; and
1.18WHEREAS, under Greg's leadership, Connexus has collaborated with federal agencies and
1.19other utilities on pilot projects that demonstrate how to preserve agricultural land while developing
1.20solar energy facilities. Connexus has also been a pioneer in pollinator planting and beekeeper apiary
1.21placement within solar arrays. Connexus was the first utility in the Midwest to be selected by the
1.22United States Department of Energy to host a Clean Energy Innovation Fellow, and in spring 2023
1.23Connexus was invited to the White House for the announcement of a new program investing in
1.24electric cooperatives; and
2.1NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.2honors Greg Ridderbusch for his extraordinary contributions to the consumer-owned utilities
2.3industry and service to benefit cooperative members.
2.4BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
2.5enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
2.6Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Greg Ridderbusch.
1.2congratulating Connexus Energy CEO Greg Ridderbusch on his retirement.
1.3WHEREAS, after 25 years of using his passion for and expertise in business innovation and
1.4technology commercialization on behalf of the utilities industry, Connexus Energy CEO Greg
1.5Ridderbusch has announced his retirement; and
1.6WHEREAS, in his time at Connexus, Greg has kept electric rates steady while investing in
1.7the growth and sustainability of the distribution grid. Serving the area immediately north of the
1.8Twin Cities, Connexus is the largest consumer-owned electric utility in the Midwest, with 145,000
1.9accounts over approximately 1,000 square miles; and
1.10WHEREAS, Greg graduated from West Point in 1980 and Georgia Tech in 1986, and earned
1.11his MBA from the Northwestern Kellogg Graduate School of Management in 1992. He served ten
1.12years as an engineer officer in the Army, the Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard. As a
1.13development engineer, he worked on low-emission, high-efficiency process development; and
1.14WHEREAS, during Greg's tenure as CEO of Connexus Energy he has made a huge impact
1.15on Minnesota's clean energy policy and maximized the use of federal grants for cooperatives. The
1.16utility's service territory is growing from 1,400 electric vehicles today to an estimated 30,000 by
1.172030. Alongside this growth, they have invested in local, distribution-scale solar and storage; and
1.18WHEREAS, under Greg's leadership, Connexus has collaborated with federal agencies and
1.19other utilities on pilot projects that demonstrate how to preserve agricultural land while developing
1.20solar energy facilities. Connexus has also been a pioneer in pollinator planting and beekeeper apiary
1.21placement within solar arrays. Connexus was the first utility in the Midwest to be selected by the
1.22United States Department of Energy to host a Clean Energy Innovation Fellow, and in spring 2023
1.23Connexus was invited to the White House for the announcement of a new program investing in
1.24electric cooperatives; and
2.1NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that it
2.2honors Greg Ridderbusch for his extraordinary contributions to the consumer-owned utilities
2.3industry and service to benefit cooperative members.
2.4BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare an
2.5enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of the
2.6Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to Greg Ridderbusch.
| Tom BotternSecretary of the Senate | Erin P. MurphyChair, Senate Committee onRules and Administration |
| John A. HoffmanState Senator, District 34 | Andrew MathewsState Senator, District 27 |
| Michael E. KreunState Senator, District 32 |
| Jim AbelerState Senator, District 35 |
