Category: Coop News

Electric Co-ops Hit Hard by Hurricane Helene Face Tough Task of Rebuilding

Once the huge job of restoring power from Hurricane Helene is done, some electric cooperatives in the Southeast face an even more daunting task: completely rebuilding their systems destroyed by the storm’s ferocious winds and flooding rains.

“This is not just a matter of power outages; it’s about lives turned upside down, homes lost and communities facing weeks—if not months—of recovery,” Thomas Golden, CEO of EnergyUnited in Statesville, North Carolina, said at a news conference hosted by NRECA last week.

“Some of our hardest-hit areas are not dealing with a simple fix. They’re facing a complete rebuild of their electrical infrastructure, their roads and even their daily lives.”

Co-ops have an especially tough task of rebuilding because they serve some of the most remote areas of the country, said Mike Couick, president and CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina.

One of the state’s co-ops, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative in Pickens, saw its underground power lines wash down the mountainside, along with trees and power poles, Couick said.

“They’re rebuilding a system of 7,300 miles of line,” he said. “That’s almost the diameter of the planet Earth. And it runs straight up mountainsides.”

Ron Barnes, president and CEO of Coast Electric Power Association in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, knows better than most what it means to rebuild a co-op system after a disaster. He was working at the co-op as vice president of marketing, member services and public relations when Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast in 2005.

Coast Electric lost 30,000 power poles and 10,000 transformers. It took a full year and $110 million for the co-op to rebuild its system, with major funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s not as dark as it seems at the moment,” he advises co-ops hit by Hurricane Helene. “You have all these pressures on you, and you say, ‘Oh my gosh, how are we ever going to do this?’ It seems like it will never end when you’re in the middle of it, but it does.”

The co-op restored power in just three weeks to members whose homes and businesses were still standing after Katrina.

Hurricanes Laura and Delta caused widespread damage in the service territory of Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative in 2020. (Photo Courtesy: Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives)“If you’re our member and you used to get power through Substation A and that substation is down, we can route you through Substation B,” Barnes said.

“The immediate goal of every co-op after a hurricane is to get your lights back on as quickly as possible. But then we’ve got to go back and rebuild everything that was lost.”

At the peak of Katrina, Coast Electric had 3,200 people working to restore power. After that, it kept 500 contract employees working with its own crews for a year to rebuild the system, Barnes said.

An essential part of rebuilding is replacing crucial equipment, including transformers, power poles and overhead line splices used to reconnect broken distribution lines.

United Utility Supply, which is owned by electric co-ops in 20 states, had already sent out about 500 to 600 transformers to storm-damaged co-ops within the first few days after Hurricane Helene, said Phil Clark, vice president of sales and operations.

The not-for-profit Louisville, Kentucky-based supply co-op keeps about 10,000 transformers on hand throughout its eight warehouses, Clark said. The transformer shortages caused by the COVID-19 international supply chain crisis are no longer a significant problem, he said.

“We run our own truck fleet,” Clark said. “We prepare for a storm just like the co-ops do. We line up warehouse teams, and drivers will take multiple loads per day and night directly to the co-ops.”

Co-ops typically take out loans to pay for the equipment, then seek reimbursement from FEMA after they rebuild, he said.

UUS gets some unusual requests from co-ops during restorations, such as hundreds of Styrofoam cups and plates to serve food to mutual aid crews that have come in from other co-ops to help restore power. Clark turned to a restaurant supply company to help it fulfill that request.

“A co-op also may run out of something that they use all the time,” he said. “Instead of them having to track down an alternative part, we’ll find the next best thing that meets the specs and get it to them.”

When a co-op is rebuilding, it can often find ways to make its system better, said Mike Heinen, CEO of Jeff Davis Electric Cooperative in Jennings, Louisiana. JDEC is still rebuilding parts of its transmission system more than four years after it was walloped by back-to-back hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020.

“Along the coast, all of my metal transmission towers went down,” Heinen said. “You can’t just throw up new metal towers. The system crosses two rivers and a waterway. I have to go through the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Natural Resources and probably five other federal agencies to sign off on it all.”

When it’s all done next June, the co-op will have a larger transmission system, putting in a FEMA-approved 230-kilovolt line to replace a 69 kV line, he said.

