Sunflower News Archive

Originally posted by NRECA - As Americans reduce direct contact with one another to slow the spread of the coronavirus, generation and transmission cooperatives are working to keep electricity flowing to homes, businesses and institutions.    “Our transition to working at home for those [employees] who are doing so was very smooth,” said Mike McFarland, … [Read More]

Electric cooperatives work to improve the quality of life across all the communities they serve. But too often, infrastructure projects that would serve that mission are hampered by extensive delays and added costs from outdated federal environmental permitting rules, say NRECA experts. It doesn’t have to be this way. Under a proposal that would modernize the … [Read More]

The number of electric utilities deploying large battery systems to store power is on the rise, but it’s a technology that’s still very much in its infancy. How are electric cooperatives integrating storage, and how are they using it to serve their members?  https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-battery-storage/ … [Read More]

The Trump administration has released a replacement of the controversial 2015 “Waters of the U.S.” rule with definitions to clarify federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act and consider rural landowners in ways that will reduce regulatory delay and costs. The new “Navigable Waters Protection Rule”—developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the … [Read More]

https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-co-op-voters-2020-elections/ … [Read More]

Along Those Lines host Scot Hoffman (right) discusses rural voters and the 2020 elections with pollster Keith Frederick (left) and NRECA Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor. (Photo By: Alexis Matsui/NRECA) With 2020 elections less than 300 days away, we’re kicking off the year by delving into the critical role of rural voters: What issues are important to … [Read More]

A key gauge of rural America’s economic health has reached its highest level since June 2018. Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index rose to 55.9 in January from 50.2 in December. It’s now been above the growth-neutral mark of 50.0 for 11 of the past 12 months. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy, while a score below 50 indicates a shrinking … [Read More]

Hays, Kan.—Jan. 15, 2020—Following an announcement by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association that the utility will no longer pursue the Holcomb Expansion Project, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announced that it will allow the project’s air permit to expire on March 27, 2020. Sunflower and Tri-State, which provide wholesale generation and transmission … [Read More]

Hays, Kan.—Jan. 2, 2020—Sunflower Electric Power Corporation announces its merger with Mid-Kansas Electric Company Inc. effective Jan.1, 2020. The merger of the two cooperatively operated, wholesale electric utilities incorporates Mid-Kansas into Sunflower.    Regulatory filings for the merger were submitted in August 2018 to the Kansas Corporation Commission, … [Read More]

https://www.cooperative.com/programs-services/bts/energy-access/Pages/default.aspx … [Read More]

Congress on Thursday passed the RURAL Act, protecting more than 900 electric cooperatives throughout the nation from the risk of losing their tax-exempt status when they accept government grants for disaster relief, broadband service and other programs that benefit co-op members. United States Capitol Building at sunset - Washington, DC, USA The Senate’s vote to … [Read More]

The 2017 law counts grants as income, making it hard for some co-ops to avoid going over the 15% limit on non-member revenue that they must maintain to remain tax-exempt. Previously, grants were counted as capital and did not factor into co-ops’ revenue ratios. The RURAL Act would once again exclude grants from counting as co-op income. Congressional experts from … [Read More]

Nov. 12, 2019: Midwestern farmers faced devastating flooding last spring, with recovery efforts still ongoing. Nebraska farm owners Kristi and Drew Wolfe give a firsthand look at what it’s been like to cope with this disaster. Kim Christiansen, who was GM of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association before joining NRECA, discusses the overall impact in Nebraska, and Sam … [Read More]

More than a third of senators have now signed on to support the RURAL Act, a bipartisan bill by Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Tina Smith, D-Minn., to protect electric cooperatives’ tax-exempt status. As of Monday, 38 senators were co-sponsoring the bill, which would allow not-for-profit co-ops to accept government grants for disaster relief, broadband service and other … [Read More]

NRECA's monthly podcast is focused on the important stories from across co-op country about the issues that matter most to rural America and the energy industry. https://www.electric.coop/along-those-lines-co-ops-cybersecurity-protecting-grid/   … [Read More]

