When the Rural Electrification Act was signed in 1936, only 10% of U.S. farms and rural homes had power. But the REA helped achieve near universal electrification in rural America and is still vital to ensuring that co-ops can deliver affordable, reliable power, including through the Rural Utilities Service’s electric loan program.
To celebrate the REA’s 90th anniversary, we’ll talk to NRECA CEO Jim Matheson and RUS Administrator Karl Elmshaeuser on the law’s legacy and how co-ops continue to work with the Department of Agriculture’s RUS to carry out its mission. We’ll also recap an event that USDA hosted on May 27 to mark this milestone.
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Find out more about NRECA’s podcast. Questions or suggestions? Email us at AlongThoseLines@nreca.coop.