2017 NRECA Legislative Conference

More than 2,100 co-op leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2017 NRECA Legislative Conference.

Heather Teilhet, vice president, governmental affairs, at Oglethorpe Power Corp., talks about the importance of co-op advocacy during a forum at the Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

From left, Jared Echternach, CEO and general manager of Beltrami Electric Association in Minnesota, joins with Beltrami Electric directors Murl Nord and Charles Parson at a Capitol Hill meeting during the Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

Hill Thomas of NRECA oversees a review of the Farm Bill and other rural issues during the Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

NRECA President Phil Carson urges co-op leaders to pass along the significance of the Legislative Conference to members in their home communities. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

CEO Kristin Dolan of Runestone Electric Association in Minnesota talks about Rural Utilities Service funding during her first Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

Clay Van De Bogart, a director at Dakota Electric Association and a member of the Great River Energy board, is animated about co-op issues during a Capitol Hill meeting. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

Energy Secretary Rick Perry shares a comment with NRECA CEO Jim Matheson (c) and Mike Williams, president and CEO of Texas Electric Cooperatives, before speaking at the Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

Kim Christiansen, director of government relations at Kansas Electric Cooperatives, tells co-op leaders there isn’t an off season when it comes to political advocacy, with Andrew Vehorn of the Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)

John Cassady, NRECA vice president of legislative affairs, gives co-op leaders their marching orders on priority issues to emphasize on Capitol Hill during the Legislative Conference. (Photo By: Luis Gomez Photos)