What's New
Co-op Legislative, Regulatory Agenda to be set at National Meeting, Feb. 17-22
For more information contact:
Ann Foster
Director of Communications
Ph: 515-727-8945 (office) or 515-229-6977 (cell)
e-mail: afoster@iowarec.org
Feb. 9, 2006 - Leaders from Iowa's electric cooperatives will join more than 10,000 key staff and locally elected directors from the nation's cooperative electric utilities in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 17 - 22. Participants will hear the latest legislative and regulatory news impacting utilities and will set the cooperatives' policy agenda for the year during the annual meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). NRECA represents the nation's electric cooperative utilities, which serve more than 39 million people in 47 states. Thomas Dorr, Undersecretary of Rural Development, USDA, and Guy Caruso, Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Agency, and other experts will participate in educational forums on Feb. 20 and 21, providing up-to-the minute information on industry trends and regulatory requirements.
When: Feb. 17 - Feb. 22, 2006
Where: Orlando, Florida
Spokespersons/Topics: A number of spokespersons will be available for interviews by telephone. Please contact Ann Foster, IAEC Director of Communications, at 515-727-8945 to arrange an interview.
What's the Iowa angle?
1. Captive Rail: Most Midwest Generation and Transmission (G&T) cooperatives generate a high percentage of its electricity from coal-fired power plants and are dependent upon rail service for transportation of coal. Congress deregulated the railroad industry in 1980 and at that time there were over 40 Class 1 railroads competing for business.
Today, after numerous mergers and consolidations, there are only seven Class 1 railroads in North America and four of those control over 95% of the railroad business. This unprecedented consolidation has led to whole states, regions and entire industries becoming captive to a single railroad and subject to price gouging. One G&T cooperative serving Iowa customers is anticipating a 93% effective increase in rail transportation costs for 2006 alone, meaning rail delivery costs will increase by an additional $35 million in a single year. Cost increases of this magnitude will have a dramatic impact on the cost of energy generation for cooperative owner/members. Learn more about two bills before Congress that will help restore a competitive free market to captive shippers (S. 919, "The Railroad Competition Act" and H.R. 2047, the Railroad Competition Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005).
2. President's Advanced Energy Initiative: In his recent State of the Union address, President Bush revealed that the Administration will focus on encouraging more conservation, efficiency and diversification of energy sources for homes and businesses. Specifically, more details about the energy initiative, particularly in the areas of clean coal technology, research and development, solar and wind technologies, ethanol, and nuclear energy are expected to be released soon. Electric cooperatives are interested in hearing more about proposals on clean coal technology and research on fuels like cellulosic ethanol. We will also watch closely for proposed mandates that may be harmful to electric cooperatives. Iowa's electric cooperative leaders can provide a first-hand glimpse into the status of these new initiatives.
3. Renewable Energy: Iowa's electric cooperatives are involved with many types of renewable energy systems - including wind, solar and methane. In addition, member-consumers of Iowa's RECs receive power from nine (9) different wind farms and also provide power to more than half of the state's ethanol plants.
2006_NRECA_Annual_Meeting
Ann Foster
Director of Communications
Ph: 515-727-8945 (office) or 515-229-6977 (cell)
e-mail: afoster@iowarec.org
Feb. 9, 2006 - Leaders from Iowa's electric cooperatives will join more than 10,000 key staff and locally elected directors from the nation's cooperative electric utilities in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 17 - 22. Participants will hear the latest legislative and regulatory news impacting utilities and will set the cooperatives' policy agenda for the year during the annual meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). NRECA represents the nation's electric cooperative utilities, which serve more than 39 million people in 47 states. Thomas Dorr, Undersecretary of Rural Development, USDA, and Guy Caruso, Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Agency, and other experts will participate in educational forums on Feb. 20 and 21, providing up-to-the minute information on industry trends and regulatory requirements.
When: Feb. 17 - Feb. 22, 2006
Where: Orlando, Florida
Spokespersons/Topics: A number of spokespersons will be available for interviews by telephone. Please contact Ann Foster, IAEC Director of Communications, at 515-727-8945 to arrange an interview.
What's the Iowa angle?
1. Captive Rail: Most Midwest Generation and Transmission (G&T) cooperatives generate a high percentage of its electricity from coal-fired power plants and are dependent upon rail service for transportation of coal. Congress deregulated the railroad industry in 1980 and at that time there were over 40 Class 1 railroads competing for business.
Today, after numerous mergers and consolidations, there are only seven Class 1 railroads in North America and four of those control over 95% of the railroad business. This unprecedented consolidation has led to whole states, regions and entire industries becoming captive to a single railroad and subject to price gouging. One G&T cooperative serving Iowa customers is anticipating a 93% effective increase in rail transportation costs for 2006 alone, meaning rail delivery costs will increase by an additional $35 million in a single year. Cost increases of this magnitude will have a dramatic impact on the cost of energy generation for cooperative owner/members. Learn more about two bills before Congress that will help restore a competitive free market to captive shippers (S. 919, "The Railroad Competition Act" and H.R. 2047, the Railroad Competition Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005).
2. President's Advanced Energy Initiative: In his recent State of the Union address, President Bush revealed that the Administration will focus on encouraging more conservation, efficiency and diversification of energy sources for homes and businesses. Specifically, more details about the energy initiative, particularly in the areas of clean coal technology, research and development, solar and wind technologies, ethanol, and nuclear energy are expected to be released soon. Electric cooperatives are interested in hearing more about proposals on clean coal technology and research on fuels like cellulosic ethanol. We will also watch closely for proposed mandates that may be harmful to electric cooperatives. Iowa's electric cooperative leaders can provide a first-hand glimpse into the status of these new initiatives.
3. Renewable Energy: Iowa's electric cooperatives are involved with many types of renewable energy systems - including wind, solar and methane. In addition, member-consumers of Iowa's RECs receive power from nine (9) different wind farms and also provide power to more than half of the state's ethanol plants.
2006_NRECA_Annual_Meeting
See all of "What's New"