MECA News

Thumb Elects New Director, Re-elects Two, DeSimpelare Retires
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Thumb Elects New Director, Re-elects Two, DeSimpelare Retires

MECA2016-11-17T16:47:39-05:00June 22nd, 2015|MECA News|

Mike Briolat, newly elected Director of Sanilac County Thumb Electric Cooperative (TEC), held its 78th Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Day on June 13. About 800 people attended, which was highlighted by the election of three direc-tors and entertainment activities. Re-elected were Donald Wolschleger (Huron County); and Jonathan Findlay, (Tuscola County). Newly elected to a three-year term was Mike Briolat (Sanilac County). [...]

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Nominate A Fellow Volunteer For An All-Expense-Paid Cruise!
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Nominate A Fellow Volunteer For An All-Expense-Paid Cruise!

MECA2016-11-17T16:47:39-05:00June 22nd, 2015|MECA News|

Do you know an outstanding volunteer within the NRECA community? You can nominate them to be awarded a 7-day Caribbean Cruise! Cabot Creamery, a dairy co-op owned by farm families, is reserving a spot in their annual Community Celebrity Cruise Award for an NRECA-affiliated entrant. The winning nominee will join dozens of other volunteers from organizations nationwide on a cruise aboard the Celebrity Reflection. [...]

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MECA Testifies On Renewable Energy Standards

MECA2016-11-17T16:47:39-05:00May 27th, 2015|MECA News|

As the Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder work to revamp Michigan’s 2008 energy law, a large chunk of the debate is about what percent of its energy supply should come from renewable sources. The current renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requires that electric utilities reach 10 percent by 2015. In May, various stakeholders gave voice to the RPS subject before the House Energy Policy Committee, [...]

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Wolverine Receives Air Permit for Alpine Power Plant
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Wolverine Receives Air Permit for Alpine Power Plant

MECA2019-01-17T12:19:00-05:00May 26th, 2015|MECA News|

Wolverine Power Cooperative has received final approval from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for its Alpine Power Plant air quality permit. This allows Wolverine to start constructing the new plant in Elmira Township, near Gaylord, said Ken Bradstreet, project spokesman. Wolverine received a draft air quality permit in April 2015, which was followed by a 30-day public comment period, including a [...]

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ITC Energizes Thumb ‘Loop’ For 5,000 MW of Wind Energy

MECA2016-11-17T16:47:39-05:00May 26th, 2015|MECA News|

ITC Transmission, a subsidiary of ITC Holdings Corp., has announced that its “Thumb Loop” high-voltage transmission project is complete. ITC invested about $510 million to build the 345,000-volt (345 kV) line, which is the backbone of a system designed to meet the maximum wind energy potential of the Thumb area. It will also contribute to regional system reliability and facilitate wholesale market competition. "Conceiving and [...]

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Co-ops Support WOTUS Withdrawal Legislation

MECA2015-05-26T10:34:41-04:00May 26th, 2015|MECA News|

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jo Ann Emerson spoke recently in support of the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 1732), which would require the EPA and Corps of Engineers to withdraw the proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule and re-propose a new rule after consulting with stakeholders, including electric co-ops. “Electric cooperatives maintain over 2.5 million miles of distribution [...]

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Co-ops Help Review Clean Power Plan For Existing Plants
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Co-ops Help Review Clean Power Plan For Existing Plants

MECA2015-05-27T09:18:57-04:00May 26th, 2015|MECA News|

Representatives from 10 electric co-ops met with the EPA and Small Business Administration (SBA) for a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel regarding the proposed plan for existing power plants that the EPA is developing as part of the Clean Power Plan (CPP). Co-ops reps from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Indiana, Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Florida and Wisconsin participated. “While we appreciate the EPA convening [...]

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Midwest Launches New Fiber Broadband Marketing Tools, Including Video

MECA2016-11-17T16:47:39-05:00May 7th, 2015|MECA News|

Midwest Connections, an unregulated service of Midwest Energy Cooperative, has launched a rural broadband revolution in southwest Michigan, and is implementing an aggressive construction and activation plan for 2015 and beyond to light up the new fiber internet service, says communications director, Patty Nowlin. Two new communications initiatives were recently introduced to promote the service and tell the story. TeamFiber.com launched in March. [...]

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Alger Delta Lineworker Grzyb Retires After 43 Years
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Alger Delta Lineworker Grzyb Retires After 43 Years

MECA2016-11-17T16:47:39-05:00May 7th, 2015|MECA News|

Rich Grzyb (pictured above), a journeyman lineworker/meter technician for Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association, has retired after many years of dedicated service. Grzyb began his career on April 3, 1972, and retired on April 3, 2015, capping his tenure with Alger Delta at exactly 43 years. A full-time, on-call lineman until November 2003, he was then promoted to journeyman lineworker/meter technician. During his years [...]

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PIE&G Communities First Fund Awards $16,500 in Scholarships

MECA2015-05-07T16:20:06-04:00May 7th, 2015|MECA News|

Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op members continue to assist area community organizations and individuals through the voluntary “round up” of their electric and natural gas billings. Member contributions to the Communities First Fund provide resources for grants and scholarships for use in their local communities within the PIE&G service area. At their recent meeting, the Fund board awarded 16 scholarships of $1,000 each [...]

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