Sunflower has chosen to support the United Way because of the positive impact the organization has in the Sunflower service territory. CoBank recognizes that their customers often know best where funding can most effectively be provided to benefit their communities. Since the program was established in 2012, CoBank and its customers have together contributed more … [Read More]

The record-setting snowstorm that walloped Oregon last February was so severe it turned off the lights to all of Douglas Electric Cooperative’s members for the first time in the co-op’s 80-year history.“We’d never had a 100% outage before,” said Keith Brooks, general manager of the Roseburg-based co-op. “It took about three and a half weeks to get everyone’s power back … [Read More]

When Congress returns next month from its August recess, there are only about 40 legislative days left this year in the House and about 50 in the Senate. That leaves a small window of opportunity for progress on the most pressing issues for electric cooperatives. John Cassady, NRECA’s vice president of legislative affairs, gives an update on how co-op priorities have … [Read More]

If you work in the energy industry or follow its developments, you’re probably familiar with the term “beneficial electrification.” But do you really understand what it means? What is its impact on the environment? How does it benefit consumers? And how are co-ops leading the industry on this … [Read More]

  About the DER Tracker The purpose of this tracker is to capture the latest information at the state level on policies impacting the deployment of distributed energy resources (DER), including information on legislative and regulatory actions in the states and how these policies impact electric cooperatives. The tracker is interactive and will be … [Read More]

In March, Roanoke Electric Cooperative CEO Curtis Wynn officially took the gavel as NRECA’s new president. Wynn, a member of the NRECA board since 2007, first got into the business when he was just a teenager, washing trucks after school at his local co-op. Decades later, he’s charged with leading co-ops across the country through the challenges of a changing … [Read More]

The monarch butterfly is in trouble, with its numbers in decline for the last few decades, its habitat rapidly disappearing, and an Endangered Species Act listing on the horizon. We’re joined by NRECA’s Janelle Lemen and Stephanie Crawford along with Dairyland Power Cooperative’s Brad Foss to discuss the challenges the monarch faces and the steps co-ops are taking to save … [Read More]

When it was enacted in 1973, the bipartisan authors of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) envisioned a law to protect plant and animal species on the brink of extinction. At that time, 109 species were listed for protection. Today, there are more than 2,000 species designated as either threatened or endangered with additional species considered as candidates for listing. … [Read More]

Electric cooperatives have a broad financial impact on the United States, directly or indirectly supporting nearly 612,000 jobs each year and contributing hundreds of billions of dollars to the economy over a five-year period, according to a new analysis. Between 2013 and 2017, co-ops employed an average of 67,800 people a year, hired about 100,600 contractors, and by … [Read More]

NRECA believes that environmental, wildlife and land-management policies should encourage flexible, local approaches rather than imposing costly rules that discourage innovation. We favor policies that rely more on providing incentives and encouraging voluntary conservation efforts. Cooperatives and Businesses Environmental laws affect nearly every aspect of co-op … [Read More]

From booming suburbs to remote rural farming communities, America’s electric cooperatives are energy providers and engines of economic development for more than 19 million American homes, businesses, farms and schools in 47 states. Electric cooperatives play a vital role in transforming the electric sector. Advanced communications and automation technology enable co-ops … [Read More]

As we spend the month of April recognizing the efforts of lineworkers, the latest episode of Along Those Lines zeroes in on safety and what it takes to ensure that crews don’t come into contact with live lines. Heath Martin, who’s now the safety director at Northfork Electric Cooperative in Oklahoma, shares the harrowing story of a mistake early in his career as a … [Read More]

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, the latest episode of Along Those Lines takes you behind the scenes with a woman who’s making her way in a male-dominated industry.Kaitlyn Vaillancourt, 21, is an apprentice lineworker at Pedernales Electric Cooperative outside Austin, Texas—the only woman among the co-op’s 200 lineworkers.As co-ops and other utilities are seeing … [Read More]

Congress has taken the first step to protect electric cooperatives from losing their tax-exempt status when they receive government grants to help restore power after a storm or bring broadband service to rural communities. Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Tina Smith, D-Minn., introduced legislation Thursday to correct an unintended consequence of the sweeping Tax … [Read More]

