CEO’s Message – December 2025
Reflecting on Progress, Planning for the Future
As we begin to wrap up 2025, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for you, the members of Union Rural Electric Cooperative (URE). Our cooperative was built on the promise of people coming together to improve the quality of life in their communities, and that promise still guides everything we do today. Whenever I meet with members, whether they depend on our service for their home or business, I’m reminded of the importance of that promise and the small part I play.
Each decision, whether it affects reliability or affordability, supports innovation for the future, or involves advocating for smart energy policies that affect our local community, comes back to 1 simple question: How will this benefit the members we serve?
This past year has been marked by significant progress. Locally, we have seen significant growth in our membership and utility plant; Union County is a fast-growing area. At the same time, we have also been working at the national level to influence energy policies that directly affect reliability, affordability, and resilience. While the halls of Congress and the White House can feel distant, they really do shape our daily operations here at home.
Over the past year, electric cooperatives across the country came together to advocate for changes to the EPA’s Power Plant Rule. The rule would have forced a rapid shift away from always-available power generation resources, threatening the accessibility of a diverse fuel supply that keeps electricity reliable. Renewable energy sources are an essential and growing part of our energy future, but the demand for electricity is rising rapidly, and natural gas, coal, and nuclear power remain essential for ensuring power is available around the clock. Cooperatives like URE collaborated and engaged with policymakers for a more balanced approach to generating power.
Together, co-ops also advocated for federal permitting reform. For too long, outdated rules and lengthy delays have stood in the way of building critical infrastructure, including new transmission lines and generation projects. Modernizing this process is essential to strengthening the electric grid and keep pace with growing demand. This year, electric co-ops promoted policies that make the process faster, more predictable, and more efficient. Investments made by utilities will reach communities sooner, improving reliability and preparing us for the future.
We’re also seeing progress with bipartisan support of the FEMA Act of 2025, which would speed up the disaster recovery process for electric cooperatives and the communities we serve. Severe storms are a fact of life, and their impact on the electric system can be devastating. If passed, the bill would make FEMA a stronger, more responsive agency to help strengthen rural resilience, protect taxpayer dollars, and ensure essential services are restored as quickly as possible after a natural disaster.
Achievements like these are not just wins in Washington; they are wins for URE members like you.
In addition to advocacy efforts, we are proactively addressing our communities’ needs by investing in new technologies and programs that improve service for our members. Through advanced monitoring systems and technological tools that improve daily operations, we are better equipped to identify power delivery issues or challenges before they occur — and to better plan for continued reliability in the future.
Looking ahead to the new year, I see both challenges and opportunities on the horizon. The energy industry is undergoing significant change, driven by the rising need for more electricity, new tools and technologies, and updated federal energy policies.
The path forward requires innovative thinking and solutions focused on members like you and your neighbors. I’m confident that with the dedication of our URE employees and the continued support of our statewide and national partners, we are well-positioned to adapt and meet challenges head-on. Through it all, our promise to you remains steadfast: safe, reliable, and affordable power both now and in the future.