Video & Transcript : 'electric utility cooperatives' :

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FL
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Dec 9th, 2025

Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Rodriguez is with us, so we will take up Tab 2, Senate Bill 288 on rural electric cooperatives
  • So we will take up Tab 2, Senate Bill 288 on rural electric cooperatives.
  • Electric cooperatives serve approximately 2.7 million Floridians in 57 counties and must balance growing
  • Waving in support is Drew Love with the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association. Thank you.
  • Seventh, to get at the non-energy drivers of utility rates, because there are reasons why utility rates
Committee: Senate Regulated Industries
Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met with a quorum and considered four bills, all of which were reported favorably. SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives was presented as a negotiated “glitch bill” to narrow statutory language so co-ops can choose generation and power purchases based on cost and reliability without exposure to lawsuits aimed at banning fuel sources; it was supported by the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association and passed without debate. SB 364 on public accountancy was described as a modernization and licensure-efficiency bill to increase the supply of CPAs; an amendment correcting a drafting error and restoring automatic mobility language was adopted without objection, and the bill as amended was reported favorably. A public comment on the bill was briefly redirected after it appeared to address a different subject. The committee then took up SB 200 on utilities, which addresses solar decommissioning and storm protection plans. Chair Bradley said the bill would authorize counties to require decommissioning plans for utility-scale solar facilities at the end of their useful life, direct DEP to develop best management practices, and require the Public Service Commission to consider whether storm protection plan costs are reasonable relative to expected customer benefits. County and consumer groups spoke in support, and the Small County Coalition said the bill was a needed step that did not restrict solar development; the bill was reported favorably. Finally, the committee considered SB 126 on the Florida Public Service Commission, which was presented as a reform and “glitch” bill and amended to add CPA and financial analyst expertise, require stronger PSC order explanations, tighten intervention requirements, cap returns on equity at the national average for comparable utilities, set periodic ROE review schedules, and require affordability to be considered in rate-related proceedings. The PSC staff deputy executive director answered extensive questions about storm hardening, cost recovery, risk, and affordability. Several members and public speakers supported the bill’s goals but raised concerns about the affordability standard, the ROE cap, and comparisons to other states; others said the bill would improve transparency and accountability. The amendment was adopted, and CS for SB 126 was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.
CA
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Labor and Employment Committee Apr 23rd, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • cooperatives toward seeding community-based cooperatives.
  • worker cooperatives inside state prisons.
  • AB 746 directs 40% of prison cooperative earnings into the Green Reentry Cooperative Reserve.
  • And I love broken cooperatives.
  • As a public utility.
Summary: The committee heard several labor-related bills, with AB 1424, AB 1340, AB 288, and AB 746 all advancing on due-pass motions to Appropriations after testimony and roll calls. AB 1424 would require climate resiliency and extreme-heat protections in CDCR facilities; supporters described dangerous heat conditions for incarcerated workers and staff, while no opposition testified. AB 1340 would allow rideshare drivers to unionize and collectively bargain; drivers, labor groups, and researchers testified that app-based work is low-paid and unstable, while TechNet, Uber, Lyft, and other business groups argued the bill conflicts with Proposition 22 and could raise costs. AB 288 would let PERB step in when federal labor remedies are unavailable; supporters said it is needed because of NLRB dysfunction, while the Chamber of Commerce raised preemption and enforcement concerns. AB 746 would create an inmate cooperative program and a green reentry reserve; supporters framed it as a recidivism-reduction and reentry strategy, and there was no opposition testimony. The committee also heard AB 858, which would extend hotel and hospitality worker recall rights after declared emergencies and extend existing COVID-era protections. Hospitality workers and unions supported the bill as a way to protect jobs after pandemics, wildfires, and other disasters, while hotel, chamber, retail, restaurant, trucking, travel, and attractions groups opposed it, saying the current recall rules were meant to sunset and that the bill would create broad liabilities and hiring complications. The bill was moved to Appropriations but remained on call after the roll. AB 291, creating a credentialed educator apprenticeship program to