Issuu

January 2026

Celebrating 90 Years of Connection, Commitment & Community. In 2026, we celebrate 90 years of powering our communities. Making life better has always been the foundation of your cooperative. And always will be. As we enter the year of our 90th anniversary, we’re thankful for our members whose partnership helps us continue to power the homes, businesses, and communities of northwestern North Carolina.

PERIODICAL

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In the 1930s, much of rural America lived without electricity, relying instead on manual labor, limited conveniences, and time-honored methods. While cities and some farms had begun to electrify, most rural households still used kerosene lamps for light and wood stoves for heating and cooking. Water had to be hauled by hand from wells, streams or lakes, and laundry was scrubbed without the help of machines. Ice boxes served as primitive refrigerators, dependent on regular ice deliveries, and news traveled slowly—by newspaper or word of mouth.

That uncertain future began to shift in 1935, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), igniting a wave of transformation across rural communities like ours. Just one year later, on Sept. 19, 1936, Blue Ridge Electric was officially born, thanks to friends and neighbors just like you coming together to create our cooperative. Today, as we celebrate nearly 90 years, we honor our members — the heart of our cooperative — whose partnerships helped power homes, energize businesses, and strengthen the communities we call home.

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January 2026

Carolina Country Scenes page 16

Published by

New co-op solar + storage comes online page 7

Caught a cold? We’ve got soup for you. page 22 PERIODICAL

Blue Ridge Energy celebrating 90 years of service in 2026—pages 11–14 CC01_Cov.indd 3

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January 2026

(ISSN 0008-6746) (USPS 832800) Volume 58, No. 1

Published monthly by 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950 Scott Gates, CCC Editor Renee C. Gannon, CCC Senior Associate Editor Rue Reynold Editorial Assistant Jessica Armstrong Graphic Designer Tara Verna Creative Services Associate

Donna Natosi Digital Strategist Dan Tomkiewicz Advertising Dan@carolinacountry.com Joseph P. Brannan Executive Vice President & CEO Kristie Aldridge, CCC Senior Vice President & COO Warren Kessler Director of Brand Strategy North Carolina’s electric cooperatives provide reliable, safe and affordable electric service to 1 million homes and businesses. The 26 electric cooperatives are each member-owned, notfor-profit and overseen by a board of directors elected by the membership. Why Do We Send You Carolina Country Magazine? Your cooperative sends you Carolina Country as a convenient, economical way to share with its members information about services, director elections, meetings and management decisions. The magazine also carries legal notices that otherwise would be published in other media at greater cost. Your co-op’s board of directors authorizes a subscription to Carolina Country on behalf of the membership at a cost of less than $6 per year. Subscriptions: Individual subscriptions, $12 per year. Schools, libraries, $6. Carolina Country is available on digital cartridge as a courtesy of volunteer services at the NC Department of Cultural Resources, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Raleigh, NC 888-388-2460. Periodicals postage paid at Raleigh, NC, and additional mailing offices. Editorial offices: 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950. Carolina Country® is a registered trademark of the North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 707.4.12.5); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: Send address corrections to Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616-2950.

8 10 16

An Eye for Conservation George Masa’s photographs helped preserve the beauty he chased.

The Disc Golf Visionary

George Sappenfield turned a personal passion into an international phenomenon.

Carolina Country Scenes A gallery of reader photos, submitted through our annual photo contest.

Favorites 2 From Our Readers 4 Viewpoints 6 More Power

All content © Carolina Country unless otherwise indicated.

15 On the House

22 Carolina Kitchen

Phone:

919-875-3091

24 Where is This?

Mail:

3400 Sumner Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616-2950

Web:

carolinacountry.com

On the Cover “This was a slow moving storm coming across the Pamlico Sound which allowed me to set up the camera on a tripod on our deck to capture this scene using long exposure.” Photographed by Pete Coady, Frisco, a member of Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative.

Social: Email:

editor@carolinacountry.com

Change of address: Please contact your electric co-op or go online to carolinacountry.com/address Experiencing a power outage? Please contact your electric co-op directly to ensure prompt service. Visit carolinacountry.com/co-ops to find yours online.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Send Us Your Recipes! The best recipes are those shared, and we offer $25 for every reader recipe we’re able to share in future issues. See page 22 for details.

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From Our Readers

THIS MONTH:

‘An Angel and the Owls’ Please consider reprinting an article that appeared in Union Power’s “Cooperative Review [the co-op’s local newsletter], May 1995 edition. The article is about my aunt, Elizabeth Bryant, and the rescue of a baby owl by lineman Ronnie Burgess. It is such a beautiful story— perhaps a good way to begin the New Year. Edwina Eubanks, Monroe A member of Union Power Cooperative

Excerpted from original article by Luanne Sherron: Elizabeth Bryant clasped her hands tightly and smiled up into the bright blue sky as the Union EMC lineman carefully returned a baby Great Horned Owl to its nest in the old, hollow oak tree. “I’m honored the owls have chosen my yard to have their babies!” said 85-year-old Mrs. Bryant. On March 12, 1995, Mrs. Bryant found one of the baby owls resting on a wood pile beneath the same oak tree, and she realized it had fallen out of its nest. She called Union County wildlife rehabilitator Lessie Davis, although she was unable to reach the nest, so Bryant reached out to her electric co-op. Two linemen and a bucket truck were scheduled to arrive at the Bryants’ home the next morning at 9:00 a.m. It was a beautiful, spring-like morning on March 14. With a camera and camcorder in hand, I met Mrs. Bryant and her husband, Bill. Little did I know, at that time, how significant our chance meeting at the Bryants’ home would be.

