• Brown-Atchison Electric Cooperative - Horton KS
    First Rural Electrification Administration (REA) program in Kansas is remembered today with a state highway marker in Horton, KS. "First REA Project in Kansas At this site the first power pole for the Brown-Atchison Electric Cooperative was dedicated in special ceremony on November 10, 1937. Brown-Atchison was the first rural electric project to energize in Kansas financed by loans from the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). On April 1, 1938, central-station electricity generated at the Horton Power Plant was sent into the first section of lines to farms in Brown and Atchison counties, signaling an end to darkness and drudgery for rural people....
  • Burt County Rural Public Power Co. Transmission Lines - Bertha NE
    In February 1937, officers and directors of the Burt County Rural Public Power Company met in the Burt County Courthouse to sign a loan contract with the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) for $275,000.00 to build 263 miles of transmission lines. Bids for the construction of the lines would be advertised within weeks, and it was expected that nine months of construction would be required to finish the project. Still, as soon as sections of the electric line were built and farm homes were wired, the current would be turned on for their use. Power was obtained from the Elkhorn Valley...
  • Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative - Portola CA
    Ranchers in northern California were still in the dark when the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA) came into being in 1936. A provision in the New Deal allowed Investor Owned Utilities to borrow money and extend lines to rural areas. A group of ranchers and farmers in the area interested in receiving power went to Sierra Pacific Power and Pacific Gas and Electric to try and interest them in taking advantage of the new government loans. When they couldn’t get the IOUs to bring power to the valley, they began knocking on neighbors’ doors, in an effort to form their...
  • Reeve Electric Association Plant - Hampton IA
    Electric power plant built with the support of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). Today, the structure serves as a county historical society museum.
  • Resettlement Community - Fruita CO
    The farmland around the town of Fruita in western Colorado was the site of a Resettlement Administration (RA) project that relocated poor farmers driven out by the Dust Bowl. Some 34 families had been relocated to Fruita by 1937. The official name was the Grand Valley Resettlement Project (also known as the Western Farms Association). (Fruita Community History page) It appears that another 32 families were relocated to neighboring Loma CO, probably as part of the same Resettlement Project (Wikipedia).  A Community Hall was built in Loma for the new settlers in the area by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in...
  • Rural Electrification - Basin WY
    The Western Construction News notes REA work in this small town of 903 (1930 census). "The REA has alloted $82,000 to the Big Horn Rural Electric Company, Basin WY, for construction of 85 miles of transmission lines in Big Horn County, Wyoming."
  • Rural Electrification - Benton City WA
    The Western Construction News reports of REA work in rural Washington state. "The REA has alloted $45,000 to the Benton Rural Electrification Association, Benton City Washington, for construction of 43 miles of transmission lines in Benton County Washington." "The Benton Rural Electric Association was incorporated on April 19, 1937, to serve the rural areas of Benton and adjacent counties. Armed with a $45,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture loan through the Rural Electrification Association for planning and construction, the Association completed 43 miles of line. Benton REA first flipped the switch in May of 1938, lighting 89 rural farms in Benton and Yakima...
  • Rural Electrification - Blachly OR
    The Western Construction News of June 1937 notes REA work in rural South West Oregon. " The REA has alloted $108,000 to the Blachly-Lane County Cooperative Electric Association, Blachly Oregon, for construction of 87 miles of transmission lines in Lane County Oregon." Lane county in 1930 was very sparsely populated with only 54,493 people. "In 1934, one of the first people's utility districts in Oregon was formed, Lake Creek Public Utility District. But before the state and federal governments acted on the application, the Rural Electrification Act was passed and members of the Lake Creek PUD voted to go with the Rural...
  • Rural Electrification - Fort Morgan CO
    The June 1937 issue of Western Construction Magazine notes that "The R.E.A. has alloted $250,000 to the Morgan County Rural Electric Association, Fort Morgan Colorado, for construction of 248 miles of transmission lines in MORGAN and WELLS COUNTIES." "Morgan County Rural Electric Association was organized on April 27, 1937. Morgan County was the third REA to be organized in Colorado. The Charter Board of Directors included: H. W. Bigler, C. C. Daily, J. R. Henderson, O. E. Kinnaman, Ernest Rosener, W. F. Tormohlen, G. E. Trewet, N. C. Wagers and George T. White. The first official meeting of the Board of...
