Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Environmental Analysis

Reader 1

Professor Heather Williams

Reader 2

Professor Joanna Dyl

Abstract

My thesis, a historical analysis of rural electrification cooperatives, shows that community-owned energy systems have deeper roots in community ownership. Long before today’s community solar movement, the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) advanced a vision of democratically governed, community-owned energy systems. The thesis investigates two core questions: How and why did the REA envision community ownership as central to rural electrification?To what extent were cooperatives actually designed and implemented in ways that supported meaningful community participation?
To answer these questions, I draw on the Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership to evaluate the vision and reality of Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) .

A closer examination reveals mixed outcomes. Administration shows the intention to include rural co-op members as active participants in the energy system and intends to defer significant power to realize such a vision. The reality, however, is more nuanced. While early-stage RECs saw significant community leadership and grassroots organizing, as projects moved into implementation and day-to-day operation, member engagement declined. Multiple factors likely impacted: the government's intervention, increasing apathy from members,and the undemocratic practices of board members.

In May 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released $9.7 billion to support the renewable energy transition for rural electric cooperatives. Given that many of the structural barriers identified in historical RECs persist today, the author argues the need for investment to go beyond technology but into restructuring of governance to create clear pathways for meaningful community engagement, and thus a more equitable energy future.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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