“My advice to co-ops going through this now is: Try not to look at the whole picture, because if you do, you’ll give up. Take it a day at a time, a piece at a time, and eventually it all comes together.”

Erin Kelly is a staff writer for NRECA.

Kentucky’s electric co-ops join massive mutual aid effort after Hurricane Helene

With power restored within Kentucky, hundreds of lineworkers and contractors from the commonwealth’s electric cooperatives are now helping sister co-ops in other states ravaged by Hurricane Helene in one of the largest mutual aid deployments in the program’s history.

More than 150 co-op personnel from Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are providing mutual aid in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, joining crews from 18 other states. These co-op employees are in addition to the hundreds of contract crew members released by Kentucky co-ops so they can also respond to the calls for help.

“We are finding more destruction and houses that have been damaged beyond repair,” said Mitch Bearden, Chief Communications Officer at Haywood EMC in Waynesville, North Carolina, one of the co-ops where Kentucky crews are working to rebuild the electric system.

Flooding and landslides have swept away roads, limiting access to infrastructure and isolated communities.

“What we are currently finding is absolutely unprecedented,” Bearden continued. “I am unsure of a number of homes or businesses that may be forever gone due to these storms across our service area. We know that there are many and are hopeful we can play any part in being there for these folks who have lost everything. Some of these people are also our employees.”

The deployment to the southeastern states follows the successful restoration of power within Kentucky where more than 100,000 consumer-members lost power. Central and Eastern Kentucky experienced 40-60 mph winds, snapping tree limbs and toppling whole trees into power lines, breaking hundreds of poles across Kentucky. The region also received 3-5 inches of rainfall during this event.

The 2024 Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo, scheduled for October 3-4 at East Kentucky Power Cooperative, was canceled in deference to the mutual aid needs. The annual event is a highlight of the year for Kentucky lineworkers who compete in a variety of events which demonstrate the skills and safety of the trade.

On daily calls with mutual aid coordinators from statewide associations such as Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, co-op leaders in Georgia and South Carolina are anticipating it could take three more weeks to restore power. North Carolina co-ops indicate it could take up to two months.

“We continue to pray for everyone affected by this natural disaster,” said Chris Perry, President and CEO of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “Our electric cooperative family is hurting. These crews represent Kentucky’s concern for our neighbors, and we pray for their safety and well-being as they face challenging conditions.”

In addition to supplying critical materials to co-ops rebuilding after Helene, Kentucky-based United Utility Supply Cooperative is donating more than 12,000 bottles of water to French Broad Electric Membership Corporation in North Carolina. The donation includes water that UUS had planned to provide to the Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own consumer-members.  Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.

“Cooperation among cooperatives is one of our guiding principles,” said Randy Meredith, Director of Safety and Training at Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “It’s long hours in challenging conditions, but this is what we do. Lineworkers are wired to help people, and mutual aid deployments also provide invaluable training opportunities so these crews will be better prepared to respond to storm damage when it happens here at home.”

“While Tropical Storm Helene brought her worst, the unity and helping spirit that we are seeing in western North Carolina represents our best,” said Nelle Hotchkiss, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “We are resilient, we are strong, and we are in this together.”

Jackson Energy’s Beattyville project receives 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Jason Todd, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Boad Chairman, presented the 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award to the Beattyville Welcome Sign project, a partnership of Jackson Energy Cooperative and community leaders.

For the eighth year in a row, the Governor’s office, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives and their flagship publication, Kentucky Living, partnered on the Beautify the Bluegrass initiative to recognize Kentuckians who complete homegrown projects to improve public spaces.

“When we say ‘Team Kentucky,’ this is what we’re talking about—Kentuckians who care about their communities and take action to help. Thank you to every Kentuckian and co-op who completed Beautify the Bluegrass projects this year,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “I want to say thank you for your cooperative spirit and your willingness to roll up your sleeves to improve Kentucky”

“Like the electric co-ops that belong to and are led by local Kentuckians, these projects are homegrown,” said Jason Todd, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Board Chair at the announcement in the State Capitol Rotunda. “These efforts were not completed to win an award; they are the result of the people in this room taking it upon themselves to identify how they can make Kentucky a better and more attractive place to live.”

