Environment
Environmental policies should encourage flexible local approaches that promote innovation.
Issues & Policy
Latest news on policy priorities for electric co-ops:
NRECA and its member co-ops are urging Congress to pass legislation to provide direct federal payments to electric cooperatives to develop renewable energy and battery storage projects. 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. NRECA wants to ensure that direct-pay incentives are included in any infrastructure package that Congress takes up this year.
Read more:
Co-ops’ Push for Direct-Pay Energy Incentives Sees Progress in Senate
One of NRECA’s top legislative priorities 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