Capturing Moments There’s a certain magic that a camera possesses, with its ability to stop time and freeze moments that, over the years, become dear to us. Even the offhand snapshots we take on phone cameras inevitably become keepsakes as time passes (and as we see how children and grandchildren have grown up). Photographer George Masa knew about this magic and wielded it in capturing the beauty of Western North Carolina (page 8). And our readers didn’t disappoint in this year’s photo contest—see some of the beautiful entries we received starting on page 16. —Scott Gates, editor

Linemen do not ordinarily rescue baby owls, but Ronnie Burgess was eager to help. Davis arrived with the baby owl, snug in a box, and handed it to him. Then he rode to the top of the oak tree. Carefully, he placed the baby owl back in the nest. After our mission was completed, Davis told Mrs. Bryant how the owls would first learn to walk and flap their wings and finally around July, the owls should be flying. Mrs. Bryant said she would be excited to watch the owls grow up. Life is full of irony. Mrs. Bryant would not see the owls flying in July. The day after our successful rescue mission, Mrs. Bryant passed away at her home with her husband by her side and her baby owls safely nestled in the oak tree in her yard. Mrs. Bryant was a wife to Bill for 57 years, with two sons, two grandsons, and was a schoolteacher for 30 years. Read the full article at carolinacountry.com, including a joyful photo of Mrs. Bryant taken during the owl rescue.

CarolinaSNAPSHOTS

THEME

Keeping Cozy A Christine Yancey, Connelly Springs A member of Rutherford EMC B Erin McGinnis, Indian Trail A member of Union Power Cooperative C Robert Bowen, Edenton A member of Albemarle EMC

Submit your photo! Mar. theme: Nightscapes (Deadline Jan. 20) Apr. theme: First car (Deadline Feb. 20) May theme: Flowers (Deadline Mar. 20) Send us your best shots based on an upcoming theme— we’ll pay $25 for those published. Submit high resolution digital photos and find full terms and conditions at carolinacountry.com/snapshots (no emails, please). We retain reprint and online rights for all submissions.

2 | January 2026

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Viewpoints

Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders By Sara Coats

Across the Carolinas, electric cooperatives build confidence, and develop essential skills have long been committed to empowering they can carry into school, future careers and the next generation through programs like their communities. the Youth Tour, academic scholarships and The camp’s cooperative focus is compleeducation grants. At the Cooperative Council mented by high-impact leadership training of the Carolinas, we support that commitment that stands out on any résumé. Students gain through our annual Cooperative Leadership experience in problem-solving, public speaking, Camp (CLC). With help from electric decision-making and project planning. And the cooperatives and a wide network of other types benefits don’t end when camp does. Participants of co-ops, CLC offers high school students an are eligible to apply for a scholarship during engaging, hands-on introduction to leadership, their senior year of high school to support their teamwork and the power of the cooperative next step, whether that’s a college, university or business model. trade school. For decades, CLC operated as a single-locaThanks to the generous sponsorship of election overnight camp. tric cooperatives and While that format other cooperative created countless organizations, this Camp Dates & Locations memorable experiences, formative experience the Cooperative Council is accessible to all JUNE STATESVILLE, NC 8–10 NCSU Extension Center—444 Bristol Dr. of the Carolinas recogstudents. The cost to nized an opportunity attend is just $45, a JUNE RALEIGH, NC to reach even more testament to the coop22–24 NC Rural Center—4021 Carya Dr. young people. CLC is erative principle of now transformed into supporting community JULY SPARTANBURG, SC a three-day “pop-up” and investing in youth. 13–15 Mary Black Foundation—349 E. Main St. experience hosted in Without this support, multiple regions. such an affordable, JULY PINE KNOLL SHORES, NC By bringing camp high-quality leader29–31 Trinity Center—618 Salter Path Rd. directly to communities ship program simply across the Carolinas, wouldn’t be possible. participation has surged, We encourage high local co-ops have deepened their engagement, school students, school counselors, teachers and more students than ever are discovering and youth program leaders to learn more and how cooperatives enrich and strengthen the help share this opportunity. If you or your places they call home. organization would like to support Cooperative At CLC, students don’t just learn about leadLeadership Camp, local community sponsors ership — they live it. Throughout the three days, are warmly welcomed. participants take part in immersive workshops To get involved or to learn more, contact led by cooperatives from a variety of industhe Cooperative Council of the Carolinas tries, including energy, agriculture, finance and at carolinascouncil.coop. Together, we can communications. They break into teams to build continue to grow this extraordinary camp and and run their own mock cooperative, tackling inspire the leaders of tomorrow — one co-op real-world challenges and discovering how at a time. collaboration fuels innovative solutions. These Sara Coats is executive director of the Cooperative activities help students uncover their strengths, Council of the Carolinas.

4 | January 2026

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More Power

January

Quick Hits Bundle Up Wear appropriate clothing for winter weather, dressing in layers. As Carolina Country Graphic Designer Jessica Armstrong says, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing!” Giving Back Have a day off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19? Make it a “day on” with local volunteer work to honor the late Dr. King. First Day Hike NC State Parks across the state are hosting ranger-led hikes on New Year’s Day. Find one near you at ncparks.gov. Lint-Free Remove the buildup of lint from your dryer vent to help it work more efficiently and prevent a potential dryer fire. Check the outside duct as well.

