Foster Hildreth, general manager of Orcas Power & Light Cooperative in the San Juan Islands, says Larsen's background “shows up in his appreciation for cooperative principles and the importance of keeping the lights on in rural America."

“He experienced his dad waking up in the middle of the night when a power outage happened, so he really does understand how essential power is and how precarious it can be if you don't protect it," Hildreth says.

The co-op, which serves 20 islands in the San Juan archipelago in Larsen's district, is working with the congressman to urge the Bonneville Power Administration and the Department of Energy to replace two aging, BPA-owned submarine cables that bring hydropower to the co-op's approximately 12,000 consumer-members.

“If these cables aren't proactively replaced, aging underwater transmission will eventually lead to major outages for the San Juan Islands," Hildreth says. “The scale of replacement is far beyond what a small cooperative can finance alone—replacing these two 8-mile submarine cables is extremely costly."

“Rick understands the urgency of these replacements and has been actively advocating for OPALCO with BPA, DOE and other federal partners to secure the necessary funding."

The congressman also supported OPALCO in 2022 in getting FEMA funding after an atmospheric river brought heavy rains that caused flooding and mudslides, damaging infrastructure throughout San Juan County, Hildreth says.

“This support is very needed and is not just about investment in repairing what was lost, but also about reducing the risk of future damage from similar flooding and mudslide events, improving resiliency and helping limit outages and repair costs when extreme weather inevitably occurs again."

Larsen has become a national leader on efforts to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that rural communities get relief as quicky as possible after a hurricane, tornado, earthquake, flood or other natural disaster.

Larsen, the senior Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, joined Chairman Sam Graves, R-Mo., in 2025 to introduce the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act, which was approved by the committee in September. The NRECA-backed bill would streamline the agency and dramatically speed up delivery of crucial disaster relief funds to electric co-ops.

The legislation includes a key provision sought by NRECA that would make co-ops eligible to be reimbursed for the interest they must pay on loans to perform emergency work and rebuild their systems while they wait to receive disaster funds from FEMA.

“As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, the FEMA Act of 2025 strengthens the agency and ensures it has the tools to efficiently and effectively serve as a lifeline to disaster-impacted communities,"

Larsen said when the committee passed the bill.

Larsen and Graves are both part of the congressional class of 2000, and they work well together to find common ground on legislation that affects electric co-ops, says Will Mitchell, who lobbies on FEMA issues for NRECA.

“In a place that is becoming more and more partisan, I think it's important to have those genuine, solid connections that come from a place of trust," Mitchell says.

Larsen said his constituents depend on co-ops and other local utility companies to keep the lights on.

“Local electric providers, like SnoPUD where my dad worked, are the first line of defense for families trying to get power back after an outage," Larsen said. “Investing in electrical co-ops in rural areas like San Juan County reduces the damage from outages and creates good-paying jobs, and I am proud to champion these investments as the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee."

Mitchell described Larsen as a “practical, pragmatic member of the Democratic Caucus" who works with his fellow Democrats on the committee to get things done.

The 60-year-old congressman, who is currently serving his 13th term, also is known for his dry sense of humor, Mitchell says.

Larsen won second place in the “Funniest Celebrity" standup comedy competition in Washington, D.C., in 2010. One of his jokes compared serving in the U.S. House to being in the cast of an AMC TV show.

“You're either a part of the Walking Dead, or you're Mad Men," he quipped.