MECA President Craig Borr presents Sen. Debbie Stabenow with NRECA Distinguished Service Award The 2024 NRECA Regions 1 & 4 Meeting, held in Grand Rapids, MI, from September 4–6, brought together electric cooperative CEOs, general managers, directors, voting delegates and key staff to discuss critical industry challenges, share knowledge, and explore the future of energy for rural America. The event kicked [...]
Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA) Chief Executive Officer Craig Borr recently notified the cooperative’s Board of Directors of his plan to retire in March 2025 after a remarkable career of more than 40 years serving Michigan’s electric cooperative interests. “For over a decade and during times of tremendous transition in Michigan we are deeply grateful for Craig’s sound leadership, strategic vision, and steady [...]
Youth Tour is sponsored by Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA) in conjunction with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Together, the organizations coordinate activities, learning sessions, and face-to-face meet-ups with their local law makers over the course of a week-long visit to Washington D.C. In June 2024 students from 44 states, including 17 Michigan delegates representing all MECA member co-ops, embarked on [...]
In June, emerging lineworkers from across the nation gathered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the 2024 Lineworker, Safety, Training & Leadership Conference – hosted by Michigan’s own Great Lakes Energy Cooperative. This unique event showcased individuals nominated for their influential roles in enhancing the safety culture within their utilities. The aim was to educate, collaborate, and engage with peers in the industry. “Our [...]
As tenured Journeyman Linemen retire, the focus of the Joint Michigan Apprentice Program (JMAP) is to ensure a fresh workforce is highly trained and qualified to fill those steel-toed boots and this past May the most recent cohort joined over 120 other lineworkers as graduates of the program. “Our team has put together a world class curriculum and program with instructors from [...]
In the world of electric cooperatives, the principle of "Cooperation Among Cooperatives" holds a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and mutual support. One notable way in which this principle is actively practiced is through safety auditing—a process that not only enhances safety measures but also exemplifies the cooperative spirit. A Cooperative Culture In the U.S., the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) is [...]
In mid-January, MECA and Wolverine hosted nearly 100 directors and cooperative staff to discuss recent energy legislation and its impact on Michigan electric cooperatives. Topics included: Energy Legislation Politics (Joe Baumann, Chief Legal Officer, Wolverine); Clean Energy Standard (Zach Anderson, COO, Wolverine & Lucas Johnson, Power Supply Manager, Wolverine); Energy Waste Reduction (Rachel Johnson, CEO, Cherryland); Renewable Energy Siting (Sam Hogg, Director of [...]
Michigan’s New Clean Energy Laws Among Most Ambitious in the Country Michigan's energy future is undergoing a significant transformation with the recent signing of a comprehensive set of bills by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The bills passed swiftly on party lines, with House and Senate Democrats comprising nearly all the support for the package of bills. "This energy package will have more consequences for [...]
In the cooperative world, the sense of belonging to a tight-knit community is a core value. For those who work in cooperatives, the concept of being part of an extended family is not just a saying but a lived reality. NRECA President Tony Anderson, a veteran in the cooperative field and retired CEO of Cherryland Electric, exemplifies this sentiment when he states: "Cooperatives [...]
A recent report reveals the substantial economic influence of electric cooperatives in the United States, showcasing their significant contributions to job creation, income, and overall economic growth. This analysis, titled "Economic Powerhouses: The Economic Impacts of America’s Electric Cooperatives," also highlights the impact at the state level, over a five-year period, with impressive numbers calculated for Michigan. “Our state’s electric cooperatives power 300,000 [...]
