Electric cooperative lineworkers have a new pathway for a college degree in Kentucky. With support from Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and Kentuckians who purchase lineman-themed specialty license plates, the Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College System plans to incorporate lineworker training and education into a degree program.

At Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College, representatives from the statewide association of Kentucky’s electric cooperatives presented a check for $50,000 to college leaders. The funds represent donations tied to the Linemen “Power For Your Community” specialty license plates on thousands of vehicles in Kentucky. Proceeds will fund scholarships for eligible lineworkers.

“On behalf of SKYCTC and the entire Kentucky Community and Technical College System, we are so grateful for this level of partnership with Kentucky’s electric cooperatives,” said Dr. James B. McCaslin, Provost of Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College. “The future of education is competency-based education. That’s what our employers need, and this helps ensure that Kentucky’s electric lineworkers receive the most world class and safest training.”

The degree program will recognize as college credit the training received in the Lineman Apprenticeship Program administered by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, the association of all 26 electric co-ops in the commonwealth. Safety instructors lead the four-year formalized apprenticeship training and certification program utilizing the curriculum of Northwest Lineman College, an industry leader in lineman safety and education.

“Electric lineworkers rely on rigorously tested skills and knowledge to safeguard their lives and the safety of every electric consumer,” said Randy Meredith, safety and training director of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “This partnership recognizes the professionalism of this crucial career and invests in the talented people who commit their lives to the craft.”

The $50,000 donation will fund scholarships for eligible lineworkers who, after completing the apprenticeship program, can work toward an associate degree at Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College.

“A gift like this is wonderful,” said Heather Rogers, Vice President of Resource Development & Executive Director of the SKYCTC Foundation. “We are very thrilled and thankful that Kentucky Electric Cooperatives has selected us to work with, and we are very excited to be able to apply this to our matching grant program through KCTCS and double the funds.”

“Apprentice lineworkers will continue to get high-level training, but now they’ll also be able to get an associate degree from SKYCTC, which really reinforces to those who are going into this industry that this isn’t just a job; it’s a career,” McCaslin said. “We want to provide opportunities for them to be able to grow in that career.”

For the first time in the 87-year history of electric cooperatives in Kentucky, lawmakers in Frankfort have made the historic move to form the Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Caucus, advocating for the interests of local co-op consumer-members across the commonwealth. 

“Electric cooperatives are a vital and vibrant part of rural communities,” says Sen. Robin Webb (D-Grayson), one of the four founding caucus chairs. “This caucus was formed to give legislators an up-close look at their local co-op and develop a better understanding of how the electric grid functions.” 

As consumer-owned utilities, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are the consumer advocates for the people they serve. The consumer-members of a local co-op elect the board of directors for that local co-op. 

“Just as a local co-op board is accountable to the co-op members who elect them, state legislators like me also serve these same people,” explains caucus co-chair Rep. Wade Williams (R-Earlington). “The co-op caucus provides a great opportunity to connect so we can all serve more effectively.” 

Electric cooperatives provide power to more than 1.8 million Kentucky residents and businesses in 117 counties. 

“Co-ops power some of our largest industries,” says caucus co-chair Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-Lexington). “It is crucial that co-ops have reliable fuel sources to keep the lights on for these businesses, which provide good paying jobs and critical community services.” 

The formation of the caucus comes at a critical time for electric co-ops that face new rules and regulations monthly from Washington, D.C. 

“Co-ops rely on informed and dedicated public servants to help them fight for affordable, reliable and safe power,” says Chase Crigler, community and government affairs director for Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, the statewide association representing all 26 electric co-ops in Kentucky. 

“It is always important that the voices of our constituents are heard,” says caucus co-chair Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty (D-Martin). “We are proud to form this caucus to ensure the voices of local co-op members are heard on critical issues affecting the reliability and affordability of the electric grid and more affordable power bills.” 

