Legislation

Basin Electric wants to provide you with information about the latest issues and challenges facing generation and transmission cooperatives and rural electric systems. Find the latest on current legislation from the U.S. Congress by clicking on Bills to watch.

As events unfold on at state, regional and national levels, our government relations team is just a phone call away.

Co-ops gain in U.S. Senate agriculture bill

Originally published by Steven Johnson | ECT.coop staff writer ectoday@nreca.coop July16, 2010

Co-ops have scored important gains in funding for the Rural Utilities Service and baseload generation in a Senate agriculture appropriations bill, and NRECA CEO Glenn English is calling on co-op leaders to press hard for the Senate bill.

The bill, passed July 15 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, provides $6.5 billion for the Rural Utilities Service Electric Loan Program in fiscal 2011, thwarting the Obama administration’s attempt to slash the program by $2.5 billion.

Following the lead of its agriculture subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., the full committee also rejected the administration’s attempt to curtail RUS lending for natural gas facilities and environmental upgrades to existing power plants.

“Diminishing rural electric cooperatives’ access to Rural Utilities Service loan programs will further disadvantage rural residents by raising user rates and undermining service reliability,” the committee said in a report accompanying the legislation.

The bill heads to a conference with a House committee plan, and English said co-op leaders should solicit their elected officials’ support for the Senate version.

“We have worked hard with our supporters in Congress to ensure the RUS program retains its historic mission to serve rural America,” he said. “We are urging our members to express their support for these Senate committee provisions that will help keep electricity reliable and affordable.”

The appropriations legislation, which provides spending for a wide range of federal agriculture and nutrition programs, also re-opens RUS lending for baseload facilities for up to three demonstration projects at a cost of as much as $1.5 billion.

EPA-related - bills to watch

In the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate:

House Joint Resolution 76: Puts Congress on record of disapproving of EPA’s finding that greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare, and says the EPA rule shall have no force or effect. Chief sponsor: Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.
House Joint Resolution 77: Puts Congress on record of disapproving of EPA’s finding that greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare, and says the EPA rule shall have no force or effect. Chief sponsor: Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas.
H.R. 4396: Removes carbon dioxide, methane and four other greenhouse gases from the definition of air pollutants that EPA can regulate. Chief sponsor: Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D.
H.R. 4572: Removes carbon dioxide, methane and four other greenhouse gases from the definition of air pollutants that EPA can regulate. Chief sponsor: Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.
H.R. 4753: Suspends EPA regulation of carbon dioxide and methane from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act for two years. Regulation of mobile sources is permissible. Chief sponsor: Rep. Nick J. Rahall II, D-W.Va. Related story here
Senate Joint Resolution 26: Puts Congress on record of disapproving of EPA’s finding that greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare, and says the EPA rule shall have no force or effect. Chief sponsor: Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska.
S. 3072: Suspends EPA regulation of carbon dioxide and methane from stationary sources under the Clean Air Act for two years. Regulation of mobile sources is permissible. Chief sponsor: Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va.

USDA study: railroad shipping costs

April 27, 2010: Case for reform: new government study says railroads profit at expense of consumers, shippers and some farmers coalition says rail relief is overdue, calls for action

Source: CURE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A detailed new report on rural transportation issues released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture includes dramatic findings about the cost to American farmers and consumers from the lack of competition in the freight rail industry, and "considerable evidence" that freight rail companies used excessive fuel surcharges to artificially boost profits.

Bob Szabo, Executive Director of Consumers United for Rail Equity (CURE), a coalition of freight rail customers seeking changes in federal law to allow for more competitive railroad pricing and reliable service, issued the following statement about the report:

"This study shows once and for all that the current lack of protections against monopoly pricing by freight rail companies is hurting our economy, raising prices and affecting job creation. Bipartisan legislation is pending in Congress that will provide much-needed relief for America's farmers and consumers, and we call on Congress and the President to enact it into law this year."

Key report findings include:

"The rapid consolidation of the railroad industry through mergers has resulted in a decrease in the unrestricted interchange of traffic, routing choices, and the level of competition among railroads."
"Railroad service problems and high rates can directly impact rural consumers by pushing up electricity rates."
"Almost 75 percent of agricultural areas lost rail competition from 1992 to 2007."

"There is considerable evidence that railroad fuel surcharges recovered more than the additional cost of fuel, artificially boosting railroad profits. From 2001 to 2007, surcharges were 55 percent higher than the incremental increase in the cost of fuel."

Basin Electric sends letters to Conrad, Pomeroy

Basin Electric recently sent letters to U.S. Senator Kent Conrad (ND) and Congressman Earl Pomeroy (ND) urging them to co-sponsor and promote H.R. 4751 that would provide a 30-percent investment tax credit for highly efficient combined heat and power (CHP) projects (those with efficiencies above 70 percent) and recycled energy. Basin Electric believes that supporting energy efficiency in America's industrial sector will help make manufacturers more competitive, reduce pollution and create jobs.

Letter to Pomeroy (PDF)

Letter to Conrad (PDF)

Basin Electric believes the most effective means to enhance CHP and recycled energy is to expand today’s overly limited tax incentives.

$1.65 billion spent on environmental technologies

The following is an excerpt about environmental stewardship from CEO/General Manager Ron Harper's recent annual meeting speech:

" ...You know, I’m quite proud of our plants because we’ve got a lot of great people out there running them, {and} we’ve got a lot of great people supporting them. ... I’m going to take you forward to the year 2012 when we bring Dry Fork Station on line. If you look at all the environmental technologies that we have applied to our plants to make them cleaner, we will have spent $1.65 billion dollars on environmental technologies. It is projected that in the year 2012, we will spend $147 million in that one year, operating those technologies. So, I don’t think we have to take a back seat to anybody on the environmental stewardship of this organization and it’s membership. (Applause) Thank you."

- Ron Harper, CEO/General Manager, Nov. 4, 2009