Dear Member-Owners,
In this month’s edition of Power Pulse, I want to explain how thoughtful growth today supports the strength and long-term affordability of our cooperative.
Electric cooperatives were created to serve communities that others would not.
Roanoke Cooperative operates with the lowest meter count per mile of any electric utility in North Carolina, whether cooperative, municipal, or investor-owned. That reality carries both responsibility and challenge. It means we maintain more miles of line per member-owner than any other utility in the state. Every mile of power line must be inspected, maintained, and upgraded regardless of how many homes or businesses are connected to it. When population declines, that responsibility becomes even more complex.
That is why economic development is not simply about growth. For a rural cooperative, it is about sustainability. When more homes and businesses connect to the electric system and fiber network we have already built, costs are shared more efficiently across the system. Thoughtful growth strengthens financial stability and supports long-term affordability for every member-owner.
For many years, our region has worked to reverse patterns of population decline. That work requires patience, coordination, and long-term planning.
Under our previous corporate strategy, Roanoke Cooperative made the intentional decision to deploy fiber across our service territory. That investment was about more than internet access. It was about positioning our communities to compete for jobs, industry, and opportunity. Today, under Connect 2030, we are focused on building upon that foundation.
Over the past two years, Roanoke Cooperative has welcomed some of the largest new industrial member-owners in our history. As these facilities ramp up operations, more of the electric system and fiber network we built is being put to work, strengthening the cooperative for the long term.
We are also seeing renewed activity across several key areas within our service territory.
The Halifax Corporate Park, in Halifax County, continues to attract interest and remains registered with the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina for statewide visibility. The Carolina Crossroads site, in Halifax County, has seen renewed ownership interest and development planning that could stimulate hospitality, housing, and commercial growth in the region.
In Hertford County, the announcement from US Forge Rings represents one of the most significant industrial investments in recent years, with plans to create at least 650 full-time jobs over time. Projects of this scale bring strong wages, expanded opportunity, and long-term community impact.
When jobs come, families follow. When families move into a community, housing develops. As housing develops, more of the electric system we have built is utilized. That strengthens the cooperative and the communities we serve.
We are not declaring victory. Economic development takes patience. It requires preparation, partnership, and persistence.
But we are encouraged.
Encouraged that the investments made years ago are strengthening our competitiveness.
Encouraged that new industrial member-owners are contributing to stronger system utilization.
Encouraged that fuller use of our electric system supports the financial health that keeps rural service stable and affordable.
Encouraged that our communities are being viewed as places of opportunity.
For a cooperative with the lowest meter density in the state, growth matters. It supports sustainability. It supports stability. And over time, it supports affordability.
Thank you for placing your trust in Roanoke Cooperative. We remain committed to thoughtful growth, responsible stewardship, and strengthening the communities we serve.
Connecting People, Places, and Possibilities… Today, Tomorrow, Together.
In Service,
Marshall Cherry
President & CEO
