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Issues & Policy

Latest news on policy priorities for electric co-ops:

NRECA and its member co-ops have been urging Congress to pass legislation to provide direct federal payments to co-ops to develop renewable energy, battery storage projects, nuclear energy facilities and carbon capture. For-profit utilities already receive federal tax breaks for providing power from solar, wind and other renewable energy sources and for using carbon-capture technologies. But not-for-profit co-ops haven’t been able to get those incentives because they are exempt from federal income taxes. On Nov. 19, 2021, the House passed a $1.85 trillion spending package that includes these incentives; a companion bill was not approved by the Senate in 2021.
Read more:
House Passes Direct-Pay Incentives for Co-ops; Bill Heads to Senate

Another top legislative priority for NRECA is the Flexible Financing for Rural America Act, a bipartisan bill that could save co-ops more than $10 billion by allowing them to reprice loans from the Rural Utilities Service at current low interest rates without being hit with prepayment penalties.
Read more:
RUS Loan Repricing Bill Gains Support in Congress
Co-op Voices: How the RUS Repricing Bill Could Help Co-ops and Communities

Learn more about issues important to electric co-ops:

Environment

Environmental policies should encourage flexible local approaches that promote innovation.

Broadband

Progress has been made to expand rural broadband, but more federal investment is needed.

Tax and Financing

Co-ops need access to affordable financing to maintain power lines and expand broadband.

Distributed Energy Resources

Distributed energy resources help reduce co-op members’ costs and improve the environment.

Reliability and Security

Strong efforts to protect the electric grid are key to preventing major power disruptions.

Power Supply

We support a broad energy portfolio that allows co-ops to best serve their members.

Operations

Co-ops often run into costly delays when trying to maintain power lines on federal land.

Retail Industry Structure

Consumer choice programs often lead to higher overall electric bills for consumers.

Environment

Environmental policies should encourage flexible local approaches that promote innovation.

Broadband

Progress has been made to expand rural broadband, but more federal investment is needed.

Tax and Financing

Co-ops need access to affordable financing to maintain power lines and expand broadband.

Distributed Energy Resources

Distributed energy resources help reduce co-op members’ costs and improve the environment.

Reliability and Security

Strong efforts to protect the electric grid are key to preventing major power disruptions.

Power Supply

We support a broad energy portfolio that allows co-ops to best serve their members.

Operations

Co-ops often run into costly delays when trying to maintain power lines on federal land.

Retail Industry Structure

Consumer choice programs often lead to higher overall electric bills for consumers.

Environment

Environmental policies should encourage flexible local approaches that promote innovation.

Broadband

Progress has been made to expand rural broadband, but more federal investment is needed.

Tax and Financing

Co-ops need access to affordable financing to maintain power lines and expand broadband.

Distributed Energy Resources

Distributed energy resources help reduce co-op members’ costs and improve the environment.

Reliability and Security

Strong efforts to protect the electric grid are key to preventing major power disruptions.

Power Supply

We support a broad energy portfolio that allows co-ops to best serve their members.

Operations

Co-ops often run into costly delays when trying to maintain power lines on federal land.

Retail Industry Structure

Consumer choice programs often lead to higher overall electric bills for consumers.