Officials from AMP/OMEA member communities met with Congressional offices to raise awareness of how federal policy affects municipal electric system customers.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Representatives and officials from 28 American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) and Ohio Municipal Electric Association (OMEA) Member communities participated in the 2024 American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally, Feb. 26-28. The annual Rally is an opportunity for municipal electric system representatives from across the country to share firsthand insights with federal lawmakers and their staff.
“The Rally serves as an important opportunity for AMP and its Members to engage with key legislators and their staff, offering invaluable local perspectives on matters crucial to public power,” said Jolene Thompson, AMP President/CEO. “We are pleased by the strong commitment shown by our Members in dedicating time to this important advocacy effort, and we value the responsiveness of lawmakers and their staff, who took the time to meet with us and carefully consider our perspectives on important issues facing public power.”
More than 50 AMP and OMEA Member community officials and representatives attended the Rally, including Members from Delaware, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
“The Rally meetings offer a unique opportunity for federal legislators and policymakers to engage directly with those at the forefront of public power systems,” said Michael Beirne, AMP vice president of external affairs and OMEA executive director. “Representatives from municipal electric systems are uniquely positioned to convey the specific challenges that their local utilities face and how federal policies directly influence their day-to-day operations.”
Officials from municipal electric utilities focused their discussions with lawmakers on such key issues as the continued sequestration of Build America Bonds and New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, climate and regulatory activity and the need to ensure that actions do not jeopardize reliability or affordability of electricity, as well as the need for a thoughtful energy transition that recognizes the realities involved as renewable energy becomes an increasing part of the nation’s power supply. In addition, the Rally provided an opportunity for AMP and public power officials to meet with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission officials and staff.
A key part of the Rally was the APPA Legislative & Resolutions Committee meeting on Feb. 27, when APPA members adopted 13 resolutions to establish their position on key issues affecting the industry. AMP and OMEA co-sponsored Resolution 24-03: In Support of Electric Reliability; Resolution 24-08: In Support of Protecting Critical Electric Information from Public Disclosure; and Resolution 24-09: Cybersecurity Incident Reporting for Electric Utilities. The full listing of resolutions can be viewed at www.publicpower.org/policy/resolutions.
Throughout the week, AMP/OMEA Members met with four congressional members: Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), and J.D. Vance (R-OH) and Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH).
Additionally, AMP/OMEA Members met with staff members from 15 congressional offices: Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Mark Warner (D-VA); and Representatives Troy Balderson (R-OH), Joyce Beatty (D-OH),Mike Carey (R-OH),Ben Cline (R-VA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Jim Jordan (R-OH), David Joyce (R-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bob Latta (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH) and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH).