Decatur County REMC lineworkers Collin Crabtree and Paul Trenkamp will join a crew of 15 other
Indiana electric cooperative lineworkers traveling to Guatemala in late January as part of an
international initiative to bring electricity to a developing area in Guatemala.
“Project Indiana: Empowering Global Communities for a Better Tomorrow” will bring electricity to a part
of the Central American country where none is available. The crew will spend January 29 through
February 15 extending electric infrastructure in the village of Palmira, a mountainous area along the
western edge of Guatemala. When completed, approximately 109 homes will have electricity for the
first time.
Collin and Paul both joined Decatur County REMC in 2015 as Apprentice Linemen. Both graduated and
became Linemen in 2020
“I can’t wait to see the people get electric for the first time and how much that will impact their way of
life,” commented Collin. Paul added, “I’m most excited to help others receive a life changing option of
having electricity to better their life and allow them the comforts we can easily take for granted.”
This is Indiana electric cooperatives’ sixth trip to Guatemala. In August 2012, 28 Hoosier lineworkers
from 17 of Indiana’s electric cooperatives spent four weeks working across the mountainous terrain to
bring electricity to 184 homes, a church and a school in three villages. In April 2015, 14 lineworkers
battled extreme heat and the rugged land to bring electricity to 164 homes, a school and a church. In
2017, 14 lineworkers endured temperature extremes to power 68 homes, a school, a church and a
health clinic. In 2019, 14 lineworkers brought electricity to nearly 90 homes, two churches and a school,
and ensured that every home they wired for electricity had a properly vented wood-burning cooking
stove installed to replace the open fires villagers have used for years. And, on the last trip in 2023, 14
lineworkers brought electricity to 26 homes and a school.
Decatur County REMC, located in Greensburg, Ind., is an electric utility cooperative serving over 6,500 members in six
counties and maintains over 1,060 miles of line. For more information about the cooperative visit dcremc.com.
From Abby Asher
