Co-Op Heroes: Stories from Electric Utility Operators

Bloom Spatial
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Real stories of co-op electric utility operators overcoming challenges and serving their communities. Co-hosted by James Tanneberger (CEO of SCI-REMC) and Pablo Fuentes (CEO of Bloom Spatial).

  1. FEB 3

    019: 400 Letters and a Senate Victory: The Story of How Rural Co-ops Stopped a Regressive Tax (with John Cassady)

    In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, we sit down with John Cassady, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives, to explore how one grassroots advocacy campaign stopped a regressive tax increase that would have blindsided rural communities, and what this fight reveals about defending people who don't know they need a champion. Most people don't spend their days reading legislative proposals or tracking tax code changes. They're working, raising families, trying to make ends meet. But while they're living their lives, decisions are being made at the statehouse that could dramatically increase their electric bills. By the time they find out, it's too late. That's where advocates like John come in, serving as the eyes, ears, and voice for communities that don't know what's coming. Early in his career, John faced a defining challenge. Ohio's governor proposed a sweeping tax reform package designed to help the business community. Buried in the details was a dramatic increase to the kilowatt hour tax, a regressive tax that would hit rural electric consumers the hardest. The proposal had the backing of the governor, legislative leadership, and one-party control of the statehouse. When John raised concerns, the Speaker of the House essentially told him to pound salt. What happened next is a masterclass in grassroots advocacy. John hit the road, meeting co-op leaders in their offices and at local diners, building trust and conveying urgency. He helped CEOs translate abstract policy language into real impacts. A tax increase became "$60 more per month on your electric bill." That got people's attention. Featured topics: How regressive taxes disproportionately impact rural communities The challenge of communicating urgency about policies people don't know exist Building grassroots campaigns through co-op leaders, boards, and member consumers Why showing up in person matters when you need people to trust you and act Turning awareness into action: letters, emails, and constituent engagement Losing the battle in the House but winning the war in the Senate The moment a rural legislator said, "We're going to take care of you on this" Why good ideas and organized communities can overcome formidable political opposition The empowerment that comes from demystifying the political process How electric co-ops continue the legacy of selfless leadership, from bringing electricity to rural America in the 1930s to bridging the digital divide today John explains how this early victory shaped his entire career and taught him the power of helping others find their own voice in the political process. When people come together for the right reasons and bring their voice to the table, change is possible. And when you're fighting for something bigger than yourself, for member consumers who rely on affordable electricity, the mission becomes deeply personal. This is a story about fighting battles rural communities don't see coming, empowering people to engage in a process that often feels distant and dysfunctional, and the enduring power of the cooperative mission to serve the common good. The Co-Op Heroes podcast brings you real stories from electric utility operators, the people who work around the clock to keep our communities powered and served.

    28 min

  2. JAN 20

    018: More Than Trees: How One Forester Saved a Life While Managing Vegetation (with David Formella)

    div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 standard-markdown"> In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, we sit down with David Formella, utility forester at Southside Electric Cooperative in Virginia, to explore what happens when trees, power lines, and people intersect in unexpected ways. David brings a unique background to utility forestry: a degree in natural resource conservation from Virginia Tech, military service as a Marine, and experience as an EMT. When he arrived at Southside Electric, he discovered that being a utility forester means wearing countless hats, from vegetation management and storm restoration to emergency response and member education. The stories David shares reveal the human side of keeping the lights on. One day, he went to address a member's complaint about tree removal and ended up calling 911 when the member had a medical emergency. During a helicopter aerial trimming operation, a horse broke loose and went running down the road. Beyond the dramatic moments lie the daily challenges of balancing member concerns about beloved trees with the critical need to maintain safe, reliable power delivery. What emerges is a portrait of cooperative work that goes far beyond job descriptions. It's about being present in your community, caring about members as people, and being ready to help however needed, whether that's preventing outages, bird-dogging for mutual aid crews during storms, or simply being there when someone needs help. Featured topics: The unexpected emergencies utility foresters encounter in the field How cooperatives respond during major storms and restoration efforts Bird-dogging: supporting mutual aid crews during major outages Aerial trimming operations with helicopters and their unique challenges Balancing member relationships with vegetation management requirements Why the cooperative model demands caring about people above all else David's experience shows that working at an electric cooperative isn't just about technical expertise. It's about embodying the cooperative principle that caring about people comes first, even when that means stepping outside your role to help a member in crisis. The same mindset that drives vegetation management to keep communities safe extends to every interaction, creating the foundation of trust that makes the cooperative model work. When you work for a utility where neighbors are members, you can't just be a forester managing trees. You have to be ready for anything, from medical emergencies to livestock on the loose. David's stories remind us that the cooperative difference isn't found in policies or procedures, but in the willingness to show up, care deeply, and do whatever it takes to serve the community. The Co-Op Heroes podcast brings you real stories from electric utility operators: the people who work around the clock to keep our communities powered and served.

