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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 [...]

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 [...]

In a world where sustainability and environmental responsibility are at the forefront, innovative approaches are emerging to manage the challenges posed by vegetation around solar arrays. Spartan Renewable Energy and Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) found an eco-friendly solution to this challenge by collaborating with Dussel's Farm Market and Greenhouse, who use sheep for vegetation management. This unique partnership not only benefits the environment [...]

MECA’s safety training workshop has been a cornerstone event in the lineworker community, bringing together seasoned professionals from various utilities. The purpose of the training is to provide a platform for continuing education that is often hard to come by once a lineworker finishes their initial training. The lineworkers, despite working for different utilities, are united by a common goal and skill set, [...]