NC Co-ops Carry Local Priorities to Capitol Hill

U.S. Rep. David Price (D-4) met with leaders from Piedmont Electric and Wake Electric at the legislative conference.

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives traveled to Washington, D.C., in April for the 2017 Legislative Conference, put on by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

The NC group joined 2,000 others from electric co-ops across the country to meet with members of Congress and their staffs and advance key co-op issues.

North Carolina co-op leaders sat down with Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, as well as each representative from the state’s 13 congressional districts, to discuss issues important to their members.

“The North Carolina co-op delegation used the opportunity to educate members of Congress on issues facing electric cooperative members, as well as the importance of key programs that allow us to provide safe, affordable and reliable power to the communities we serve,” said Jay Rouse, Director of Government Affairs for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “Visiting elected officials and sharing local cooperative experiences makes a big impact when it comes time for them to make decisions affecting the cooperative way of life.”

Energy Secretary Rick Perry was among those who addressed the group, and he hailed America’s electric cooperatives for delivering affordable, reliable electricity across the country and encouraged them to advocate on their challenges, especially grid security.

“You are a unique group of people,” Perry said in his address. “You need to be part of this conversation.”

Perry recalled the electrification of his home as a child in rural Texas and underscored the importance of using all domestic energy resources available to power America and ensure grid reliability.

“We want energy that is made in America, that is good for America and good for American jobs,” Perry said.