NRECA is working with a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress to pass legislation that would give electric cooperatives access to more money to modernize their plants and reduce costs for consumer-members. “Rural electric cooperatives reach underserved areas far and wide providing dependable electricity … to power their homes, farms and businesses,” said Sen. … [Read More]

President Trump’s 2020 budget proposal once again calls for selling off federal dams and transmission lines that are crucial for more than 600 electric cooperatives to provide low-cost power to their consumer-members. The president’s budget would privatize dams and transmission lines operated by the Bonneville Power Administration in Oregon, the Southwestern Power … [Read More]

Basin Electric Power Cooperative CEO Paul Sukut told a Senate panel Wednesday he supports efforts to help co-ops develop technology to capture carbon dioxide emissions from coal-burning power plants and turn them into useful products. Sukut spoke in support of bipartisan legislation by Sens. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., that would spur new … [Read More]

Electric cooperatives have a broad financial impact on the United States, directly or indirectly supporting nearly 612,000 jobs each year and contributing hundreds of billions of dollars to the economy over a five-year period, according to a new analysis. Between 2013 and 2017, co-ops employed an average of 67,800 people a year, hired about 100,600 contractors, and by … [Read More]

Geoff and Tina Wilson planned to live off the grid in a remote part of Utah when things went horribly awry. Smoke from wildfires and steady rains hampered their lone solar panel, and their generator broke. Health problems prevented Geoff, a Navy veteran, from working, and Tina worked only part-time as a teacher’s aide. Their savings were all used up to pay for Geoff’s … [Read More]

Download the monthly “Along those Lines” Podcast to hear electric cooperative industry news and how electric cooperatives advocate on your behalf. For the latest episode of “Along Those Lines,” our host, RE Magazine Editor Scot Hoffman, talks to Kirk Johnson, NRECA’s senior vice president for government relations, and John Cassady, NRECA’s vice president for legislative … [Read More]

Reaching out and helping the communities in our service territory is more than just a part of the mission statement framed in our hallways. It’s a culture of concern for community that is encouraged among all Sunflower employees. With the last remaining funds of 2018, Sunflower staff decided that animal shelters across western Kansas should receive donations. Shelters that … [Read More]

NRECA advocates on many public policy issues on behalf of electric cooperatives. As the new Congress kicks off, here’s a look at several electric co-op policy priorities for 2019. Energy Policy/Infrastructure The potential for energy and infrastructure legislation presents a significant opportunity as electric cooperatives work to meet the growing needs of their … [Read More]

To the relief of electric cooperatives, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to replace its 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, which significantly expanded what waters and wetlands should be federally regulated. EPA on Dec. 11 proposed to limit “waters of the U.S.” to traditional navigable waters and tributaries, ditches, wetlands and other features that … [Read More]

From community development to broadband and renewable energy, electric cooperatives stand to benefit from the Farm Bill overwhelmingly passed by Congress this week and now headed to President Trump, who’s expected to sign it. The House voted 369-47 in favor of the bill on Wednesday, a day after the Senate approved it, 87-13. “The bill advances the interests of … [Read More]

"Tracey’s Takeaways" is a new feature focusing on employee development, management issues, leadership and organizational culture. Silos form over time and can be hard to break, but they are important for leaders to address. There's an African proverb that states, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others." This conforms to what I … [Read More]

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development Production leads to processing which leads to progress. That is the desired path of value-added economic development. It was true for the Kansas beef industry in the 1980s and 1990s, and it is now coming true in the Kansas dairy industry. Milk production in western Kansas has grown to the point that new … [Read More]

Electric cooperatives in 24 states will receive nearly $1.6 billion in loans from the Department of Agriculture to improve system operations, repair power lines and substations, and increase grid resiliency. Loans are going to 44 co-ops, a green energy developer in Hawaii and the Seneca Nation of Indians in New York. “Reliable and affordable power is an underpinning … [Read More]

The voters’ decisions last night resulted in several noteworthy shifts in power in Washington, D.C., and many state capitals. As of 7 a.m. on Wednesday, the Democrats gained a net total of 26 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, shifting control from the Republicans for the first time in eight years. Republicans gained a net of two seats in the U.S. Senate with four … [Read More]

