East River Electric commits $100,000 to new electrical engineering and computer science complex at SDSU
January 28, 2008
East River Electric Power Cooperative, headquartered in Madison, South Dakota, has committed $100,000 to the new Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Building now under construction on the campus of South Dakota State University (SDSU).
The $7.5 million, four-level, 43,052 gross square foot building is expected to be completed by January 2009. Construction is funded entirely through private gifts from individuals and industry. To date, nearly $5.2 million has been contributed or pledged to the SDSU Foundation providing the bridge financing to allow the building to proceed.
"East River Electric has a long-standing relationship with SDSU, as a financial supporter, a partner in research, and an employer," said Dr. Lew Brown, Dean of the College of Engineering. "We are deeply grateful for the Cooperative’s investment in this important project."
East River Electric supplies wholesale electric power to 20 rural electric retail distribution cooperatives and one municipal electric system. These member systems in turn provide retail electric service to over 85,000 residential, commercial, and industrial consumer accounts, primarily in rural areas of eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.
"East River is pleased to support this much needed addition to the SDSU campus. We view it as an investment in our service area’s future educational and economic health," said Jeff Nelson, East River General Manager. "This commitment is a means for East River and its member systems to affirm our goal of supporting our service area." Nelson is a January 1971 Electrical Engineering graduate of SDSU.
"The new Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Complex is further proof of an on-going commitment to develop first-rate facilities to allow SDSU to continue attracting top caliber students, faculty and researchers," Dean Brown said. The new facility is located directly south of Harding Hall. It is the first of a two-phase complex.
A celebration is being planned for April 2008 to recognize the private donors that are making the project possible.
