Electric cooperative donated $356,020 to charities and community organizations from 2012 to 2021
For Immediate Release
November 2, 2021
Contacts:
- Magen Howard, (520) 586-5561, C: (419) 901-6600, email Magen Howard
- J.D. Wallace, (520) 586-5157, C: (520) 235-4203, email J.D Wallace
Benson – “Concern for Community” is a core principle of member-owned cooperatives, and Arizona G&T Cooperatives (AzGT) lives by the principle. Over the past decade, from 2012 to 2021, AzGT donated $356,020 to local charities and non-profit organizations.
“We focus on four areas that reflect our values—education, health and wellness, youth sports and activities, and community events,” said J.D. Wallace, AzGT communications, social media and marketing administrator, who’s involved in distributing funds.
Recent examples include providing $10,000 to three recipients in 2021:
Cochise College Foundation, which provides scholarships to high school graduates and non-traditional students;
Cochise Education Foundation’s Teacher of the Year awards, classroom mini-grants and New Crossroads Academy; and
Willcox Theater and Arts, which offers first-run movies to the public and special showings for autistic children. It also supports local arts programs.
CoBank’s Sharing Success program matched AzGT funds in the three cases above, bringing the total awarded to $20,000. CoBank provides financing to AzGT and other cooperatives across the nation.
In another sponsorship, AzGT contributed $2,500 to participants in the Cochise County Fair Junior Auction. Livestock auctioned off included sheep, lambs, goats, hogs and cattle raised by 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) members ranging in age from elementary to high school. The $2,500 was distributed equally to all 110 participants as an “add-on” to their other auction earnings.
AzGT also presented 2 checks for $2,000 each to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona, and Chiricahua Community Health Center Inc., for a permanent power connection for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in Benson.
The above represent just a few examples of AzGT’s direct donations in 2021. In addition, AzGT provides substantial indirect support to local community organizations and programs through shared advertising, printed materials, meeting space, and technical support. AzGT’s in-house print, graphics and audio-visual A/V shop provides for AzGT needs as well as those of AzGT’s six Member electric distribution cooperatives. The shop donates printing and A/V services for many community events. AzGT contributes to other organizations through its Member co-ops and through Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives, a nationwide network of electric co-ops.
AzGT employees also exemplify concern for community, donating thousands of hours of their own time, as well as more than $150,000 annually, in personal donations to local charitable organizations.
Qualified non-profit organizations may apply for AzGT sponsorships.
About Arizona G&T Cooperatives
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and Sierra Southwest (Sierra) together comprise Arizona G&T Cooperatives. AEPCO owns and operates the 625-megawatt (combined gross) Apache Generating Station, located at Cochise, east of Benson. AEPCO also owns, operates and maintains 866 miles of electric power transmission line—including line owned in part with other utilities—and 36 substations to provide wholesale electric power from Apache to 6 Member distribution cooperatives in southern Arizona, western New Mexico, northwestern Arizona and California.
Sierra is the vehicle to develop new ways to serve the renewable energy needs of AzGT Member cooperatives and customers, and helps maximize solar and other renewable tax credits. Sierra has initiated 2 utility-scale solar projects. AEPCO’s 20 megawatt (MW) Apache Solar project is located on AEPCO property adjacent to and northeast of Apache Generating Station. The second project includes SunAnza Phase I, a 2 MW solar array, as well as SunAnza Phase II, which includes an additional 1.35 MW solar array and a battery storage system, all on property owned by Anza Electric Cooperative adjacent to its headquarters in Anza, California.
Combined, the distribution cooperatives that receive AEPCO’s wholesale power serve more than 161,000 meters representing more than 420,000 individual residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial member/consumers.
The Class A Member cooperatives that receive wholesale power from AEPCO include Duncan Valley Electric Cooperative, Duncan; Graham County Electric Cooperative, Pima; Mohave Electric Cooperative, Bullhead City; Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, Willcox; Trico Electric Cooperative, Marana; and a California member, Anza Electric Cooperative, Anza.
These Member cooperatives own AzGT and, by extension, AzGT’s Member distribution cooperatives are owned by their members—the people at the end of the line who use the power.
AEPCO also serves 5 Class D energy services Members which are scheduling and trading customers and which include the Central Arizona Water Conservation District, Phoenix, AZ; Lincoln County Power District #1, Pioche, NV; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; Southwest Public Power Agency, Maricopa, AZ; and Valley Electric Association, Pahrump, NV.
AEPCO is also a Member/owner of ACES, a nationwide energy management company that helps its Members and customers buy, sell, and manage energy more efficiently and with less risk. The AEPCO/AzGT Benson campus hosts the ACES West Regional Trading Center (WRTC), which benefits AEPCO/AzGT Members and customers.