R + S

Donnie Spivey (L) and Jordan Hildreth

Hildreth Named Pee Dee Electric CEO Donnie Spivey retires after 40 years of service to the co-op This month, Jordan Hildreth steps into the role of chief executive officer (CEO) for Pee Dee Electric as Donnie Spivey retires after four decades of service to the Lilesville-based electric co-op. Spivey began his career with Pee Dee Electric as a staff assistant, later moving into the position of district manager before being named CEO and executive vice president in 1999. Under his leadership, the cooperative leveraged a variety of technologies to reduce costs to members, improve service and enhance operations, including the deployment of advanced metering infrastructure and one of the first community solar facilities in North Carolina. “Over the years, our cooperative has seen tremendous change. We’ve moved from an era defined by poles and wires to one guided by technology, innovation and

evolving member expectations,” Spivey said. “The way we deliver power, communicate with our members and plan for the future has transformed, but one thing has never changed: our mission to serve with integrity and care.” Hildreth steps into the position after being named chief operating officer in 2025. He brings a wealth of experience managing several core aspects of Pee Dee Electric’s operations as former vice president of Finance and Administration. “Pee Dee Electric has been such an important part of my professional journey, and I’m grateful for the trust the board and our members have placed in me,” Hildreth said. “I look forward to building on our strong foundation, working alongside our dedicated team, and continuing to serve our members and communities with excellence.”

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A t t s ( N

t s C e c

e i d a d

m A E

More Power

Aulander-based Roanoke Cooperative recently celebrated two new solar + storage sites — one in Pendleton and the other in Halifax, completing plans for a series of 13 sites deployed by nine electric co-ops across the state (“Electric Co-ops Adding Solar + Storage Across Rural NC,” July 2022). “These solar-plus-battery storage sites are a milestone for the state’s electric co-ops and for Roanoke Cooperative,” said Marshall Cherry, president and CEO of Roanoke Cooperative. “They reflect the values that drive our work every day: innovation, equity and commitment to the communities we serve.” With hybrid solar and storage solutions, renewable solar energy can be captured in large batteries midday, when it’s most abundant. This energy can then be discharged during periods of peak demand for electricity — in the late afternoon hours in the summer and the early morning during the winter. “By dispatching the stored solar energy when it’s needed most, we’re improving grid efficiency and resilience,” said Amadou Fall, chief operating officer of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Amadou Fall speaks at a Roanoke Cooperative solar + storage site with Marshall Cherry in the foreground.

Josh Conner

Roanoke Cooperative Solar + Storage Sites Complete Statewide Network

Both Roanoke Cooperative sites feature 240 kilowatts (kW) of solar paired with 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of battery storage and were built on farmland owned by two long-standing local families. “These sites aren’t just about energy,” Cherry said. “They’re about people, land and opportunity. They’re about ensuring that rural communities like ours are not just connected to the grid but actively shaping its future.” Along with the two Roanoke Cooperative sites, the 13 solar + storage sites collectively include more than 65,000 solar panels to generate more than 25 megawatts (MW). The projects will provide more than 52 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy storage, expected to be dispatched when demand for electricity on co-op systems peaks. “These distributed energy resources are actively contributing to our systems and benefiting our members,” Cherry said. “This is rural resilience. This is cooperative leadership.” —Josh Conner, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

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Photos courtesy of Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library

eye An

for

conservation George Masa’s photographs helped preserve the beauty he chased Story by Tina Firesheets

early 12 million people visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park annually, making it the most visited national park in the United States. Known for its breathtaking vistas, year-round natural beauty and signature smoky haze, the park is a destination throughout the year. All of this is possible, in part, to George Masa, an ambitious Japanese immigrant whose photographs captured the beauty of Western North Carolina and its people throughout the 1920s and ’30s. Masa was drawn to Asheville, inspired by the famed Vanderbilts, hoping to find his fortune. Unintentionally, he inspired wealthy patrons like them by becoming an avid mountaineer and documentarian. His arresting images helped convince philanthropists, politicians and community leaders to preserve what would become Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 1934.

The road to Asheville

Masa was born Shoji Endo in Osaka, Japan in 1881. A changing economy and industrialization prompted many Japanese to seek their fortunes outside of Japan, including Masa, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1901. He became known as George M. Iizuka and eventually adopted the name George Masa. Masa lived in San Francisco, then New Orleans, before making his way to Asheville in 1915 for a job at the newly opened Grove Park Inn. The Gilded Age mountain resort’s guest list included Industrialists like Henry Ford, inventors like Thomas Edison and notable authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Masa started in the laundry room, but advanced quickly and worked in guest-facing areas of the hotel. Photographs even indicate that he sometimes accompanied guests on outings. His fledgling interest in photography, which began in New Orleans, took off in Asheville. His portfolio included Grove Park Inn guests and promotional photos to increase tourism in Asheville. With aspirations of greater wealth, Masa left the Grove Park Inn to pursue more lucrative opportunities. However, he returned to Asheville and over a number of years, he opened two commercial photography studios and dabbled in filmmaking. His bustling studios drew impressive client lists of the most prominent entrepreneurs and families in Asheville. Although he worked extremely hard and was incredibly innovative, the wealth he chased never materialized. In time, he began spending more time outside the city. His destiny — and what he would be remembered and celebrated for — lay in the Appalachian mountains.

Capturing beauty and wonder

Today, we can appreciate the beauty of the Appalachian ranges and valleys, its breathtaking waterfalls and remote trails through Masa’s eyes. He would stake out a view for days and braved any weather condition just to capture the perfect shot at just the right moment. The volume of his work reflects a driving work ethic to capture beauty and wonder. He stood just 5-feet-2-inches tall and weighed not much more than 100 pounds. Yet, he hiked untold miles with a heavy 8-by-10-inch view camera with a wooden tripod on his back.

