Mike Bull is joining the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) as Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs from the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), where he developed, evaluated, and communicated effective clean energy policies.

“Mike is an established leader in developing and implementing state energy policy. We are pleased to have his expertise as we advocate for smart energy solutions for electric cooperative members across the state,” says Darrick Moe, CEO of MREA.

“As an electric cooperative member myself, I know firsthand the value of the cooperative business model. I look forward to working with MREA’s member cooperatives to help them meet the needs of their member-consumers across Minnesota,” Bull says regarding his new position.

Minnesota’s electric cooperatives had long recognized the need for energy efficiency reform and built a broad coalition of stakeholders, including Bull, who played an influential role in the recent passage of the Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) Act. The bipartisan legislation included many positive reforms to the outdated Conservation Improvement Program (CIP), including the allowance for programs that help reduce electric cooperative consumers’ total energy bills and provide better tools for reducing carbon emissions.

Mike has held a number of legislative, regulatory and policy positions in Minnesota state government, including senior policy advisor for energy and the environment for former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. He later held policy positions at Clean Grid Alliance, the Midwestern regional partner for the American Wind Energy Association, and Xcel Energy, one of the nation’s largest combination electric and gas utilities. Bull was also a major player in completing the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership, a unique agreement that brings together the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy in support of the City’s Climate Action Plan and 2040 Energy Vision.

Additionally, Bull served as vice chair of the board of directors for Clean Grid Alliance and was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to the Governor’s Council on Biofuels in November 2019.

Mike earned a JD, cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School and a master’s of public policy from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

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The Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) is a nonprofit trade association serving Minnesota’s electric cooperatives. MREA provides legislative and regulatory representation, director and employee education programs, technical training for electric cooperative line workers, and serves as the focal point for cooperation among cooperatives. Minnesota’s 44 distribution cooperatives serve about 1.7 million Minnesotans in all 87 counties and operate the largest distribution network in the state with more than 135,000 miles of electric lines.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Krista Benjamin, MREA director of education and communication, 763-424-7235, krista@mrea.org

Darrick Moe, MREA president and CEO, 763-424-7233, darrick@mrea.org