Iowa electric co-ops advocate for rural Iowans in Washington

While Senator Mitch McConnell’s return to Capitol Hill dominated the headlines in mid-September, another return was also underway. Advocates representing Iowa’s electric cooperatives traveled to Washington, D.C., to discuss rural Iowa priorities with our elected officials.

Organized by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives (IAEC), our group met with Iowa's congressional delegation and key staff to discuss federal policies impacting rural electric cooperatives and the communities we serve. Our advocates included cooperative leaders and staff representing a broad range of experience and expertise from across the state:

• Kevin Condon, Director of Public Affairs at Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO)
• Brenda Hackman, Manager of Economic Development and Community Relations at Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative
• Gary Kester, Board Director at Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative and CIPCO
• Mike Walton, VP of Engineering and System Planning at MiEnergy Cooperative
• Branden Yates, Government Relations Specialist at Dairyland Power Cooperative

Their diverse perspectives helped illustrate the real-world impacts of federal policy decisions on Iowa's rural electric cooperatives and our member-consumers.

"These face-to-face connections in Washington give us an opportunity to discuss how federal legislation affects us on the local level. It's important for electric cooperatives to represent the priorities of their member-consumers and the rural Iowa communities they serve," remarked Ethan Hohenadel, IAEC director of policy and advocacy.

During the fly in, the group met directly with Sen. Chuck Grassley, Sen. Joni Ernst and Rep. Zach Nunn (photo), as well as staff from Iowa's 3 other congressional offices. Discussions focused on several key priorities for electric cooperatives, including FEMA reform to improve disaster response and recovery efforts, permitting reform to help streamline critical infrastructure projects, and increasing Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Loan Program funding to $12 billion in FY2027 to support continued investment in the rural electric grid.

The co-op group also highlighted the success of the USDA's Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) Program, sharing examples of how the program has supported economic growth, expanded opportunities and improved quality of life in rural Iowa communities.

These meetings provided an important opportunity to strengthen relationships with Iowa's federal policymakers and ensure the voice of electric cooperatives remains part of the conversation as Congress considers policies that affect rural infrastructure, economic development and the future of rural America.

Learn more about our grassroots advocacy efforts at www.IAruralpower.org and follow Iowa Rural Power on social media.

For More Information:

Erin Campbell
IAEC Director of Communications
ecampbell@iowarec.org