The Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence, in partnership with the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), invites K-12 teachers, career and college counselors, work-based learning coordinators, school administrators, and community leaders to an Energy Education for Educators (E3) facility tour in Eagan, Minnesota, on Wednesday, December 9, 2026. SPACE IS LIMITED, REGISTER TODAY.

When you turn on the lights or charge your phone, you're counting on the coordination that keeps the grid stable. MISO acts as the "air traffic controller" of the electric power system across 15 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. MISO does not own power plants or transmission lines, but its control room operators, engineers, data scientists, and market analysts work 24/7/365 to ensure that the right amount of electricity is generated and routed across high-voltage transmission lines to local utilities reliably and at the lowest possible cost. MISO facilitates more than $53 billion per year in wholesale energy market transactions, and leads long-range transmission planning to modernize the grid.

This E3 program offers educators a firsthand look at the nerve center of our regional energy economy, and a chance to connect the classroom directly to high-demand, high-wage Minnesota energy careers.

Admittedly, stepping away from the classroom on a Wednesday morning in December can be difficult. If your teaching schedule cannot accommodate your attendance, we strongly encourage staff whose schedules aren't tied to classroom coverage to attend on behalf of your school and bring the resources back to faculty. This might include career counselors, CTE coordinators, instructional coaches, or school administrators.

Where MISO connects with K-12 Academics

  • Physics & Physical Science: Explore real-world applications of electromagnetism, three-phase alternating current (AC), high-voltage transmission (345 kV and 765 kV backbones), line losses, and the physics of maintaining a synchronized 60 Hz grid frequency where supply and demand must match instantaneously.
  • Mathematics, Statistics & Data Science: See how applied calculus, linear optimization, probability, and predictive modeling are used every five minutes to forecast electricity load for 45 million people and dispatch the most cost-effective generation resources.
  • Computer Science, IT & Cybersecurity: Discover how real-time telemetry, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), and strict critical-infrastructure cybersecurity protocols protect the North American power grid from digital and physical threats.
  • Earth, Environmental & Climate Science: Learn how grid operators integrate utility-scale wind and solar power, plan for decarbonization, and rely on in-house operational meteorologists to anticipate severe weather, winter storms, and extreme heat events.
  • Economics, Government & Social Studies: Examine how a regulated wholesale commodity market works in real time ($53B+ annually), how supply and demand drive locational marginal pricing, and how federal regulators (such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC) and state agencies govern interstate infrastructure across 15 states and Manitoba.
  • Career & Technical Education (CTE): Connect engineering, electronics, IT, and business pathways to immediate two-year and four-year postsecondary programs in Minnesota. Investigate internship pipelines, two-year technical credentials versus four-year degrees, and the cross-disciplinary skills employers value most.

Program Schedule & Logistics

  • Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 NOON CST
  • Location: MISO Energy - North Region Facility, 2985 Ames Crossing Road, Eagan, MN 55121
  • Cost: Free for educators, counselors, administrators, and workforce partners (advance registration and security clearance required)
  • Capacity: Strictly limited to 25 participants

Agenda:

  • 10:00 a.m. – Arrival, Security Check-In & Visitor Badge Issuance
  • 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. – MISO 101 Presentation & Q&A
  • 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. – MISO Control Center Tour & Q&A
  • 11:45 a.m. – Conclusion & Departure

Background Check & Security Requirements: Because MISO manages critical infrastructure, federal regulatory and security protocols apply to all visitors:

  • Advance Background Check: All participants must submit required background check information at least 10 business days prior to the tour.
  • Government-Issued Photo ID: All visitors must present a valid government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport) at check-in. Permanent Residents must bring both a government-issued photo ID and a Permanent Resident ID (Green Card). Foreign Nationals must submit copies of their U.S. Visa and Passport in advance and bring the physical documents on the day of the tour.
  • FERC Standard of Conduct Attestation: At check-in, participants will sign a standard federal attestation confirming they are not a "marketing function employee" (an individual actively engaged in wholesale electricity trading/marketing), in accordance with FERC Standard of Conduct 18 CFR 358.3 Appendix A.
  • Facility Rules: Visitors must remain escorted by a MISO employee at all times. No photography or video recording is permitted inside the facility. (Please note: Because the Control Center is an active operational facility, tours are subject to cancellation by MISO if an active grid emergency occurs.)

How to Register

Space is capped at 25 participants, and our security roster must be finalized before Thanksgiving break. To reserve your spot, please complete the confirmation questionnaire using the link below no later than Noon on Friday, November 20, 2026.

REGISTER NOW

Contact:
Zachariah Miller, Assistant Director
Minnesota State Energy Center of Excellence
Zachariah.Miller@MinnState.edu