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Co-op Energy Talk

Cherryland Electric Cooperative•cherrylandelectriccoop.podbean.com
Business
Non-Profit
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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Episodes

S11E13 - Behind the Scenes of Energy Policy: What It Means for Cherryland Members

In 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 local community efforts to statewide and federal advocacy—and explain key issues like FEMA funding after recent storms, the importance of permitting refo...

Jul 10, 2025•31 min•Ep. 97

S11E11 - Celebrating Community: Incredible Mo’s Partnership with Cherryland

In 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 their unique birthday party project is giving back to local kids who might otherwise go without celebrations. Tune in to hear about the deep ties bet...

Jun 10, 2025•15 min•Ep. 94

S11E9 - Counting Every Voice: A Deep Dive into Cherryland’s Election Process

In 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 paper ballot process. Learn how your votes are counted, protected, and validated, and why democratic member control remains a core cooperative princi...

Apr 30, 2025•34 min•Ep. 92

S11E6 - Peaking Plants, Peak Performance: How Natural Gas Supports the Grid

In 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—this conversation highlights how thoughtful investments in natural gas support grid reliability and cost savings. Tune in to learn how these plants provi...

Apr 01, 2025•27 min•Ep. 88

S11E5 - Planning for the Future: Cherryland’s Approach to Reliability and Rates

In 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 long-term stability. Tune in to learn how Cherryland compares to other utilities, why proactive rate adjustments matter, and how forward-thinking decisi...

Mar 03, 2025•29 min•Ep. 87

S11E3 - From Data to Demand: Data Centers and AI's Impact on the Grid

In 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, they explore what this growth means for utilities like Cherryland. Tune in to learn how innovations in efficiency, creative grid solutions, and strate...

Feb 01, 2025•25 min•Ep. 84

S11E1 - Enhancing Reliability: Cherryland's 2025 System Upgrades

In 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, cutting-edge technologies, and a focus on data-driven decisions are shaping the future of your co-op. Curious about what these changes mean for you? D...

Jan 02, 2025•24 min•Ep. 83

S10E22 - Understanding Capital Credits: A Cooperative Advantage

This 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 keeping rates affordable. Curious about the impact of these retirements on your December bill? Tune in for all the details!

Dec 04, 2024•5 min•Ep. 81

S10E20 - Resilience and Reliability: Cherryland’s Year in Review

Cherryland 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 members. From faster outage response times to our path toward a carbon-free future, get a firsthand look at how Cherryland is working to keep our comm...

Nov 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 79

S10E18 - Courage and Care: Spotlight on Breast Cancer Awareness

Join 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 in for a candid conversation on resilience, leadership, and the importance of supporting those facing cancer. You'll also hear about valuable local res...

Sep 30, 2024•30 min•Ep. 77

S10E16 - Leading The Way To 100% Carbon Free By 2030

Join 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 plant, and the importance of reliability and affordability as they lead the charge in Michigan’s energy future.

Aug 29, 2024•25 min•Ep. 75

S10E13 - The Power of Partnership: Cherryland and Wolverine

Join 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, challenges, and future prospects, and learn how it continues to serve you, the member.

Jul 19, 2024•21 min•Ep. 72

S10E11 - The State of Our Co-op: A Year in Retrospect

Join 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.

Jun 17, 2024•23 min•Ep. 70

S10E9 - Grid Technology: Cherryland's New Metering Upgrade

Join 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, more efficient technology. They'll discuss the significant improvements in outage reporting, system management, and data accuracy that this upgra...

May 02, 2024•18 min•Ep. 68
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