The program recognizes Kentuckians who take an active role in preserving the state’s natural beauty and helping their communities shine. Throughout the years, nominated projects have represented a wide variety of local needs, including rebuilding community assets impacted by natural disasters, breathing new life into downtowns, planting gardens, painting murals, repairing playgrounds, and removing litter from waterways and roads.

“We love the community we live, work and play in, and want to leave it a better place than we found it. Even though we don’t do it for awards and recognition, it’s such an honor to receive the Beautify the Governor’s Award for the second time,” said Lisa Baker of Jackson Energy, recipient of the 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award. “The work we do for the people of Beattyville doesn’t go unnoticed—not by the consumer members in our region nor the state. Thank you to those who nominated us.”

The Welcome Sign on Beattyville Highway 11 in Lee County was renovated and revitalized by a team of 24 volunteers from Jackson Energy. The co-op funded the project in coordination with Beattyville community partners. Volunteers cleaned, repainted, installed solar lights, added flower planters and mounted new flags—all with locally sourced materials.

“I’m really pleased to see Kentuckians stepping up every year to help make Kentucky shine, and I’m especially proud of our co-ops who go above and beyond to serve their communities,” said Chris Perry, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO. “Not only are these men and women working in all sorts of conditions every day to keep the lights on, but they are also giving back in unique ways. Our member co-ops really are proud to partner with the Governor’s office to highlight the individuals and groups who want to give back to our beautiful Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

In August, Kentucky Living and Governor Beshear announced the five 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass finalists. Kentucky Living readers voted online for their choice to receive the 2024 Governor’s Award. Other finalists included:

  • Big Rivers Electric & Kenergy, Landscaping for Habitat for Humanity Training Center (Daviess County)
  • Devan Horton, Works of Art That Bloom (Campbell County)
  • City of Danville’s Downtown Streetscape Project (Boyle County)
  • Friends of Red River Trah Cleanups (Wolfe County)

Any project completed between August 2024 and July 2025 is eligible for recognition for the 2025 Beautify the Bluegrass. Watch for the nomination form to go live in March 2025 on KentuckyLiving.com to coincide with the Kentucky Living article about the 2024 honorees.

Lineman’s Rodeo canceled | Co-ops prioritize members after hurricane

Due to the impact of Hurricane Helene on Kentucky’s electric  cooperatives, the 2024 Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo, scheduled for October 3-4, has been canceled.

After making landfall in Florida on Thursday, September 26 at 11:25 pm EDT, the storm moved quickly enough to bring hurricane force winds into the southeast U.S. and tropical storm force winds into the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, snapping tree limbs and toppling whole trees into power lines, breaking hundreds of poles across Kentucky.

At the height of the storm, more than 100,000 electric cooperative consumer-members lost power. Central Kentucky experienced winds of 40-60 mph winds, with a maximum measured wind of 65 mph at the Lexington Airport in the afternoon of Friday, September 27.

The region also received 3-5 inches of rainfall during this event. The post-tropical low pressure system continued to spin over central Kentucky for a few days before moving out of the region.

The storm significantly impacted both the operations of co-ops across the state and the safety team of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives which coordinates mutual aid efforts. As of Sunday evening, 60 hours after Helene’s remnants slammed into Kentucky, co-ops had restored power to 90% of those who had lost it on Friday.

“Getting the lights back on safely is our number one priority,” said Randy Meredith, Director of Safety and Loss Prevention at Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “Although the decision to cancel the Rodeo is a difficult one, it is the right one for our members. All energies and resources will be focused on the cooperatives’ number one mission.”

For 20 years, the Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo has showcased the skills, agility and safety of electric cooperative lineworkers who compete in a variety of events to promote safety and the development of unique skills, The event offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at their essential work and training while promoting safety, teamwork and cooperation.

At this time, the statewide association does not plan on rescheduling the event which was to be hosted by East Kentucky Power Cooperative in Winchester.

“We appreciate your understanding and support during this challenging time,” Meredith added. “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the hurricane and those working to restore power.”

“Co-ops Vote” high school senior registers classmates to vote

LEITCHFIELD, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2024) – Inspired by lessons learned during a leadership experience sponsored by Warren RECC, Grayson County High School senior Zola Nunn is encouraging her fellow students to register to vote.

“Voting is our opportunity to shape the future,” Nunn said while hosting a registration drive outside the high school cafeteria on National Voter Registration Day September 17 as part of the Co-ops Vote program.

