A Kansas electric cooperatives delegation comprising 28 Kansas electric co-op leaders attended the 2023 National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Legislative Conference held in Washington, D.C., April 16-19. The conference took place too late to make the May issue of Kansas Country Living, but I wanted to share the important discussions between many of your electric cooperative leaders and policymakers in D.C.
Kansas attendees included electric co-op board trustees, co-op managers/CEOs and lobbyists, and KEC staff who heard updates from the NRECA, members of Congress representing several states, Gene Rodrigues, assistant secretary for electricity, U.S. Department of Energy, and Andrew Berke, administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
The Kansas attendees descended on Capitol Hill, delivering the electric cooperative message with all six of our Kansas Congressional delegation members and/or their staffers. Whether sharing our concerns over supply chain issues or the need for permitting reform, the overarching message was Kansas — and our nation — must have reliable and affordable electricity.
We appreciated the opportunity to inform lawmakers about key issues and we thank Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and our U.S. House members, Representatives Ron Estes, Tracey Mann, Sharice Davids and Jake LaTurner for their on-going interest in issues important to Kansas electric cooperatives.
The main points of discussion brought forth to policymakers in D.C. by the Kansas delegation were:
- Preserve reliable and affordable electricity.
- The importance of modernizing infrastructure permitting.
- Supply chain challenges impacting electric cooperatives.
- Farm Bill opportunities for electric cooperatives.
Speaking of the Farm Bill, I had the opportunity to attend a Farm Bill roundtable with Senators Roger Marshall and John Boozman (Arkansas) as part of the senators’ day-long Farm Bill tour in Kansas. I truly appreciated the chance to participate in important discussions concerning the electric cooperative priorities regarding the Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill is a crucial tool for electric co-ops as they work to provide important financing options that help keep the lights on and accelerate the deployment of broadband internet across rural America.
Key concepts about the Farm Bill shared with the senators were that the bill offers significant opportunities for electric cooperatives and rural communities, including expanding rural broadband access, enhancing electric infrastructure, and promoting economic development. USDA programs like the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, Rural Energy Savings Program, Rural Energy for America Program and Rural Cooperative Development Program are crucial for electric co-ops as we carry out our mission to power and improve the quality of life in rural communities.
We also asked for timely consideration of the Farm Bill and passage before the Sept. 30 deadline to help provide clarity and certainty to electric co-ops as they seek to leverage these programs in the communities they serve.
The roundtable was one of many Farm Bill discussions taking place across the country with our elected officials listening to our ideas and concerns, taking them back to D.C., and working to negotiate the future of the bill on behalf of their constituents.
Electric co-ops work 24/7 to maintain electric service reliability and affordability for their consumer-members. Part of that work includes ongoing dialogue with elected officials to ensure they understand how their decisions will impact their constituents.
