POWERGRAMS

40 RESEARCH APC, AU have worked together for a century progressed to the extent that every community with a population of 500 or more in the state had 24-hour central station electric service." The Great Depression and a shortage of materials and resources during World War II slowed rural expansion, but from 1924 to 1946, the company built 12,600 miles of rural lines to serve 77,600 customers. Over time, the focus of the company's Rural Sales Section changed from building lines in unserved areas to making sure that the service was of maximum value to the customer. This involved significant outreach and educational activities, including the production of a monthly magazine for its farm customers; supporting Four-H and Future Farmers of America clubs; assisting with planning the second National Farm Electrification Conference; holding wiring schools for farmers and contractors; and helping to stage farm and home shows throughout the state. While other states were coordinating similar experiments, the breadth of the Alabama study and the commitment of Alabama Power was significant. The company was awarded the Edison Electric Institute's Thomas W. Martin Rural Electrification Award twice for its widespread activities within the field. After its 1947 win, the company waived the right to compete, bolstering participation from others. The work of the Alabama Power-API partnership allowed farmers to maximize resources and increase income, and it allowed rural communities to have the same comforts and conveniences as towns and cities. "The pioneering work sponsored by Alabama Power jump-started the process of drastically reducing drudgery in agricultural production, and also closing the gap in the quality of life of Americans living in the rural areas compared to those living in the urban areas who had access to and can afford electricity at that time," said Oladiran Fasina, current head of the AU Department of Biosystems Engineering. "The sponsorship provided by Alabama Power to the Department of Biosystems Engineering also played a vital role in establishing an active and relevant research program during the infancy years of the department," Fasina added. Today, the Auburn University department boasts the only biosystems, forest, bioprocess and ecological engineering curricula in Alabama. "The core is similar to other engineering programs with classes like physics, statics, thermodynamics, etc.," said Hagen Kaylor, an AU graduate and engineer at Plant Gaston. "But once you get into your major classes, the biosystems major separates itself from others, by focusing on application of engineering to natural resources." Graduates of the Auburn program apply engineering to the challenges and opportunities presented by living ecosystems and the natural environment, to advance the economic and environmental well-being of Alabamians and those around the world. In 2018, 90 percent of program graduates had placements, either in industry, government or graduate school upon graduation. "Our partnership with the Auburn Department of Biosystems Engineering to develop electrification solutions for farmers was important to improving Alabama's economy and quality of life in a critical period of development in the 20th century, and we are just as committed to finding more ways to elevate our state today," said Jim Heilbron, Alabama Power senior vice president and senior production officer, who delivered keynote remarks at the centennial celebration in April. By Erin Harney ALLIANCE Logan Dairy in Mobile used early electric equipment. Former Southeast Division Manager C.T. Hunter in 1935 stands next to milestone rural system pole.

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