Kansas Co-op Wins National EV Award for Education and Charging for Rural Areas

On January 2, 2026, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) announced Wheatland Electric Cooperative has earned national recognition for its efforts to educate rural communities about electric vehicles and expand public charging access in southwest and central Kansas, helping to close a critical 100-mile gap between charging stations.

The 21,000-member cooperative, based in Scott City, prevailed over three large investor-owned utilities in Michigan, New York, and New Jersey to win top honors in the utilities category of the 2025 Drive Electric Awards. The awards are presented by Plug In America (PIA), a national nonprofit that promotes affordable and accessible electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

“Though small, Wheatland Electric Cooperative leads with innovation—bridging the gap in rural America and proving no community is too small, too rural, or too remote to be part of the clean transportation future,” PIA said in announcing the award.

In the photo above, students from Scott City Middle School in Kansas sit in the front trunk of Wheatland Electric Cooperative’s Ford F-150 Lightning during the co-op’s EVs & Espressos event on Sept. 24, 2025. The free public event, hosted in the school’s parking lot, sparked curiosity among students and gave co-op members a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee while learning more about EVs during National Drive Electric Month.

Since 2021, Wheatland Electric has installed three ChargePoint Level 2 public charging stations, each with two ports, in an area that previously had no chargers within a 100-mile radius. Funded entirely by the cooperative, the stations had supported more than 1,500 charging sessions from nearly 670 unique drivers as of October.

“We’re in a part of the country that’s often overlooked, simply because we’re so rural,” said Shajia Donecker, the co-op’s multimedia specialist. “We are always striving to put our region on the EV maps, and I think Plug In America recognized that.”

In addition to infrastructure investment, the cooperative has emphasized hands-on education. It regularly hosts EV ride-and-drive events, including a 2024 “Dine and Drive” lunch in Great Bend that drew 150 attendees with free meals and opportunities to test drive multiple EV models. For that event, the cooperative provided its own Hyundai Kona and Ford F-150 Lightning, while an employee contributed a Tesla Model Y.

In the photo above, Mary Hoisington, member services and key accounts manager at Wheatland Electric Cooperative, discusses EV performance with Derek Caldwell, WEC journeyman lineman, at the co-op’s EVs & Espressos event in Caldwell, Kansas, on Oct. 1, 2025, during National Drive Electric Month.

Wheatland Electric’s member services team also received the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s 2025 Service Excellence Gold Award for best external event. More recently, the cooperative hosted “EVs & Espressos” events at local coffee shops during National Drive Electric Month, offering free coffee to encourage residents to learn about EVs.

With electric vehicles still rare in the region and no local dealerships displaying them, these events often represent residents’ only opportunity to experience EVs firsthand. Plug In America cited Wheatland Electric’s grassroots approach and its focus on accessibility, reliability, and cost savings as key factors behind the award.

NRECA, Representing America’s Electric Cooperatives and the Communities They Serve

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is the service organization representing America’s electric cooperatives and the communities they serve. Its mission is to promote, support, and protect the community and business interests of electric cooperatives, while empowering their member-owners and improving quality of life across rural America.

Electric cooperatives first brought power to rural communities more than 75 years ago. Today, they are applying that same cooperative spirit to new challenges, including electrifying transportation, homes, and appliances, and supporting the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Reliability and affordability remain central priorities as co-ops adapt to changing technologies and rising energy demand.

NRECA works on behalf of cooperatives to advocate for smart energy policies, strengthen the cooperative business model, and provide resources that help keep the lights on for millions of Americans. The organization also supports international electrification efforts, partnering with cooperatives to improve living standards in developing countries by expanding access to electricity.

Rooted in the principle of “neighbors helping neighbors,” electric cooperatives were founded by farmers and ranchers seeking opportunity and economic development. That same sense of shared purpose continues today as co-ops respond to evolving community needs, invest in infrastructure, and promote innovation while remaining locally owned and governed.

Through research, advocacy, education, and collaboration, NRECA helps electric cooperatives power communities, empower members, and build a more resilient and inclusive energy future.

Plug in America, a National Nonprofit Promoting EV Adoption

Plug In America is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles by making them more affordable, accessible, and practical for all drivers. Through consumer education, policy advocacy, and coalition building, the organization works to eliminate barriers to EV ownership and expand charging infrastructure nationwide. One of its signature initiatives is the annual Drive Electric Awards, which recognize electric utilities, local governments, employers, nonprofits, and individuals that demonstrate leadership in advancing electric transportation. The awards highlight innovative programs, community education efforts, and infrastructure investments that help normalize EV adoption and bring the benefits of electric mobility to more communities across the United States.

EVinfo.net’s Take: Real American Heroes Are Promoting EVs in America’s Rural Areas

Real American heroes are promoting EVs in America’s rural areas. Few wealthy people live in these areas, the people are mostly middle class or low income. This disparity, plus the lower profits from lower utilization of EV charging in rural areas, makes it difficult for EV charging companies to install in these areas.

The foolish cut of the federal EV tax credit made it more difficult for these middle and lower income rural drivers to switch from gas to cleaner, cost-saving electric.

THANK YOU Wheatland Electric Cooperative, Inc., NRECA and all of our FANTASTIC, passionate and hard-working EV industry nonprofits.

I’ve had the great honor of speaking with Plug In America‘s Joel Levin, Jeff Allen at Forth, Noah Barnes at the Electrification Coalition, and Munni Krishna at VELOZ. I apologize if I left anyone out.

These heroes are getting it done, staying the course in an EV revolution in North America that survived significant federal pushback in 2025, and will likely see more.

Im confident, as i have no doubt that these leaders are as well, that EVs will keep growing in NA despite the bad government policies. The main reason is the superior cost effectiveness of electric vehicles. As an environmentalist, the fact that EVs are most eco friendly is what drew me to the industry, but the cost savings allowed me to make the switch faster than I could have otherwise.

The administration’s tariffs have not only raised prices on new and used EVs, hybrids and gas vehicles, but food as well. Last month saw the biggest jump in grocery prices in almost three years. On a monthly basis, food prices rose 0.7% last month, the largest jump since September 2022, reported the latest Consumer Price Index data.

I feel the financial pain just like all non-wealthy Americans do right now due to horribly bad tariffs. My shoestring budget, bootstrapped scrappy startup, EVinfo.net keeps chuggin’ along regardless, thanks to our amazing clients.

EV industry pros, keep going. A brighter, cleaner, cost saving EV future is ahead, we just must keep our eyes on the prize.