Rainbow Energy Center, Llc
Rainbow Energy Center, LLC is a privately held independent power producer in Bismarck, North Dakota, operating the 1,151 MW Coal Creek Station lignite plant and 436-mile Nexus Line HVDC transmission line serving 1.7 million people across the Upper Midwest.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersBismarck, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rainbow Energy Center, Llc does
Rainbow Energy Center, LLC is a privately held independent power producer headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota, that owns and operates Coal Creek Station, a 1,151 MW lignite-fired power plant near Underwood, ND, and controls the 436-mile Nexus Line HVDC transmission system extending to a converter station near Buffalo, Minnesota. The company acquired both assets from Great River Energy in May 2022, preserving approximately 600 jobs in North Dakota and securing the fuel supply relationship with Falkirk Mining Company, which provides approximately 8 million tons of beneficiated lignite annually. Coal Creek Station uses DryFine technology to reduce lignite moisture pre-combustion, increasing burn efficiency and reducing SO2, NOx, mercury, and CO2 emissions, and recycles 99.5% of fly ash for cement substitution.
The company's product surface spans four interconnected lines: baseload lignite generation (Coal Creek Station), HVDC transmission services (Nexus Line), renewable generation of up to 400 MW (wind/solar) delivered through the same HVDC corridor into the MISO market, and a CCUS project being developed with the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota intended to be among the world's largest post-combustion carbon capture installations. A 344-mile natural gas pipeline partnership with Intensity Infrastructure Partners, announced June 2025 and targeted for July 2029 in-service, extends the platform into midstream gas infrastructure supporting Bakken production and eastern North Dakota industrial demand. Excess steam is sold to neighboring Blue Flint Ethanol, and the company is licensed to do business as REC and Rainbow, with Nexus Line, LLC operating as a wholly owned subsidiary for HVDC assets.
Rainbow sells wholesale electricity and capacity to electric utilities, cooperatives, and open-market power purchasers in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest through bilateral sales, ISO/RTO markets, and asset management agreements under an enterprise field-sales motion. Revenue streams include electricity generation and sales, HVDC transmission services for renewable developers, and emerging pipeline-related revenue, though pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company is affiliated with Rainbow Energy Marketing Corporation and is led by CEO and founder Stacy Tschider and President and co-founder Jeff Jonson; ownership is private and investor information is not disclosed. Estimated annual economic impact to North Dakota is $1.5 billion, and Rainbow's output is described as serving approximately 1.7 million people.
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rainbow Energy Center, Llc
- Legal name
- Rainbow Energy Center, LLC
- Website
- https://www.rainbowenergycenter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rainbow Energy Center, LLC is a privately held independent power producer in Bismarck, North Dakota, operating the 1,151 MW Coal Creek Station lignite plant and 436-mile Nexus Line HVDC transmission line serving 1.7 million people across the Upper Midwest.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electric Power Generation
- NAICS
- Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation (221112), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Wind Electric Power Generation (221115), Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lignite/Brown Coal Power Generation (EUACAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transmission Interconnection & Line Works (Gen-Tie Lines, Overhead/Underground Lines) (EUAMAFAF), HVDC Converter Stations & HVDC Transmission EPC (EUAEABAD)
Keywords
Where Rainbow Energy Center, Llc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bismarck
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Electricity Generation and Sales: Coal Creek Station generates up to 1,151 MW of electricity per hour from lignite coal, sold to utilities and cooperative members primarily in Minnesota via the HVDC transmission line.
- Renewable Energy Transmission: Transmission services for up to 400MW of renewable generation (wind/solar) from North Dakota to the MISO market in Minnesota through Nexus Line's HVDC system.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rainbow Energy Center, LLC owns and operates Coal Creek Station, a 1,151 MW lignite-fueled power plant in North Dakota. Through its sister company Nexus Line, LLC, the company owns a 436-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that delivers the generated power to utilities and cooperatives serving more than 1.7 million people in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. The company also develops renewable generation (up to 400 MW), carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technology, and a planned 344-mile natural gas pipeline.
Product overview
Rainbow Energy Center operates as an integrated energy company with multiple complementary business units. The core operations center on Coal Creek Station, a 1,151 MW lignite-fueled power plant that serves as North Dakota's most efficient generator. Nexus Line, the company's HVDC transmission subsidiary, delivers power from Coal Creek Station over 436 miles to serve 1.7 million people in the Upper Midwest. The portfolio is augmented by renewable generation capabilities (up to 400MW of wind/solar), carbon capture technology (CCUS project at Coal Creek Station), and a natural gas pipeline partnership with Intensity Infrastructure. Fly ash from generation is recycled for cement replacement, and excess steam is sold to neighboring ethanol plants. The company acquired Coal Creek Station and the Nexus Line HVDC system in May 2022 from Great River Energy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Coal Creek Station North Dakota's most efficient lignite-fueled power plant located near Underwood, ND, producing up to 1,151 megawatts of electricity per hour using approximately 8 million tons of beneficiated lignite annually. Utilizes DryFine technology for enhanced coal processing. Owned and operated by Rainbow Energy Center for sale to utilities, cooperatives, and industrial customers.
- Nexus Line HVDC Transmission High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line spanning 436 miles, transmitting power from Coal Creek Station to the Dickinson converter station near Buffalo, MN. Provides a power source for more than 1.7 million people and offers transmission services for renewable energy to the MISO market.
