Energy Trails

Lighting a path in Guatemala

The villages of Pie del Cerro and Tierra Blanca Salinas are tucked away near a rainforest in the region of Ixcán, northwest Guatemala. Collectively, the communities have approximately 100 households, five churches, two elementary schools and two health centers—all without access to reliable and affordable electricity. The locals live in humble means without running water, food refrigeration, or the ability to use electronic appliances for house chores or to aid in their economic growth. They depend on farming operations for economic sustainment; they produce corn, beans, cardamom seeds, cocoa and some vegetables. However, this coming fall, at least one of these villages—or potentially both—will be fully electrified thanks to Oklahoma and Colorado’s electric cooperatives. 

Partnering with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)’s philanthropic arm, NRECA International, electric cooperatives from Oklahoma and Colorado will send a team of 15 volunteers to build power lines to electrify these communities.

“Bringing electricity to areas that have none takes us back to our roots of rural electrification,” says Chris Meyers, general manager of the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC). “It’s a privilege to give back by helping empower far-away communities with the gift of light. Electric cooperatives are well-suited to help decrease the number of those living without electricity worldwide.”

A local utility, Empresa Municipal Rural de Electricidad (EMRE), based in Playa Grande, Ixcán, will maintain the power lines once they are built. EMRE purchases most of the electric power from hydroelectric plants. The project will consist of 130 poles and two transformers on 4.34 miles of primary line and 3.86 miles of secondary line. Most of the terrain will be flat, but about 1 mile of line will be built in a dense rainforest area. It is estimated that homes will receive at least two lightbulbs and two electrical outlets. 

Oklahoma’s electric cooperatives recently announced the selection of eight volunteers who will embark on this journey from September 16 to October 4, 2018. The names of this year’s project volunteers are listed to the right.

“We are grateful to the volunteers for their willingness to leave their families for an extended period of time to help improve lives in Central America,” says Jimmy Taylor, OAEC International Committee chairman. “Access to electricity will bring economic empowerment, better access to health care and enhanced safety for these villagers. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.”

OAEC—a statewide service association supporting Oklahoma’s 30 electric cooperatives—established the Oklahoma Energy Trails Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit to help fund international electrification projects. All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible. To learn more, see the sidebar on the following page or visit: http://tinyurl.com/energytrails.

10 REASONS  TO GIVE the gift OF LIGHT

1. By giving, you’re helping decrease the number of people around the world who live without access to electricity (estimated at 1.2 billion).

2.  The Energy Trails movement strengthens the mission of electric cooperatives, which is: neighbors helping neighbors, at home and abroad.

3.  When you give to the Energy Trails Foundation, you are helping establish goodwill among nations.

4.  By helping developing nations gain access to electricity, we are helping local economies to grow and thrive, ultimately strengthening the global economy.

5.   By supporting the Foundation, you’re enabling local co-op linemen with an opportunity of a lifetime to bring first-time electricity to communities in need; these volunteer linemen come back changed with a powerful new perspective on life. 

6.  International involvement can be used as a co-op recruiting tool to secure new linemen who are driven and talented.

7.  The Energy Trails Foundation gives the entire co-op family (employees and member-owners) the opportunity to help developing countries that would not otherwise get the help they need.

8.  By joining forces to bring electricity where there is none, we keep the cooperative spirit of rural electrification alive.

9.  Giving to the Energy Trails Foundation means you’re giving a gift that will not go away. It will empower generations to come.

10.  Your gift is a tax-deductible contribution. The Oklahoma Energy Trails Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. 

To give the gift of light online, visit: www.tinyurl.com/energytrails