Clean Power Plan among greatest concerns for 2015 Legislative Rally

On behalf of our customer utilities and the public power industry, Heartland officials are slated to attend the 2015 Legislative Rally March 9-11 in Washington, D.C., hosted by the American Public Power Association (APPA). The Legislative Rally is considered one of the most significant events of the year for public power and is the heart of APPA’s efforts to get their members involved in the policymaking process in Washington.

During the rally, Heartland board and staff plan to meet with Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds to discuss the benefits of public power and the impact federal action has at a local level. Heartland officials found success with South Dakota legislators at the 2014 Legislative Rally, securing support from Senators Thune and Tim Johnson for the Public Power Risk Management Act. Key topics on Heartland’s agenda for 2015 include:

Ensuring that policymakers are aware of the impact EPA’s carbon dioxide regulations could have on utility operations and the price and reliability of electricity supply;

• Maintaining tax-exempt financing for state and local governments, including public power utilities, in ongoing federal budget and tax reform negotiations;
• Promoting cyber security legislation that is built on the current NERC/FERC framework and enhances communication between the federal government and the electric utility industry;
• Increasing transparency and oversight of the wholesale electricity markets; and,
• Protecting the ability of the PMAs and TVA to continue to fulfill their historic mission of providing affordable electricity to the nearly 50 million customers they jointly serve.

Other rally highlights include APPA committee meetings, informative seminars, networking opportunities and more. For more information about the 2015 Legislative Rally, visit www.publicpower.org/legislativerally.