HomeWorks Tri-County will hold an open house dedication of their new Community Solar Garden on April 22 (Earth Day), at 11 a.m. The solar array has a total of 76 panels generating about 20.9 kW at peak (visit homeworks.org for more details), and is located in front of the co-op’s Portland Operations Center at 7973 E. Grand River Avenue. HomeWorks and fellow co-op, Cherryland [...]
Cloverland Electric Co-op employees took to the ice March 27 in a fundraiser for Hospice of the Eastern U.P. Goals were earned, and “fun” goals were bought. “Together, we raised nearly $700,” says Wendy Malaska, communications & marketing director.
The annual Michigan Energy Providers Conference will be held July 30 – Aug 1 at Boyne Mountain Resort (Boyne Falls). Key topics will include state energy policy, political updates, MPSC overviews, cyber security, sustainability, an election year analysis, and networking opportunities. Recreational activities are also being planned, and participants are encouraged to bring their families. Visit http://ipu.msu.edu/mepc/index.php for conference registration. Hotel accommodations are available [...]
Energy reform hearings are underway in the Michigan Legislature, and MECA staff testified in March on behalf of its member electric co-ops. Craig Borr, MECA CEO, and Art Thayer, energy efficiency programs director, testified before the Senate Energy & Technology Committee on Michigan’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and Energy Optimization (EO) initiatives. Both topics were part of P.A. 295, the “Clean, Renewable and Efficient [...]
As part of its Good Neighbor Watch program, MECA is offering a new Co-op Community Service Award that recognizes outstanding co-op employees for their volunteer service and commitment to the principle of “Concern for Community.” Much of the co-ops’ long history in providing outstanding community leadership is accomplished through employee efforts. The award is offered in addition to MECA’s original Good Neighbor Watch Award that recognizes [...]
HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Co-op has installed the first panel in their new Community Solar Garden, located next to their Portland office. “We already have 25 people signed up for the two informational meetings being held on March 18 (Portland) and 19 (Blanchard) and we have an additional list of members interested in a solar panel,” reports HomeWorks general manager, Mark Kappler. At the informational [...]
Jo Ann Emerson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, has welcomed a report called “Powering the Future: Ensuring That Federal Policy Fully Supports Electric Reliability – An Energy 20/20 White Paper,” published in February by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). "Senator Murkowski's paper is spot-on in its call for a more reliable and affordable electricity grid. Her assessment of the factors influencing [...]
All directors from Ontonagon and Alger Delta co-ops recently participated in a Strategic Governance workshop in Marquette. The sessions were taught by NRECA’s Consulting Group professional staff, for the purpose of discussing board fundamentals, including strategic governance, myths that impede good governance, and completion of a governance assessment. The instructors also shared guidelines for building board consensus on critical issues, understanding relationships with management teams, [...]
Congress has passed a new five-year Farm Bill that has sweeping economic and energy efficiency effects for electric co-ops and their members. The Agricultural Act of 2014 is worth $956 billion and ends uncertainty that has plagued farm policy since the last farm bill expired in October 2012. “The Farm Bill is critical to economic development and rural Americans,” says Jo Ann Emerson, CEO [...]
MECA recently hosted an in-state training series for co-op supervisors that was attended by 84 Michigan co-op employees. The NRECA Supervisory Certificate program teaches the core competencies required of supervisors in the areas of leadership, communication and administrative skills. The 3-day training session included courses on topics such as time management, managing change and resolving conflict through negotiation. “Our people were so pleased with [...]
