Along Those Lines

Latest Episodes:

Saving the Monarch Butterfly May 14, 2019

Show notes

The monarch butterfly is in trouble, with its numbers in decline for the last few decades, its habitat rapidly disappearing, and an Endangered Species Act listing on the horizon. We're joined by NRECA's Janelle Lemen and Stephanie Crawford along with Dairyland Power Cooperative's Brad Foss to discuss the challenges the monarch faces and the steps co-ops are taking to save this iconic species.

Zero Contacts: Keeping Line Crews Safe Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

As we spend April honoring lineworkers, it's time to zero in on safety and what it takes to ensure that crews don't come into contact with live lines. Heath Martin, a co-op safety director, shares the harrowing story of a mistake early in his career as a lineworker that could have cost him his life. We're also joined by safety experts from NRECA and Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange.

The Rise of Female Lineworkers Mar 15, 2019

Show notes

As we celebrate Women's History Month, we take you behind the scenes with a woman who's making her way in a male-dominated industry. Hear the story of Kaitlyn Vaillancourt, a 21-year-old apprentice lineworker at Pedernales Electric Cooperative near Austin, Texas—the only woman among the co-op's 200 lineworkers.

Co-op Innovation and the Evolving Grid Feb 12, 2019

Show notes

What is the evolving grid—and what does it mean for how we'll consume electricity in the future? We're joined by three experts to zero in on electric co-ops' unique position to plug into this trend: NRECA's Jim Spiers, Patty Richards from Washington Electric Cooperative in Vermont, and Lee Ragsdale from North Carolina's Electric Cooperatives.

Advocating for Co-ops in a Divided Congress Jan 15, 2019

Show notes

With a new year and a new Congress, what will emerge as key policy issues for co-ops in 2019? We're joined by Kirk Johnson and John Cassady of NRECA's government relations department to discuss how the association works with members of Congress and their staffs to represent co-op interests, and what to expect on issues ranging from infrastructure to distributed energy resources.

Waging a Comeback for Small-Town America Dec 11, 2018

Show notes

Changes in the rural population over recent decades have left many Main Streets across America looking like ghost towns. What factors can help reverse that trend in the coming years? We're joined by NRECA's Jeffrey Connor, Zack Mannheimer, a proponent of "creative placemaking," and Midland Power Cooperative's Norm Fandel to discuss community development and revitalizing small towns.

Can Electric Co-ops Bridge the Digital Divide? Nov 08, 2018

Show notes

For electric cooperatives, the chance to play a role in bridging the digital divide brings a major opportunity to have lasting impacts on their rural communities. We're joined by two rural broadband experts, Mike Keyser, CEO of BARC Electric Cooperative in Millboro, Virginia, and Brian O'Hara, regulatory issues director in NRECA's government relations team, to talk about the key issues co-ops face in pursuing broadband projects.

Rural America and the Midterms: Co-ops Should Engage With Candidates Sep 19, 2018

Show notes

From the farmer at the end of the rural road to the commuters traveling the interstates to and from the suburbs, every electric cooperative consumer-member has a vote on Election Day. NRECA CEO Jim Matheson is reinforcing the value of each one of those votes. A seven-term congressman from Utah before taking the reins at NRECA in 2016, Matheson knows a thing or two about elections. In this debut edition of Along Those Lines, Matheson encourages all electric cooperative members to participate in the November elections. And he has a special message for co-op leaders about the importance of engaging with elected officials—and those who would like to be elected.

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