address teacher shortages and improve diversity, drew support from education groups and stakeholders who said apprenticeships could lower preparation costs and provide better support; it was also moved to Appropriations and placed on call. Later, the committee took up AB 1104, a solar-energy bill intended to clarify that private solar customers are not “awarding bodies” and to ease certain business-to-business solar transactions while preserving prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements for contractors. Supporters said the current interpretation has chilled commercial solar adoption and harmed jobs, while opponents from electrical workers, PG&E, and others warned about expanded “over-the-fence” power sales and the need for clearer limits. Members questioned the lack of a definition of “small,” and the bill was held without a second. The committee also heard AB 338, which seeks $50 million for Los Angeles and Ventura wildfire workforce recovery; the author and county officials described major job loss and business destruction and said the funds would support displaced workers and rebuilding, with the testimony continuing beyond the excerpt provided.
WA
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Local Government Feb 24th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, as Senator Gaynor stated, electric utilities face a critical need for new and upgraded infrastructure
  • Electric utilities face a critical need for new and upgraded infrastructure.
  • The question was asked about, wow... electric utilities face a critical need for new and upgraded infrastructure
  • Local 77 represents almost 9,000 utility and outside electrical workers across 35 of Washington's 39
  • Local 77 represents almost 9,000 utility and outside electrical workers across 35 of 39 counties in Washington
Bills: SB6132
Committee: House Local Government
Keywords: indebtedness limits, inland port districts, federal funding, infrastructure improvements, economic development, 904, all
FL
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Community Affairs Jan 20th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives by Senator Rodriguez.
  • Electric cooperatives serve approximately 2.7 million Floridians in 57 counties and must balance growing
  • SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives by Senator Rodriguez. Yes.
  • Senator Rodriguez, you are recognized to explain. on rural electric cooperatives by Senator Rodriguez
  • Electric cooperatives serve approximately 2.7 million Floridians in 57 counties and must balance growing
Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of bills, mostly local claims and growth-management or permitting measures. SB 16, SB 14, and SB 24 were uncontested claims bills providing relief for injuries or damages involving the City of St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade County; each was described as settled or favorably reported by a special master, and each was reported favorably without debate. SB 288, a negotiated bill on rural electric cooperatives, was presented as a clarification to protect co-op authority over generation and power purchases while preserving consumer protections; it drew support from industry stakeholders and was reported favorably. SB 830 created a public-records exemption for certain local administrators and their families’ personal information, citing threats against city managers, and it also passed favorably. The committee also considered several land-use and permitting bills. SB 1138 would create a registry of qualified professionals to conduct pre-application review for plats and development, aiming to reduce delays and backlogs; local government groups raised concerns about preemption and preserving quasi-judicial authority, but the bill passed favorably with one no vote. SB 168 expanded public nuisance law to include gambling houses, increased penalties, and authorized attorney’s fees and foreclosure of unpaid fees; it was reported favorably. SB 686 revised the agricultural enclave statute to create a public-hearing process for certain residential projects in urban service areas, with a sunset date later amended to June 30, 2026; conservation and planning groups raised concerns about local planning authority and public participation, but the bill passed favorably. SB 548, a growth-management and impact-fee cleanup bill, clarified plan-based methodology, extraordinary circumstances, interlocal agreements, and refund procedures for impact fees. Local government and development stakeholders testified that it would improve predictability while preserving flexibility, though some sought further refinement on fee increases and refunds; the bill was amended and then reported favorably. SB 1234 addressed building permits and inspections, including permit validity, small-project exemptions, temporary hurricane protection, standardized permit forms, and expanded use of private providers; county officials objected to reduced oversight, while builders and private-provider advocates supported the measure. After testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Jones requested to be recorded on several votes, and the committee adjourned after no further business.
HI
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Wed Mar 18, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 29

