2026 Policy Priorities for Electric Cooperatives

American families and businesses count on reliable electricity at a price they can afford. But with the demand for power continuing to climb and the supply of always-available power sources at risk, smart energy policies are more important than ever.

At Lane-Scott Electric, our job goes beyond keeping the lights on day to day. We are responsible for advocating on behalf of our members at the state level and in Washington, D.C., to make sure decisions being made protect reliable, affordable power in our local communities.

As we head into 2026, America’s electric cooperatives are focused on a few key federal issues that directly impact our members:

• Faster Disaster Recovery: We support the bi-partisan FEMA Act of 2025. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a critical partner in helping electric co-ops restore power and rebuild their systems in the wake of natural disasters, but it could be more effective and responsive to the needs of rural America. If the FEMA Act passes, it will help utilities restore power more quickly after storms and disasters — while keeping costs lower for rural families and businesses.
• Cutting Through Red Tape: Outdated and overly complex permitting rules slow down essential upgrades to power lines and substations. Streamlining these processes helps us keep up with growing demand and improve reliability. We’re urging Congress to pass comprehensive permitting reforms, including the SPEED Act and PERMIT Act — both of which cleared the House in December and aim to shorten federal permitting timelines making it easier for co-ops to modernize their infrastructure.
• Keeping Reliable Power Plants Online: We’re advocating for realistic energy regulations that don’t force dependable power plants to shut down before reliable replacements are ready. Mandating emissions limits based on unavailable technology would force critical power plants off the grid and restrict the operation of new natural gas plants.
• Protecting Critical Hydropower: Hydroelectric dams in the Pacific Northwest play a key role in keeping electricity reliable and affordable across multiple states. Removing them would raise costs and threaten reliability, which is why we support preserving the Lower Snake River Dams in Washington state.
• Smarter Land Management Policies: We’re advocating for smarter land-management policies, such as the Fix Our Forests Act, that would allow electric cooperatives to better maintain power lines on public lands and mitigate wildfire risk.
• Maintaining Funding for Grid Innovation and Investments: Federal loan and grant programs help co-ops strengthen the grid, prepare for extreme weather, improve cybersecurity and explore new energy technologies — without shifting costs to members.
   

While you may not think about it every day, electricity is essential and underpins nearly every aspect of modern life. Understanding today's evolving energy landscape is important as it shapes how electricity is produced, delivered and consumed. Advocating on behalf of Lane-Scott Electric’s members is a critical part of our commitment to you. These policy priorities all come back to the same goal: making sure our members have safe, reliable and affordable power — now and in the future.