KENTUCKY RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CAUCUS 

Sen. Jared Carpenter (R-Berea) 

Sen. Danny Carroll (R-Benton) 

Sen. Matthew Deneen (R-Elizabethtown) 

Sen. Greg Elkins (R-Winchester) 

Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer (R-Alexandria) 

Sen. Rick Girdler (R-Somerset) 

Sen. David Givens (R-Greensburg) 

Sen. Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) 

Sen. Jason Howell (R-Murray) 

Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-Lexington) 

Sen. Stephen Meredith (R-Leitchfield) 

Sen. Gerald A. Neal (D-Louisville) 

Sen. John Schickel (R-Union) 

Sen. Brandon Smith (R-Hazard) 

Sen. Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) 

Sen. Brandon J. Storm (R-London) 

Sen. Lindsey Tichenor (R-Smithfield) 

Sen. Robin L. Webb (D-Grayson) 

Sen. Stephen West (R-Paris) 

Sen. Whitney Westerfield (R-Fruit Hill) 

Sen. Gex Williams (R-Verona) 

Sen. Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green) 

Sen. Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) 

Rep. Chad Aull (D-Lexington 

Rep. Shane Baker (R-Somerset) 

Rep. Kim Banta (R-Ft. Mitchell) 

Rep. Danny Bentley (R-Russell) 

Rep. Adam Bowling (R-Middlesboro) 

Rep. Josh Branscum (R-Russell Springs) 

Rep. Josh Bray (R-Mount Vernon) 

Rep. Randy Bridges (R-Paducah) 

Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton (D-Shively) 

Rep. Mike Clines (R-Alexandria) 

Rep. Jennifer Decker (R-Waddy) 

Rep. Jonathan Dixon (R-Corydon) 

Rep. Myron Dossett (R-Pembroke) 

Rep. Robert Duvall (R-Bowling Green) 

Rep. Daniel Elliott (R-Danville) 

Rep. Daniel Fister (R-Versailles) 

Rep. Patrick Flannery (R-Olive Hill) 

Rep. Deanna Frazier Gordon (R-Richmond) 

Rep. Chris Freeland (R-Benton) 

Rep. Jim Gooch Jr. (R-Providence) 

Rep. Daniel Grossberg (D-Louisville) 

Rep. David Hale (R-Wellington) 

Rep. Mark Hart (R-Falmouth) 

Rep. Richard Heath (R-Mayfield) 

Rep. Samara Heavrin (R-Leitchfield) 

Rep. Thomas Huff (R-Shepherdsville) 

Rep. Mary Beth Imes (R-Murray) 

Rep. Kevin Jackson (R-Bowing Green) 

Rep. DJ Johnson (R-Owensboro) 

Rep. Kim King (R-Harrodsburg) 

Rep. Matthew Koch (R-Paris) 

Rep. Nima Kulkarni (D-Louisville) 

Rep. William Lawrence (R-Maysville) 

Rep. Derek Lewis (R-London) 

Rep. Scott Lewis (R-Hartford) 

Rep. Matt Lockett (R-Nicholasville) 

Rep. Candy Massaroni (R-Bardstown) 

Rep. Bobby McCool (R-Van Lear) 

Rep. Shawn McPherson (R-Scottsville) 

Rep. David Meade (R-Stanford) 

Rep. Michael Meredith (R-Oakland) 

Rep. Suzanne Miles (R-Owensboro) 

Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser (R-Taylor Mill) 

Rep. Amy Neighbors (R-Edmonton) 

Rep. David W. Osborne (R-Prospect) 

Rep. Michael Sarge Pollock (R-Campbellsville) 

Rep. Phillip Pratt (R-Georgetown) 

Rep. Rebecca Raymer (R-Morgantown) 

Rep. Brandon Reed (R-Hodgenville) 

Rep. Steven Rudy (R-Paducah) 

Rep. Scott Sharp (R-Ashland) 

Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson (D-Lexington) 

Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty (D-Martin) 

Rep. Nancy Tate (R-Brandenburg) 

Rep. Walker Thomas (R-Hopkinsville) 

Rep. Killian Timoney (R-Nicholasville) 

Rep. James Tipton (R-Taylorsville) 

Rep. Timmy Truett (R-McKee) 

Rep. Ken Upchurch (R-Monticello) 

Rep. Bill Wesley (R-Ravenna) 

Rep. Wade Williams (R-Earlington) 

Rep. Nick Wilson (R-Williamsburg) 

Bold denotes co-chairs 

Caucus list as of December 6, 2023. Updated membership roster available on legislature.ky.gov.