NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Electric cooperatives that are seeking federal permits for crucial infrastructure projects should form strong relationships with agencies that issue those approvals, a Georgia co-op leader advised during an NRECA PowerXchange panel discussion.

“You’ve got to maintain a strong communications presence,” said Annalisa Bloodworth, president and CEO of Oglethorpe Power Corp., a generation co-op based in Tucker, Georgia. “Maintain an ongoing relationship with all the agencies, and fold in your key political and community leaders as well.”

“Be very, very active with the agencies throughout the process,” she added. “You’ve got to be all in.”

Bloodworth was one of four experts who spoke on a March 9 panel titled “Federal Permitting Update: What Co-op Leaders Need to Know Now.”

Viktoria Seale, a senior director of regulatory affairs at NRECA, moderated the panel and noted that permitting reform is one of NRECA’s top priorities. Advocacy efforts by the association and its co-op members have yielded real results, she said, but much more remains to be done.

After years of advocacy by NRECA and its member co-ops, federal agencies released new National Environmental Policy Act procedures last summer to simplify permitting of cooperatives’ energy and broadband projects.

In December, the House passed two significant permitting reform bills backed by NRECA—the SPEED ACT and the PERMIT Act—that would help protect affordable power nationwide by reducing delays for co-ops making essential improvements to their systems.

“Because we’re motivated by people, not profits, lawmakers really listen to co-ops,” Seale said.

While NRECA continues to lobby federal agencies and Congress, co-op leaders said it’s important for co-ops to keep in close touch with government officials who oversee the permitting process.

Buddy Hasten, president and CEO of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives Inc., advised co-ops to meet with relevant federal and state agencies about a proposed project well before applying for permits. If possible, he said, have an open house to show them the site where the project will take place.

“Nobody likes surprises, including regulators,” Hasten said.

He also said co-ops should be clear about the cost of delays for co-ops and their consumer-members.

“Just give them the facts,” Hasten said. “Show them the actual cost.”

Brad Wilson, president and CEO of Central Electric Cooperative Inc. in Redmond, Oregon, said more than 56% of his co-op’s infrastructure resides on or crosses federal land, including property that lies within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.

The co-op has to get federal permits to do even routine projects like replacing aging power poles or managing vegetation to reduce the risk of wildfires, he said.

Wilson offered his fellow co-op leaders these tips for success:

• Schedule projects and apply for permits well in advance of when you want to begin construction.
• Expect inconsistencies in policies and guidance from agency to agency.
• It’s imperative to communicate with local agency staff. Focus on partnerships and common goals.
• Perform beyond expectations because reputation matters.