Enchanted CEO

THE ENCHANTED CEO

Taking Our Advocacy Efforts to Washington, D.C.

New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperatives, along with our member cooperatives, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. Board directors, general managers and senior staff joined more than 2,000 others from electric cooperatives across the United States to participate in the 2024 Legislative Conference of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association from April 21-24.

NMREC- representing 15 electric cooperatives serving more than 434,000 individuals-met with the New Mexico congressional delegation or staff from the offices of Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Ben Ray Luján, Rep. Melanie Stansbury, Rep. Gabriel Vasquez and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez.

During these sessions, electric cooperative leaders and policymakers discussed major challenges that impact reliability. Some of those challenges relate to the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed power plant rule, Department of Agriculture funding, supply chain issues and pole attachments.

The EPA power plant rule initially called for steep emissions cuts from plants that burn coal or gas, which together produce the bulk of electricity in the United States.

Tri-State and Western Farmers generation and transmission associations-which provide power to our member electric cooperatives-have no coal-fired power plants in New Mexico. They do have natural gas-fired plants used to generate electricity when their renewable energy platforms are not generating the required energy load.

Cooperatives also face supply chain issues for transformers, electric transmission and distribution wire, utility poles and more. Having abundant supplies and equipment on hand is crucial for electric cooperatives, as our number one job is to keep the lights on for our members.

Maintaining service, restoring power after natural disasters and meeting the growing electricity demand are paramount for our cooperatives. In recent years, carrying vital inventory and purchasing essential equipment at a reasonable price has been challenging. The uncertainty surrounding supply costs and availability has been heightened by labor and raw material shortages. These pressures create an over reliance on foreign manufacturers and products from outside the United States.

In addition to advocating for attention to reliability issues, electric cooperative leaders pushed for robust funding for rural broadband and economic development. Rural communities are the economic backbone of New Mexico. They feed and fuel our great state and our nation.

Unfortunately, at times, it seems like the rural communities in New Mexico and across the nation get left out of the conversations on infrastructure and economic development. We are here to change that and to show our elected officials we power and represent 75% of New Mexico’s land mass.

We bring cooperative leaders to Washington, D.C., to build relationships. We want lawmakers on Capitol Hill to know and trust us, and we want our U.S. senators and representatives to consider us as they make their decisions. Visits like this are unique and provide us with a valuable opportunity to engage and educate lawmakers about cooperatives and our communities in New Mexico.

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Legislative Conference offers direct communication between legislators and electric cooperatives. We count on the support of our state and national lawmakers. In turn, they count on the cooperative leaders to help fulfill the mission of increasing economic development throughout New Mexico and across the nation.

Together, we will continue representing our cooperatives and advocating in their best interest in New Mexico and Washington, D.C. Thank you for your support.