    20 min

  3. JAN 6

    017: The Unlikely AI Pioneer: How Dairyland Power Cooperative Made Artificial Intelligence into a Cooperative Advantage (with Nate Melby)

    In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, we sit down with Nate Melby, VP and Chief Information Officer at Dairyland Power Cooperative, to explore how an electric cooperative became an unlikely pioneer in artificial intelligence, and how that innovation is now spreading across the cooperative movement. When Nate arrived at Dairyland Power, a Generation and Transmission cooperative, he brought an unexpected background: a PhD in Information Systems and experience with deep learning research in academic laboratories. In 2018, while most industries were still experimenting with AI, Dairyland began building machine learning models to optimize load management and system efficiency. The journey evolved into something bigger. What started as internal experimentation became VoltWrite, Dairyland's proprietary AI solution. But the real innovation was to not keep the technology to themselves. Following the core cooperative principle of collaboration, Dairyland began sharing VoltWrite with other cooperatives. Today, it's a nationwide service helping electric co-ops across the country work smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Nate shares the real challenges of bringing AI to an industry skeptical of new technology. The technical barriers proved manageable. The human factor (overcoming doubt, building trust with early adopters, helping skeptics become believers) required patience, board-level support, and demonstrable results. Featured topics: The early days of machine learning adoption at Dairyland Why cooperatives were positioned to innovate before the mainstream Real-world use cases: semantic summarization, anomaly detection, document analysis The big dollar decision: replacing a software project with AI agents built in-house Overcoming the human factor in technology adoption How board support and demonstrable wins build organizational buy-in The cooperative principle of collaboration that turned VoltWrite into a national service "Pulling on the thread" problem-solving and agentic AI Building agents for compliance automation and complex workflows Nate explains how cooperatives, constrained by limited resources, are uniquely positioned to benefit from AI. When you work for a utility where every efficiency gain directly serves members, the incentive to innovate becomes clear. And when cooperatives collaborate rather than compete, those innovations ripple across the entire network. This is a story about leadership, courage in the face of uncertainty, and how the cooperative principle of working together for greater good extends into the age of artificial intelligence. The Co-Op Heroes podcast brings you real stories from electric utility operators, the people who work around the clock to keep our communities powered and served.

    19 min

  4. 12/23/2025

    016: Members as Energy Producers: Flathead Electric Cooperative's Net Metering Success Story (with Doug Gilmore)

    In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, we sit down with Doug Gilmore, Power Resources Manager at Flathead Electric Cooperative in Kalispell, Montana, to explore how one cooperative turned a complex challenge into an innovative opportunity. Flathead Electric serves one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Kalispell was recently voted the fastest-growing micropolitan city in the United States. In just five years, the cooperative added 8,300 meters while facing another challenge: members were asking to install their own solar systems and feed power back to the grid. The easy answer would have been "no." Instead, Doug and his team asked three questions: What do our members want? How can we enable that? What guardrails do we need? The result was a thoughtfully-designed net metering policy that balances member autonomy with system reliability. Rather than simply reacting, Flathead Electric created six key policy components that serve the cooperative's needs while giving members what they want. Flathead is proving that innovation and safety can coexist, and they now manage nearly 300 (and growing) net metering applications annually. Featured topics: How to say "yes" to complexity instead of defaulting to "no" Net metering policy design: six components that work Managing the "duck curve" and the challenges of solar generation Time-of-use rate design and how to align incentives with system needs Cost-of-service analysis to ensure no rate class subsidizes another Economic development through smart rate structures The power of the cooperative network: sharing ideas across regions and states Working in a cooperative where membership ownership changes everything The challenge of rapid growth and how planning prevents problems Doug shares how the cooperative principles of member ownership, democratic governance, and the willingness to collaborate create space for thoughtful innovation. When you work for a utility where neighbors are members, decisions take on deeper meaning. When you're part of a network of co-ops across the country willing to share best practices, everyone gets smarter. This is a story about embracing complexity, serving members well, and how cooperatives thrive by thinking outside the box while staying true to their core values. The Co-Op Heroes podcast brings you real stories from electric utility operators: the people who work around the clock to keep our communities powered and served.

