Access Energy Meets with Legislators

On December 8, area legislators took time out of their busy schedules to devote to a meeting with the Access Energy Cooperative board and management to share concerns and information on upcoming legislative issues. Your cooperative shared with Senator Eugene Fraise, and Representatives Dave Heaton and Curt Hanson that in order for electric cooperatives to continue to provide safe, reliable, efficient service to our members, we must:

• Continue to have enough resources to meet our members’ demands
• Continue to offer energy efficiency programs to our members
• Be able to generate power from low-carbon sources
• Continue to incorporate environmental upgrades to our power plants
• Continue research on capturing and storing carbon
• Continue exploring opportunities with consumer generated power

The legislators shared with the cooperative board of directors and Robert Swindell, the General Manager/CEO and staff their concerns for the upcoming session. Discussion was held on wind power and transmission capabilities and grid upgrades, as well as nuclear options. Discussion was also held on electric vehicles and solar power.

Mr. Swindell reported on some of the issues electric cooperatives hoped to work closely with legislation on during the upcoming session, including:

• Protecting our ability to make decisions locally
• Keeping our assigned service areas
• Supporting renewable and energy efficiency incentives versus mandates
• Supporting legislative proposals that aid in providing safe, reliable, efficient service

Senator Fraise and Representatives Hanson and Heaton also reported on other upcoming issues affecting Iowa including the marriage amendment, the budget, early childhood education, health care reform at the state level, and redistricting.