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His work also documents the region before maps of the Appalachian Trail even existed. In fact, he became a cartographer, producing maps for miles of the North Carolina/Tennessee section of the trail. A former engineering student, he fabricated a contraption to measure exact distances. He removed the seat, frame and back wheel from a broken bicycle and attached an odometer to the handle bars, creating a “cyclometer.” With this, he could accurately record distances as he mapped routes. Masa met the famed nature journalist Horace Kephart in the mid-1920s when Kephart hired him to take photos for a story he was writing for “National Geographic.” They became friends and collaborators, exploring, documenting and mapping what would become Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kephart’s influential writing and Masa’s arresting photography convinced financiers and decisionmakers — including John D. Rockefeller — that it must be preserved.

Masa’s lasting legacy

Although he’s sometimes called the “Ansel Adams of the Appalachians,” George Masa didn’t live to see his work become so prolific, or to see the land he loved become a national park. Despite his ambition and talent, Masa died at 52 of tuberculosis, alone and penniless in 1933. On his deathbed, he had hoped to share something with a friend but died before being able to do so. The sheer volume of his output and his awe for the landscape has inspired a resurgence of interest in his work and life. But what we know from his personal accounts doesn’t delve into the significant social, economic and legal roadblocks he encountered over the 18 years he lived in Asheville. He faced racism, government investigations into his activities, attention from the Ku Klux Klan, and he was never allowed to become an American citizen. Yet, his love for the land prevails through his photography. His contributions are remembered through various initiatives propelled by individuals who were inspired to create lasting and visible tributes that highlight his story: a tiny lichen named in his honor, Lecanora masana; a 5,600 peak in the Smokies designated as Masa’s Knob; the installation of a tombstone at Riverside Cemetery in Asheville and a street marker in Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Tina Firesheets is a marketing professional and freelance writer based in Greensboro. She grew up on the Qualla Boundary and in Whittier, and returns often.

MORE ABOUT

George Masa There’s been a resurgence of interest in him with the release “George Masa’s Wild Vision” by Brent Martin and his biography, “George Masa, a Life Reimagined.” In 2025, there were exhibits of his work at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center and the Mountain Gateway Museum in Old Fort. Here are other ways to connect with Masa and his legacy: Browse the largest collection of his photographs and papers in the Buncombe County Special Collections at Pack Memorial Library, 67 Haywood St. in Asheville. Find the street marker in his honor on Patton Avenue, just west of Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Visit Masa Knob on the shoulder of the 6,217-foot peak that bears the name of Mount Kephart in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Plan to see the film, “A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story,” which will air on PBS North Carolina in May 2026. Learn even more at georgemasa.com

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Carolina People

The Disc Golf Visionary George Sappenfield turned a personal passion into an international phenomenon Story and photo by Wendy Wood

On a sunny Sunday just after church in Fresno, Calif., a young teenage George Sappenfield was tossed a Pluto Platter from a neighbor as he got out of the car in his driveway. That one interaction in 1959 sparked a love for flying discs that George has carried with him since. George, a resident of Jonesville in Yadkin County, is well known in the disc golf world. His design was the first standardized target in the disc golf evolution, but that was several years after the 1957 introduction of the Pluto Platter (later rebranded as the Frisbee) by Wham-O, which also released the Hula Hoop in 1958. “I loved playing Frisbee from the time my neighbor threw one to me,” George says. But how did that evolve into his being one of the early pioneers of disc golf? “One of the college classes I took in 1965, the instructor said you were wasting taxpayer money if you don’t use all of the equipment and land you have available,” he says. A trip to a ball golf course the same year turned into an “a-ha” moment for George. “I was on the golf course in the woods waiting my turn. I got to thinking, there was a picnic area that was hardly ever used [at the recreation center], and the Hula Hoops were hardly ever used, too.” Up until this point, Frisbee enthusiasts had been playing a version of disc golf that just had players throwing the disc trying to hit things like light poles, mailboxes, trees or anything just to see if they could hit the “target” in the fewest number of throws. “I visualized a Hula Hoop with a Frisbee flying through it. I got the kids, and I set up four holes of Frisbee golf with wooden stakes in the ground and Hula Hoops vertically tied to them,” he explains. George’s became the first real target in an organized game of disc golf. In 1968, the recently created International Frisbee Association (IFA) wanted to have an expo and tournament outside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. George suggested to organizer, Ed Headrick, a Wham-O manager, that they set up a Frisbee golf course

George with his grandchildren and his original target design.

and test the interest level. Ed was reluctant to do so, but a resulting nine-hole course was very well received — and Ed realized he needed to pay attention to Frisbee golf. Ed later introduced the patented Disc Golf Pole Hole, which he developed with his son. When the disc hits the target, the sound of chains hung from a horizontal hoop allows players and judges to know whether the disc has hit the target. When Ed couldn’t convince Wham-O that Frisbee golf was something to pursue, he left the company, and, in 1976, the sport became disc golf. The discs also got a redesign, because the original Frisbees weren’t heavy enough. George said now there are 30 to 40 discs used to play disc golf — everything from drivers to putters and more. Through the years, George has designed 25 to 30 permanent disc golf courses, several of which were established in North Carolina after he moved to the state in the mid-1980s. For George, a World Frisbee Master, it’s not about winning the game. “The most fun is watching people play and enjoying it,” he says. “For me, it’s also marveling at something I was part of the beginnings of, and it is now all over the world.” Wendy Wood is manager of Communications & Community Relations for Dobson-based Surry-Yadkin EMC.