    23 min

  5. 12/09/2025

    015: The Nuclear Opportunity: How Wolverine Power Cooperative Seized an Unprecedented Moment (with Zach Anderson)

    In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, we sit down with Zach Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of Wolverine Power Cooperative, to discuss one of the most significant achievements in cooperative energy history: the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. When Palisades entered decommissioning status, it seemed like a closed chapter. But Wolverine Power Cooperative and their partner Hoosier Energy saw something different: an unprecedented opportunity to secure carbon-free baseload power that could serve their members for decades. What followed was a bold move that had never been successfully executed in the United States: bringing a nuclear plant that was going to be decommissioned back online. The cooperative difference shines through this story. Unlike investor-owned utilities that must seek board approval and navigate complex profit motives, Wolverine's member-owned structure allowed leadership to move quickly and decisively. When Holtec, the plant's owner, needed three things: NRC approval, DOE loan support, and a committed power partner, Wolverine stepped up. That partnership became the catalyst for the entire project, ultimately securing long-term contracts for 100% of Palisades' output. Featured topics: The history of G&T cooperatives and their role in providing reliable power supply How cooperatives can move faster and more decisively than traditional utilities The unprecedented challenge of restarting a decommissioned nuclear plant Creating a balanced energy portfolio: wind, solar, natural gas peakers, and baseload nuclear Local economic impact: $10 million annually in tax revenue and 600 six-figure jobs Rate stability and price competitiveness for member cooperatives How decarbonization and reliability work together as partners, not competitors State-level support behind the Palisades restart Zach shares how Wolverine's decision to secure this abundant, carbon-free power source leaves the cooperative in its strongest position in nearly 80 years. The impact cascades through the entire cooperative network: members get price stability, clean energy, and reliability, while the state gains crucial decarbonization leadership. This is cooperation in action, where bold decisions by one G&T benefit the distribution co-ops and consumers it serves.

    17 min

  6. 11/25/2025

    014: Storytelling as a Bridge: How Hoosier Energy is Connecting the Next Generation to the Cooperative Difference (with Chad Mertz)

    In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, hosts Pablo Fuentes and James Tanneberger sit down with Chad Mertz, Vice President of Strategic Communications at Hoosier Energy to explore the challenge facing the entire cooperative movement: communicating with the next generation. Chad dives into the creative solution that's changing how communities understand the difference co-ops make. Hoosier Energy is a Generation and Transmission cooperative, one of 45 G&T co-ops across the country that provide the backbone of power supply and transmission for member cooperatives like South Central Indiana REMC. When Chad joined Hoosier Energy four years ago, board members and member CEOs raised an urgent concern: younger people simply didn't understand what a cooperative was or why it mattered. The numbers told the story. A survey revealed a stark generational divide: 93% of adults over 65 had a positive perception of co-ops, while that number dropped dramatically with each younger demographic, creating what Chad calls "a diagonal line" of declining awareness. Recruiting young talent became difficult. Events lacked young attendees. The cooperative message wasn't reaching the generations that already aligned with co-op values, whether they knew it or not. Rather than resort to traditional advertising, Chad's team recognized something powerful: young people are naturally attracted to cooperatives because of their values: local decision-making, democratic governance, and reinvested margins instead of corporate profits. These values reflect what Gen Z and Millennials actually believe in, they just didn't know co-ops embodied those ideals. Featured topics: Why younger generations are naturally aligned with cooperative principles The challenge of communicating co-op value in an investor-owned utility world Crafting authentic stories from real member communities Using multimedia and geo-targeting technology to reach local audiences How storytelling builds long-term relationships where traditional marketing falls short The spring campaign featuring customized videos highlighting local cooperative heroes Discover how the cooperative movement thrives when people understand the real difference it makes, not through selling, but through authentic stories that reveal the human side of community service. This is how you bridge the gap between mission and market, between legacy and future. The Co-Op Heroes podcast brings you real stories from electric utility operators, the people who work around the clock to power and serve our communities.

