By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Over 5,300 miles of power lines have helped serve the Central Illinois area over the years as Corn Belt Energy celebrated its 80th year in service on Friday.
Since opening in 1938, Corn Belt Energy continues to serve over 36,000 households and over 18 counties in Central Illinois.
Corn Belt Energy Director of Communications and Marketing, Hillary Cherry, said that it has been an honor to serve the Central Illinois area for so long.
“I would like to say thank you to our cooperative members for their continued involvement in our cooperative,” Cherry said. “It’s because of them that we are around and we look forward to another 80 years of history and a bright future for everyone.”
Corn Belt Energy Corporation celebrated its 80th anniversary at Central Catholic High School on Friday with over 1,500 in attendance. Cherry added that she is proud of how Corn Belt Energy strives on its grass roots.
“We are very proud of our members, we have made it 80 years because of our members,” Cherry added. “The fact that 80 years ago we had families that were hauling water from wells for cooking and washing, and they had the interest in bringing electricity in their area, so they invested in the cooperative.”
With electric cars coming to the forefront of everyday use, Cherry said their is no limits on what Corn Belt Energy can achieve.
“Some of the things that they (customers) can expect in the future is continued safe and reliable electricity,” said Cherry. “We’re also coming out with additional programs and rates for things like electric vehicles and other things like that. As technology changes we are continuing to evolve and try to do what’s best for our members.”
Cherry added one of the main reasons why Corn Belt Energy has continued to serve the Central Illinois area for 80 years is thanks to all of the hard workers day-in and day-out.
“Our team of employees go day-in and day-out no matter what the weather is to serve our members,” Cherry said. “It could be a sunny day or it could be ice and snow and treacherous winds and they (employees) still go out and serve our members.”
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]