With support from Warren RECC, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and her high school counselor, Nunn aims to educate and encourage eligible voters to register and participate in the upcoming elections.

“We are incredibly proud of Zola for taking the initiative to lead this important event” said Aggie Manion, Grayson County High School counselor. “It’s important that our students recognize the power they have to impact their community and the world around them.”

Nunn learned about the Co-ops Vote initiative during trips to Frankfort and Washington, D.C. as part of the annual Youth Tour program coordinated by Kentucky Electric Cooperatives, the statewide association of all 26 co-ops in the commonwealth. Warren RECC sponsored six students on the Washington Youth Tour this summer where delegates met Kentucky’s top political leaders and congressional staff, attended leadership seminars and toured national memorials.

“We are extremely proud of Zola and her initiative to make sure students her age are engaged in the political process” says Patty Kantosky, Warren RECC Vice President of Member Services and Information Technology. “The Frankfort and Washington Youth Tours are great opportunities for our students to learn more about how their government works and we are proud to be a part of them. We can’t wait to see what Zola and her fellow classmates accomplish as they go out into the world.”

The experience sparked a desire for Nunn to educate her friends, family and classmates about the importance of voting and raising voter turnout.

“I want to make sure that everyone knows how easy it is to register and that their voices can make a difference,” she said.

Since 2016, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives have partnered with the Kentucky Secretary of State on the Co-ops Vote program, a nonpartisan initiative with the goal of reversing a downward trend in rural voting.

A review of State Board of Elections data in the last ten presidential elections shows Kentucky voter turnout has yet to rebound since a steep decline in voter participation 28 years ago. In 1992, Kentucky reported 73.2% of registered voters cast a ballot in the general election. Just four years later, voter turnout dropped to 59.3%. Despite modest increases in subsequent presidential election cycles, voter turnout dipped even lower, to 59.1% in 2016, then clawed back to 60.3% in 2020.

According to the National Voter Registration Day annual report, 130,000 people across the country registered to vote or updated their registration on National Voter Registration Day in 2023. Alumni from the Youth Tour program, such as Zola Nunn, have also responded to the challenge by hosting voter registration drives.

“At the heart of every electric cooperative is the co-op principle of Concern for Community,” said Joe Arnold, Vice President of Strategic Communications. “Another co-op principle is Democratic Member Control. We are so proud of Zola for picking up the torch and embracing cooperative principles. By registering to vote as soon as they are eligible, then showing up at the ballot box in November, students like Zola are making voting a habit and strengthening our democracy.”

Those who are not registered to vote have until October 7, 2024, to register and be eligible to vote in the general election on November 5, 2024. Stop by your local county clerk’s office to register in person or click here to learn how to register online or by mail.

To learn more about Co-ops Vote, click here.

 

Finalists Named for Kentucky Living’s 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass

 

Five community projects are in the running for the 2024 Beautify the Bluegrass Governor’s Award, an annual initiative of Kentucky Living, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives and the Kentucky Governor’s Office.

Started in 2017, Beautify the Bluegrass recognizes community members across the commonwealth for their efforts to improve public spaces. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear joined Kentucky Living’s Best in Kentucky Awards show on August 14 to congratulate the 2024 winners and announce the finalists for Beautify the Bluegrass.

“Thanks to Kentucky Living and Kentucky’s electric cooperatives for supporting homegrown beautification efforts across the commonwealth. We were so pleased to honor the Beautify the Bluegrass finalists at the capitol last fall and look forward to doing it again,” said Governor Beshear. “Congratulations to these finalists and thank you to all the volunteers who work to improve their communities. Looking forward to seeing all the beautification projects that happen around our great Commonwealth this year!”

This year’s Beautify the Bluegrass finalists, which hail from Lee, Daviess, Campbell, Boyle and Wolfe counties, were selected from among dozens of noteworthy projects across the state.

Big Rivers Electric and Kenergy

Landscaping for Habitat for Humanity Training Center, Daviess County
Over 20 volunteers from Big Rivers Electric, Kenergy, and contractors planted a landscaping barrier at the Habitat for Humanity Owensboro-Daviess County Training Center, which offers hands-on homeowner training.

