It’s Time For New Power: Rural Electric Cooperatives and the Long Fight for Energy Democracy in the United States

Dr. Abby Spinak examines the history of rural electric cooperatives and their legacy since the New Deal. Since the 1930s, a significant number of Americans have owned a voting share in their electric utility, thanks to “rural electric cooperatives.” In the 21st Century, nearly 900 electric co-ops (including GVEA and most utilities in Alaska) continue to serve over 42 million Americans. This extensive network of “energy democracy” could be an important venue for people to make decisions about our energy infrastructure at a time when we are confronting hard choices about resource use and climate adaptation; yet, few of these utilities are vibrant democracies in practice.

What: It’s Time For New Power: Rural Electric Cooperatives and the Long Fight for Energy Democracy in the United States

Date: Thursday, February 13th, 2025

Time: 3:40-5:10pm AKST

Location: via Zoom

Zoom Link: https://alaska.zoom.us/j/86456004676

This event is sponsored by the UAF Department of History and Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP)

About Dr. Abby Spinak:

Abby Spinak studies energy history, with a particular interest in the politics of utility ownership and the role of infrastructure in disseminating economic ideas. Her current research ties the history of electrification in the rural United States to the evolution of twentieth-century American capitalism and alternative economic visions. She is currently completing a book, Democracy Electric: Energy and Economic Citizenship in an Urbanizing America, which explores how a cooperative business model came to be preferred for federal electrification policy in the 1930s as a third option in a fierce debate about public versus private power; how a vast network of these community-owned and democratically-managed utilities arose across the country, quickly and dramatically altering the American landscape; and how urbanizing communities variously interpreted the political opportunities of community ownership at different moments over the past eighty years. Abby received her PhD in Urban Studies and Planning at MIT (2014). She has been a Charles Warren Center Fellow in the History of American Capitalism at Harvard University (2015-2016) and recently held an Andrew W. Mellon postdoctoral fellowship in the Energy Humanities at Rice University (2016-2017).

About the UAF Department of History:
The UAF Department of History is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the past through research, teaching, and community engagement. The department's mission is to explore the complexities of human history, emphasizing the unique perspectives of Alaska and the circumpolar North while connecting them to global narratives. By cultivating critical thinking and analytical skills, the department prepares students to engage with the world as informed and thoughtful citizens.

About ACEP

The Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is dedicated to developing and disseminating practical, cost-effective, and innovative energy solutions tailored to Alaska's unique challenges. As an applied energy research group, ACEP provides leadership in sustainable energy systems for isolated, non-integrated electric grids, as well as heating and transportation systems. By collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders—including utilities, academic institutions, government agencies, tribal organizations, communities, and private entities—ACEP ensures its research is relevant, current, and world-class. Their interdisciplinary approach leverages the university's extensive expertise to address the state's energy needs and beyond.

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