Where to Play Today, there are more than 16,000 disc golf courses around the world, and every continent (even Antarctica) has a disc golf course. Download the UDisc Disc Golf app to your smart phone to help locate courses all over the world. Want to learn more? The online version of this article at carolinacountry.com includes more details about the rich history of disc golf’s evolution.

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embership M

TWENTY TWENTY SIX

MATTERS

Restoring Power During A Storm

Step by step... Restoring power after a major outage can be a huge undertaking that involves much more than simply throwing a switch or removing a tree from a line. The goal is to safely restore power to members in the shortest amount of time. Our plan is based on these priorities: Step 1: Transmission structures and lines: if these are damaged, we must first make repairs to these critical, high-voltage transmission lines and substations that are the main power delivery lines. Step 2: Next are distribution substations, which “step down” (reduce) voltage from transmission lines so it can be safely delivered to thousands of members. Step 3: Main distribution supply lines (the ones you see on poles along roads) that carry electricity away from substations are targeted next. Step 4: The final power supply lines to a member’s home, called “tap lines,” are restored next if damaged. These carry the power from utility poles and underground transformers. Step 5: Damage can also occur on the service line leading from the transformer pole into your home. This could be why your neighbors have power, and you don’t — one reason all outages should be reported. If experiencing an outage, members should report it to the cooperative in one of several ways: by calling our PowerLine at 1-800-448-2383, through Blue Ridge Energy’s mobile app, or by texting “OUT” to 70216 when your mobile number is listed on your account with the cooperative. For more information and tips, visit our Storm Room at BlueRidgeEnergy.com.

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THE

Perspective 90 Year s Of Powering You

From Blue Ridge Energy CEO Katie Woodle

The New Year often signals change, but in 2026, we’re celebrating what has remained constant: our commitment to serving you with reliable energy at the lowest possible cost—for 90 years and counting.

as capital credits—back to you each May. For the average home using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month, keeping your home warm, your lights on, and your devices running costs less than a cup of specialty coffee each day.

A Legacy Built Around You This year marks nine decades since our local communities, once left in the dark, came together to bring electricity to homes, businesses and farms across northwest North Carolina. Door by door, member by member, the foundation of your cooperative was laid—dedicated to supporting local communities, strengthening the local economy, and delivering electric service that you can count on.Founded by local people, powered by local people, and guided by a mission to make life better for those we serve—these values remain at the heart of everything we do.

Providing reliable electricity at the most affordable price possible is a challenge we take seriously every day. Two of the many ways we help hold down costs is through our WorkSmart program and subsidiaries. Our WorkSmart program is an employee-led effort that identifies cost-saving opportunities to implement across your cooperative to benefit our members. Two for-profit subsidiaries—Blue Ridge Energy Propane and Fuels, and RidgeLink LLC—continue to deliver record performance, returning profits to the parent cooperative and helping us manage some of the impacts of rising wholesale power costs. I’ll share more in upcoming columns about ways we’re working to mitigate rising wholesale power costs that continue to be a significant challenge for your cooperative and others across the industry.

The Value of Electricity Electricity powers nearly every aspect of modern life, yet its value is often overlooked. In 1936, electricity was a luxury that certainly made life better. Today, it’s the backbone of our homes and businesses, fueling technology and convenience, and it continues to make life better. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we focus on delivering value. That means providing affordable energy while returning margins—known

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Looking Ahead As we celebrate a new year and our 90th anniversary, we thank you for your trust and partnership. For 90 years, you’ve been at the center of everything we do—and that won’t change.

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A c a t p a c t c

A o t a f a g

N s m d e t t

D s e d A a B i t k o

Q R l C f a

Interested In Becoming A C andidate For T he B oard Of Direc tor s? A member wishing to be considered as a candidate for the Board of Directors has two application options: the nominating committee process or the nomination by petition process. Interested members must complete and submit a director application packet by contacting Crystal Spencer, Chief Administrative Officer, at cspencer@blueridgeenergy. com or 828-759-8959. All application information is due by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, when going through the Nominating Committee process, and by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, for those seeking nomination by petition. The application process includes a complete background check. Nominations by petition must include signatures of 20 or more members with a minimum of five from each of the four directorate districts with a requirement that each signature is the name that appears on the member’s electric service bill along with the address that appears on the same bills. Directors are members of the cooperative and serve three-year terms, with three directors elected from each of the Cooperative’s four directorate (Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany) districts. Each director represents all members of the Cooperative. They attend Board meetings, Board committee meetings, and attend numerous training sessions throughout the year to be equipped and knowledgeable to serve in the best interests of the membership. Qualifications to serve as a director of Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation are listed below from Section 3.02 of the Cooperative’s Bylaws. These can also be found online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com or at any local district office.

SECTION 3.02 Qualifications. To be eligible to become or remain a Director of the Cooperative, such person must meet the following qualifications: (a) must be a natural person and a citizen of the United States, (b) must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, (c) must have been a member for a minimum of three (3) years, and such three (3) year period may include at the time of application by a director candidate, the membership duration of a spouse, as long as the director candidate applies for and becomes a joint member prior to being elected or appointed as a Director of the Cooperative, (d) must have a high school diploma or GED, (e) must be receiving electric service from the Cooperative at his primary residence which shall be for qualification purposes where a member is registered to vote and spends most of his time, (f) must not have had a membership that has been in a state of suspension as defined in Section 1.10, (g) must have and sustain the Cooperative’s most favorable credit rating as defined in the Service Rules and Regulations, as herein defined in Section 3.15, (h) must not have been involved at any time in meter tampering reported to law enforcement,

Story continued on page 14...

