NC co-ops met with 13 members of Congress —11 representatives, as well as Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd — and three members of congressional staffs. Co-op leaders addressed several key issues during meetings, including:

• Meeting growing demand with reliable, affordable power;
• Supporting programs for electric co-ops and rural America, including FEMA Public Assistance, Elective Pay energy tax credits, DOE infrastructure programs, and the RUS Electric Loan Program; and
• Advancing smart energy policies, including reforming environmental permitting, protecting hydroelectric power and defending against wildfires.

Joe Brannan, CEO for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, joined other G&T cooperative leaders in a meeting with members of the National Energy Dominance Council, a task force created by the White House to find ways to champion domestic energy production. Discussions focused on energy reliability and collaboration to meet rapidly growing demand.

“Changing administrations always bring a wave of uncertainty and new policy ideas that directly impact how electric cooperatives serve their members,” said Sharla Wells, vice president of External Affairs for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “These face-to-face meetings between elected officials and leaders from co-ops serving communities in their districts are invaluable, and will have long-reaching influence on policy decisions to come.”