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

NV
NV

Nevada 2025 Regular Session

Assembly Committee on Ways and Means May 31st, 2025 at 09:00 am

Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • I mean, I sat on the Revenue Committee so I could see how these funds are utilized for braiding for our
  • I know we have Ovation here, and they can provide some additional context, but we truly do utilize these
  • Make sure she or he pays their utility bills for those two months.
  • They show their Arizona driver's license and bring their Nevada utility bill with them.
  • For example, our Nevada Solar for All program will reduce household utility bills for roughly 50,000
Bills: AB568 , SB90 , SB133 , SB147 , SB229 , SB233 , SB240 , SB245 , SB280 , SB378 , SB393 , SB417 , SB434 , SB494 , SB495 , AB62 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB193 , SB262 , SB422 , SB431 , SB435 , SB468 , SB503
Committee: Assembly Ways and Means
Keywords: higher education, Nevada System of Higher Education, operational expenses, instructional expenses, public funding, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel, civics education, Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, funding, youth programs, civic involvement, Southern Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas Valley, regional planning, economic resiliency
MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Energy Committee Meeting - 2025-03-27

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Governed by a board of directors including utility executives, regulators, and electric and RNG industry
  • than all of our rural electric co-op costs.
  • What he missed is that one megawatt of utility solar transfers the ownership and control of electricity
  • I work for Cooperative Energy Futures.
  • The mandate that we have to buy it as utilities, right?
Bills: HF2103 , HF2793
Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy
Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset
ND
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Energy Development and Transmission Committee Jul 22nd, 2026 at 09:00 am

Energy Development and Transmission Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a Capital Electric member, so Basin Electric rates to Capital Electric is really important to me.
  • And then I figured I'd just give a quick verbal rundown of Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
  • The last point on here, Montana Dakota was, and this is an EEI study, so it's the electric utilities
  • Montana Dakota was, and this is an EEI study, so it's the electric utilities that are in that survey
  • The contract also must provide benefits to other retail electric customers of the utility, and that benefit
Committee: Joint Energy Development and Transmission Committee
Keywords: 908, all
MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/09/26

Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Minnesota Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee will please come to order.
  • Utility-scale solar is finally catching up.
  • I'm general manager at Cooperative Energy Futures and speaking in support of Senate File 300.
  • Cooperative Energy Futures has 1,500 member... NAME IS TIMOTHY DEN HERDER. THOMAS.
  • COOPERATE. ENERGY FUTURES 1500 MEMBER Member on cooperative.
Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
NH
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (01/14/2025)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:26:12.480><c> yeah</c> damps that generate electricity yeah damps that generate electricity yeah
  • </c><01:32:09.080><c> but</c> the Consortium of the utilities but the Consortium of the utilities but
  • So when a facility sells their electricity into the grid and they get... ...and that electricity gets
  • so when a facility sells electricity so when a facility sells their<01:48:44.520><c> electricity</c>
  • </c> goes in when you pay the electricity goes in when you pay the electricity bill<01:49:13.760><c>
Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NM
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Mar 19th, 2025

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm Rico Gonzalez with El Paso Electric. We are very much in support of this bill.
  • Currently, rural electric co-ops are not eligible under the PPRF.
  • It doesn't even affect other generation builds by the same utilities.
  • It's a zero interest loan, essentially bridging the Loan electric cooperatives with political subdivisions
  • Um, am I correct that the loans can go to political subdivisions and electric cooperatives? **Mr.
Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance
OK
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 23rd, 2026 at 09:30 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

