UBLY - The Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA) has awarded its highest public recognition to State Representative Terry Brown (D-Pigeon) for "unselfish public service to all Michigan citizens and invaluable support of Michigan electric cooperatives and their member-owners."
"Terry Brown was an early supporter of co-op member regulation and the Harvest Wind Farm, the first utility-scale wind generation in Michigan, with power going to the co-ops," said Michael Peters, president and CEO of MECA. "His leadership allows for streamlined regulation for electric cooperatives, allowing the member-controlled utilities to be more responsive to their members and have greater flexibility over their business operations."
Peters and Mike Krause, general manager of Thumb Electric Cooperative, presented MECA's 2008 Public Service Award to Brown on Monday. Brown sponsored the Electric Cooperative Member Regulation Act, a new law that gives electric co-ops the option of self-regulating.
Thumb Electric and Michigan's eight other consumer-owned electric cooperatives provide electricity and other services to a total of almost 700,000 residents and businesses in mostly rural areas covering half the state.
"I was proud to work with Thumb Electric and the other not-for-profit co-ops to ensure they can continue to provide reliable, affordable power to hundreds of thousands of rural homes, farms and businesses," Brown said.
"This plan helps cut through red tape to do what's best for consumers at the local level, and most of all, it can cut costs for members, which is critical during these tough times. Our electric co-ops are also leaders in the renewable energy industry, helping to create jobs and develop our economy. I am honored by this award, and I applaud the financial and environmental stewardship of everyone involved in our electric co-ops."