House advances two electric cooperative priorities

The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced two electric cooperative priorities, which will now head to the Senate for full consideration.

The House approved the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act, H.R. 1873, by a vote of 300 to 118. The bill would make it easier for electric co-ops to secure permits to control vegetative overgrowth and trees that could damage power lines on federal lines. It would also hold federal agencies liable if they deny permission to manage vegetation that then causes a fire.

H.R. 1551, sponsored by Rep. Tom Rice (R-SC), would eliminate the 2020 construction deadline for new nuclear power plants to be eligible for production tax credits established in 2005.

“Passage of this legislation demonstrates that co-op leaders from across the country make a difference when they come to Washington to meet with their elected officials,” National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson said. “We’re pleased that the House has approved these bills and look forward to advancing them in the Senate.”

NRECA and other trade groups sent a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi the day before the vote, urging them to support nuclear power as “a strategic national imperative.”