    28 min

  7. 11/11/2025

    013: The Brotherhood Above: The Indiana Lineman Rodeo with Tommy Nance of Ninestar Connect and IEC

    In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, host Pablo Fuentes heads to the Hendricks County Fairgrounds to speak with Tommy Nance, VP of Operations at NineStar Connect, about the fourth annual Indiana Lineman Rodeo, an event born from a simple vision that has become a beacon for community for linemen across the state. Five years ago, during the height of COVID, Tommy and fellow cooperative leaders asked themselves an important question: what if Indiana's electric cooperatives created their own space where linemen could safely showcase their skills, network with peers, and let their families finally see what they do every single day? The result is a day of intense competition where linemen face timed challenges like: bucket truck rescues, transforming heavy equipment, and "hurt man rescue" drills. But beneath the competitions lies something deeper: the chance for families to witness the danger, precision, and brotherhood that defines this profession. Featured topics: The real day-in-the-life of a lineman: 8-hour shifts plus constant on-call for storms, accidents, and emergencies How linemen network, compete, and push each other to be better through friendly rivalry The evolution of the rodeom, from bouncy castles for kids to hand-crafted trophies that honor the year and the craft Lessons learned year-over-year about creating meaningful community experiences The future vision: uniting all 38 Indiana co-ops and competing nationally Tommy shares how the cooperative spirit thrives when linemen see each other beyond the apprenticeship classroom, and when families understand why their loved ones miss birthdays and work Christmas. This is a story about competitive excellence serving a bigger purpose: connecting the people who keep our communities powered. You can learn more about the Indiana Lineman Rodeo at https://www.indianaec.org/safety/indiana-electric-cooperative-lineman-rodeo/ --- The Co-Op Heroes podcast brings you real stories from electric utility operators, the people who work around the clock to keep our communities safe.

    19 min

  8. 10/28/2025

    012: 10,000 Pounds of Ice: How Great Lakes Energy Survived an Unprecedented Ice Storm (with Shaun Lamp)

    In this episode of The Co-Op Heroes podcast, host Pablo Fuentes sits down with Shaun Lamp, President and CEO of Great Lakes Energy, to hear firsthand accounts of how crews and community members responded to one of Michigan's most devastating natural disasters in recent memory. When a once-in-a-century ice storm struck in March 2025, Great Lakes Energy's 14,000-mile system faced unprecedented challenges. With up to three inches of ice coating their infrastructure (six times more than design specifications), lineworkers didn't just restore power, they became first responders and community heroes. They cut their way through impassable roads to reach stranded members, many facing dangerously cold homes without heat. Featured stories include: - Lineworkers who left spring break vacations to answer their community's call - Crews strategically positioning themselves in treacherous conditions to clear obstacles - The powerful "My Daddy's a Line Worker" campaign that celebrated the families supporting these essential workers - Critical safety lessons about generator installation and use that protect both homeowners and crews Shaun shares how the cooperative difference shone through during the crisis. Employees who didn't just complete assigned tasks but actively cared for the members and families they serve. He also highlights the collaboration between neighboring cooperatives and the shared commitment to learning and supporting one another across the industry. This is a story about resilience, sacrifice, and the everyday heroes who show up for their communities when everything is on the line.   --- Great Lakes Energy can be found at https://www.gtlakes.com/   Great Lakes Energy YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@greatlakesenergy   Weather Channel Ice Storm interview with Shaun Lamp : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su0SOv8Jv4E

    30 min
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Real stories of co-op electric utility operators overcoming challenges and serving their communities. Co-hosted by James Tanneberger (CEO of SCI-REMC) and Pablo Fuentes (CEO of Bloom Spatial).

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