On Wednesday, March 22, more than 150 representatives from all 26 of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives gathered in Raleigh to meet with their legislators and discuss policy issues important to electric co-ops, their members, and their communities. REMC Directors and staff visited NC House Representatives and Senators. The team discussed the importance of increasing criminal penalties for attacks on substations and our critical infrastructure.

Cooperative participants also discussed recent achievements in rural economic development, such as $83 million in grants and loans to support more than 100 projects statewide, $1 billion in capital investments and 6,000+ new jobs. The REMC team asked legislators to provide additional support for programs that assist counties in advancing smaller economic development sites toward market-readiness. 

The cooperative Rally in Raleigh is an important opportunity to meet with legislators to discuss achievements and advocate for rural issues. Leaders from North Carolina's electric co-ops will meet with elected officials in Washington, D.C., next month to keep the conversation going.