Community Involvement

Dakota Electric aims to do more than simply deliver electricity. As a locally-owned business, we care about the communities we serve. Whether it is through financial support or volunteering, we are passionate about helping our communities thrive.

Dakota Cares

Every year our generous employees give back to the community by donating to the Dakota Cares campaign.

The committee plans several employee events and activities throughout the year to help raise funds for local organizations, such as the Greater Twin Cities United Way, Community Health Charities of Minnesota and the Fallen Linemen Organization.

Year after year, employees have raised more than $30,000 by participating in activities, such as:

  • Pork chop feed
  • Fajita feed
  • Silent auction
  • Sporting clays fun shoot
  • Employee payroll deductions
dakota cares

Employees raise more than $30,000 for charities.

Member Appreciation

Every summer, we host our Member Appreciation Event at the Minnesota Zoo. The event includes free admission and parking, and draws more than 6,000 Dakota Electric members and families.

Guests enjoy all of the zoo’s exhibits, live music and family fun. We ask attendees to consider donating to the local food shelves by bringing a non-perishable food item or cash donation. Since 1998, members have donated more than 18 tons of food and more than $13,000 to local food shelves. Thank you for your generosity!

The event is held on the last Thursday in July, and tickets to the event are included with your bill sent in June/July. Watch for more information in the June and July issues of Circuits.

Environmental Activities

We seek to do more than merely deliver electricity to our members. We aim to make our operations more environmentally responsible and help our communities create sustainable, environmentally-friendly futures.

Dakota Electric hosts, sponsors and participates in several events promoting environmental responsibility including:

  • Arbor Day celebrations
  • Adopt-A-Highway

In addition, the cooperative donates more than 3,000 tree seedlings annually to local schools and community events.

Scholarships

Every year Dakota Electric uses funds from unclaimed capital credits to award scholarships to students from area high schools and colleges to support their continued education. Each individual school selects the scholarship recipient. If you attend one of the following schools, contact a guidance counselor for more information.

 

High Schools

  • Apple Valley
  • Burnsville
  • Cannon Falls
  • Eagan
  • Eastview
  • Farmington
  • Hastings
  • Two Rivers
  • Lakeville North
  • Lakeville South
  • Northfield
  • Randolph
  • Red Wing
  • Rosemount
  • Simley

Colleges

  • Dakota County Technical College – Rosemount
  • Inver Hills Community College – Inver Grove Heights

I care. You care. Dakota Cares.

Every year our generous employees give back to the community by donating to the Dakota Cares campaign.

The committee plans several employee events and activities throughout the year to help raise funds for local organizations, such as the Greater Twin Cities United Way, Community Health Charities of Minnesota and the Fallen Linemen Organization.

Year after year, employees have raised more than $20,000 by participating in activities, such as:

  • pork chop feed
  • fajita feed
  • silent auction
  • sporting clays fun shoot
  • employee payroll deductions

GreenTouch

Each spring, Dakota Electric hosts a fun, clean-up event at a local Dakota County park. This volunteer effort is part of a larger, statewide event called Minnesota Touchstone Energy’s GreenTouch Day.

The event is typically held the first Saturday in May. All ages, organizations and scout groups looking for a service project are welcome. After a morning of work, enjoy a free lunch and the opportunity to stay and explore the park you just helped to clean up.

Space is limited. Watch for registration information in the March/April issues of Circuits newsletter. Contact 651-463-6178 for more information.

Tree Trust

Every year, Dakota Electric brings an environmental science element tothe curriculum of an area school by sponsoring the Tree Trust Learning with Trees program.

The Learning with Trees program creates outdoor learning areas on the school property. Each school forms a Green Team of teachers, staff and parents to do a landscape plan, and students gain hands-on experience with the natural world when they plant trees together and watch them grow.

The Learning with Trees program is designed to set up schools with comprehensive, sustainable outdoor classrooms that transform school grounds into living laboratories for experiential learning.

The plan becomes a reality during an all-school event where students dig holes, plant trees, mulch and water the new plantings and celebrate their school’s commitment to the environment.

Dakota Electric established a speakers bureau to present to schools, rotary clubs, chargers of commerce and other community organizations on a variety of energy-related issues.

Speakers Bureau

Request a speaker to come teach your organization more about topics relating to:

  • Renewable energy
  • Energy industry trends and issues
  • Energy efficiency for your home or business
  • Powerline safety
  • How Dakota Electric delivers electricity