Our Campaign

RPC is Calling for a Rural Electric Cooperative Energy System that:

  • The needs of the people come first. We demand all RECs annual member meetings be truly transparent by democratizing election practices to be as equitable and accessible as possible for all member-owners.

  • Decarbonize our future. Create a plan for a clean energy transition to replace fossil fuel generating sources with clean energy projects, programs, and investments in new technologies such as EVs, storage, broadband, and fuel switching.

    Open up federal renewable energy tax credits to include rural electric cooperative projects.

  • Ensure flexible billing arrangements on electricity and broadband service so that debt is not accruing for member-owners that cannot afford them.

  • Rural communities deserve the option to access all money-saving efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification upgrades to reduce the burden of our energy costs, especially in underserved communities with high poverty rates spanning decades.

Big Win:

Congress included substantial funding & support for RECs in the Inflation Reduction Act!

Through diligent advocacy and lobbying work around the Inflation Reduction Act, the Rural Power Coalition and other rural advocates helped win the biggest investment for rural electrification in US history. As a coalition working to elevate rural communities as leaders of a just and clean energy transition, we applaud these necessary investments into rural electric cooperatives and member-owners.

Key provisions in the IRA include:

  •  $9.7 Billion Dollars of USDA Assistance for Electric Cooperatives for a voluntary program for rural electric cooperatives to make investments in renewable energy.

  • $1 Billion Dollars in additional funding to cover the cost of loans related to Renewable Energy.

  • A direct pay option for clean energy tax credits to allow electric co-ops to be eligible. This would level the playing field for electric co-ops by allowing them to receive clean energy incentives just like private utilities.

 Rural Power Coalition Policy Platform

  • 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:

  • 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.

Our Partners

With appreciation to the organizations who have endorsed our campaign and/or Letters to Congress

350 Conejo / San Fernando Valley
Agoura Hills, California

350 New Hampshire
Dover, New Hampshire

350 Spokane
Spokane, Washington

350 Triangle
Raleigh, North Carolina

350.org
National

AES Solar
Carterville, Illinois

Agricultural Missions, Inc.
New York, New York

Alabama Interfaith Power & Light
Birmingham, Alabama

Alliance for a Green Economy
Syracuse, New York

Alliance for Appalachia
London, Kentucky

American Youth for Climate Action
National

Appalachian Voices
Tennessee

Arkansas Valley Coalition for a Sustainable Energy Future
Buena Vista, Colorado

Atlantic Climate Justice Alliance
Somerset, New Jersey

Call to Action Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado

CatholicNetwork.us
National / Lakewood CO

Center for Biological Diversity
Washington DC

Center for Coalfield Justice
Washington, Pennsylvania

Center for Common Ground
Ruther Glen, Virginia

Center for Rural Affairs
Lyons, Nebraska

Center for Rural Strategies
Whitesburg, Kentucky

Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance (CIHCA)
Peoria, Illinois

Centro De Trabajadores Unidos
Chicago, Illinois

CHARRS
Atlanta, Georgia

Christians for the Mountains
Dunmore, West Virginia

Citizens Alliance for a Sustainable Englewood
Englewood, Colorado

Clean Energy Action
Boulder, Colorado

Cleveland Owns
Cleveland, Ohio

Climate and Community Project
San Francisco, California

Climate Justice Alliance
National

Climate Reality Project, Atlanta Chapter
Atlanta, Georgia

Climate Reality Project, Capital Region NY Chapter
Albany, New York

Climate Reality Project, Long Island Chapter
Long Island, New York

Climate Reality Project, Western NY Chapter
Buffalo/Rochester, New York

Cleveland Owns
Cleveland, Ohio

Coal River Mountain Watch
Naoma, WV

Collective Power
Oakland, California

Colorado Businesses for a Livable Climate
Lakewood, Colorado

Colorado Democratic Party Energy & Environment Initiative
Lakewood, Colorado

Colorado Physicians for Social Responsibility
Lafayette, Colorado

Community Action Works
Montpelier, Vermont

Communities for Local Power
Kingston, New York

Community Farm Alliance
Berea, Kentucky

Community Food and Justice Coalition
Oakland, California

Community For Sustainable Energy
Fort Collins, Colorado

Cooperative Development Institute
Northampton, Massachusetts

Cooperative Energy Futures
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Croatan Institute
Durham, North Carolina

CURE (Clean Up the River Environment)
Montevideo, Minnesota

Dakota Resource Council
Bismarck, North Dakota

Dakota Rural Action
Brookings, South Dakota

Democracy 365
Jackson, Mississippi

Earth Action, Inc.
Pensacola, Florida

Earth Ethics, Inc.
Pensacola, Florida

Ebony Suns Enterprises LLC
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Eco-Justice Collaborative
Champaign, Illinois

Ecolibrium3
Duluth, Minnesota

Elders Climate Action
National

Elevate
Chicago, Illinois

Energy Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama

Evergreen Action
Seattle, Washington

Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition
Fairbanks, Alaska

Family Farm Defenders
Madison, Wisconsin

Farm Aid
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Fossil Free Tompkins
Ithaca, New York

