Electric Co-op Today

Nine years ago, Tracie Trent adopted a son from Guatemala. Now, following her lead, the co-ops in her state are adopting a country.

Kosciusko REMC’s Jeff Moore (l) and Kelly Neace are two of 29 linemen selected to volunteer in Guatemala next year. (Photo By: Troy Cozad)

In one of the largest projects undertaken by the NRECA International Foundation, the Indiana Statewide Association of RECs has organized a volunteer team of 29 linemen and two co-op executives that will help expand access to electricity in Guatemala.

“This came out of my wish to give something back to the country that allowed us to adopt our son,” said Trent, communications coordinator at the statewide association.

She pitched the idea to Bruce Graham, her CEO, and then to other co-op executives as a way to celebrate the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives.

Participants in “Hoosiers Power the World” will travel to Guatemala next September to expand access to electric service in the remote agricultural province of Huehuetenango.

“We will change lives forever—much like our rural electric pioneers did for families across the nation 75 years ago,” Graham said. “We can now [move] it forward for some very remote areas of Guatemala that have never experienced the wonder of electricity, which most now take for granted.”

Two crews, each with 12-14 lineworkers, will spend about two weeks working with employees of a municipal electric utility serving 6,000 residents and small businesses.

Indiana co-op volunteers will consult with foundation staff in Guatemala next spring to define a work plan, which will include safety training, line extensions and consultations with utility managers.

While NRECA International and the Foundation have a long track record in Guatemala, “The contributions made by the project will represent a significant contribution towards building local capacity and extending service to community members that otherwise would not have access,” said Dan Waddle, senior vice president of NRECA International.

The statewide received 50 applications for the volunteer slots and selected 29 lineworkers from 17 co-ops. Co-ops too small to send someone will send money and electrical equipment.

Although Trent’s son, Samuel, was born in a different part of the country, she still wanted to make a strong statement about her passion for the Central American nation.

“It truly is a statewide effort to light up the lives of people who are surviving on very little hope,” said Trent, adding that the statewide received enough applications to send another crew in 2013.

“This won’t be just a one-year thing,” she said. “It will be a legacy project for Indiana co-ops.”

Tags: International, International Year of Cooperatives, Lineworkers, Statewides