Green retires after 36 years at Thomas Hill Energy Center

Mike Green is hanging up his hard hat, ready for retirement after nearly 36 years at Associated Electric Cooperative’s Thomas Hill Energy Center.

Located near Clifton Hill, Missouri, the Thomas Hill Energy Center is one of Associated Electric’s coal generation stations used to generate power for six regional and 51 local, member-owned electric cooperatives.

In 1981, Green heard about an opening at Thomas Hill from his neighbor across the street. He started as an entry-level general utility employee, where he was responsible for keeping the plant clean of coal dust and debris. “It was a pretty good sized place, loud and hot,” he recalled.

“I was right out of school working for my dad,” he said. In Salisbury, that included a convenience and grocery store. “I was always interested in mechanics growing up, but I never had any schooling in it. I had some friends who had a salvage yard, and I used to help them some and learned some auto mechanics from that.”

Green was provided an opportunity to continue this interest with Associated at the power plant, where he worked in mechanical maintenance several years. In 2007, Green became a mechanical maintenance supervisor, responsible for a crew who help control the heating, air conditioning and ventilation in the plant.

“I like my job for sure,” Green said. “There’s always something new coming up.” Changes over the years have included construction of half-billion-dollar environmental air quality controls and increased safety regulations and performance.

Green offered advice. “Be open to meeting challenges head on, because there will always be some.”

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 875,000 customers. Associated’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members, including the “Take Control & Save” energy efficiency program, www.TakeControlAndSave.coop. Associated is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

An equal opportunity employer and provider/disability/veteran