North Carolina Cooperatives Engage Legislators at Home and on Capitol Hill

State Sen. Todd Johnson (center) with leaders from Union Power Cooperative, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives and Pee Dee Electric

In building a Brighter Future for rural communities, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are committed to providing members with safe, affordable, reliable electricity in an environmentally responsible way, and working to develop the communities they serve. A critical part of making these efforts successful is engaging with elected officials to ensure issues important to rural communities are being properly addressed.

U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis met with NC electric co-op leaders

In May, leaders from North Carolina’s electric co-ops met with federal legislators at home and in Washington, D.C., as part of the NRECA Legislative Conference. Virtual and in-person meetings were held with all 15 members of the NC congressional delegation — 13 representatives and Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis.

“Our members of congress look to North Carolina electric co-ops to relay issues that are important to the rural communities we serve,” said Jay Rouse, director of Government Affairs for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “In recent years, virtual meetings have helped keep the dialog going, but the in-person discussions being on Capitol Hill and back at home are invaluable to ensuring our voices resonate when policy decisions are being made.”

Rally in Raleigh

In June, 140 representatives from 22 NC electric cooperatives convened in Raleigh to meet with members of the North Carolina General Assembly. Co-ops met with 76 legislators across the House and Senate.

 In meetings with legislators, co-op leaders discussed a variety of topics important to rural communities and Brighter Future initiatives, including: 

• Maintaining reliability of the electric grid while working innovatively toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050;
• Expanding the deployment of broadband to unserved North Carolinians while ensuring broadband providers work with co-ops to efficiently implement construction plans; and
• Securing funds from the 2021 $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure package for electric grid resiliency and modernization; rural broadband deployment; and rural economic development projects, including site development work.

“Our presence did not go unnoticed, as each meeting left legislators better engaged and aware of the issues that impact co-op members,” said Paul Mott, government affairs specialist for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “These relationships will help us as we keep moving toward a Brighter Future.”