Join us as we discuss the latest energy news and issues that affect Cherryland Electric Cooperative, your northern Michigan member-owned utility.
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Discover Co-op Conversations with DEMCO as we explore the power of a local member-owned not-for-profit electric cooperative. Since 1938, DEMCO has woven cooperative principles into every wire, and our business isn’t just about electricity. At DEMCO, we’re more than just an electric company, and our work, is more than just a job. As a local member-owned cooperative, we are your neighbors, your family and your friends. We exist to serve you, and we take a lot of pride in all that we do. Our mi ...
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In this episode of Co-op Conversations with DEMCO, host David Latona sits down with Ashley Carradine, DEMCO’s Energy Services Coordinator, to talk about easy ways members can reduce their electric use—especially during the hot summer months—without giving up comfort or control. Ashley explains how much energy typical household appliances use and wh…
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S11E13 - Behind the Scenes of Energy Policy: What It Means for Cherryland Members
31:27
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31:27In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, host Courtney Doyle welcomes Cherryland CEO Rachel Johnson and Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA) President and CEO John Kran to discuss the critical role rural electric cooperatives play in energy policy and advocacy. They dive into how Cherryland ensures members have a seat at the table—from loc…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the June 24th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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In this episode of Co-op Conversations with DEMCO, host David Latona sits down with Mark Phillips, DEMCO’s Chief Engineering and Operations Officer, to discuss the steps to restoring power after a storm. You’ll learn how DEMCO restores power in a specific sequence—starting with transmission lines and substations and working all the way down to indi…
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S11E11 - Celebrating Community: Incredible Mo’s Partnership with Cherryland
15:28
15:28
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15:28In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, Communications and Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle sits down with Chris Mohrhardt, owner of Incredible Mo’s, to discuss their 10-year partnership hosting Cherryland’s annual meeting and their inspiring community work. Learn how rural economic development loans helped shape Incredible Mo’s growth and how…
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In this episode of Co-op Conversations with DEMCO, host David Latona sits down with Mark Phillips, DEMCO’s Chief Engineering and Operations Officer, to discuss what it really takes to be storm-ready—long before a hurricane is in the forecast. Mark explains how DEMCO prepares year-round to ensure fast, safe response when severe weather strikes. From…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the May 19th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S11E9 - Counting Every Voice: A Deep Dive into Cherryland’s Election Process
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33:32In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, Cherryland’s Courtney Doyle is joined by Matt Fiala from Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to take members behind the scenes of Cherryland’s annual board elections. They discuss how partnering with a third-party ensures a secure, unbiased election—from online voting integration through SmartHub to the hands-off pap…
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Powering the Future: What is DERMS and Why Does It Matter? Part 2
13:51
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13:51In this episode of Co-op Conversations with DEMCO, we continue our discussion on DERMS—Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems—and explore how this smart, innovative technology could benefit our co-op and its members. Our guest, Jeff Andry, Chief Strategy & Regulatory Officer, joins host David Latona to explain how DERMS works in partnership…
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Powering the Future: What is DERMS and How Can It Benefit You? Part 1
15:49
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15:49Welcome to the first episode of Co-op Conversations with DEMCO! In this episode, we’re breaking down the basics of DERMS—what it stands for, how it works, and why DEMCO is exploring this smart technology to benefit our members. Our host, David Latona, DEMCO’s Director of Communications and Governmental Affairs, sits down with Jeff Andry, Chief Stra…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the April 21st Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the March 31st Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S11E6 - Peaking Plants, Peak Performance: How Natural Gas Supports the Grid
27:07
27:07
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27:07In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, Cherryland CEO Rachel Johnson and Wolverine Power Cooperative CEO Eric Baker join host Courtney Doyle to explore the essential role natural gas plays in keeping the lights on. From Michigan’s unique natural gas storage capabilities to the behind-the-scenes benefits of Alpine—Cherryland’s local peaking plant—thi…
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S11E5 - Planning for the Future: Cherryland’s Approach to Reliability and Rates
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29:00In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, Cherryland CEO Rachel Johnson and Board President Gabe Schneider join Courtney Doyle to break down how Cherryland tracks reliability, financial health, and member value. From smart investments in grid technology to strategic financial planning, they discuss the co-op’s approach to balancing affordability and lo…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the February 23rd Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S11E3 - From Data to Demand: Data Centers and AI's Impact on the Grid
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25:11In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, Cherryland’s Courtney Doyle chats with CoBank Knowledge Exchange economists Teri Viswanath and Jeff Johnston about the surging demand for electricity driven by data center development and AI. From the role of data centers in our digital economy to the challenges of expanding infrastructure to meet this demand, …
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the January 21st Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S11E1 - Enhancing Reliability: Cherryland's 2025 System Upgrades
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24:05In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, CEO Rachel Johnson and COO Frank Siepker discuss Cherryland Electric Cooperative's ambitious plans for 2025. From transitioning to a new SCADA system to expanding underground infrastructure, these investments promise greater reliability and faster outage restorations. Tune in to learn how predictive analytics, …
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the December 16th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E22 - Understanding Capital Credits: A Cooperative Advantage
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5:26
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5:26This year, Cherryland Electric Cooperative is retiring $570,000 in capital credits back to its members—a clear benefit of co-op membership. Join CEO Rachel Johnson on this episode of Co-op Energy Talk as she breaks down how capital credits work, why they matter, and how they’re helping Cherryland maintain its industry-leading reliability while keep…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the November 25th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E20 - Resilience and Reliability: Cherryland’s Year in Review
