The cooperative principles are a set of guidelines that govern cooperative operations. Originally drawn up by Charles Howarth, one of 28 weavers and other artisans who founded the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers in Rochdale, England, on December 21, 1844, these principles were introduced into the United States in 1874 by the National Grange, and [...]

Corn Belt Energy has volunteered its time to help hang barn quilts in McLean County for the Barn Quilt Heritage Trail. Such trails are already popular in other parts of the United States and that is where Kay Henrichs and Karen Gottlieb, committee co-chairs and Bloomington residents, got the idea. Henrichs says, “We’re a big [...]

Coal’s share of U.S. baseload generation has been plummeting, but the Energy Information Administration says it might be poised for a slight rebound. In a July 12 energy forecast, the agency predicted electricity powered by coal will rise about 3 percent in 2013, compared with a projected 13 percent decline in 2012. “EIA expects that [...]

When electric cooperative linemen rescue ospreys and falcons, the source of danger is usually live power lines. But in a recent rescue of an osprey fledgling led by Florida Keys Electric Cooperative, the culprit was fishing wire tangled around a talon, causing the bird to dangle upside down from its nest. Line technicians, under the [...]

How much can you save using CFLs? What does it cost to run the dishwasher for an hour? Answering those questions is easy with the newest Touchstone Energy® app. It’s called Together We Save — Save Energy Save Money, an offshoot of the popular Together We Save program. “It has two new calculators,” said Jason [...]

Rural America is gaining a few new residents, but its overall share of the U.S. population is slowly falling, according to new data from the federal government. Recent reports from the Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service and the Census Bureau show the percentage of rural population is at an all-time low. Only 16.4 percent of [...]

Early indications are that LEDs might lead to increased milk production. Experts are urging caution. But it is a development that electric cooperatives need to be aware of, and there’s an event coming up that will be of interest to many. NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network has been working with Oklahoma State University researchers and Western [...]

As the economic downturn lingers, more U.S. consumers are taking steps to reduce electric bills, according to a recent study by the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions. Eighty-three percent of consumers polled took steps to cut electric bills over the past year, versus 68 percent in 2011. Although 77 percent believe they have already done [...]

Effective June 1 Prairie Power, Inc. will close the Pearl Generation Station located near Pittsfield. The small 22-megawatt, coal-fired base load plant went on line in 1968. The plant was only operated when the cost of production was lower than power purchased from the Midwest Independent System Operator (ISO). In 2010, the plant provided 4 [...]

Bird and wildlife enthusiasts can now purchase organic, locally grown sunflower seeds for their feathered and furry backyard friends. The Western Illinois University School of Agriculture’s Organic Research Program is selling 9 pound bags of black oilseed sunflower seeds for $10. The sunflowers were grown on the WIU Allison Organic Research and Demonstration Farm, which is [...]