Page 13

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Continued...Interested In Becoming A C andidate For T he B oard Of Direc tor s?

(i) must be legally competent and available to attend regular Board meetings, committee meetings, training and other events. Directors who miss more than two consecutive regular Board meetings may be subject to removal action by the Board. It shall be the duty of the Board to develop additional policy guidelines on attendance requirements, (j) must not in any way be employed by, financially interested in, or serving as an officer, director, trustee or equivalent for a competing enterprise with the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, or a business that sells products, services or supplies to the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, (k) must not have a close relative (as hereinafter defined in Section 3.14) who is in any way employed by, financially interested in, or serving as an officer, director, trustee, or equivalent for a competing enterprise with the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, or a business that sells products, services or supplies to the Cooperative or its subsidiaries,

(l) must not have been convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a felony pursuant to state or federal laws, (m) must not have been a former regular full-time employee of the Cooperative or its subsidiaries, (n) must not have a close relative who is an employee of the Cooperative or its subsidiaries or incumbent director as defined in Section 3.14 of these Bylaws, (o) must comply with the requirements of the governing conflict of interest policies and guidelines as adopted by the Board, and the Cooperative’s non-discrimination policy, and (p) Must complete a conflict-of-interest statement as part of the formal candidacy application process that includes disclosure of any nonmember campaign assistance.

Visit us on the web: BlueRidgeEnergy.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Katie Woodle EDITOR Renée R. Walker PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR Jacob Puckett

Membership MAT TERS

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DISTRICT OFFICES Caldwell Watauga Ashe Alleghany PowerLine*

TOLL FREE (828) 754-9071 (828) 264-8894 (336) 846-7138 (336) 372-4646 (800) 448-2383

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12/10/25 3:49 PM

On the House NCWRC

EV Ownership Benefits

The costs (and savings) of EV charging By Jonathan Susser

I’ve been seeing more electric vehicles (EV) in my neighborhood and around town. I’m intrigued by the technology but have questions, especially about costs. What are some things to know?

It’s not surprising that you’re encountering more of these vehicles — around 125,000 light-duty EVs navigate North Carolina’s roads these days, and they hold a market share of nearly 8%. There are certainly a lot of things we could discuss about EVs: their performance, their charging, their environmental impacts. But their cost to own and operate is top of mind for many potential consumers. And perhaps unexpectedly, that can relate to how co-ops manage the power grid. Let’s dig in. I got my first EV this past summer. I did my research and generally knew what to anticipate. But then my next couple of electric bills came in, and I was still caught off guard. Then I remembered that although I’m now paying more for electricity each month, my gas expenses are $0. In fact, when it’s all said and done, I should save around $700 annually on fuel — that’s not nothing, and it’s not uncommon, depending on your driving habits. I’m fortunate that I have the ability to charge at home (I’m currently using just a regular 120-volt outlet) as well as where I work (with a quicker Level 2 setup). If I didn’t have those luxuries and needed to charge at public locations, my savings would be considerably lower, and potentially nonexistent. When I charge at home, I’m paying the same amount for each unit of electricity (a kilowatt-hour, or kWh) as I do when running the dishwasher, lights or any other appliance or device. At public chargers, other entities set the price per kWh, and it’s typically more expensive.

An important factor in this discussion is your electricity rate. Your co-op may offer time-of-use pricing that adjusts the cost of electricity based on the time of day. Compared with the more common flat rate, time-of-use rates have you pay more for electricity when demand tends to be higher (and the grid more strained), such as on winter mornings, and much less during periods of lower demand, like overnight. The goal is to encourage members to move their electricity use — including their EV charging — to “off-peak” windows of time. On an individual level, effectively making that shift when on this type of rate will likely save you money. For your co-op, it’s easier and more cost-efficient to manage electricity that’s spread out over time than condensed into a small period. Limiting “peak” electricity demand may reduce the need to upgrade poles, wires and other infrastructure, and ultimately keep down wholesale power costs, which benefits you and all your neighbors. With EVs, the concern is primarily at a hyperlocal level, for example, if numerous households served by the same transformer all charge their vehicles at the same, inopportune (for the grid) times. That’s what time-of-use rates try to avoid. So, if you end up getting an EV (I personally recommend it), contact your electric co-op. They’d appreciate the information and can let you know about any rate, program or incentive offerings that might be relevant and help you save even more. Jonathan Susser is a senior content developer for Advanced Energy in Raleigh.

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Scenes

A gallery of your

best photos From breathtaking landscapes to sweet moments between friends and family, the entries to this year’s reader photo contest impressed us all around. Thank you to the hundreds who took the time to submit their work—we’re showcasing a few here, and you can find more online and on social media throughout the year.

@carolinacountrymagazine



s d on ey.







Bright-Eyed and Bushy Tailed | This female elk eyed passersby as she grazed on underbrush in the| Cataloochee True Love The true loveValley. between a girl and her dog . Isaac Owens, Waynesville Stephanie Sheffield, Gastonia, a member of Rutherford EMC

16 | January 2026

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Chilly Sunset Ride | My husband took this photo while on a horseback ride at Cedar Island.

Sweet Grass Basket Making | Donnell Burch of Burch Family Sweet Grass Baskets creates a sweet grass basket on site at the Rice Festival held at Fort Anderson/Brunswick Town historical grounds. The festival featured Gullah Geechee culture and crafts, among them basket making with sweetgrass.

Sylvia Phillips, Williamstown, KY, Tideland EMC

Jason Brady, Bolivia, Brunswick Electric

 An Appalachian Dream

A long-awaited sunrise on Hawksbill lit up the peak blooms of Carolina rhododendrons and made the morning feel like a reward in itself. Stephanie Sheffield, Gastonia, Rutherford EMC  Unadulterated Love

Nothing comes close to the true love between a little girl and her dog. What a gift!

