U.S. CONGRESSMAN BILL JOHNSON Proudly Representing Eastern and Southeastern Ohio

Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) recognized Gallia County resident Gail DeGarmo with a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

DeGarmo, of Patriot, Ohio, is an employee of the Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative. She recently traveled to Honduras as a volunteer with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s International Foundation as part of an effort to train local co-op employees in utilizing operating software that provides electricity to 13,000 customers. Ms. DeGarmo’s efforts will help improve energy efficiency, integrate renewable generation, and most importantly, increase access to electricity in underserved communities in Latin America.

Video of the speech is available by clicking here:

Full text of the speech: “Today, I would like to recognize and thank a constituent of mine from Patriot, Ohio Ms. Gail DeGarmo.

Ms. DeGarmo is an employee of Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative, and she recently traveled to Honduras as a volunteer for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s International Foundation.

While on the island of Roatan, she taught local co-op employees how to install, setup, operate, and maintain their newly acquired automated metering information system. This will enable them to operate and use the “Command Center” software which serves about 13,000 customers.

Ms. DeGarmo’s volunteer efforts supported the Smart Grid Alliance of the Americas goal to provide technical assistance in smart grid technology applications to cooperative, municipal, and other small electric distribution utilities in Latin America.

Ms. DeGarmo’s efforts will help the Alliance’s project to improve energy efficiency, integrate renewable generation, and most importantly improve access to electricity for underserved communities in Latin America.

Thank you, Ms. DeGarmo for your hard work.”

For more information on the contest, please contact Ben Keeler in the Salem District Office at 330.337.6951.