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Electric lineworkers are the backbone of Michigan’s power grid—weathering storms, climbing poles, and working around the clock to ensure electricity flows safely to homes and businesses. Thanks to the Joint Michigan Apprentice Program (JMAP), a new group of graduates is now ready to take on that responsibility with confidence and skill. Thirty-three lineworkers graduated from the Joint Michigan Apprentice Program (JMAP) this year, officially [...]

Co-op Leaders Engage Lawmakers at 2025 NRECA Legislative Conference More than 2,000 electric cooperative leaders from across the country traveled to Washington, D.C., this April to participate in the NRECA 2025 Legislative Conference, including delegates from Michigan’s co-ops. The annual event provides a valuable opportunity for co-op representatives to connect directly with members of Congress and share perspectives on the issues shaping energy [...]

Ice is part of life in Michigan, but rarely does it arrive with the fury that struck our state this spring. What began as a peaceful snowfall quickly escalated into a severe, historic ice storm that left a lasting mark on the region—and showed the true grit of Michigan’s electric cooperatives. As thick layers of ice built up across Northern Michigan, beauty turned [...]

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 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 [...]

MECA secured a significant accomplishment for its member distribution cooperatives recently with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). MPSC delivered favorable news by addressing the applicability of outage credits to electric cooperatives. The original order was a result of last winter’s severe ice and snowstorms that hit Michigan businesses and residents hard. It revealed an increase in the outage credit [...]

The remote town of Onaway, Michigan—population 880—is not an obvious pick to install a new electric vehicle (EV) charging station. While most EV charging stations today are in urban areas or along expressways, Michigan’s electric cooperatives are planning for a different future. Placing chargers in rural areas will allow EV drivers to visit smaller communities, while providing a boost to local economies. Michigan’s [...]