G ta th

Carol Anthony, Lincolnton, Rutherford EMC

 Gathering Sunflower Nectar

A picture of my bee, taken by my son Thomas Moore on the sunflowers that he grew. Nina Moore, Bear Creek, Randolph EMC  Busy Hands = Happy Hands

Corn harvest time in the mountains puts my 93-year-old hands hard at work. Roy Sutton, Clyde, Haywood EMC

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Bountiful, Beautiful Blue Ridge | Take in a breathtaking sunrise over the Cashiers Plateau in North Carolina, where the Blue Ridge Mountains stretch endlessly into the horizon. Mark Crews, Newport, Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

 Magical, Practical

Marigolds | Marigolds are especially beautiful when the sun is shining on them. Not only are they pretty, but they are also deer-resistant. My husband and I plant them in our yard every year. Janis Harless, Jefferson, Blue Ridge Energy

S c

Isolated Orange Beauty | I came to Mazarick Park in Fayetteville early to capture sunrise in a few areas with fall color. I just happened to turn and saw this isolated orange beauty capturing the light.

Steven Kelly, Hope Mills Lumbee River EMC

Postcard-Perfect Sunset | The scenic look out on the Blue Ridge Parkway between Boone and Blowing Rock provided a postcardperfect sunset. Janie Fogarty, Daytona Beach, FL, Blue Ridge Energy

18 | January 2026

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Resting Bull | I was fortunate to find this bull elk resting on a foggy early morning in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Clarke Cochran, Indian Trail, Union Power Cooperative

Sisterly Love | Six-year-old Penelope and eight-week-old baby sister Marlowe contemplate one another. Barry Long, Leland, Brunswick Electric | Photo by Dawn Niles, Fuquay-Varina

The Gossip Geese | I found the down of the white geese so pretty at Lake Rim in Fayetteville—it honestly made me want one for myself. These two look like they're sharing some gossip. Alex Johnson, Raeford, Lumbee River EMC

Savannah Smiles | My sweet Savannah always looks on the bright side. On a special trip to eat breakfast with abuela (grandma) at Cracker Barrel, the restaurant lost power just as we received our coffee. Rather than being glum, Savannah sweetly smiled, brightening the room and our mood! Blanca Lynn, Lexington, EnergyUnited

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Advertising published in Carolina Country is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and willingly sold to customers at the advertised price. All ads must adhere to Carolina Country’s advertising policy, which can be found in our media kit at carolinacountry.com/advertise/MediaKit. The magazine, North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc., and the member cooperatives do not necessarily endorse the products or services advertised. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted. Should you encounter advertising that does not comply with these standards, please inform Carolina Country at 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616. 919-875-3091.

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Carolina Kitchen

dairy free

Rotisserie Chicken Healing Soup

Warm Matcha Cocoa With fluffy coconut whipped cream

Make this simple soup to savor during cold and flu season. Just smelling it simmer makes us feel better. (Of course, it’s flavorful anytime!) 1 small rotisserie chicken 2 tablespoons ghee or olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 cups matchstick carrots, snipped with scissors 2–3 stalks celery with leaves, finely chopped 4–5 cloves garlic (or more), minced 1 tablespoon fresh zested ginger 2 teaspoons ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 teaspoons salt 1 small lemon Fresh chives, cilantro, parsley or dill

Debone and shred the chicken. Place bones and skin into a large pot and add 7–8 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer and reduce for 30 minutes (or put in a slow cooker for 12 hours on low). Strain and discard bones. Wipe pot dry and add oil or ghee over medium heat. Add vegetables and sauté about 5 minutes, stirring as they cook. Stir in garlic, ginger and seasonings, cooking 2–3 minutes to bloom (which enhances the spices). Add broth, cover and bring to a low boil. Simmer about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, add 2 cups of the chicken, and let the soup rest for a few minutes. Stir in zest and juice of the lemon. Garnish with your favorite freshly snipped herb(s).

From Your Kitchen Winter Salad With apples, cranberries and candied walnuts

¹/₃ cup extra virgin olive oil 2½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1½ tablespoon shallot, finely diced ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon salted butter 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar ½ cup walnuts, chopped 7 ounces spring salad/spinach blend 2 small apples, sliced thin (or 1 large) 2 ounces parmesan cheese, shaved (pre-packaged is fine) ¹/₃ cup dried sweetened cranberries For the dressing, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard and shallot, then season with the salt and pepper. Whisk mixture for about

Recipe courtesy of Gayle White of Supply, a member of Brunswick Electric. 20 seconds. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. In a medium skillet, melt butter along with brown sugar over medium heat. Once melted, add walnuts and cook, stirring constantly until caramelized, about 2–3 minutes. Transfer to a plate in single layer to cool. In a large bowl, layer spring/spinach mix and apples. Toss with dressing,* then top with parmesan, dried cranberries and candied walnuts. *Dress salad just before serving as it will wilt the lettuce after a while.

Submit your recipe online at: carolinacountry.com/myrecipe. Contributors whose recipes are published will receive $25.

