Rural Electric Cooperatives

Can you imagine life on the farm without electricity? It's a reality that changed dramatically 90 years ago this week.

It might be the first thing you think of when you hear the word cooperative, as in a cooperative business; Rural Electric Cooperatives.    “Other entities just didn't want to go into rural America and provide the power,” noted Andy Burke, administrators of the USDA’s Rural Utility Service.  “So, President Roosevelt ...

“The biggest investment in rural electrification since the mid 1930s.”  That's how President Biden and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are describing a newly announced $7 billion investment in rural clean energy projects in nearly two dozen states.   “To bring th...

On Monday, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a $2.7 billion investment to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities.  The funding from the Department of Agriculture will help the cooperatives expand and modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and increase grid security.   "This ...

In the 1930’s the federal government brought electric power to all of rural America today the mission is to bring high speed Internet access to everybody in rural areas.   “It's one of the many ways we're ensuring that folks no matter where they live have a shot at success by having access to high-speed Internet,” said Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack last week after announcing additional funding

October was National Cooperative Month, giving many across the nation an opportunity to see the intricate part the cooperative model plays in the nation’s economy, particularly in rural America.   “Whether you belong to a credit union, you get electricity in a rural area, or even if you drink milk or eat candy that has sugar from sugarbeets, you’re probably benefiting from a cooperative.”   Under

A report from CoBank says rural electric cooperatives should benefit from electric vehicle adoption, but it may take years before the benefits are reached.  Urban centers across the country are experiencing growth in electric vehicles, driven by high customer satisfaction and financial subsidies.  Ho...