Danville Downtown Streetscape Project, Boyle County

The $6 million, two-year project transformed downtown Danville’s Main Street with wider sidewalks, buried utilities, new trees, upgraded the Weisiger Park fountain, and added outdoor dining, creating a safer and more inviting pedestrian-friendly area.

Devan Horton

Works of Art That Bloom, Campbell County

With a grant from the Kentucky Foundation for Women’s Art as Activism, Devan Horton created plantable art materials from natural items, organized a community event to create art with them, and planted the artworks in a blighted lot, transforming it into a blooming native pollinator meadow called “Perennial.”

Jackson Energy and various Beattyville entities

Beattyville Highway 11 Welcome Sign, Lee County

Beattyville’s newly renovated welcome sign, funded by Jackson Energy, was revitalized by 24 volunteers who cleaned, repainted, installed solar lights, added flower planters, and mounted new flags, all with locally sourced materials.

Friends of Red River Trash Cleanups, Wolfe County

The Friends of Red River (FORR) hosts monthly cleanups of Kentucky’s only Wild and Scenic River, removing tons of trash and thousands of tires, and in 2024 released a documentary, *River Cowboys: Keeping it Wild*, highlighting these efforts, which premiered at the annual Wild & Scenic Red RiverFest.

Now through August 28, readers can visit KentuckyLiving.com to learn more about each project and vote for their favorite of the five finalists. Click here to learn more and vote.

Co-ops Honor Brannon as 2024 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian

Kentucky Electric Cooperatives recognized Tony Brannon as its 2024 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian during the co-op association’s 78th Annual Meeting in Louisville.

Distinguished Rural Kentuckian is the highest honor bestowed by the association, which consists of all 26 electric cooperatives across the commonwealth. It recognizes outstanding individuals who have devoted their lives to Kentucky in a way that matches the co-op mission of enhancing the quality of life here. Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO Chris Perry presented Brannon the award following a special video tribute. The full video can be viewed on the association’s YouTube channel.

“Having been born and raised on a farm and cutting my teeth on the steering wheel of a Model B Allis Chalmers tractor, I certainly felt rural.  Growing up as a teenager working in a dark tobacco patch, I’m not so sure I felt distinguished!  However, this rural upbringing and modest farm hard work ethic, combined with my Murray State education and 35 years of employment motivated me to a lifetime of service…for both agriculture and rural Communities,” said 2024 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian Tony Brannon. “It’s not easy to serve Kentucky agriculture statewide from the far west, but with commitment and passion and working with colleagues from all across the state, I did the best I could.  To have this ‘best I could’ rural and agricultural service recognized as ‘distinguished’ by this prestigious organization is certainly a capstone career highlight.”

Brannon, the retired Dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture at Murray State University, is the 40th Distinguished Rural Kentuckian. Since 1982, the association has honored recipients from the arts, politics, journalism, business, education, religion, athletics, and agriculture. Two former honorees were in attendance at this year’s banquet, 2018 recipient Warren Beeler and 2021 recipient David Beck.

“Kentucky’s electric cooperatives power the lives of Kentuckians in 117 of 120 counties. Because member-owned co-ops belong to and are led by the people they serve, we believe it is important to recognize those who share our commitment to improving the quality of life in our local communities,” said Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO Chris Perry.

The Annual Meeting’s banquet featured a keynote address from Anthony Robles. Born with one leg, Robles overcame a number of challenges to become the 2011 NCAA wrestling champion. His inspiring life story will be told in the motion picture, Unstoppable, in theatres later this year. Robles encouraged the co-op audience to never give up, learn from mistakes and obstacles and to “never let your challenge become your excuse to say you can’t do it.”

With a theme of Support, Advocate, Educate, the meeting, held annually in Louisville since 1948, included important updates on safety and communications with a focus on reliability and cost pressures faced by co-ops and their members.

Featured speakers included Youth Leadership Council delegate and Pennyrile Electric representative Mason Lovell of Muhlenberg County, RunSwitch PR Founding Partner and political strategist Scott Jennings, National Renewables Cooperative Organization CEO Michael Keyser and former Navy SEAL and noted sports performance specialist Jason Kuhn.