OK
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Apr 23rd, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Bills: HB3327 , HB3711 , HB4104 , HJR1077 , HB3329 , HB4322 , HB4202 , HB4203 , HB4457 , HB3983 , HB3660 , HB3802 , HB2933 , HB2955 , HB2956 , HB3781 , HB3521 , HB3794 , HB3796 , HB3800 , HB3183 , HB4316 , HB4484 , HB3469 , HB3464 , HB3173 , HB3989 , HB3016 , HB2979 , HB2988 , HB2288 , HB3062 , HB3315 , HB3372 , HB3530 , HB3622 , HB3755 , HB4266
Keywords: State Board of Education, Oklahoma education board, board appointments, school governance, education reform, governor appointments, legislative appointments, speaker of the house, president pro tempore, senate confirmation, board vacancies, removal for cause, public education, state superintendent, school board training, board member qualifications, emergency clause, Oklahoma statutes 70 O.S. 3-101, school funding, transparency
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, and recognized several guests and groups, including the nurse of the day, Donna Reynolds; the Tuttle High School wrestling team; auctioneer and ringman honorees; the Bristow Chamber of Commerce; Deer Creek cross country; Guthrie High School AP U.S. government students; and family members of Senator Reinhardt. The chamber also held a live auction demonstration on the floor, with Brandon Mendoza and Logan Snyder participating, and the winning bid was announced as $675. The Senate later recognized Millwood High School boys basketball and Isaiah Wilkes, the Gatorade Oklahoma Boys Basketball Player of the Year. The body then considered and passed several House bills. HB 3016 created a two-year pilot vision screening program for kindergarten through third grade to identify convergence insufficiency disorders; it passed 34-10 and was declared an emergency. HB 2979 authorized the Department of Transportation to establish school zones on portions of state highways at local request and passed 41-0. HB 2288, a teacher return-to-work bill removing the earnings cap and allowing return after six months, passed 45-0 as an emergency. HB 2988 expanded the definition of harmful woody species and broadened the Terry Peach Water Restoration Act statewide; it passed 43-1. HB 362, defining retired municipal judges for firearm-carry authority, passed 40-4. HB 3315 directed the state regents to study whether some graduate programs could be 90 credit hours and report to the governor; it passed 38-6 as an emergency. Additional bills passed included HB 3372, creating a $5 million revolving loan fund for charter school capital expenditures, after extended debate over public funds being used for improvements to privately owned facilities; it passed 39-6. HB 3530 required ABLE Commission records to be provided within 10 days when requested and passed 44-0. HB 3622 created a U.S. decennial census revolving fund in the Department of Commerce and passed 32-11. HB 3755 established a financial mechanism for juvenile detention centers to provide medication to youth in their care and passed 43-0. HB 4266, the omnibus specialty license plate bill, passed 25-19 after questions about out-of-state university plates. The Senate then made announcements about upcoming committee meetings, birthdays, and schedule changes, and adjourned until Monday, April 27 at 1:30 p.m.
WA
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Local Government Feb 24th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Prudent utility management means performing work with regularly employed personnel, utilizing material
  • Prudent utility management means performing work with regularly employed personnel utilizing material
  • So, as Senator Gaynor stated, electric utilities face a critical need for new and upgraded infrastructure
  • Electric utilities face a critical need for new and upgraded infrastructure.
  • Local 77 represents almost 9,000 utility and outside electrical workers across 35 of 39 counties in Washington
Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills related to transportation, utilities, housing permitting, and port financing. Substitute Senate Bill 6309 would give regional transit authorities, such as Sound Transit, more flexibility to apply for permits before acquiring property, exceed certain local height/setback limits when needed for rail systems, and use development agreements to vary local standards; the sponsor and Sound Transit testified that the bill would speed delivery of light rail and bus rapid transit, and an amendment was described to allow permits on property not yet owned if the transit authority remains responsible for obtaining property rights. Substitute Senate Bill 6076 would streamline procurement rules for public utility districts on clean energy, storage, transmission, and distribution projects by raising self-performance and contract thresholds, allowing limited noncompetitive procurement in certain reliability or specialized-technology situations, and extending some provisions until 2045; supporters from PUDs, labor, and industry said the changes are needed because of rising costs, long lead times, and grid reliability demands, while committee members asked about the size of the threshold increases and the scope of the bidding waivers. Substitute Senate Bill 5729 would prohibit local governments from charging applicants for third-party plan review when a licensed local staff professional of the same discipline has already reviewed the materials, while still allowing third-party review at the applicant’s cost in certain cases; the sponsor said the bill was narrowed from a broader version and was intended to prevent duplicative fees, and builders supported it as a permitting streamlining measure. Senate Bill 6132 would create a narrow debt-limit exception for the Port of Moses Lake to support a rail project and preserve federal funding eligibility; the port and economic development supporters said the project is ready to bid and needs additional borrowing capacity because of inflation, and the sponsor clarified that the bill is intended to apply only to that port. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5374 would require tribal governments to be included in transportation planning coordination under the Growth Management Act and create a tribal traffic safety coordinator grant program; the sponsor emphasized severe pedestrian fatality disparities for Native people and said the bill is about consultation and safety, while county representatives supported the policy goal but asked for clearer cross-references to existing GMA consultation and dispute-resolution processes. The committee also took up Substitute Senate Bill 6070/6076-related testimony and, at the end of the hearing, announced that bills would be executed the next day and amendment requests should be submitted as soon as possible.
DE
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Natural Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Jun 17th, 2026

Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • . and estro counts Passed on to other utility customers.
  • An escrow account set up by the utility specific to the community solar subscribers assures that this
  • That's a challenging thing to provide for somebody who pays your utility bill in cash.
  • He also wanted to express appreciation for the cooperation that went into drafting the legislation.
  • So they're going to be... [00:38:20.000] ...cooperation that has gotten us to this point.
Bills: SB9
Committee: House Natural Resources & Energy
Keywords: wetlands protection, nontidal wetlands, Delaware, environmental sustainability, climate change, carbon sink, permitting process
Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and first considered SB 321 with Senate Amendment 1, the community solar utility billing bill. The sponsor explained that it would consolidate the two-bill system for community solar subscribers into one utility bill, with the utility forwarding the subscriber fee to the solar facility through an escrow mechanism so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers. Testimony from the solar industry, the Public Advocate, and environmental advocates supported the measure, emphasizing easier enrollment, fewer barriers for low-income customers, and guaranteed savings. The committee initially lacked enough members present to release the bill, but after a roll call vote it was released from committee. The committee then heard SB 9 with Senate Amendment 1, a wetlands protection bill creating a state non-tidal freshwater wetlands permitting program. The sponsor and DNREC described a framework of exemptions, general permits, and individual permits based on wetland type and value, with an advisory committee to develop regulations. Witnesses explained that “exceptional value” wetlands would include unique wetland communities and high-functioning wetlands, and that the bill was intended to preserve important habitat while allowing farming, drainage, and other exempt activities to continue. Some members raised concerns about flooding, land classification, and the balance of the advisory committee, while supporters said the bill was the product of broad stakeholder consensus and would protect wetlands without unduly harming agriculture or development. Public comment on SB 9 was strongly supportive from environmental groups, the Delaware Native Species Commission, the Home Builders Association, the Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, and affordable housing advocates, who said the bill balanced conservation with practical land use concerns. After remote testimony, the committee took a roll call vote and SB 9 was released from committee. The meeting concluded with remarks thanking the chair for her service and instructions for members to sign the backers before adjournment.
MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 03/26/25

Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we've got plenty of inexpensive clean energy that we can utilize that provides baseload electricity
  • And we've got plenty of inexpensive clean energy that we can utilize that provides baseload electricity
  • And we've got plenty of inexpensive clean energy that we can utilize that provides baseload electricity
  • And we've got plenty of inexpensive clean energy that we can utilize that provides baseload electricity
  • that provides base load utilize that provides base load electricity,<01:34:00.480><c> the</c><01:34:
Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
FL
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 24, 2026 - 03:00 PM

Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • , electricity generation.
  • Second, it modernizes governance and election procedures for rural electric cooperatives while increasing
  • This could turn a small rural utility into a major regional utility without the consent of its taxpayers
  • Like your plan with electric cooperatives representing co-ops throughout the state.
  • Electric cooperatives are member-owned monopoly utilities.
Committee: House Commerce Committee
DE
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee Meeting Jun 23rd, 2026