  • Rural Electrification - Freedom WY
    The Western Construction News notes electric projects in Wyoming and Idaho by the REA. "The REA has alloted $145,000 to the Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc., Freedom Wyoming for construction of 90 miles of transmission lines and a generating plant in Lincoln County Wyoming and Bonneville and Caribou Counties, Idaho. Estimated cost of generating plant is $42,000." "Lower Valley Energy began in 1937 as Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc. with just 10 members signed up for this new cooperative. In 1999 when the name changed to Lower Valley Energy there were over 13,000 members. As a result of diligent efforts of...
  • Rural Electrification - Kalama WA
    The Western Construction News reported of REA work in Washington State. "The REA has alloted $88,000 to the Cowlitz County Public Utility District No. 1, Kalama Wash., to finance construction of 81 miles of electric transmission lines." " Cowlitz County Public Utility District, a Depression era institution that provides electric utility services to 47,400 customers (including 42,400 residential customers and 5,200 commercial clients) in its service territory. The municipal utility also serves more than 3,800 Longview-Kelso area water utility customers. Like 27 other PUDs in Washington state, Cowlitz County Public Utility District has the authority to offer electric, water, wastewater, and wholesale...
  • Rural Electrification - Lake Authur NM
    The June 1937 issue of Western Construction News reported "The REA has alloted $164,000 to the Central Valley Rural Cooperative Electric Company, Lake Arthur New Mexico, for constructing a generating plant estimated $60,000 and to construct 84 miles of transmission lines, estimated cost $104,000 in Eddy and Chaves Counties New Mexico." The company exists today "Central Valley Electric was incorporated June 23, 1937. CVE received its first loan from the Rural Electrification Administration for $90,000. From this modest beginning CVE has expanded its plant to $86.2 million dollars, providing service to more than 4,000 members who require in excess of 15,000...
  • Rural Electrification - Lewiston ID
    The June 1937 issue of Western Construction News notes REA work in Idaho. "The REA has alloted $75,000 to the Clearwater Valley Light and Power Association, Lewiston Idaho, for construction of a generating plant of 800 KW capacity." "The REA has alloted $400,000 to the Clearwater Valley Light & Power Association, Lewiston Idaho, for construction of 300 miles of transmission lines in Idaho and Washington." "In 1936, Kenneth Summers was manager at a farmer's co-op, the Lenore Grain and Seed Grower's Company. The machines, needed to process the grain seed, needed electricity but the nearest power line was many miles away. Despite repeated...
  • Rural Electrification - Powell WY
    The Western Construction News of June 1937 reported on REA work in Wyoming. "The REA has alloted $50,000 to the Garland Power & Light Company for constructing 50 miles of transmission lines in Park County Wyoming." The company still exists to serve a small area of Northwest Wyoming as part of the The Wyoming Rural Electric Association.
  • Rural Electrification - Worland WY
    The Western Construction News reported on REA work in Wyoming. "The REA has alloted $50,000 to the Washakie Rural Electric Company, Worland Wyoming, for construction of 50 miles of transmission lines in Washakie and Big Horn Counties, Wyoming." "High Plains Power, Inc. is a member owned electric cooperative serving just over 13,000 meters in central Wyoming. High Plains has over 4,800 miles of powerline covering 12,500 square miles in parts of Fremont, Hot Springs, Washakie, Natrona, Carbon, Big Horn, Johnson and Park counties. High Plains Power was formed in 1998 when the memberships of the former Riverton Valley Electric Association and Hot Springs...
  • Rural Electrification Administration Substation - Carrollton GA
    Along Maple Street, Carrollton is the site of the first Rural Electrification Administration substation in Carroll County, Georgia.
  • Surprise Valley Electrification Corporation - Alturas CA
    "n 1936, F.L. "Barney" Roberts of Surprise Valley was weary of being in the dark. He wanted electric lights in his home, convenience for his wife's work and a dependable power source for his milking machine in his dairy barn. Barney petitioned the California Public Service Company of Cedarville for a power line to the ranches of Surprise Valley. After being turned down for power by California Public Service Company of Cedarville, Barney wrote to President Roosevelt requesting a solution to the problem. The President responded to Barney's request, telling him about the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, which provided federal financing...