‘Electric U’ informs co-op caucus

At a critical time for energy policy in Kentucky and the nation, members of the newly formed Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Caucus participated this summer in the inaugural Electric University (Electric-U), a deep dive into how electric power is made and transmitted to homes and businesses across Kentucky. Outfitted with goggles, hard hats, and AV headsets, ten legislators witnessed the electric generation process first-hand during a tour of East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s Spurlock Station, a 1,346 MW coal power plant, along the banks of the Ohio River in Maysville. During the tour and a seminar in the facility’s technical center, energy industry experts and co-op staff answered questions posed by caucus members. “The primary focus of Electric-U is empowering lawmakers to understand the day-to-day realities of power generation and transmission,” said Chase Crigler, Government Affairs Director for Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “The electric co-op caucus continues to demonstrate a commitment to advocating for the interests of local co-op consumer-members across the commonwealth.” Electric cooperatives provide power to more than 1.8 million Kentucky residents and businesses in 117 counties. Caucus members who participated in the first Electric University:
  • Senators:
    • Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe (Coop Caucus Co-chair)
    • Senator David Givens (Senate President Pro Tempore)
    • Senator Gex Williams
  • Representatives:
    • Rep. Wade Williams (Coop caucus Co-chair)
    • Rep. Suzanne Miles (House Majority Caucus Chair)
    • Rep. Jim Gooch (House Natural Resources Chair)
    • Rep. Mike Clines
    • Rep. Dan Fister
    • Rep. Sarge Pollock
    • Rep. Bill Wesley
“We always appreciate the insights and transparency of Kentucky’s electric cooperatives, “said caucus co-chair Rep. Wade Williams (R-Earlington). “This experience to see electric generation close up helps all of us legislate on these matters more effectively.” Since its inception late last year, 96 members of the Kentucky General Assembly have joined the electric cooperative caucus, making it the largest caucus in the legislature. “The intense interest in the co-op caucus underscores how important reliable and affordable energy is to Kentucky,” said caucus co-chair Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-Lexington). “In addition to looking out for our constituents, co-ops power some of our largest industries.” With input from Big Rivers Electric Corporation, East Kentucky Power Cooperative and the Tennessee Valley Authority, cooperatives plan to make Electric University an annual event, in addition to regular updates and briefings for caucus members throughout the year and during session. “We were pleased to host the first ever Electric University, and we appreciate the cooperative spirit of these informed legislators and our fellow power providers in Kentucky,” said East Kentucky Power Cooperative President and CEO Tony Campbell. “It is imperative that our elected leaders have access to factual information, especially as government regulators and policymakers are faced with crucial decisions that affect reliability and energy costs.”
Maysville, Kentucky — The fundamentals of electric power generation are explained to members of the Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative Caucus during a tour of Spurlock Station. Photo: Tim Webb

Co-ops sponsor Kentucky high school students on Washington Youth Tour

When the new school year starts next month, dozens of Kentucky high school seniors will bring with them a better understanding of the United States government, the nation’s history and each other after participating in the 2024 Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Washington Youth Tour this summer.

Sponsored by their local electric cooperatives, 56 students from across Kentucky made up the youth tour delegation that in June joined about 1,800 other students in Washington, D.C. representing electric co-ops across the country.

“The tour allowed me to connect with fellow students from across Kentucky in counties I had never heard of and build lifelong friendships,” said Lewis County High School senior McKenzie Cunningham, a Fleming-Mason Energy attendee. “This experience has inspired me to be an active and informed citizen, and I am grateful for the opportunity.”

At the U.S. Capitol, the students learned about the legislative process and asked questions of key staff members from Kentucky’s congressional delegation.

“When you stand there, there is a wash of feelings,” recalled Anna Sumrall, an Elizabethtown High School Senior sponsored by Nolin RECC. “Part of you feels small standing inside such fantastic buildings. But more than that, I felt empowered. This is where it happens. As a student with a deep interest for civics and government, no experience compares to that of being in DC. No lecture or documentary can chalk up to hearing our leaders speak about their jobs — and waiting for the day when you’re in their shoes.”

On the steps of the U.S. Senate, the students named Sen. Mitch McConnell as the first honorary Kentucky Youth Tour delegate, recognizing his decades of service and support of electric cooperatives. Mason Lovell, Kentucky’s Youth Leadership Council delegate, presented the senator with a Kentucky Youth Tour pin.

