Rural Electrification – Freedom WY

Description

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 many citizens and the Star Valley Power & Light, the town of Afton had electricity from 1907, but the farmers and rural residents in the rest of the valley went without this convenience until late in 1938. Congress passed the Rural Electrification Act in 1937, allowing cooperatives to borrow from the government to help rural areas to have electrical power. Lower Valley Power & Light, Inc. was established and received a mortgage note in the amount of $145,000 at 2.77 percent interest per annum from REA.

More and more members signed up with this new cooperative. A generating plant was built, power lines were constructed and members started wiring and plumbing their homes in anticipation of electricity coming.

On November 12, 1938 the new plant and lines were energized. This was the day that had long been awaited, when 287 members started to receive electric service. The celebration was held in Freedom, Wyoming, the location of Lower Valley’s first office.