MECA News

Student representatives from Michigan co-ops joined approximately 1,700 students from across the country at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. (June 13-18). Michigan was represented by 18 students from eight electric co-ops, including Cherryland, Cloverland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks, Midwest, Presque Isle, Thumb and Wolverine. While in Washington, the Michigan students traveled with a local tour guide who provided valuable history [...]

On June 3, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved a request by Midwest Energy Cooperative to be designated as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC). This affords Midwest’s fiber division, Midwest Connections, access to federal sources of capital designed to support their rural southwest Michigan utility communications and data and voice project. In March 2015, Midwest was awarded $211,532 through the Federal Communications Commission [...]

Karen Alholm, New Director for District 2 Nearly 750 people were at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba June 13 for Alger-Delta Cooperative’s 77th annual meeting. About 50 people attended in 2014. The co-op’s members elected Karen Alholm to represent District 2 (Harvey/Deerton). Alholm is a retired attorney and a volunteer mediator who also sits on the Marquette County Board of Commissioners [...]

At Cherryland Electric’s 77th Annual Meeting, June 11, the co-op’s members re-elected Terry Lautner and Betty Maciejewski to the board of directors. The current board officers were also re-elected, including Terry Lautner as president; Jon Zickert, senior vice president; Melinda Lautner, secretary; and Rick Deneweth, treasurer. Over 1,200 members attended the event, held at Incredible Mo’s, in Grawn, a bowling center that features arcade [...]

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). [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]