Category: Coop News

14Apr

Co-Op Painting Now A Piece Of History

From a coal miner in Salyersville to a basketball player in LaGrange, the faces of 21 members of Kentucky electric cooperatives peer into the future in a 1984 painting by Michael Finnell now on display at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort.

At a ceremony attended by more than 140 high school students on the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives Frankfort Youth Tour, the Our Power is Our People artwork was formally donated to the Kentucky Historical Society by KAEC President and CEO Chris Perry.

“Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our members,” Perry said. “To share their story – past and present – at this history museum is a natural extension of our commitment to the communities we serve.”

Our Power is Our People was commissioned to represent the 1.8 million people served by co-ops in 117 of 120 Kentucky counties. Upon the move of its headquarters in 2017, KAEC leaders determined the painting deserved a more accessible venue.

“The Kentucky Historical Society is very honored to accept this painting,” said Kent Whitworth, the society’s executive director. “Not only is it a compelling work of art, but the stories it tells are very much in keeping with our state mandate to preserve Kentucky’s history.”

The painting was the idea of Ron Sheets, who served as KAEC president from 1978 to 2010. Sheets attended the unveiling, offering advice to the youth tour students, with a nod to history.

“Remember back, think ahead,” Sheets said, quoting a plaque he displayed in his KAEC office.

06Apr

Co-Op Leaders Discuss Key Issues With Energy Secretary Perry

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky – In a roundtable discussion with U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry in Hopkinsville, leaders from Kentucky’s electric cooperatives stressed matters of concern to co-ops while thanking Perry for his leadership on several key issues.

A guest of Kentucky’s senior senator, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Perry reiterated his commitment to the reliability of America’s energy system while addressing specific concerns of about 15 energy leaders from Kentucky.

Kentucky’s electric cooperatives were represented at the roundtable by KAEC President Chris Perry and Vice President Joe Arnold, Big Rivers Electric President Bob Berry and Government Relations Director Sharla Austin, East Kentucky Power Cooperative Chief Financial Officer Mike McNally and Pennyrile Electric President Greg Grissom.

The private hour long roundtable discussion also included representatives from other utilities, fuel producers, the oil and gas industry and education. Afterword, McConnell and Perry addressed a luncheon hosted by the Christian County Chamber of Commerce.

At that event, Perry noted that a “fair and predictable” regulatory climate is a key ingredient to a successful economy. Stressing innovation, Perry celebrated advances in domestic energy production, citing recent increases in coal use and his upcoming trip to India to discuss U.S. energy exports.

01Mar

March 2018 Legislative Update

The Government Affairs team of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives continues to work around the clock toward passage of HB 227, the bill that would reform Kentucky net metering policy to fairly compensate residential solar users for excess energy they generate.

KAEC’s team is working with all House members, especially members of the House Natural Resources and Energy committee to explain how under the current policy, net metering utility customers do not pay their fair share for maintaining the electric grid. We have spent a great deal of our time correcting inaccurate arguments being made by HB 227 opponents. The opposition is well organized and passionate, which makes your phone calls and emails to legislators all that much more important.

Supporters are hopeful to have the bill reheard in committee next week with a full House vote to follow. If you have not done so already, please contact your legislator and encourage them to support the bill.

FRANKFORT, Ky, January 31 – KAECCommunity and Government Affairs Director Chase Crigler, Big Rivers Electric Legislative and Governmental Relations Director SharlaAustin and NRECAPolicy and Political Action Manager Jennifer Jura, at the Kentucky Capitol after a House committee heard testimony on House Bill 227. KAECPhoto

Though HB 227 has garnered the most attention, your lobbying team has also been addressing several other pieces of legislation to make sure Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are protected.

SB 9, the TVA in-lieu-of-tax bill is moving forward. This would be a big win for our TVA Cooperatives.

Through negotiations with members, KAEC, along with Kentucky’s investor-owned utilities were able to stop Municipal Joint Action legislation from becoming a bill this year.

The KAECteam also had a hand in stopping SB 125, a bill which would have changed easements for electric cooperatives to instill rural broadband.