FIRST - Cooperative Generating Station
N 45° 00.286 W 091° 23.313
15T E 626996 N 4984743
On March 12, 1938, the nation’s first cooperative generating station was ready for service.
Waymark Code: WM20XX
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 08/17/2007
Views: 16
Text on the marker reads:
“On Sunday, May 2, 1937, Wisconsin Power Cooperative was organized by an assembly of farmers for the purpose of developing a generating and transmission facility to provide low-cost electric service for the rural areas of Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Pierce, St. Croix, Taylor, and Trempealeau counties. Loans from the Rural Electrification Administration financed construction of the original station and transmission lines. Ground was broken on November 8, 1937, and on March 12, 1938, the nation’s first cooperative generating station was ready for service. Transmission of electrical energy into Buffalo and Trempealeau counties began on March 14, 1938, and into the remaining six counties by the end of that year. Additional generating units were added by late 1941, providing capacity to serve rural membership in Barron, Burnett, Eau Claire, Jackson, Polk, Rusk, and Sawyer counties. On December 16, 1941, Wisconsin Power Cooperative was merged with Tri-State Power Cooperative of Genoa to form Dairyland Power Cooperative of La Crosse. This historic plant was retired from service and dismantled during 1975.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 03/12/1938
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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