What: 2018 Sunflower Local Planning Meeting When: December 4, 2018 Time:  1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Where: Rose Garden Banquet Hall (Ballroom) – 2350 East 8th Street, Hays, KS   … [Read More]

Electric cooperatives want the Environmental Protection Agency to recognize their efforts to protect their members’ wallets, assure grid reliability and reduce carbon dioxide emissions as the agency works to replace the Obama-era Clean Power Plan over the coming months. The proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) rule, with some recommended improvements, could accomplish … [Read More]

The nation’s top cybersecurity watchdog and industry experts concur: When it comes to protecting the electric grid from cyberthreats, public-private partnerships are vital. “We can all agree our nation’s security depends on safe, reliable energy infrastructure,” said Jeff Baumgartner, senior adviser at the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy … [Read More]

Cybersecurity is a never-ending battle, with online criminals constantly adapting their tactics to outsmart the latest patch or protocol. Fortunately, electric cooperatives have a partner in the fight: NRECA’s Rural Cooperative Cybersecurity Capabilities Program (RC3). RC3, now entering its third and final year of funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, is … [Read More]

Arlington, VA – The lack of broadband access for 6.3 million electric co-op households results in more than $68 billion in lost economic value, according to new research by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The new report investigates the cost of the digital divide and the growing economic advantages to America’s rural communities. The study … [Read More]

Electric cooperative leaders say the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan would allow them to serve members the cleanest, most efficient and affordable electricity available. The proposed Affordable Clean Energy rule would provide “the certainty and flexibility we need to meet our member-consumers’ local energy needs,” said Paul … [Read More]

It took some time, but grandma and grandpa are getting with the digital revolution in a big way. "The once-wide technology divide between the old and the young continues to shrink as the middle-age and senior members expand their utilization of technology," said Audrey Gould, research analyst at TSE Services, which produced the Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives … [Read More]

As Congress enters the August recess, NRECA is urging conferees to reach a compromise on the Farm Bill that achieves electric co-ops’ priorities for the legislation. “We are encouraging Congress to pass a final Farm Bill that supports several key policy issues for electric co-ops and their member-consumers in rural America,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. The House … [Read More]

Making Way for 5G 5G is coming. The much-anticipated next generation of wireless communication, expected to be launched as early as later this year, promises to deliver on a host of futuristic technologies, including self-driving cars, real-time virtual reality, and smart cities and towns. “With the proliferation of mobile technology and the growing popularity of … [Read More]

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As nuclear and coal-based plant retirements continue, the Energy Department is growing concerned about the impacts of a "historic shift" in energy resources. "Today, America's grid is reliable and resilient to disruption because of the diversity and security of fuels that supply it. But the most secure of these fuels are retiring at an alarming rate that if unchecked … [Read More]

  NRECA CEO Jim Matheson thanked electric cooperative leaders for coming to Washington for the 2018 NRECA Legislative Conference and for their work in building relationships with policymakers that improve their members’ lives every day.   “That’s so important that you are here today,” he told the more than 2,000 participants from co-ops across the … [Read More]

Modern bucket trucks rumbled into the electric utility industry starting in the 1950s, but it wasn’t until the late 1970s that McCullough Electric Cooperative in Brady, Texas, saw its first such vehicle. Danny Williams, now the manager of loss control at Texas Electric Cooperatives (statewide) in Austin, was a young McCullough Electric groundman back then. “We might … [Read More]

Sunflower and Mid-Kansas board members continue to support diverse electric generation. This is the third article in a series that gives an overview of each electric generation fuel type and describes how it fits into the Sunflower and Mid-Kansas systems. It seems as if they are popping up everywhere across the nation—giant “pinwheels” used to generate electricity from … [Read More]

Electric co-op members continue to diversify electric generation resources Hays, Kan.—February 27, 2018—Mid-Kansas Electric Company Inc., along with its sister company Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, announced its plan to purchase renewable energy from a 20-megawatt solar project scheduled for construction in southwest Kansas. The cooperatively operated wholesale … [Read More]

Federal energy officials have made their first forecasts for 2019, and they expect to see modest growth in the nation's electricity consumption, with a record set for renewables. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the Energy Information Administration predicts a 1.3 percent consumption increase this year, followed by a rise of just 0.5 percent in … [Read More]

