Leaders in Michigan’s food and ag industry remain optimistic about their businesses and the ability of our economy to continue climbing. Their optimism comes from results of the Michigan Agriculture and Food Index (MAFI), shared during MSU’s annual Ag Expo. The July MAFI is the third of its kind. It gauges the current business climate of the food and ag system by surveying 100 [...]
The FCC has plans, and funding, for experiments that explore how broadband can be expanded at a lower cost in rural America. The experiments are designed to discover if nontraditional broadband providers, such as electric co-ops, will apply for available funds to build the networks needed to provide it in unserved and underserved areas. Co-op directors and employees can learn FCC plan details in [...]
Last year, Midwest Energy Cooperative hooked up its electric ops field staff with mobile technology that allows them to access a program called iVue®. After a training and support period, the co-op collected input from them on how the technology could be more efficient and effective in their daily work, and then submitted requests for changes to the program provider – the National Information [...]
As part of their new Safety Awareness Program, Great Lakes Energy (GLE) employees are encouraged to submit safety suggestions to their loss control department. Anything determined to require immediate action is addressed appropriately, while items of less urgency are reviewed by the co-op’s safety committee each quarter, with recommendations following. Valid safety tips can earn employees 20 bonus points toward their safety point totals, [...]
A Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op (PIE&G) director who was known for his ready smile, willingness to help others, and enjoyment of life, passed away on July 25, surrounded by his family. Allen Barr, 63, served on the PIE&G board for nearly 29 years. He was elected chairman for two years, with many more as vice-chair, and served four years as the Co-op’s [...]
Join Cherryland Electric Cooperative and Wolverine Power Cooperative as they support the 3rd running of the Big Little Trail Races on Aug. 23 in Buckley, MI (southern Grand Traverse County). All proceeds go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan and help serve about 300 kids in need of adult mentorship each year. There is both a 5k and 15k course, and the [...]
Bob Hance, CEO of Midwest Energy Cooperative, testified before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development and Credit on July 29 in Washington, D.C., about the Co-op’s efforts to bring high speed internet service to rural areas. His testimony is intended to open up funding and policy change for broadband solutions. Midwest Energy has been a strong electric co-op voice and leader in [...]
DTE Energy and Thumb Electric Cooperative (TEC) will soon break ground on a 665-kilowatt solar energy system on the co-op’s property in Caro. The $2.5 million system, with over 2,600 photovoltaic modules, will cover over three acres and connect directly with DTE's grid. It will have the capacity to power about 100 homes when it’s completed in October. The array is part of DTE's [...]
On a perfect summer day, Midwest Propane’s “Fueling the Fight Charity Golf Scramble” at Pilgrim’s Run in Pierson raised $12,613 to support services provided through the Susan P. Wheatlake Cancer and Wellness Center. “Cancer touches so many lives, and as a locally-owned and operated company we wanted to do something meaningful to help individuals and families who face this devastating disease,” says Bob Hance, [...]
Home heating help funding fell short of what the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and others were hoping for in a 2015 appropriations bill, according to a story by Michael Kahn in the July 17 issue of Electric Co-op Today. NRECA joined the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition, several governors, House members and senators from both parties, and others in urging Congress [...]
