Recent News About Ohio's Electric Cooperatives
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Ohio joins 26 states in Supreme Court challenge against EPA's new power plant rule
Ohio and 26 other states have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) power plant rule, finalized in early May. Among the declarations of harm filed is one from Buckeye Power, a not-for-profit power generation corporation for Ohio’s electric cooperatives.
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Electric cooperatives announce teams for 2024 step challenge
Adams Rural Electric and several other cooperatives have announced their participation in the 2024 Walk The Line Step Challenge. Teams from various cooperatives will compete in this annual event aimed at promoting health and wellness among employees.
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Ohio's youth tour sees record participation in 2024
OEC’s 2024 Youth Tour concluded on June 21, setting a record for the number of cooperatives participating in the program. A total of 50 student delegates from 20 Ohio cooperatives and one West Virginia co-op, Harrison REA, traveled to Washington D.C. for a week-long educational trip.
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Pioneer Electric CEO Ron Salyer announces retirement after 27 years
Pioneer Rural Electric Cooperative’s President and CEO, Ron Salyer, has announced his plans to retire on September 16, 2024, after 27 years of service at Pioneer, including 23 years as President and CEO.
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Don Englet named new general manager at Firelands Electric Cooperative
Firelands Electric Cooperative News Release
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Darke Rural Electric GM announces retirement; CFO named successor
GREENVILLE, OH—The General Manager of Darke Rural Electric Cooperative, Ted Holsapple, announced his plans to retire on January 3, 2025, after 23 years leading the cooperative. He will work alongside his successor, Brad Flora, who currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of the cooperative.
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Sherrod Brown opposes EPA power plant rules citing economic concerns
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has announced his opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) power plant rules, aligning with Ohio’s electric cooperatives. Brown criticized the rules as "unrealistic" and "unachievable," arguing they could undermine grid reliability, increase energy costs for Ohioans, and jeopardize jobs in the state's energy sector.
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Balderson leads bipartisan push against EPA's new power plant regulations
Ohio Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12) has initiated a bipartisan effort under the Congressional Review Act to challenge the Biden Administration's plan to shut down coal power plants across the United States, including those in Ohio. This initiative has garnered support from 138 House colleagues. Concurrently, Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) led 43 of her Senate colleagues in introducing an identical resolution.
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Buckeye Power names Craig Grooms as new CEO
Patrick O’Loughlin, President and CEO of Buckeye Power and Ohio’s Rural Electric Cooperatives (OREC), has announced his plan to retire on January 3, 2025, after a decade at the helm. The boards of directors have named Craig Grooms, the current Chief Operations Officer, as his successor.
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U.S. senators express bipartisan concern over USEPA's new power plant rules
WASHINGTON, DC—A group of bipartisan U.S. senators, including Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-WY), expressed concerns over the USEPA's new power plant rules during a recent committee hearing.
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Ohio leaders oppose EPA's fossil fuel plant regulations
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted sent a letter to USEPA Administrator Michael Regan last week, expressing their opposition to the federal rule on fossil-fueled power plants.
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Ohio electric cooperatives advocate for grid reliability and tax reform
Leaders from 17 Ohio electric cooperatives recently dedicated a day to meet with influential state legislators and officials. The focus of the discussions was on grid reliability, kilowatt-hour tax reform, and opportunities for New ERA funding aimed at promoting reliability within the energy sector.
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Ohio Senate resolution challenges new EPA greenhouse gas rules
Pat O’Loughlin, President and CEO of the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC), testified in support of Senate Resolution 296 (SR 296) on May 20, 2024. The resolution urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw recently finalized regulations on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). SR 296 passed the Senate on May 8 with bipartisan support, and a similar measure is being pursued by the Ohio House to counteract the new rule.
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Ohio co-op leaders advocate for energy policy changes at NRECA conference
American families and businesses expect consistent and affordable electricity. The nation's energy policies should align with this fundamental expectation, transcending partisan divides. As the demand for electricity escalates and supply dwindles, it is imperative to have a substantive policy discussion about our future direction and the realistic means to achieve it.
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Ohio at low risk for summer electricity reliability issues: NERC report
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has recently released its summer assessment of electric reliability, indicating that Ohio is at low risk for demand exceeding supply. This is a shift from NERC's winter assessment of Ohio, which falls within the 13-state PJM grid. The Midwest was at risk of power loss this past winter, but due to mild weather conditions, outages were successfully avoided.
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OEC's CEO testifies against USEPA's new power plant rule in Ohio Senate
On May 7, 2024, Pat O’Loughlin, President and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (OEC), testified before the Ohio Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee. He voiced his support for S.R. No. 296, a resolution urging the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to withdraw its recently finalized power plant rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
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Ohio co-op leaders discuss electricity reliability at annual Statehouse meeting
On May 8, 2024, leaders of Ohio cooperatives from across the state gathered at the Statehouse for OEC's annual Day at the Statehouse. The event provided an opportunity for these leaders to meet directly with their respective elected officials and discuss critical issues affecting their cooperative members, particularly in terms of electricity reliability and affordability.
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States and NRECA file lawsuits against EPA over new power plant rules
Ohio's Attorney General, in conjunction with 26 other states and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), has initiated lawsuits against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over new power plant regulations concerning greenhouse gas emissions. The lawsuits were filed on Thursday, May 9.
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Congratulations 2024 Ohio's Electric Cooperatives' Children of Members Scholarship Winners
The winners of the 2024 OEC’s Children of Members Scholarship contest have been announced, with high school seniors from member households across Ohio emerging victorious. In a statement, the organization expressed its joy and pride in the talented individuals who clinched the scholarships.According to a report, a panel of independent judges carefully reviewed applications and essays submitted by the students to select the recipients. The deciding factor for the winners was their understanding and articulation of the Seven Cooperative Principles, along with their personal...
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Director's Quick Thinking Saves the Day in Safety Incident
In a recent incident at a meeting in the Touchstone rooms of a statewide office, a director's quick thinking and decisive actions saved a life, highlighting the importance of safety leadership in organizations.During the meeting, a director suddenly appeared to be in distress, leading CEO Pat O’Loughlin and Nila Moyers to intervene. Nila attempted the Heimlich maneuver unsuccessfully, prompting Pat to step in and successfully clear the director's airway. The director later revealed that she was on the verge of passing out before receiving assistance.Reflecting on the...