The Environmental Protection Agency should act quickly to develop a “common-sense, flexible replacement rule for the Clean Power Plan,” an NRECA official told EPA officials at a public hearing. “We appreciate and support EPA’s proposal to rescind the Clean Power Plan,” Daniel Chartier, NRECA regulatory director, environmental policy, said at a Nov. 28 hearing in … [Read More]

If there’s one definitive truth about cybersecurity it’s this: We’re all in it together. That was a common theme at the forum “Insights on Cybersecurity for Electric Utilities,” hosted by NRECA in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Alliance and Department of Homeland Security. “Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. It touches all of our lives, at … [Read More]

  BONNER SPRINGS, Kan.—Throughout late August and September, electric cooperative linemen put their skills to the test rebuilding power systems destroyed by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. In October, they put those same skills to the test against elite utility linemen from around the world—and came out on top. A three-member journeyman team from Cobb … [Read More]

As the Trump administration proposes to withdraw the Clean Power Plan, electric cooperatives will work with the Environmental Protection Agency toward “sound regulation” with the durability and flexibility necessary to provide affordable and reliable electricity to their millions of members, NRECA CEO Jim Matheson said. “We look forward to working with the … [Read More]

ARLINGTON, Va. – NRECA CEO Jim Matheson today applauded the Department of Energy’s (DOE) loan guarantee for the Plant Vogtle nuclear power project. “Today’s announcement is welcome news for Oglethorpe Power, the Vogtle project, and the future of America’s electric generation,” Matheson said.  “Nuclear energy is an essential source of emissions-free, 24/7 power. This DOE … [Read More]

Electrically, August 21 was just another day for Southwest Power Pool (SPP), whose accurate forecasts and skilled real-time operations staff ensured that lights (and air conditioners) stayed on without interruption even while darkness fell during mid-day across its 14-state footprint during the totality of a solar eclipse. The eclipse’s most significant impact on the … [Read More]

During the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, state officials are expecting 1 million tourists to flock to Oregon—and about half could congregate in sparsely populated central Oregon, home of Central Electric Cooperative. The Redmond-based co-op serves Madras, population 6,729, the nation’s top-ranked location to view the rare spectacle. Epic crowds could clog the region’s … [Read More]

In his decades of experience as a lead electric cooperative lineman, Cal Wolterman has had more than his share of close calls with motorists zipping by work sites on highways. Take the time Wolterman, his crew and their bucket truck from Estherville-based Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative were sandwiched between two speeding vehicles on a two-lane highway in northern … [Read More]

Electricity is about the only thing you can buy and still get value for just a penny’s worth I’m old enough to remember when penny candy actually cost a penny. For a nickel, you could buy enough candy to rot your teeth out, as my mother used to say. But what does a penny buy these days? Not much. The government can’t even make a penny for a penny anymore. According to … [Read More]

A pair of electric cooperative priorities have passed the U.S. House of Representatives and are headed to the Senate. For the second time in less than two years, the House approved a measure that would make it easier for co-ops to maintain rights of way on federal lands. The Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act, H.R. 1873, cleared the chamber June 21 on a … [Read More]

Learn about how a tree becomes a power pole, causes of power outages, and vegetation management. https://www.sunflower.net/video-gallery/   … [Read More]

Electric cooperatives can be excused if they had a flashback when the Trump administration announced plans to raise $5.5 billion by putting a “for sale” sign on the grid-related assets of three federal power marketing agencies. It’s a battle co-ops have fought and won in the past, and they say they will wage it just as aggressively this time. “America’s electric … [Read More]

For many cooperatives, some of the most important conversations with federal officials during the recently concluded NRECA Legislative Conference occurred away from Capitol Hill. Nearly 100 electric cooperative leaders visited key federal agencies, where they talked with officials about issues ranging from endangered species designation to disaster relief. “Our board … [Read More]

Most celebrated it on April 10. Many waited until April 18. For some, it’s still going on. No matter the date, families, friends, co-workers and customers expressed their gratitude to the nation’s 117,000 power line workers as part of National Lineman Appreciation Day. “Electric linemen do not often receive the recognition they deserve,” said H. Wayne Wilkins, CEO of … [Read More]