28:23
28:23
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28:23Cherryland Electric Cooperative has had a big year, from enhancing grid reliability to advancing sustainability efforts, and we’re here to share the story. In this episode, join CEO Rachel Johnson as she sits down with Cherryland's Board President Gabe Schneider for a conversation about the co-op’s recent milestones and what they mean for you, our …
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S10E19 - Board Meeting Brief, October 2024
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10:42Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the October 28th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E18 - Courage and Care: Spotlight on Breast Cancer Awareness
30:15
30:15
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30:15Join Cherryland's Communications and Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle as she sits down with CEO Rachel Johnson to discuss her personal journey through breast cancer. In this heartfelt episode, Rachel shares her experience from diagnosis to recovery, how she balanced being a leader and a patient, and the lessons she's carrying forward. Tune i…
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S10E17 - Board Meeting Brief, September 2024
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8:12
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8:12Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the September 23rd Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E16 - Leading The Way To 100% Carbon Free By 2030
25:11
25:11
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25:11Join Communication & Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle as she sits down with Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson and Wolverine Power Cooperative CEO Eric Baker to discuss the exciting journey towards providing 100% carbon-free energy by 2030. Learn about the strategic decisions, innovative projects like the Palisades nuclear pl…
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S10E15 - Board Meeting Brief, August 2024
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11:10Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the August 19th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the July 22nd Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E13 - The Power of Partnership: Cherryland and Wolverine
21:29
21:29
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21:29Join Communication & Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle as she sits down with Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson and Wolverine Power Cooperative CEO Eric Baker to dive into the unique partnership between the two cooperatives. They discuss how their collaboration enhances service reliability and innovation. Discover the history,…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the June 24th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E11 - The State of Our Co-op: A Year in Retrospect
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23:26Join Communication & Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle in this episode of the 'Co-op Energy Talk Podcast' as she sits down with CEO Rachel Johnson to reflect on the highlights from the past year at Cherryland Electric Cooperative.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the May 20 Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E9 - Grid Technology: Cherryland's New Metering Upgrade
17:42
17:42
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17:42Join Communication & Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle in this episode of the "Co-op Energy Talk Podcast" as we dive into Cherryland Electric Cooperative's switch to an upgraded metering system. Courtney chats with Jason Rice, metering supervisor, and Chris Vermeulen, Engineering and IT Manager, about the shift from the TWACS system to newer,…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the April 22 Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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In this episode, Communication & Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle sits down with Patrick Kelley, the founder of Léargas Security and Critical Path Security, to explore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and practical strategies for safeguarding your digital footprint.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the March 18 Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E5 - Striking the Balance and Navigating a Rate Change
21:12
21:12
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21:12In this episode, Communication & Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle sits down with Cherryland's CEO, Rachel Johnson, and Controller Brad Pavwaski to delve into the cooperative's recently proposed rate change.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the February 19 Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses with Cherryland's COO Frank Siepker about the monumental achievement of reaching 99.99% electric reliability. Read more about this topic in our CEO Column.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson discusses the highlights of the January 29 Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S10E1 - Energizing Michigan: Navigating Nuclear Futures and Policy with Michigan Representative Graham Filler
27:37
27:37
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27:37In this engaging episode of Co-op Energy Talk, Cherryland Electric Cooperative's CEO Rachel Johnson delves into the dynamic world of energy with Michigan's 93rd House District Representative Graham Filler. They explore the complexities of nuclear power, local impacts, and energy policies shaping Michigan's future, offering listeners an opportunity …
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson talks through highlights from the December 18th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson talks through highlights from the November 27th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S9E19 - Cherryland’s Temporary Pause on Capital Credits
18:50
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18:50Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson talks through the recent decision on capital credits with Cherryland CFO Mark Wilson.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson talks through highlights from the October 23rd Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S9E17 - Paving the Way to Restart the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant
16:05
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16:05In September, we announced that our power supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative, signed a power purchase agreement that will pave the way for the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. This marks the first time that a shutdown power plant would be restarted. There's a lot that goes into how that happens, what's next, and why this agreement i…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson talks through highlights from the September 25th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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S9E15 - Cultivating Local Growth with Left Foot Charley
22:03
22:03
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22:03Since 1997, Cherryland Electric Cooperative has helped local businesses take advantage of millions in federal funding available only through through the USDA and electric cooperatives. In this episode of Co-op Energy Talk, Cherryland Communications and Member Relations Manager Courtney Doyle sits down with Cherryland CEO Rachel Johnson and most rec…
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson talks through highlights from the August 28th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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Cherryland Electric Cooperative CEO Rachel Johnson talks through highlights from the July 24th Board of Directors meeting.By Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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