Full of antioxidants and nutrients, this powdered green tea can be used in a variety of ways. We like to cozy up with this warm cocoa on a chilly winter’s day. 1 can (13-ounce) full-fat coconut cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Preferred sweetener (we like honey) 2 teaspoons matcha 1 heaping tablespoon cocoa 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar ¼ cup hot tap water 2 cups milk (we used creamy oat milk) For the whipped cream, chill the coconut cream overnight. Drain the coconut water and save for other uses. Use a hand mixer to whip until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and sweetener and give a quick mix just to incorporate. Refrigerate. For the cocoa, sift matcha and cocoa into a small bowl. Add brown sugar and hot water, whisking until smooth and lump-free. Warm the milk, making sure not to boil. Stir in the matcha-cocoa mix until combined. Pour into mugs and top with whipped coconut cream. Note: Use plant-based milks (oat, coconut or almond) for a creamy, dairy-free option. Dairy milk works as well. Yield: 2 servings

Culinary Adventurist Wendy Perry (WendyPerry.com) is a home economist, blogger and NC food artisan, unless otherwise noted.

Digital Extra Visit carolinacountry.com/recipes to search more than 1,000 recipes by name or ingredient.

22 | January 2026

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Where would we be without our

As long as they’re here taking care of us, we’ll be here taking care of them. We’re Civic, a modern f inancial partner for today’s local government community. Learn more at civicfcu.org.

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January Events

JAN. 11

ArcoStrum Award winning guitar-violin duo River Dunes Harbor Club & Marina, Oriental NOV. 1–JAN. 4

NOV. 28–JAN. 3

JAN. 15

JAN. 22–25

Christmas at Biltmore

Hot Cocoa Crawl

Yoga + Wine Night

WinterFest

Biltmore Estate 800-411-3812

Downtown Elizabeth City 252-335-5330

Hinnant Family Vineyards, Pine Level 984-242-9190

Downtown Blowing Rock 828-295-7851

NOV. 15–JAN. 4

JAN. 10

JAN. 18

JAN. 29–FEB. 1

Winter Lights

Lonesome River Band

Decoy and Wildlife Festival

Ice Fest Weekend

The North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville 828-665-2492

Award-winning bluegrass band The Liberty Showcase Theater, Fayetteville 336-524-6822

Mattamuskeet High School, Swan Quarter 252-542-0890

Maggie Valley Festival Grounds 828-944-0761

JAN. 19

JAN. 11

Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade

African American Cultural Celebration

Downtown Elizabethtown 910-876-7905

NC Museum of History, Raleigh 919-814-7000

NOV. 15–JAN. 11

Chinese Lantern Festival Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary 919-462-2025 NOV. 19–JAN. 4

Winter Wonderlights The Greensboro Science Center 336-288-3769

“I Do” Re-Do Event Sale event for gently used wedding items The Dupree House, Smithfield 984-285-5877

JAN. 30–31

Visit carolinacountry.com/calendar for more information about each event, including links to the most current information, or to submit your own event.

where in Carolina Country is this? Send your answer by Jan. 15, with your name, address and the name of your electric cooperative. Online: carolinacountry.com/where By mail: Where in Carolina Country? 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616 Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The winner, chosen at random and announced in our March issue, will receive $25. Have a roadside gem you’d like to share? Submit a photo, plus a brief description and general location information, at carolinacountry.com/where.

November’s winner The November Where Is This photo by Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative member Oscar Trujillo features the Village Blacksmith shop, a part of the Pamlico County Heritage Center and Museum located on NC Highway 55 in Grantsboro. According to the Pamlico County Historical Association, the Heritage Center educates visitors on local farming, fishing and forestry, the three economic drivers for the county. The site features a visitor center, museum, heritage village, exhibits showcasing agricultural tools and artifacts, all serving as an educational hub for all ages. The winning entry chosen at random from all correct submissions came from Debbie Buck of New Bern, a Tideland EMC member.

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PREPARED FOR WINTER,

Committed to You. When winter weather moves in, co-op linemen gear up. Your local co-op’s dedicated crews are backed by a statewide network that will do whatever it takes to keep your family warm and connected. It’s not just a job—it’s a co-op commitment. From restoring power to ensuring community safety, you can count on electric cooperatives.

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12/9/25 10:21 AM

Be Prepared To Stay Safe And Cozy.

PREP for a possible outage. If severe weather causes power outages, Blue Ridge Energy crews are ready to respond! You can be prepared, too, with the following tips when winter storms try to disrupt our communities.

Make sure you are ready: Prep your EMERGENCY KIT beforehand with items including:

Non-Perishable Food

First Aid Kit

Battery Powered or Flashlights & Hand Crank Radio Extra Batteries

Packable Blanket Personal Hygiene & Sanitation Items & Pillow

Baby & Pet Supplies

Games, Puzzles & Entertainment

Bottled Water

Keep cellphones and power banks fully charged. Check texts for outage info: Automatic outage texting

is provided to members who have cell phone numbers listed on their accounts.

Emergency Tools & Supplies

Stay informed when you download the Blue Ridge mobile app or on our website: Check our live outage map, report an outage, chat and more!

If there is an outage: Report Outages: Text "OUT" to 70216 Call 1-800-448-2383

Online at BlueRidgeEnergy.com Or on our mobile app

Visit our Storm Room at BlueRidgeEnergy.com/storm-room for more tips on how to stay safe and informed in the event of outages. Blue Ridge-0126 WRAP.indd 3

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SEASONS CHANGE,

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Powering peace of mind through every season. With Budget Billing, your payment stays the same each month, making it easier to plan and manage your budget. Working together, we will set a payment amount (determined by your prior usage) for 11 months. In the 12th month, a final budget payment plus any "true up" amount to settle the account will be billed. This amount includes any difference owed or any credit due based on your Budget Billing agreement.

Visit BlueRidgeEnergy.com/BudgetBilling or call us at 1-800-451-5474 to sign up!

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