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Congress’s Final Session Before Christmas Crucial for Electric Cooperatives

In its final “lame duck” session, Congress is addressing critical issues for electric cooperatives, including the Farm Bill, disaster relief reimbursement for the cost of rebuilding systems after recent hurricanes Helene and Milton, government funding before the December 21 deadline, eligibility for electric co-ops to receive funding from the National Defense Authorization...

Kentucky Lawmakers Form Caucus to Advocate for Electric Cooperative Consumers

Kentucky lawmakers have formed a bipartisan caucus to advocate for the interests of electric cooperative consumers.

NRECA Part of Coalition Encouraging Congress to Provide Electrical Grid Funding

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is part of a coalition of energy, manufacturing, and homebuilding groups encouraging the Senate to include $1.2 billion in funding for distribution transformers and other electric grid components in its energy and water spending bill.

Leaders from Electric Cooperatives Testify to USDA on Farm Bill Recommendations

Leaders from electric cooperatives testified before the USDA on programs that are being considered in the 2023 farm bill that have been valuable to electric cooperative and the rural communities they...

New Environmental Rules Threaten Reliability

In addition to recent reliability issues caused by demand for electricity exceeding supply, nine new environmental rules are threatening to cause additional issues for electric cooperatives.

National Environmental Policy Act to Streamline Permitting and Environmental Review

Congress recently passed reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act as part of the bipartisan agreement to raise the country’s debt limit. The law, which NRCEA supported, is expected to expedite the permitting process for electric cooperatives, requiring environmental impact statements to be done with two years and less intensive environmental assessments to be completed within...

Florida Cooperatives Providing Broadband Now Subject to State Pole Attachment Regulations

Florida recently enacted a law subjecting electric cooperatives that provide broadband service to pole attachment regulation by the Florida Public Service Commission. Florida previously maintained the same regulatory exemption for electric cooperative poles as Federal law, but now if an electric cooperative in any way provides broadband service, then it will be subject to Florida’s...

Cooperatives Push Congress to Focus on Grid Reliability

David Tudor, CEO of Missouri-based Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., is urging Congress to focus on electric system reliability, including permitting and environmental review reforms, to allow cooperatives to build new generation and transmission infrastructure in a timely and cost-effective way. North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s 2023 Summer Reliability Assessment...

Stakeholders Ask President Biden to Prioritize U.S. Steel Production for Electric Grid

The NRECA and eight other national organizations recently wrote to the President requesting the prioritization of domestic steel production in order to help meet the unprecedented demand for electrification, grid modernization and resilience initiatives.

Cooperative Leader Encourages House Panel to Improve Endangered Species Act Implementation to Support both Wildlife and Communities

The general manager of Harney Electric Cooperative in Hines, Oregon, described the importance of flexibility in implementing the Endangered Species Act to a House panel on Tuesday to simultaneously protect wildlife and prioritize affordable electricity access.

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