Great River Energy Power Station
Elk River, Minnesota 
(
the nestbox photo is courtesy of RCF - thanks!)
Elk River Station was an energy-from-waste plant operating in Elk River, Minnesota that generated 35 to 42 megawatts of electrical power. The site was originally built as a coal and oil-fired facility in 1950, then construction began on a nuclear power plant (boiling water reactor) in 1959. The nuclear reactor was small (22 MW) and only operated from July 1, 1964 until February 1, 1968 before undergoing decommission and dismantlement in the following years, ending in the early 1970s. It resumed operating on coal and oil in 1968. In 1989, the facility was again converted, this time to use Refuse Derived Fuel or (RDF) for fuel. Municipal solid waste used to make RDF and is a renewable energy source. Waste arrived from Anoka, Benton, Hennepin, Sherburne, and Stearns counties, and the ash remaining after incineration was taken to a landfill in Becker, Minnesota.
In 2020, the Great River Energy Elk River facility began to be demolished. Brenda Geisler, GRE's falcon caretaker, worked very hard to get the falcons a new nest box on a structure that GRE is building just for them.
When I can get a photo of the new structure, I will post it here! (the one above is of their old nest on the plant) Webcam link: greatriverenergy.com/environmental/peregrine-falcon-birdcam/ (confirmed Apr 2023)Raptor Resource Project website: www.raptorresource.org/birdcams/great-river-energy-falcons/ Resident Pairs & Offspring:- 2023 - Brooklyn & Breezy --> 4 eggs as of 18 Apr 2023
- 2022 - Brooklyn & Breezy --> 4 chicks
- 2021 - Brooklyn & Breezy --> 4 chicks
- 2020 - Brooklyn & Breezy --> 4 chicks
- 2019 - Brooklyn & Breezy --> 4 chicks
- 2018 - Brooklyn & Breezy --> 4 chicks
- 2017 - Brooklyn & Mary-Ellen --> 2 chicks
- 2016 - Brooklyn & Mary-Ellen --> no chicks
- 2015 - Brooklyn & Mary-Ellen --> 4 chicks
- 2014 - Sawatzke & Mary-Ellen --> 4 chicks
- 2013 - Sawatzke & Mary-Ellen --> Lucky (m) & Patricia (f)
- 2012 - Sawatzke & unbanded female --> Larissa (f) & Scout (f)
- 2011 - ? & Dot --> Wayne (m), Hanson (m), Elizabeth (f) & Skye (f)
- 2010 - ? & ? --> Henry (m), Journey (f), Falco (f) & Brooke (f)
- 2009 - ? & ? --> Roger (m), Royal (m), Edward (m) & Bella (f)
- 2008 - ? & ? --> Bullet (m), Chase (m) & Lightning (f)
- 2007 - ? & 30B --> Falcor (m), Dougie (m) & Jennie (f)
