Tag Archives: The New Deal

Electric Co-ops in the U.S.

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There are 800 member-owned electrical co-ops in the USA. 40 million people get their power from an Electric Co-op! Principally in rural areas, these Cooperatives cover 56% of the populated land mass in the 50 states.

Rural Electric Cooperatives began in 1876. They are consumer-owned, non-profit utilities. FDR’s New Deal created work projects in the 1930s and this brought electricity to rural areas. In 1942 the rural electrical co-ops of WA State formed a coalition. To this day the WRECA represent those member co-ops in Olympia.

Metal barn roof with cool cupolas on top!

Ratepayers to the Co-ops are not customers, they are owners. They have a say in the supply of electricity. Lately these member-owners have been interested in local renewables like wind and solar. Grid resiliency and enhanced services are priorities via rural microgrid projects, and deployment of broadband (internet) service.

Sources:

  1. www.WRECA.coop
  2. https://ilsr.org/rural-electric-cooperatives

Electricity in Rural Areas

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On The Tonight Show in 1988, Johnny Carson asked 98 year old rural farmer Merritt Heaton this question: “What’s been the biggest change, since you were a young man on the farm?“

  • His answer: “Oh, well, I’d say electricity.” And there was immediate verve in the studio!
  • Johnny Carson grew up in Nebraska. He responded: “Well people forget … I remember going to my grandparents’ home where they didn’t – they had the kerosene lamps …”
  • Merritt Heaton: “Exactly, maybe had a few candles around?”
  • Johnny Carson: “Ab-solutely”

In the mid 1930’s, 90% of rural America lacked electricity. By 1950 just 20% of rural America lacked electricity. What happened in 15 short years!?

Beginning in the mid ’30’s, new transmission towers and lines began to dot and thread the landscape. A new vista on the horizon, and new illumination for the farms and rural folk. Imagine the incredulity of these large metal structures, promising 24/7 electricity to remote areas.

Pres. Franklin Delano Roosevelt took office in 1933. FDR’s New Deal was a plan to take the country out of its economic and unemployment woes. The Great Depression lasted from 1929-1939.

In 1935 FDR formed the Rural Electrification Administration, now known as Rural Utilities Services. A year later Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act (REA)

Funding electric projects in rural America was a priority for the US Dep’t of Agriculture. Loans were distributed via the money allocated in the 1936 Rural Electrification Act. The effort trained and employed physical laborers, electricians, and those that would help administer 1000s of miles of new electrical lines.

Sources:

  1. Usda.gov
  2. The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Feb 3 1988_YouTube