On Thursday, July 25th, Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, held its 86th annual meeting at the Cave Area Conference Center.
The not-for-profit cooperative, established in 1938, currently serves over 26,000 meters across 11 counties. Farmers RECC operates as a cooperative, meaning it is owned by the members it serves, adhering to seven cooperative principles, including democratic member control. Reflecting this principle, the Board of Directors convened with public members, discussing matters pertaining to the co-op’s most recent challenges and accomplishments.
President and CEO Toby Moss emphasized the cooperative’s openness to various energy sources, stating, “We are not averse to any kinds of power generation. I’ll call us energy agnostic, we want the best, most reliable service for our members and we want to save as much money as we can.”
This statement encompassed the theme of a greater shift toward greener energy sources permeating throughout the Commonwealth. East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), of which Farmers RECC is a part of, has been making significant strides in renewable energy.
Caralyne Pennigton, the co-op’s director of public communications spoke on the care that Farmer’s takes in weighing different power solutions.
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The solar panels of Cooperative Solar Farm One would theoretically produce enough power to supply 1,000 homes. (Photo by Tim Webb)
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Governor Andy Beshear has been a strong advocate for expanding renewable energy sources in Kentucky, particularly in rural areas. His administration has leveraged federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to invest in various clean energy projects.
Narrowing the scope to a local level, Pennington also explained a local initiative that Farmers undertook in partnership with the Glasgow Landfill.
Audio PlayerAccording to the Farmers RECC website:
The meeting concluded with the announcement of election results, confirming the reelection of all current officers, and an update on the funds returned to customers.
The entire session lasted nearly an hour, encapsulating a year of challenges and forward-looking strategies for Farmers RECC.