The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has reached out to former President Donald Trump with a letter highlighting the critical state of the nation's energy policy. Jim Matheson, representing 900 not-for-profit electric cooperatives nationwide, emphasized the need for decisive action to ensure that these cooperatives can continue providing affordable and reliable electricity.
Matheson pointed to several challenges facing the energy sector, including stringent EPA regulations, early shutdowns of power plants, and increasing power demand. He referenced forecasts from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which indicate that regions spanning from North Dakota to Louisiana may face rolling blackouts over the next five years during peak periods. Ohio is also noted as being at an elevated risk.
In his letter, Matheson urged Trump's administration to consider several actions:
- Repealing certain EPA regulations related to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Streamlining permitting processes for project reviews.
- Utilizing infrastructure funds effectively to enhance grid reliability.
- Ensuring federal program access for cooperatives to modernize systems and support rural economic growth.
- Supporting tax credits that allow cooperatives equal footing in investing in energy technologies.
Matheson stressed the importance of cooperative-supplied electricity for rural economies and expressed a willingness to collaborate with Trump's administration on maintaining energy reliability and affordability.