Innovation at Four County Electric Membership Corporation grows wherever opportunity takes root. Across classrooms and communities, each initiative begins with the same goal: to educate, engage, and help members prepare for a changing energy future.
Three years ago, Greg Sager, VP of Member Services, and CEO Don Gatton began looking towards where the energy industry was headed. “We saw that beneficial electrification would have to be a focus,” Sager explains. “We wanted to help members understand these technologies and set them up for success.”
That mindset led to a series of community partnerships that blended education with hands-on demonstrations. The first major effort was a collaboration with James Sprunt Community College. Through partnerships with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, Duplin County, and the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund, Four County EMC helped bring a hydroponic smart farm project called Box to Bowl to life. The container arrived at the college in March 2024, and by summer the first harvest was complete and new courses in sustainable agriculture were underway.
Students in the hydroponics course manage everything from seed to harvest, learning vertical farming techniques and real-time monitoring. The system produces crops without pesticides in a weather-resistant environment that’s unaffected by drought or heavy rain, at speeds up to seven times faster than traditional methods. The program now shares its produce with local food banks and community organizations.
The success of Box to Bowl gave Four County EMC confidence to try something new. “It’s hard to reach members through brochures or videos,” Sager says. “We wanted something hands-on, where they could see and learn about energy-efficient technologies for themselves.”
That idea became the Innovation Home, a mobile exhibit that helps members understand energy efficiency, navigate grants, and make informed decisions about emerging technologies like solar. The co-op brings the exhibit to local festivals, annual meetings, and statewide events, giving members a chance to see energy-saving tools up close and talk with staff about how those technologies apply in their own homes.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and other cooperatives across the state have invited Four County EMC to showcase the Innovation Home at their events as well. “It’s really a way to bring members in, educate them, and make sure they’re set up for success,” Sager says.
While the Innovation Home continues making stops across the co-op’s service area, another new project is already taking shape. In partnership with Bladen Community College, the co-op helped develop an all-electric teaching kitchen.
The kitchen serves as a case study in electric design focused on health, safety, and workforce readiness. The induction cooktops don’t radiate heat; you can cook on them and immediately place your hand on the surface without getting burned. The electric fryer heats oil more efficiently than gas, reducing energy loss and keeping the kitchen cooler for staff. “It’s not only safer and more energy efficient; it’s going to cool down the kitchen for the cooks and chefs,” Sager says.
The workforce development aspect is just as important as showcasing the technology. “If students learn in kitchens set up this way, then when they go out in the field, they’re more likely to use that technology,” Sager says. “If they open their own restaurants, they’re more likely to adopt it.”
At the center of these efforts is Kristen Hole, Four County EMC’s Innovation and Electrification Specialist. The position itself reflects how the co-op approaches innovation. “That’s a position most cooperatives don’t have,” Sager says. Creating it wasn’t easy in a world where most co-ops run lean, and every department could use extra help. “That’s where our CEO’s vision and passion for innovation made sure it got across the finish line,” Sager explains.
Hole’s position bridges these programs and connects directly with members across their service area. She speaks to residential members about solar education and rate structures, works with farmers and local businesses on sustainability goals, and manages key accounts with larger industrial loads. She also helps navigate available grants and funding opportunities, recently securing $2.9 million in matching funds for infrastructure improvements.
“She’s positive and deeply passionate about doing the right thing for the community and the environment,” Sager says. “She has a real hunger to learn, always attending conferences and exploring new perspectives. She’s not just looking at the cooperative viewpoint but trying to understand the full picture.”
Four County EMC maintains an annual innovation budget dedicated to projects like these. Next year, they’re exploring new opportunities, potentially with another community college or local farm. The co-op is also in discussions with local police departments about electrifying idle fleet vehicles and evaluating options for electric buses. “We’re constantly looking at ways we can help educate and electrify our communities.”
The responses have been strong, not only among members but also from other cooperatives interested in what Four County EMC is doing. “Other co-ops have reached out to learn more,” Sager says. “By sharing our experiences, we can help many more communities. That’s cooperation among cooperatives in action.”
Four County EMC’s projects share a common thread: practical education, local partnerships, and hands-on opportunities that meet members where they are. By approaching innovation in ways that feel accessible and rooted in community needs, the co-op is showing how beneficial electrification can take shape in rural communities.