Electric Co-op Today

Co-ops would play a leading role in upgrading energy efficiency in rural America and controlling their members’ energy bills, under a measure that cleared the House Agriculture Committee July 14.

Rep. Collin Peterson

On a bipartisan voice vote, the panel approved H.R. 4785, the Rural Energy Savings Program Act, also known as Rural Star. The legislation authorizes a $4.9 billion loan pool through the Rural Utilities Service for co-ops to defray the upfront costs of their members’ energy-related improvements.

“It is clear that this represents a win-win situation for the constituents we represent on the Agriculture Committee,” said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn.

“We have an opportunity before us to enact policy that will significantly reduce energy costs and consumption, as well as improve the quality of life in our rural communities,” he said.

NRECA CEO Glenn English praised the vote and said the Rural Star program could lead to savings on monthly bills and forestall some of the need for additional, more expensive generating facilities. Peterson and Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., the ranking committee member, also noted that a driving force behind the program is to slow the need for new generation.

“The Rural Energy Savings Program Act represents an innovative and common-sense approach that is tailored to the unique needs of rural America,” English said.

“Because of a variety of factors, prices for electricity are going to up in the future. This program will help to hold down those increases.”

Tags: Energy Efficiency, Legislation, Rural Utilities Service, Weatherization