Ruby to help electrify rural Guatemala villages

This month, Nishnabotna Valley Rural Electric Cooperative Lineman Jeremiah Ruby will embark on a journey to electrify two rural Guatemalan communities, improving the residents’ quality of life for generations.

Ruby will join 17 other linemen from Iowa, Oklahoma, and Colorado electric cooperatives as part of the 2026 Guatemala Energy Trails project, an international electrification effort organized in partnership with the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, the Colorado Rural Electric Association, and NRECA International.

Ruby will be one of seven Iowa linemen participating in the project. They will work alongside seven linemen from Oklahoma and four from Colorado to extend electric service to the neighboring villages of Montenegro and El Estucal.

The rural mountain communities are located in south-central Guatemala, approximately two hours northeast of Guatemala City. Situated at about 3,000 feet above sea level, the villages feature steep terrain and sandy soil, which are expected to make construction difficult.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to help bring power to people who don’t have it,” said Ruby. “We have an opportunity to dramatically improve the lives of these people and provide electricity, something most of us take for granted here in Iowa.”

Ruby and the other linemen departed for Guatemala on Sept. 15 and will return home Oct. 2. While in the country, the team will construct approximately four miles of primary distribution line and three miles of secondary line.

The project will also include framing 56 primary and 39 secondary poles, installing a dozen transformers, and completing other work needed to energize the new system.

Once finished, the project will bring electricity to at least 80 homes, a school, and a health care center.

The new distribution system will be connected to the Municipality of Guastatoya’s electric system, which will power and maintain the lines after construction is completed.

Although Ruby routinely builds and maintains electric infrastructure as part of his work at Nishnabotna Valley REC, completing that work in rural Guatemala will present a different set of challenges. The mountainous terrain will limit access to equipment and require the linemen to rely heavily on their climbing skills and physical labor.

Ruby and all the linemen will bring their own climbing gear and personal protective equipment, items not readily available in Guatemala. Translators and representatives from NRECA International will accompany the team throughout the project, helping the volunteers communicate with residents and coordinate their work with local officials.

In addition to constructing the electric system, Ruby and his fellow volunteers will help complete a service project at the village school. Plans call for upgrading the school's kitchen with new flooring, shelving, and a refrigerator. 

Through the project, Ruby will carry Nishnabotna Valley REC’s commitment to community far beyond the co-op’s service territory, using the same skills he relies upon in western Iowa to help create a brighter future for families in Guatemala.

Members can follow Ruby and the team’s progress through the Oklahoma Energy Trails Foundation Facebook group or Nishnabotna Valley REC’s Facebook page.

Pictured from left: Scott Meinecke, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives; Jeremiah Ruby, Nishnabotna Valley REC; Jeremy Jochims, Harrison County REC; Wes Held, Prairie Energy Cooperative; Adam Hawkins, T.I.P. Rural Electric Cooperative; Jackson Rice, Heartland Power Cooperative; and Cody Stackhouse, Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative

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