By Allie Brawley
From restoring power after storms to inspecting infrastructure and relaying a story to members, drones have become an important tool for Cloverland Electric Cooperative. With eight drones and 10 FAA-certified drone pilots, our team uses unmanned aircraft to improve safety, increase efficiency and provide better service to our members.
Cloverland recently participated in Drone Day, a regional demonstration showcasing the future of advanced drone operations in Chippewa County. Hosted through a partnership led by the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation, the event demonstrated how a digital air traffic management system could safely coordinate multiple drone operations in shared airspace.
Chippewa County was selected for this initiative because of its uniquely complex operating environment. Not only does our region includes an international border, the Soo Locks and hydroelectric facilities, nearby international airports and correctional facilities, but also U.S. Coast Guard and Border Patrol operations, a major commercial shipping traffic route, and rapidly changing weather conditions. By participating, Cloverland helped demonstrate how utilities can safely integrate drone technology into everyday operations while supporting future regional innovation.
“Utility inspection remains one of the strongest commercial applications for drones,” states Brian Lavey, Cloverland’s Director of Engineering. “This project demonstrated how advanced airspace coordination can improve operational efficiency while maintaining safety around critical infrastructure.”
How Cloverland Uses Drones
- Vegetation management – Drones help our right-of-way team monitor vegetation growth, prioritize tree trimming, document work before and after maintenance, and identify debris or obstacles that could slow power restoration following an outage.
- Storm response – Across the co-op’s 4,056 miles of line, drones quickly identify fallen trees, broken poles and other damage, especially in heavily wooded areas where access is limited and ground inspections can be difficult.
- Reaching remote locations – With 58 islands in its Eastern Upper Peninsula service territory, drones provide valuable access when seasonal conditions make travel difficult or unsafe, particularly during spring and fall when ice conditions are not ideal for crossing.
- System mapping and engineering – Cloverland’s GIS and UAV specialist uses drones to verify pole locations, construction details and conductor types, creating accurate system maps that support engineering analysis and long-term planning.
- Construction surveying and emergency response – Staking technicians use drones to support construction projects and can also assist with storm damage assessments, mutual aid efforts and emergency response when needed.
- Infrastructure inspections – Drones equipped with infrared technology help crews detect hidden issues before they become outages. By scanning substations, transformers and other electrical equipment for hot spots, drones can identify loose connections or failing components that aren't visible to the naked eye. This allows Cloverland to proactively repair or replace equipment, improving reliability while reducing risks for employees.
- Member communications – Our communications team captures a bird’s eye view of storm damage and restoration efforts to convey to members in major outage situations. Drones also provide aerial imagery for infrastructure improvements to accompany stories on infrastructure improvement projects.
As drone technology continues to evolve, Cloverland remains committed to exploring innovative tools that improve safety, strengthen reliability and enhance service for the members and communities we serve.