Exploring ‘la pura vida’
Published in: Grey Stone Power Corp
Date: 2/1/2005
GreyStone Powers Keith Bailey joins team of Georgia linemen in a Central American quest to changes lives
Waterfalls soaring past sheer cliffs. Jungles filled with a tropical mix of monkeys, parrots and lush vegetation. Volcanoes hovering in the background, ready to call attention to themselves at any moment. And in the midst of this lost world a group of Georgia linemen cut a path for the future.
In January Keith Bailey, a GreyStone Power lineman since 1997, joined a team of linemen organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in an effort to help a cooperative in Costa Rica learn how to more effectively build power distribution lines.
“The people in Costa Rica live the pure life (pura vida) versus a life focused on materialistic things. As long as they have food and shelter, they are happy,” said Keith. “They are a relaxed people ” without all of the hustle and bustle that you find here in America. I dont think electricity will change that aspect of their lives. Electricity just provides an added convenience. Power will make their lives and work easier, but it wont change their culture.”
The linemen, or linieros, as they were called by the natives, spent two weeks living in the rural town of Santa Rosa as they extended the primary electric distribution line for Coopelesca, an electric membership cooperative covering the north zone of Costa Rica. The cooperative is celebrating 40 years of service in 2005, serving more than 55,000 members.
“The biggest thrill of the trip was when we made the line hot and set meters for people who had never had electricity,” Keith said. “One of the ladies was a diabetic, and she was excited because shell finally have a fridge to keep her insulin in. Another family owned a dairy farm and will be able to use better equipment now. Everyone over there was so appreciative, and we were welcomed everywhere we went. The women would make us fresh squeezed juice (Refresca) and sweet bread (Arapa) while we worked on the lines.”
The linemen dug holes, set poles, hung transformers and strung wire to extend the primary line for Coopelesca by 23 span ” 3 and a half kilometers, or approximately 2 miles. They did this without the aid of bucket trucks and with only one derrick truck, which is used for digging.
“Some of the work practices were different because we didnt have the same equipment,” said Keith. “Since they didnt have a bucket truck they climbed everything. Every pole had to be climbed five to nine times, and we put up 23 poles.”
Two houses were wired for electricity and ready when the Georgia linemen made the line hot and started the flow of electricity through the lines they had constructed. The following week 20 additional families received power. Keith said the experience of bringing electricity to people for the first time was what had driven him to volunteer for the trip.
“Its not every day you get a chance to go to another country and work like this,” said Keith. “In the US everybody already has electricity, so you dont do anything life changing. After a storm you may get the lights on after a few days and people think you changed their life, but going somewhere and bringing them electricity for the first time ” thats changing lives. This is something the linemen did in the early days of Americas electrification, and there are not many chances for a lineman to get the opportunity to do it today.”
During the mens two-week stay in Costa Rica, they took a few days off for sightseeing. Keiths favorite spot was Angel Hair Falls, a 300-foot waterfall near the town of La Fortuna, and he also had the chance to visit the Arenal Volcano, which is active and still emits gas and ashes from time to time. The group toured several other sites, including a boat ride through Canyo Negro, a swamp similar to the Okefenokee Swamp.
“Seeing active volcanoes, monkeys, caymens [a type of alligator] and parrots all out in the wild ” you dont get to see that everyday,’ he said, shaking his head with a smile. “It was a once in a lifetime trip. Id definitely go again ” the country and people are beautiful.”
Keith was joined during the two-week trip by linemen from Irwin EMC and Coweta-Fayette EMC and a representative from NRECA.
ABOUT NRECA: NRECA’s involvement in international activities began in 1962. Its motivation was to share experiences and designs learned in the successful electrification of rural areas in the United States with countries around the world seeking approaches to more cost-effectively implement their rural electrification programs. The NRECA International Foundation strives to help rural populations around the world get electricity and provides opportunities for these people to enjoy the social, economic and improved health benefits that come with electricity. The Foundation projects help them improve their standard of living through the use of electric energy and technology, thereby providing the opportunity to become healthy, productive, and self-reliant people. To learn more, visit www.nreca.org.