SJ 172 — Commending United We Light: Project Guatemala.

SESSION INTRODUCEDENROLLED 24108137D I SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO.

172 NE OfferedN February 29, 2024 Commending United We Light:

Project Guate––––––––––Guatemala. T Patrons––Reeves, Boysko, Diggs, Durant, Favola, Marsden, Mulchi and Stanley;

Delegates:Agreed to by the Senate, March 6, 2024 R Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 7, 2024 O L Maryland traveled to Santa Isabel, Ix´n, Guatemala, to provide electricity infrastructure for the rural village as part of United We Light:

Clark, Rnnis, Fowler, Green, Hope, Owen, Rasoul, Scott, P.A.

and Ware –––––––––– O WHEREAS, in October 2023, 18 lineworkers representing electric cooperatives in Virginia and D Maryland traveled to Santa Isabel, ´n, Guatemala, to provide electricity infrastructure for the rural village as part of United We Light:

and UL UnitedWHEREAS, Wethe Light:Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives sponsored E National Rural Electric Cooperative Association that has brought electric power to more than 160 D million people in 45 developing nations;

Project Guatemala in conjunction with NRECA International, a division of thed C National Rural Electric Cooperative Association that has brought electric power to more than 16E million people in 45 developing nations;

Project Guatemala crew D members installed more than five miles of primary conductors, transformers, breaker boxes, wired lights, switches and electrical boxes with assistance from the local municipal utility, Empresa Municipal Rural de Electricidad;

andandcal inboxes total,with 103assistance connections,from including homes, businesses, a church, and a school, were electrified for the firstlocal timemunicipal ever,utility, bringingEmpresa reliableMunicipal powerRural toWHEREAS, moreUnited thanWe 500Light: people in Santa Isabel;

andProject WHEREAS,Guatemala had an immediate impact on the Unitedvillage Weit Light:served;

Projectin Guatemalatotal, crew103 membersconnections, showedincluding exceptionalhomes, fortitudebusinesses, anda dedicationchurch, toand theira mission,school, adaptingwere toelectrified thefor challengestSe offirst workingtime inever, extremebringing heatreliable andpower humiSityto whilemore navigatingthan eroded500 dirtpeople roadsin andSanta politicalIsabel; protest blockades;

and 7 WHEREAS,and dedication to their mission, adapting to the memberschallenges of theworking Unitedin Weextreme Light:heat and humidity E while navigating eroded dirt roads and political protest blockades;

Projectand GuatemalaR crewWHEREAS, werethe Dennymembers Crockett of 2the A&NUnited ElectricWe Cooperative;Light:

Project Guatemala crew were Denny Crockett of A&N Electric Cooperative;

John Johnston, the on-site media contact, Jared Stern, and John Meade of Southern the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperative;Cooperatives;

Scottandative; Geovannello of Southside Electric Cooperative;

Jacobs of WHEREAS, Genevie Boarman of Northern Neck Electric Cooperative became the Virginia,first-ever Marylandfemale andcrew Delawaremember Associationto ofparticipate Electricin Cooperatives;a NRECA International trip;

and WHEREAS,to Genevieensure Boarmanthat ofresidents Northerncan Neckchoose Electricto Cooperativestay becamein thetheir first-everhome femalevillages; creWHEREAS, United We Light:

Projectnow, Guatemalatherefore, providedbe aitelping senseRESOLVED by the Senate, the House of hopeDelegates andconcurring, securityThat bythe helpingGeneral :Assembly hereby commend United We Light:

35Project toGuatemala ensurefor thatits residentslife-changing canservice choose to staySanta inIsabel, theirIxc´n, homein villages;rural Guatemala;

now,and, therefore, be it 36presentation RESOLVEDto by the Senate,Virginia, theMaryland Houseand Delaware Association of DelegatesElectric concurring,Cooperatives Thatas an expression of the General AssemblyAssembly's herebyadmiration /for 37the commendhard work and sacrifices of the United We Light:

Project Guatemala forcrew itsmembers. life-changing service to Santa Isab´n, inca 38 rural Guatemala;

and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives as an Light:

Project Guatemala crew members.dmiration for the hard work and sacrifices of the United We