Navigating Federal Legislative Challenges for a Brighter Future

The conference allowed the voice of local electric cooperatives to come together to address legislative priorities that will shape our path forward. The goal is to make lawmakers understand that electric reliability is non-negotiable. 

The primary focus of the NRECA visits was advocating for smart energy policies that meet the growing demand for electricity. We emphasized the need for permitting reform to streamline the federal permitting process, which currently imposes unreasonable delays and drives up costs for essential infrastructure projects. We called for the repeal of the EPA Power Plant rule, which jeopardizes grid reliability by forcing the premature closure of coalfired plants and imposing unworkable emissions reductions on new natural gas plants. 

We also urged Congress to defend against wildfires by passing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, which would make it easier for coops to remove hazardous trees from federal land. 

While advocating collectively on a national level; we also took the opportunity to meet with our state congressional delegation to discuss issues here at home that impact our communities and individual cooperatives and members. 

To support rural communities, co-ops asked lawmakers to: 

*Support full funding for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Loan program to finance construction of electric infrastructure projects. Co-ops repay these loans with interest, which makes money for the federal government.

*Protect electric co-ops’ access to elective-pay tax credits to help them deploy new energy technologies, including energy storage and renewables. For-profit utilities have long had access to such tax credits, and the elective-pay incentives help level the playing field for not-forprofit co-ops.

*Oppose cuts to federal grant and loan programs that are helping co-ops deploy new energy technologies, harden the grid, protect against cyberthreats, strengthen their systems against wildfires and more. The programs, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy, include Empowering Rural America (New ERA), Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE), Rural Energy for America (REAP) and Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP).

*Ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to help fund the restoration of electric service after natural disasters. Without assistance from FEMA co-ops see recovery time and costs increase dramatically for small rural communities. 

*Address United States Postal Service (USPS) issues with rural delivery delays and routing, in addition to post office services to our rural communities. 

The conference highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in meeting the challenges ahead. By working together, we can ensure a resilient, reliable, and affordable electric grid that powers the future of rural America.