This coverage is made possible in part through a partnership between IPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.
Utility providers play an important role in solutions to address climate change. IPR climate solutions reporter Vivian La spoke with the CEO of Cherryland Electric Cooperative, Rachel Johnson, about all things rural energy and the challenges ahead.
Here are some highlights:
Work with rural communities, not against them
Building out the infrastructure to support growing demand for cleaner electricity can be tricky, Johnson acknowledged. But she said these projects can work when they listen to community members’ concerns.
A controversial Michigan law allows state regulators to go around local governments for approval of large-scale renewable energy projects.
“We've not had to do that at Cherryland, and I don't think we ever will, because I believe very deeply that we have the partnerships and relationships we’ll need to work through that productively,” Johnson said.
Hear more from Vivian La about this conversation and some of her story hopes as IPR's new climate solutions reporter, in partnership with Grist.
Challenges around data centers are solveable
Large facilities to support the growing AI technology sector are increasing around the country, contributing to high electricity demand.
A plan to construct a data center in Kalkaska County ended after intense local opposition. Concerns from the public and state legislators included the impact on bodies of water, noise issues and higher electric bills.
Johnson said she’s confident that utility providers can meet these challenges because when they do, new industries like computing and data can bring opportunities to rural areas.
“We have a lot of the things that they're looking for in that economy, whether that's land, whether that's a robust electric grid, whatever that looks like,” Johnson said. “And so I'm really optimistic about the future of rural economies. I'm really optimistic about our ability to power those economies.”
A resilient grid requires more investment
Maintaining a reliable electric grid in northern Michigan weather, like this winter’s frigid temperatures, requires constant upgrades, Johnson said. For Cherryland Electric, upgrades include burying electrical lines, using drones to monitor their systems and maintaining a consistent tree-trimming regimen.
Extreme weather, like last year’s ice storm, and climate change makes these upgrades even more important to Johnson.
“One of our jobs as utilities is to constantly be stepping back and saying, ‘What are the common things our system has to withstand today?’” she said. “They may not be the common things that we had to withstand 30, 40, 50 years ago, as the kind of weather — and the different climate issues that the system has to be built for — change.”
Balancing affordability and reliability is hard
Like many utility providers nationwide, Cherryland Electric has increased rates in the last two years to address the compounding problems of increased demand, tariffs and other economic changes.
“It's a challenge that all utilities are facing today, trying to figure out how to keep up with the pace of investment, the cost of investment, while also realizing that there are human beings at the end of the line who are just trying to buy groceries and take care of their families,” Johnson said.
‘All of the above’ approach to clean energy
Cherryland wants to be carbon-free by the end of the decade. That means increasing their use of multiple clean energy sources like solar, wind and nuclear.
“It's not just one thing. It's constantly, creatively looking at what makes sense right now, what can we do that is as cost-effective as possible for our members?” Johnson said.
