In 1935 the federal government established the Rural Electric Agency which was the beginning of electricity being supplied to rural homes in the United States. This information was given to the Bonham Rotary Club by John Ed Shinpaugh, Assistant General Manager of Fannin County Electric Co-Op, as he gave the weekly program on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
John Ed also stated that rural electricity started in Fannin County in Trenton in 1937. Forty-two million people are now served rural electricity in forty-seven states.
John Ed stated that 60% of the power in the United States in generated by coal. Only 17% of power in the United States is generated by natural gas. This is the cause for the price of your electricity to go up. He predicted that the percentage of natural gas will go up.
His main topic for the meeting was their partnership with North Texas Municipal Water District and the Lower Bois D Arc Reservoir. John Ed stated that they have been meeting with N.T.M.W.D. for about one year and that an agreement has been signed for Fannin County Electric Co-Op to be their electricity supplier for the pump station and for their water treatment plant, located west of Leonard.
Several miles of lines will have to be built to each one of these facilities. He said that N.T.M.W.D. wants power ready to test their facilities by the year 2019.
John Ed is a graduate of Bonham and has lived here most of his life. He traveled seventeen years in business, and is glad to be back working in Bonham. He will assume the position as Manager of Fannin County Electric Co-Op in August.
Also the Bonham Rotary Club welcomed a new member, Josh Farris, who was inducted during their weekly meeting.
The Bonham Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12:00 noon at the Family Life Center.