Franciscan Action Network
Washington, DC

Georgia Conservation Voters
Atlanta, Georgia

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light
Decatur, Georgia

Georgia WAND
Atlanta/Burke County, Georgia

Good Solar
North Carolina

Greater Highland Area Concerned Citizens
Highland, Illinois

GreenFaith
New York

GreenLatinos
National

GRID Alternatives
National

Ground In Common
Livingston, Montana

Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition
Saint Helena Island

Harambee House
Savannah, Georgia

Highlander Research & Education Center
New Market, Tennessee

Hometown Action
Alabama

Honor the Earth
Callaway, Minnesota

Hood to the Holler
Louisville, Kentucky

Indivisible
National

Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program
Washington DC

International Student Environmental Coalition
Los Angeles, California

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Des Moines, Iowa

Jewish Climate Action Network
Wayland, Massachusetts

JPAP/MTAC
Columbia, Missouri

Just and Equitable Transition Group
San Francisco, California

Just Community Energy Transition Project
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Kansas Farmers Union
McPherson, Kansas

Kentucky Conservation Committee
Frankfort, Kentucky

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth
Kentucky

Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light
Kentucky

Kentucky Resources Council, Inc.
Frankfort, Kentucky

Labadie Environmental Organization (LEO)
Labadie, Missouri

Land Stewardship Project
Minnesota

LaPlaca and Associates LLC
Boone, North Carolina

Liberty Tree Foundation
Boston, Massachusetts

Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network
Lexington, Kentucky

Local Clean Energy Alliance
California

Mainers for Accountable Leadership
Scarborough, Maine

Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Michigan United
Detroit, Michigan

Minnesota 100% Campaign
St. Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota Farmers Union
St. Paul, Minnesota

Mothers Out Front
Boston, Massachusetts

Mott Philanthropic
Everett, Massachusetts

Mountain Association
Berea, Kentucky

Mount Tabor Benedictines
Martin, Kentucky

National Family Farm Coalition
Washington DC

Native Movement
Fairbanks, Alaska

Native Sun Community Power Development
Minneapolis, Minnesota

NC Climate Justice Collective
Durham, North Carolina

NC Council of Churches
Raleigh, North Carolina

NC Interfaith Power & Light
Raleigh, North Carolina

NDN Collective
Rapid City, South Dakota

NextGen Co-op Alliance
National

Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow
Binghamton, New York

New Economy Coalition
Boston, Massachusetts

New Yorkers for Clean Power
Kingston, New York

North American Water Office
Lake Elmo, Minnesota

North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light
Raleigh, North Carolina

North Dakota Native Vote
Bismarck, North Dakota

North Range Concerned Citizens
Commerce City, Colorado

Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Providence, Rhode Island

Northern Alaska Environmental Center
Fairbanks, Alaska

Northern Plains Resource Council
Billings, Montana

Nuclear Information and Resource Service
Takoma Park, Maryland

One Country Project
National

One Voice
Jackson, Mississippi

Parable of the Sower Intentional Community Cooperative
Richmond, California

Partners for Dignity & Rights
New York, New York

Partnership for Southern Equity
Atlanta, Georgia

Partnership for the Public Good
Buffalo, New York

Peace Development Fund
Amherst, Massachusetts

PeaceRoots Alliance
Summertown, Tennessee

PennFuture
Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Council of Churches
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

People Demanding Action
Ruther Glen, Virginia

People Power Solar Cooperative
Oakland, California

People's Action
National

Post Growth Institute
Ashland, Oregon

Power Shift Network
National

Progress Michigan
Lansing, Michigan

PUSH Buffalo
Buffalo, New York

PVEC Member Voices
Sneedville, Tennessee

RapidShift.Network
National / Takoma Park MD

Redwood Energy
Arcata, California

Reclaim Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Renewable Energy Alliance of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Renew Missouri
Columbia, Missouri

RER Energy Group
Reading, Pennsylvania

Right To the City Alliance
New York, New York

Rise Up WV
West Virginia

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Denver, Colorado

Rural Climate Partnership
Washington DC

Rural Democracy Initiative
Washington DC

Rural Development Leadership Network
New York, New York

RuralOrganizing.org
Columbus, Ohio

Rural Organizing Project
Cottage Grove, Oregon

Salish Sea Cooperative Finance
Washington

SEE-LA (Social Eco Education-LA)
South East Los Angeles/California

Shareable
California

Sierra Club
National

Solar by Ecos
Louisville, Kentucky

Solar Commons Project
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Solar United Neighbors
Washington DC

Solstice Initiative
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Spirit of the Sun
Denver, Colorado

StraightUp Solar
St. Louis, Missouri

Sunnyside United Neighbors
Denver, Colorado

System Change not Climate Change
International

Texas Youth for Climate Action
Texas, State-wide

The Alaska Center
Anchorage, Alaska

The CoFED
Santa Rosa, California

The Democracy Collaborative
Washington DC

The Imani Group
Graniteville, South Carolina

The People's Justice Council
Birmingham, Alabama

The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society
Washington DC

Timebanks.org
Washington DC

Tó Nizhóní Ání
Dził Yíjiin, Navajo Nation

Transform Finance
New York, New York

Union of Concerned Scientists
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Vote Solar
Oakland, California

We Own It
Madison, Wisconsin

Western Clean Energy Campaign
Colorado

Western Colorado Alliance
Colorado

Western Organization of Resource Councils
Billings, Montana

Western Rural and Plains States Project
Boise, Idaho

Willmar Area Climate Action Group
Willmar, Minnesota

WindSolarUSA, Inc
Springfield, Illinois

Wisconsin Farmers Union
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin