Local Electric Cooperative Provides Broadband in Missouri’s Bootheel
Missouri’s Bootheel, the ultimate southeast corner of the state, now enjoys high speed Internet access thanks to the Pemiscot-Dunklin Electric Cooperative.… Read More
Two Rural Electric Cooperatives Overcome Barriers to Clean, Local Energy — Episode 66 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
In our latest Local Energy Rules podcast, John Farrell joins leaders from Farmers Electric Cooperative in Iowa and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in New Mexico, to discuss how rural areas can source their power locally and renewably. Rural electric co-op leaders Warren McKenna and Luis Reyes share from experience how local renewable energy provides win-wins for co-ops, member-owners, and their local economy.… Read More
Voices of 100%: Abita Springs Fights for Community Solar in Louisiana — Episode 65 of Local Energy Rules Podcast
Nearly 100 U.S. cities of different sizes have made formal commitments to 100 percent renewable energy. In our sixth episode of Voices of 100%, a multi-part series of Local Energy Rules, we feature the small town of Abita Springs, the first city in Louisiana to set such a goal. LeAnn Magee, who chairs the grassroots, volunteer-led Abita Committee for Energy Sustainability that helped pass the town’s resolution, speaks with co-director of ILSR and Energy Democracy initiative director John Farrell about the motivations for and approach to Abita Springs’ commitment — starting with municipal buildings and advocating for community solar.… Read More
Broadband Project Grows for Rural Tennessee Cooperative
Holston Electric Cooperative (HEC) in Hamblen and Hawkins County, Tennessee, is about to begin Phase I of its plan to deploy fiber optic connectivity to more than 30,000 members. The multi-year project will bring broadband to the rural area and create smart grid efficiencies for the electric system.… Read More
FCC Set to Waste Billions on the Wrong (Read: Monopoly) Rural Broadband Providers
Matthew Marcus published this opinion piece in The Daily Yonder in March on the upcoming federal auction for rural broadband dollars.… Read More
Rural Virginians Find Internet Connectivity Thanks to Cooperatives
The state of Virginia has many rural pockets on both the Atlantic coast and the interior valley areas. These geographic challenges offer a roadblock to connectivity from incumbent Internet Service Providers, that’s why cooperatives are stepping up to offer connectivity to their member-owners.… Read More
This Southern California Cooperative Builds Grassroots Power for Internet Access
Rural Californians have similar problems as many in rural America, a lack of high-quality, affordable Internet access. The story of the Anza Electric Cooperative in rural southern California details how they are expanding and meeting the needs of its 4,000 rural members.… Read More
Electric Cooperative Connects Rural Colorado to Fiber Internet, New Opportunities
When the San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative (SLVREC) decided to invest in fiber for more efficient electrical operations, they also took the first step toward improving Internet access for residents and businesses in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. The cooperative is building a network for both members and local nonmembers in some of Colorado’s least populated and worst connected areas.
Field Trip To Oklahoma’s Lake Region Electric Cooperative & Fiber Network
Lake Region Electric Cooperative offers FTTH service to more than 1,000 homes in the rural communities around the city of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. As with electrification, the cooperative is once again providing a much needed utility where no private company would go. This is the internetification of rural America.… Read More