VIEWPOINT
D.C. LEGISLATIVE RALLY
Electric cooperatives take their concerns to Washington BY KENT SINGER
E
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ach spring, representatives of elec-
our meetings were “only” with staff, but
tric cooperatives across the country
the meetings with staff were excellent and
fly to Washington, D.C., to partici-
extremely worthwhile. I think everyone in
pate in a legislative conference sponsored
our group was impressed by the way the
demonstrated that our members of Congress
by the National Rural Electric Cooperative
staffers listened carefully to our concerns,
are assisted by hardworking men and women
Association, our national trade association.
asked relevant questions, and demonstrated
who have a passion for public service.
The purpose of this legislative rally is to
a sincere interest in following up with
remind members of Congress how important
assistance if possible.
KENT SINGER
Specifically, we want to thank the following staff members from our Colorado
electric co-ops are to rural communities
As an example, after our meeting, Dr.
congressional delegation for taking the time
and to ask these national leaders to support
Nikki Roy from the office of Congresswoman
policies and legislation that help electric
Diana DeGette (D) reached out to us to
co-ops provide reliable, affordable and
discuss a possible partnership between
environmentally responsible electric service
our members and Subaru to install electric
to their consumer-members.
vehicle charging stations in Colorado’s four
• Daniel Palken, legislative assistant,
For many years, our team at CREA has
national parks. (Ironically, Rep. DeGette
and Rachel Starr, legislative fellow
organized this trip for Colorado co-op board
is the only member of our delegation
for Sen. Hickenlooper (D)
directors, managers and staff. We typically
without any co-op service territory in her
send a group of 40–50 folks who represent
congressional district.)
to meet with the Colorado co-op group: • Susanne Brooks, senior policy advisor for Sen. Michael Bennet (D)
• Dr. Nikki Roy, climate and energy policy advisor for Rep. DeGette (D)
many of Colorado’s electric co-ops. We work
The U.S. Senate was in session during
with the staff in the nine different Colorado
the time we were in Washington, so we
• James Thomas, legislative director
legislative offices (seven House members,
had an opportunity to meet with U.S. Sen.
and deputy chief of staff for Rep.
two Senators) to set meetings with the
John Hickenlooper (D) and two of his aides
Doug Lamborn (R)
members of the Colorado congressional
to discuss several issues of importance to
delegation and/or their staff.
Colorado’s electric co-ops. We worked with
With the onset of the COVID-19
Sen. Hickenlooper for many years when he
pandemic in March 2020, we were unable to
was Colorado’s governor and have always
have an in-person legislative rally in either
appreciated his willingness to listen to the
2020 or 2021. While we held virtual meetings
concerns of Colorado’s electric co-ops.
• Jeff Small, chief of staff for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R) • James Braid, chief of staff for Rep. Ken Buck (R) • Macey Matthews, chief of staff for
with the members of Congress, those are
We particularly enjoyed Sen.
not nearly as effective as sitting down face
Hickenlooper’s story about a recent road
to face to talk about the issues. When our
trip with former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer
• Abbie Callahan, legislative assistant
group convened in Washington for the 2022
deep into eastern Colorado co-op country.
for energy and water issues for Rep.
legislative rally, it had been three years since
It was great to hear that at age 93, Gov.
Joe Neguse (D)
we last traveled to our nation’s capital.
Romer has not lost a step and maintains a
Since the U.S. House of Representatives
keen interest in his home state.
was not in session during our visit, we met
All our meetings in Washington
with the staff of the members of Congress
were useful to our members and helped
rather than the members themselves. Our
us establish and maintain contacts with
group was smaller this year in part because
our national delegation. The meetings
4
COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE JUNE 2022
Rep. Jason Crow (D)
Thank you to these staffers for all the work they do on behalf of Colorado’s residents and electric co-ops. Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives. CREA is the trade association for all of Colorado’s 22 electric distribution co-ops and one power supply co-op.