VIDEO: Click here to view the Mutual Aid Helping Restore Power in western Kansas … [Read More]

An additional 11 electric co-ops in Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri have joined the efforts to restore power to tens of thousands of rural electric cooperative members in western and southwestern Kansas. The blizzard’s heavy, wet snow and high winds downed trees, power lines and transmission poles affecting rural electric cooperative members of CMS, Meade; Lane-Scott, … [Read More]

Throughout the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump pledged to review burdensome federal regulations when he became president. On March 28, President Trump took an important step to follow through on that commitment by signing an executive order to promote energy independence. The order also calls for review of the Clean Power Plan. “Electric co-ops have two key … [Read More]

Sunflower is pleased that the Kansas Supreme Court approved the addendum to the Holcomb Expansion air permit. Much work—by the Court, KDHE technical staff, and Sunflower staff—has gone into making certain that the HEP air permit meets all applicable state and federal requirements. Just as it would have been ten years ago when we began this process, the Court’s decision is … [Read More]

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement about President Trump’s FY 2018 budget proposal:  “This is only the first step in the budget process that will include the input of America’s electric cooperatives. We will continue to work with the White House and Congress to reduce the burden of federal … [Read More]

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson today issued the following statement on the Trump administration’s executive order on the controversial Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS): “The Waters of the U.S. rule would increase costs for electric co-ops to build and maintain critical infrastructure without meaningful environmental benefits. We … [Read More]

More than 40 organizations today joined the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) in sending a letter urging President Trump to focus on rural issues at the highest levels of his White House team. The letter specifically asks the president to designate a senior member of the White House staff as a rural advisor or to create an Office of Rural Policy … [Read More]

America’s Electric Cooperatives today applauded the 71 members of Congress who sent a letter to President Trump calling for him to include investments to bring broadband service to rural America in his infrastructure proposal. The letter was coordinated by the House Rural Broadband Caucus which is led by co-chairs: Reps. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bob Latta (R-OH) Rep. Adam … [Read More]

  The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) today filed comments with the Fish and Wildlife Service arguing against listing the Lesser Prairie Chicken under the Endangered Species Act. In its filing, NRECA pointed to scientific data showing that the Lesser Prairie Chicken population is stable, thanks in part to the extensive voluntary conservation … [Read More]

Fourteen of the state's distribution cooperatives that lost hundreds of utility poles and experienced numerous line breaks from the weekend's ice storm continue to restore power to affected areas. Ice accumulations from the slow-moving storm ranged from a quarter inch to a half inch causing significant damage to trees and brought down power lines. Line crews from co-ops … [Read More]

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz compares the global economic system to a frog in a pot of slowly boiling water. The water is not hot enough to prompt the frog to escape—until it’s too late. But cooperatives represent a model that can turn down the heat, he says. “There are alternatives to the current system,” Stiglitz told a gathering of world co-op … [Read More]

Whether it’s the pace of life, the economic base or the educational opportunities, there’s little doubt that there is a difference between rural and urban America. Now, new data from the U.S. Census Bureau show just how great those divides are. Rural residents are significantly less transient than their urban counterparts, and more likely to own their own homes and … [Read More]

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.—Joe Brannan, executive vice president and CEO of North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, recalled an urgent early morning call from his IT group. A cyber vulnerability had been discovered But because the cooperative has a policy in place to fast-track security responses and protect systems, the vulnerability was isolated quickly and no data was … [Read More]

Rural America may not have turned the corner yet. But it has its blinker lights on. The nation’s rural communities are witnessing a bump in family incomes and a reduction in poverty levels, putting them in their best economic shape since before the 2007-2009 recession. Those are the encouraging findings in the Department of Agriculture’s annual Rural America at a … [Read More]

AUSTIN, Texas—As he caps an eight-year run as Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack sees challenges and opportunities ahead for both rural Americans and the electric cooperatives that serve them. “The biggest challenge is making sure the 85 percent of Americans who do not live in rural areas understand the contributions the 15 percent who do live there make,” said … [Read More]