Our Goals

Thanks to the work of coalition partners and champions in Congress, we earned over $10 Billion downpayment in the Inflation Reduction Act! Now we need another $90 Billion in federal investments through grants and loan forgiveness to bring rural communities into the ongoing clean energy transition. These conditions would facilitate the retirement of all coal plants currently in operation and potentially all outstanding electric cooperative debt in exchange for new investment in clean energy, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, high-speed broadband, storage, and electric transportation with new loans at U.S. Treasury rates. Learn more about why we need $100 billion in debt relief.

What we accomplished through the Inflation Reduction Act

Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, for the first time ever Rural Electric Cooperatives (REC’s) will be eligible for the tax credits that have driven forward the clean energy transition across the country. REC’s will now be able to accept these incentives in the form of direct payments as they are non taxable entities.

Further leveling the playing field for cooperatives

Other utilities and businesses are allowed to combine tax credits with relevant government programs to cover the cost of a project. In order to truly “level the playing field” between cooperatives and other businesses they should be treated the same. Direct Payments to REC’s in lieu of tax credits should follow the same standards and be allowed to combine tax credits. (For example: PTC/ITC, Justice40 Energy Community bonus, w/ REAP).

Comprehensively address the energy affordability crisis in rural America by continuing our nation's commitment to upgrade everyone.

Many people cannot afford the upfront cost for energy upgrades to homes and buildings that will generate value for the utility and its members-owners by saving money and enhancing energy resilience. Further federal support will allow electric cooperatives to more readily implement inclusive utility investment for these upgrades on terms that provide consumer protection and long term energy savings for participating members. All Americans should be able to upgrade and save money through programs such as the Pay As You Save system that are already demonstrated by more than a dozen electric cooperatives in Kansas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

There are many existing programs critical to the rural energy transition that deserve ongoing and increased resources to create rural jobs, reduce costs for rural families, and act on the climate crisis.

Among them are:

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

• Rural Cooperative Development Grants (RCDG)

• Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (REDL&G)

• Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP)

• Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Treasury Rate Loan Program, which also capitalizes the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Loan Program (EECLP)

• Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

In order to maximize both economic and climate impacts, new investments must be implemented with strong attention to racial and environmental justice, which requires a robust process for public input. Following the Rural Electrification Act of 1936, rural communities came together around the country to electrify their homes and businesses. For the United States’ energy transition in the 21st century to be successful, rural communities must once again be empowered to determine the future of their energy system. As such, the USDA should deliver on President Biden’s whole-of-government approach by adopting the Department of Energy’s procedures for community engagement, as outlined by Dr. Tony Reams in their Justice 40 kickoff webinar on August 17th.

Rural communities built rural electric cooperatives, and rural electric cooperatives built rural America. Cooperative ownership and public ownership of rural energy systems has helped build community wealth and improve the lives of millions of rural people across the country.  As we make the energy transition rural communities must maintain democratic, cooperative, and public control of the institutions they've built over the last 100 years.

RPC stands against the privatization of cooperatives, municipal utilities, and federal power agencies like TVA. We further oppose the break up of the cooperative system, making it easier for cooperatives to be privatized. We're fighting for a rural energy future that maintains and expands cooperative control over our future.