CEO’s Report: Advocating for public power, witnessing history

March 3, 2026

Last week, Heartland Energy board members, staff, and I had the privilege of representing our public power communities in Washington, D.C. at the 2026 American Public Power Association Legislative Rally. This annual event provides an important opportunity to meet face-to-face with our congressional delegation and advocate for the issues that matter most to the customers and communities we serve.

During our time on Capitol Hill, we had productive conversations with Representative Dusty Johnson and Senator Mike Rounds. We discussed the reliability of the electric grid, the importance of local control, infrastructure investments, and federal policies that directly impact public power utilities.

These meetings are invaluable because they ensure the voices of community-owned utilities and the people who depend on them are heard in the national conversation.

Members of Heartland’s board and staff met with U.S. Senator Mike Rounds during the APPA Legislative Rally. Pictured, from left to right: Heartland Chief Operations Officer Nate Jones, Directors Vern Hill, Bill Lewellen, Roger Fritz, Jeff Heinemeyer, and Board President Mark Joffer, Senator Rounds, Heartland Directors Jerry Jongeling and Suze Frentz, CEO Russell Olson, Chief Financial Officer Mike Malone, Director Larry Nielson, and Chief Communications Officer Ann Hyland.

The timing of our trip coincided with President Trump’s State of the Union address. Heartland Energy Board President Mark Joffer and I had the great honor of being invited by Senate Majority Leader John Thune to attend the address. Sitting in the House Chamber for this historic moment was a reminder of how closely our work at the local level is connected to national policy.

It was a stellar day for South Dakota with Senators Thune and Rounds on the floor, along with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. We also saw General Jim Seward, former general counsel for Dennis Daugaard, introduced by the president as he presented the Purple Heart to National Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, who was shot in Washington D.C. while on patrol last year.

We also witnessed a South Dakota native, 100-year-old retired U.S. Navy Captain Royce Williams, receive the Medal of Honor for his heroics in the Korean War. He fought seven Soviet planes alone in a 35-minute dogfight, taking down four and preventing Soviet aircraft from attacking the U.S. Navy’s Task Force 77.

*U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson speaks to Heartland board and staff during an informal group dinner.*

Energy was one of the key topics highlighted by the president during his address, with particular attention given to the rapid growth of data centers. This issue is front and center for public power providers.

Data centers bring significant economic development opportunities, but they also require substantial, reliable, and affordable electric capacity. Public power utilities across the country are dedicated meeting that demand while maintaining the affordability and reliability our customers expect.

Public power utilities are uniquely positioned to respond to many of the challenges the energy industry faces, because we are locally governed and community focused. Every decision we make is guided by what is in the best interest of the people we serve, not distant shareholders.

Our time in Washington reinforced how important it is to tell the public power story. From conversations in congressional offices to hearing national priorities outlined in the State of the Union, we were reminded that strong local utilities play a vital role in our nation’s energy future.

It was an honor to represent our communities, and we will continue working to ensure public power remains reliable, affordable, and locally controlled for years to come.