News

By: Brad Castor, President/CEO

As we close another year, we want to pause and express gratitude for your continued trust and support. Our cooperative was built on the promise of people coming together to improve the quality of life in their communities, and that promise still guides everything we do today.

Each decision, whether it’s about delivering reliable electricity, innovating for the future or advocating for affordable, responsible energy policies comes back to one simple question: How will this benefit the members we serve?

Policy Advocacy

This past year has been marked by meaningful progress, both in strengthening our local system and in working at the national level to influence energy policies that directly affect reliability, affordability and resilience.

Over the past year, electric cooperatives across the country came together for advocacy efforts on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Power Plant Rule. As originally written, the rule would have forced a rapid shift away from always-available power generation resources, threatening the accessibility of a diverse fuel supply that keeps electricity reliable. Intermittent energy sources are a growing part of our energy future, but we know that the demand for electricity is rising rapidly, and natural gas, coal, nuclear and hydro remain essential for ensuring dispatchable power is available around the clock.

As we collaborated and engaged with policymakers, we pressed for a more balance-of-power approach to generating power — one that supports intermittent energy innovation while still recognizing the role of readily dispatchable generation resources. Our efforts are helping to shape a more workable path forward that better protects reliability and keeps costs in check.

Another area of ongoing progress came through advocacy work on federal permitting reform. For too long, outdated rules and lengthy delays have stood in the way of building critical infrastructure, including transmission lines and generation projects. Modernizing this process is essential to strengthen the electric grid and keep pace with growing demand. This year, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas helped move the needle on permitting reform, advocating for policies that make the process faster, more predictable and more efficient. Investments we make in infrastructure will reach communities sooner, improving reliability and preparing us for the future.

Disaster Readiness

We’re also seeing progress with bipartisan support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Act of 2025, which would speed up the disaster recovery process for electric cooperatives.
FEMA is a crucial partner for electric cooperatives in efforts to restore power after disaster strikes, but currently, the federal reimbursement process after a major storm is slow and mired with red tape. If passed, the bill would make FEMA a stronger, more responsive agency to help strengthen resilience, protect taxpayer dollars and ensure essential services are restored as quickly as possible after a natural disaster.

Future Promise

As we look ahead to a new year, we see both challenges and opportunities on the horizon. The energy industry is undergoing significant change driven by the rising need for more electricity, new tools and technologies and federal energy policies.

The path forward requires innovative thinking and member-focused solutions. Through it all, our promise to you remains steadfast: reliable, affordable and responsible power for today — and tomorrow.