“Despite you being one of the busiest U.S. Senators and party leader for so long, you’ve always taken the time to speak with our group here in the Kentucky delegation of the Washington Youth Tour,” said Lovell, a senior at McCallie School who was sponsored by Pennyrile Electric. “That’s meant a lot to us. You’ve also been an advocate for rural electric cooperatives, which effects lives like mine. We really want to say thank you.”

“Actually, I ought to be thanking you,” McConnell replied. “This is a great group I enjoy coming to Washington every year.”

The delegation visited national memorials, museums and historic sites, including Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery, where students presented a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

“Most students on the trip, including me, had never been to Washington, D.C.,” said Luke Humphries, a University Heights Academy student sponsored by Pennyrile Electric. “Being able to take in all the history and national culture with other students from Kentucky was amazing. A particularly special moment was when our group went to the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon; I could feel the reverence and respect for the victims throughout the entire Kentucky group. That was a powerful moment, and I will definitely never forget it.”

Kentucky Electric Cooperatives has coordinated the tour since 1972, providing rising high school seniors the unique opportunity to witness our government in action.

“By exploring our nation’s capital firsthand, students gain not only knowledge of history, but also a sense of their own potential to lead and innovate in the world around them,” said Mallory Wafzig, manager of cooperative outreach and youth tour director.

“Each moment was not just about sightseeing but also about making lasting friendships and bonds with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds,” said Natalie Sandlin of Jackson County High School, sponsored by Jackson Energy. “This tour not only broadened my perspective but also gave me a sense of responsibility to contribute positively to my community and beyond.”

“This trip was truly the experience of a lifetime,” added Daviess County High School senior Abby Riley, who was sponsored by Kenergy. “Getting to see all the memorials, historic monuments, and our nation’s capital with my own eyes was absolutely astonishing. And our group fit together like pieces of a puzzle, and everyone was friends with each other.”

“I feel more connected to the history of our country and its place in the world,” said Quentin Ellis, a Randall K. Cooper High School senior sponsored by Owen County Electric. “It’s important for trips and opportunities like this to exist, if only to help the future generations to gain a better understanding of the world.”

Washington, D.C. — Kentucky’s Youth Leadership Council Delegate Mason Lovell names U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) the first ever honorary Washington Youth Tour delegate. Photo: Tim Webb

Co-ops work to restore power for members after nearly 100,000 affected

After the weekend’s storms, thousands of families in Kentucky were left without power. Kentucky’s 26 electric cooperatives are making great progress restoring electric service and are advising consumer-members on how long it will take until power is restored for everyone.

Co-ops reported that at the height of the outage, over 98,000 consumer-members without power. As of 10:00 AM (EST) on Tuesday, May 28, about 36,000 members were without power. For an updated outage map, click here.

Due to the high number of members without power, sister co-ops have come to lend aid in various regions: Fleming-Mason Energy sent a crew to Meade County RECC; Owen Electric sent ten crews to Cumberland Valley Electric; Pennyrile Electric welcomed contractors and cooperatives from Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio and Georgia; and Gibson Electric received assistance from Pickwick Electric and Forked Deer Electric in Tennessee, Cruse Powerline in Mayfield and Tennessee Valley Electric.

“It is our top priority to ensure that our consumer-members’ lights turn back on as soon as possible,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives. “That’s why we are so proud of our 26 electric cooperatives’ diligent work to restore power quickly and safely.”

On Monday, Governor Beshear updated the Commonwealth on the status of power outages, fatalities caused by storm damage and the resiliency of Kentuckians. He was joined by Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. Read the press release here.

“Communities across Kentucky experienced storms that produced strong winds, multiple tornadoes and hail in some places. The storm knocked out power for thousands of Kentuckians, temporarily shut down numerous roads and interstates, and caused massive damage to homes and businesses,” said Governor Beshear. “But like we always see after severe weather events, first responders and everyday Kentuckians rallied to help each other in those toughest moments.”

“Crews mobilized yesterday and worked through the day and overnight to help clear roads of trees on state-maintained routes and to support first responder and utility restoration efforts,” said Secretary Gray. “Clearing roadways could take time, especially if it requires clearing downed power lines first. Our Team Kentucky crews are dedicated to keeping travelers safe. Please watch out for them on the roads, drive alert and slow down.”