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Powering a Brighter Future in Guatemala

July 15, 2024

Stearns Electric Lineman Returns from International Project

Last month, Stearns Electric Association lineman, Grant Kulzer, journeyed to the rural community of Las Peñas in southeast Guatemala to help bring electricity to 32 homes. Grant was part of a 14-person team made up of electric cooperative linemen from Iowa and Minnesota. 

The project, Powering a Brighter Future in Guatemala, was part of the larger National Rural Electric Cooperative (NRECA) International program, which works to share lessons learned in the electrification of the rural United States with developing countries around the world.

Minnesota and Iowa team members worked in mountainous terrain and rainy conditions to build 3.5 miles of electric infrastructure. Each home in the community was then wired for electricity for the first time ever. Each of the 32 homes now has four lightbulbs, two light switches to control the lighting and two power outlets. Four lightbulbs and two power outlets might seem minimal to us, but this is a huge step forward for community members in rural Guatemala.

Conditions were much different than in Minnesota. The linemen used pickup trucks to haul supplies up and down a mountain, trying to beat the rain every day as the roads are all unpaved, making it very difficult to get to and from the project site.

“The first day we got there, we were framing poles and it started raining really hard,” Kulzer recalled. “We got down to a spot in the village, but everything was so slick. In order to get back to where we were staying for the night, we had to go back up the mountain, which was very difficult.”

Muddy, slick, unpaved roads made their route tough to navigate and some days it was impossible to make it to the village in the pickup trucks. Trucks were getting stuck trying to maneuver back up the mountain. 

“It was good to get a couple of struggles in with the new team right away,” Kulzer said. “Everyone worked together to help push the trucks when they got stuck and get our group back up the mountain.”

Throughout their time there, the linemen worked to complete their daily work ahead of the afternoon rain. They were successful! On Sunday, June 16, the lights were officially turned on for the people in Las Peñas.

“Seeing how grateful everyone felt in the village was really rewarding,” Kulzer said. “When we had the lighting ceremony, the villagers met us up the mountain to celebrate with us and thank us for our work.”