Environment, Energy & Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I represent Delaware Electric Cooperative, and we support this legislation.
  • that separates monopoly utility utility. region has relied on competitive electricity market structure
  • We recommend changing the language to electric utilities regulatory body, as each utility business model
  • We recommend changing the language to electric utilities regulatory body and electric distribution company
  • We recommend changing the language to electric utilities regulatory body and electric distribution company
Committee: Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation
Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on energy, public safety, and environmental cleanup. House Bill 455 would create a historic preservation license plate to raise funds and awareness for Delaware preservation efforts, and House Bill 471 would tighten rules and penalties for off-highway vehicles on shared private roads, with golf carts excluded. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 439, the Truth in E-Bike Marketing Act, would require clearer disclosures when selling electric mopeds and electric motorcycles so consumers understand classification, power, and licensing/insurance requirements. House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 407, related to the Hazardous Substance Cleanup Act and brownfields, would shift funding for brownfield cleanup from the original realty transfer tax approach to a dedicated share of the hazardous substance cleanup fund and raise civil penalties for fraudulent acts. The committee also approved the June 18, 2026 minutes once quorum was reached. Most of the meeting centered on House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill 233, as amended, a large-load/data center bill intended to protect ratepayers from costs tied to massive new electricity users. The sponsor and Public Advocate said PJM’s warnings about a coming reliability backstop auction made it urgent to establish a Delaware framework now, requiring large energy users to sign utility agreements, cover their share of transmission, distribution, and capacity costs, and comply with curtailment and other protections. Supporters from environmental groups and some labor and business voices said the bill was needed to prevent cost shifts to households and small businesses, while opponents argued it was being rushed, could deter investment, and might unintentionally affect other industries; several asked for more time and clearer definitions. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also took up House Bill 470, which would authorize Delmarva Power, with PSC approval, to build and operate utility-owned battery storage and spread costs across the customer base. The sponsor and Delmarva said the bill would improve reliability quickly and help avoid outages, while the chair expressed concern that the state had not yet fully studied whether utility-owned or competitively procured storage is the best model, noting a recent SEU storage study and broader policy questions. Supporters said utility storage could be deployed faster and help with peak shaving, while others urged a competitive process; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 470.
MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Taxes - 01/23/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, our mission is to bring affordable electricity to Rural
  • Minnesota's 44 electric cooperatives serve an average of seven members per mile of line, and that compares
  • households served by rural electric cooperatives in Minnesota.
  • 44 electric urban areas Minnesota's 44 electric cooperatives<00:37:28.920><c> serve</c><00:37:29.480
  • </c><00:38:27.800><c> cooperatives</c><00:38:28.240><c> in</c> rural Electric cooperatives in rural Electric
Committee: Senate Taxes
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
ND
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Energy Development and Transmission Committee Jul 22nd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a Capital Electric member, so Basin Electric rates to Capital Electric is really important to me.
  • Then I figured I'd just give a quick verbal rundown of Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
  • The last point on here, Montana Dakota was, and this is an EEI study, so it's the electric utility...
  • Montana Dakota was, and this is an EEI study, so it's the electric utilities that are in that survey
  • The contract also must provide benefits to other retail electric customers of the utility, and that benefit
Summary: The committee met at the Coteau Freedom Mine in Mercer County, approved the June 2 minutes, and heard an overview of the mine from Coteau Properties president Andrew Hawbaker. He described the Freedom Mine’s production history, customer mix, safety record, reclamation practices, workforce, community involvement, and economic impact. Members asked about how long land stays in production before reclamation, how quickly it returns to agriculture, labor shortages, groundwater impacts, and which skilled trades are hardest to fill. Hawbaker said the mine typically disturbs land for three to five years, reclamation returns much of the land to agricultural use, and the biggest hiring challenges are electricians, welders, mechanics, operators, engineers, and accountants. The committee then heard from Public Service Commission Chairman Randy Christman on coal mining reclamation. He reviewed the history of North Dakota and federal reclamation laws, the PSC’s permitting and inspection authority, bonding requirements, contemporaneous reclamation standards, and how the state handles topsoil, subsoil, drainage, and revegetation. He emphasized that North Dakota’s program is well regarded, with frequent inspections and no corrective-action issues in recent federal reviews. Christman also discussed problems caused by federal coal ownership that can delay mine plans, and he answered questions about reclamation timing, wildlife easements, wind and pipeline reclamation, and whether similar bonding concepts could apply to data centers. In the afternoon, the committee received an update from Lignite Energy Council President and CEO Jonathan Fortner on the lignite industry. He highlighted the industry’s long-term role in providing reliable electricity, jobs, and tax revenue, along with North Dakota’s low electricity rates and strong grid reliability. Fortner discussed severance and conversion tax revenues, federal regulatory changes, litigation over EPA rules, carbon capture, critical minerals, and the potential for large-load customers such as data centers to support new coal generation. He said the industry sees a window of opportunity for growth and expressed support for new large-load development, while noting that diversified energy companies are also pursuing natural gas and other resources. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and adjourning for the tour.