Electric cooperative leaders sat down with Governor Roy Cooper for an initial meeting on June 19. The group discussed issues important to electric co-ops and the communities they serve.

“The governor was engaged and interested in learning about all the technical advances and cost-saving measures electric cooperatives are implementing,” said Dale Lambert, North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation board president and CEO of Randolph EMC in Asheboro. “I thought it went very well.”

Topics discussed included:

• Energy and innovation, including an overview of the co-op generation fuel mix, distributed generation, electric vehicle infrastructure and microgrid projects;
• Rural communications, including the need for broadband infrastructure in rural communities;
• Co-op 101, including electric cooperatives’ impact across the state, serving 2.5 million people across 45 percent of North Carolina’s landmass; and
• Economic development, including North Carolina’s electric cooperatives’ investment of more than $500 million in nearly 100 economic development projects since 2012, as well as leadership in use of USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program.

“North Carolina’s electric co-ops are national leaders in providing cutting-edge, innovative energy solutions for their members.” said Toby Speaks, North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives board president and president of Surry-Yadkin EMC in Dobson.” It was an honor to share with Governor Cooper the collective progress we have made in our endeavors to improve the quality of life in our rural communities.”