Cooperation: Our Competitive Advantage
By Tom Condit
More than 300 attendees from New Mexico’s 15 electric cooperatives gathered May 13–15 at Isleta Resort & Casino for NMRECA’s 81st Annual Meeting. The event opened with remarks from Socorro Electric CEO Manny Gonzales and included briefings from state leaders, agency representatives, and cooperative partners on topics ranging from wildfire mitigation and broadband expansion to grid reliability and legislative developments.
Presentations featured updates from Tri-State G&T, the Public Regulation Commission, the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, and the New Mexico Environment Department. A dedicated grant panel spotlighted wildfire planning efforts by Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative, while a breakout session with Tri-State Generation & Transmission, the Bureau of Land Management and NM Forestry focused on mitigation strategies and interagency coordination.
The meeting honored cooperative leadership with Co-op Champion Awards presented to Senator Pat Woods (in absentia), George Biel and the late Keven J. Groenewold (accepted by Jeff Groenewold). Safety excellence was recognized with the Carl M. Turner Safety Award, presented to Central Valley Electric Cooperative, Farmers’ Electric Cooperative, Northern Rio Arriba Electric Cooperative, and Tri-State G&T. The Long Rope Safety Award was presented to Daniel Utajara, journeyman lineworker at Lea County Electric Cooperative.
Special recognitions followed from Federated Insurance and CFC, along with remarks from Youth Leadership Council representative Hailey Bidegain. The final morning included updates from Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, CoBank, New Mexico State University, Nexstar Media and Pioneer Utility Resources. The meeting concluded with door prize drawings and a renewed sense of momentum for the year ahead.
Thank you to our member co-ops, G&T partners, speakers, Business Alliance sponsors, vendors, associate partners and all who help keep rural New Mexico powered, prepared and connected.
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