- Renewable Generation Incremental renewable generation resources including wind and solar, delivering up to 400 MW per hour for integration into the delivery network. Transmission services provided by Nexus Line deliver the renewable energy to the MISO market in Minnesota, capable of powering up to 144,000 U.S. homes.
- Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) project at Coal Creek Station, developed in partnership with the Energy Environment and Research Center (EERC) at University of North Dakota. Intended to be one of the world's largest post-combustion CCUS projects.
- Natural Gas Pipeline Proposed 344-mile natural gas pipeline in partnership with Intensity Infrastructure Partners. Phase I: 136 miles of 36-inch pipe from near Watford City to Washburn with 1.1 million Dth/d capacity. Phase II extends 208 miles to Casselton, ND with 430,000 Dth/d capacity. Target in-service: July 2029. Aims to reduce flaring and unlock new oil production in North Dakota.
Quantifiable outcome
- 99.5% of fly ash recycled for cement replacement, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1 ton per ton of fly ash used
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rainbow Energy Center, Llc
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Intensity Infrastructure Partners, LLCcoreStrategic partnership to develop a 344-mile natural gas pipeline from the Bakken to eastern North Dakota. Phase I covers 136 miles of 36-inch pipe from Watford City to Washburn with 1.1 million Dth/d capacity. Phase II extends 208 miles from Washburn to Casselton. Target in-service date is July 2029. The project helps reduce flaring, unlock new oil production, and generate increased tax revenues for North Dakota.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Vistra Corp: Largest U.S. independent power producer with a deep coal-fired portfolio alongside rapid renewables/retail expansion. Comparable as a large-scale competitive IPP monetizing legacy coal assets while transitioning to cleaner generation.
- Calpine Corporation: Largest U.S. fleet of natural gas and geothermal IPP assets operating in ISO/RTO markets. Comparable as a merchant IPP monetizing dispatchable generation and asset management agreements.
- Talen Energy Corporation: Independently owned IPP with coal, nuclear, and renewable generation selling into wholesale PJM markets. Comparable as an IPP with substantial legacy coal assets seeking transition pathways.
- Xcel Energy: Integrated regulated utility with coal, gas, nuclear, and renewable generation serving Minnesota and the broader Upper Midwest. Comparable as a regional power provider with fossil generation fleet and CCUS pilots in similar geography.
Others
- SaskPower: Canadian provincial utility operating the Boundary Dam Unit 3 CCS facility—the world's first commercial-scale post-combustion carbon capture project on a lignite unit. Comparable because Conway Nelson (Rainbow's Director of Carbon Management) led Boundary Dam technical work at the International CCS Knowledge Centre, which is co-located with SaskPower.
Direct peers
- Basin Electric Power Cooperative: Wholesale generation-and-transmission cooperative serving North Dakota and surrounding states, with major coal-fired capacity and own transmission infrastructure. Closely comparable as a coal-heavy G&T cooperative operating in the same regional market.
- Great River Energy: Previous owner of Coal Creek Station and the HVDC line and the prior 40-year offtaker. Closely comparable as a generation-and-transmission cooperative serving Minnesota cooperative members via similar lignite-to-HVDC infrastructure.
- Minnkota Power Cooperative: North Dakota-based generation and transmission cooperative operating the lignite-fueled Milton R. Young Station. Direct peer in lignite generation and cooperative offtake for the Upper Midwest, with overlapping geography and customer base.
Regional players
- Otter Tail Power Company: Investor-owned utility serving Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota with mixed coal, wind, and gas generation. Comparable as a regional utility operating coal and renewable assets in the same service territory.
- ALLETE / Minnesota Power: Northern Minnesota utility with lignite and renewable generation focused on industrial customers. Comparable as a regional generator adjacent to Rainbow's HVDC delivery corridor with shared Upper Midwest load.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc social profiles
Digital presenceRainbow Energy Center, Llc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rainbow Energy Center, Llc
What does Rainbow Energy Center, Llc do?
Rainbow Energy Center, LLC owns and operates Coal Creek Station, a 1,151 MW lignite-fueled power plant in North Dakota. Through its sister company Nexus Line, LLC, the company owns a 436-mile high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that delivers the generated power to utilities and cooperatives serving more than 1.7 million people in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. The company also develops renewable generation (up to 400 MW), carbon capture and storage (CCUS) technology, and a planned 344-mile natural gas pipeline.
Is Rainbow Energy Center, Llc a public or private company?
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rainbow Energy Center, Llc founded?
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rainbow Energy Center, Llc based?
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc is headquartered in Bismarck, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rainbow Energy Center, Llc make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Electricity Generation and Sales are the primary driver. The others are renewable Energy Transmission.
Who are Rainbow Energy Center, Llc's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Vistra Corp, Calpine Corporation, Talen Energy Corporation and Xcel Energy. SaskPower is listed as an others. Direct peers are Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Great River Energy and Minnkota Power Cooperative. Regional players are Otter Tail Power Company and ALLETE / Minnesota Power.
Does Rainbow Energy Center, Llc have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rainbow Energy Center, Llc.
What industry is Rainbow Energy Center, Llc in?
Rainbow Energy Center, Llc's product category is Electric Power Generation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUACAAAF, Lignite/Brown Coal Power Generation, with a secondary code of EUAMAFAF, Transmission Interconnection & Line Works (Gen-Tie Lines, Overhead/Underground Lines). Its NAICS code is 221112 and its SIC code is 4911.