Fifteen volunteers from Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives brought first-time electricity to the remote village of Barejones in Guatemala. The project consisted of 51 poles, three transfomers and about five miles of line. The team wired 19 homes and two elementary schools.
This is the seventh international electrification project sponsored by Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives in conjunction with their national association’s philanthropic arm, NRECA International. Collectively, nearly 1,000 first-time connections to electricity have been made possible through these missions.
Giving Back
History repeats itself. During the 1930s in the United States, farmers banded together to bring themselves the gift of electricity and now form rural electric cooperatives. Today, electric cooperatives power more than 1.1 million Oklahomans and 42 million people nationwide.
In a tremendous display of giving back, 15 volunteers from Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives recently returned from Guatemala – on National Cooperative Month – where they spent three weeks building power lines, installing transformers and wiring homes to turn the lights on for the first time in the village of Barejones.
The international electrification project is possible through the coordination of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s philanthropic arm, NRECA International.
The project, which took place in the department of Jalapa, about three hours from Guatemala City, consisted of 51 poles and approximately 5 miles of line. The team installed three transformers and wired 19 homes and two elementary schools. A second phase of the village will be completed in January 2025 by lineworkers from Ohio’s electric cooperatives.
The locals live in extreme poverty conditions without running water, plumbing and food refrigeration. The villagers depend on farming operations for economic sustainment; they produce corn, pepper, tomatoes and green beans among other agricultural products. They also raise farm animals.
“Bringing electricity to remote areas in developing countries takes electric cooperatives back to their roots,” says Chris Meyers, general manager of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. “It reinforces our commitment to improve the quality of life for local communities at home and abroad. Access to electricity will bring economic empowerment, better access to health care and education and enhanced safety for these villagers. It’s a life-changing gift.”
The following Oklahoma volunteers served on the project:
- Team Leader Derec Janaway (Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, Oklahoma City)
- Clint Robinson (Central Rural Electric Cooperative, Stillwater)
- Billy Patterson (CKenergy Electric Cooperative, Binger)
- Zac Smith (Cimarron Electric Cooperative, Kingfisher)
- Case Hurst (Cotton Electric Cooperative, Walters)
- Damon Lester (Indian Electric Cooperative, Cleveland)
- Shane Stiger (Indian Electric Cooperative, Cleveland)
- Duncan Nelson (Indian Electric Cooperative, Cleveland)
- Matt Montgomery (Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Vinita)
- Jon Enkey (Lake Region Electric Cooperative, Hulbert)
- Jacob McFarlane (Oklahoma Electric Cooperatve, Norman)
- Tony Ramirez (Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Norman)
- Trevor Howard (Northwestern Electric Cooperative, Woodward)
Additionally, communications support on the mission was provided by Lance Shaw (Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, Oklahoma City) and KorDale Lornes (Red River Valley REA, Marietta).
Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives have established a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, The Oklahoma Energy Trails Foundation, to support this cause. Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives have sponsored seven projects have been sponsored since 2016. All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible. Collectively, Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives have made possible nearly 1,000 first-time electric connections through the international electrification projects.
