MECA News

Youth Tour: A Living Example of Cooperative Values

Youth Tour: A Living Example of Cooperative Values

Emily Lloyd2024-07-22T15:11:56-04:00July 22nd, 2024|Uncategorized|

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 [...]

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Lineworker, Safety, Training & Leadership Conference: A Transformative Experience in Grand Rapids

Lineworker, Safety, Training & Leadership Conference: A Transformative Experience in Grand Rapids

Emily Lloyd2024-07-09T15:00:45-04:00July 9th, 2024|MECA News|

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 [...]

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JMAP Graduates Bring Fresh Energy to MI’s Linework Industry

JMAP Graduates Bring Fresh Energy to MI’s Linework Industry

Emily Lloyd2024-06-10T08:36:02-04:00June 10th, 2024|MECA News|

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 [...]

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2024 National Response Event Exercise

Renee Leydet2024-04-17T15:50:33-04:00April 17th, 2024|MECA News|

2024 National Response Event Tabletop Exercise held by investor-owned utilities invited over 100 individuals from Edison Electric Institute (EEI), government agencies, industry associations, and several electric utility partners – including representatives from MECA. This is one of the “Big 3” disaster response forums held each year – the others held by municipalities through APPA and NRECA with a focus on electric cooperatives. “These [...]

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Balance of Power: We’re in it Together

Balance of Power: We’re in it Together

Renee Leydet2024-03-12T14:02:56-04:00March 12th, 2024|MECA News|

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Safety Auditing: A Testament to Cooperation Among Cooperatives

Emily Lloyd2024-02-08T10:25:22-05:00February 8th, 2024|Uncategorized|

In the world of electric cooperatives, the principle of "Cooperation Among Cooperatives" holds a pivotal role in fostering collaboration and mutual support. One notable way in which this principle is actively practiced is through safety auditing—a process that not only enhances safety measures but also exemplifies the cooperative spirit. A Cooperative Culture In the U.S., the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) is [...]

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MECA and Wolverine Host Webinar to Discuss Recent Energy Legislation and Its Impact

MECA and Wolverine Host Webinar to Discuss Recent Energy Legislation and Its Impact

Emily Lloyd2024-02-09T16:00:16-05:00February 8th, 2024|Uncategorized|

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 [...]

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Navigating A Momentous Shift in Energy Policy

Navigating A Momentous Shift in Energy Policy

Emily Lloyd2024-01-08T12:14:33-05:00January 8th, 2024|MECA News|

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 [...]

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One Fund, One Family: Cooperative Family Fund Hopes to Reach $1M Goal by End of Year

One Fund, One Family: Cooperative Family Fund Hopes to Reach $1M Goal by End of Year

Emily Lloyd2023-12-01T14:46:21-05:00December 1st, 2023|MECA News|

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 [...]

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Michigan Electric Co-ops Contribute Billions to State Economy, Says Latest Report

Michigan Electric Co-ops Contribute Billions to State Economy, Says Latest Report

Emily Lloyd2023-10-30T14:12:25-04:00October 30th, 2023|MECA News|

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 [...]

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