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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
In a world where sustainability and environmental responsibility are at the forefront, innovative approaches are emerging to manage the challenges posed by vegetation around solar arrays. Spartan Renewable Energy and Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) found an eco-friendly solution to this challenge by collaborating with Dussel's Farm Market and Greenhouse, who use sheep for vegetation management. This unique partnership not only benefits the environment [...]
MECA’s safety training workshop has been a cornerstone event in the lineworker community, bringing together seasoned professionals from various utilities. The purpose of the training is to provide a platform for continuing education that is often hard to come by once a lineworker finishes their initial training. The lineworkers, despite working for different utilities, are united by a common goal and skill set, [...]
