NRECA: Keeping America’s Power Grid Healthy is a Cornerstone of National Security

Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, provides new updates on winter storm impacts and the outlook for rural power reliability.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (RFD NEWS) — This week’s winter storm caused electricity disruptions for many rural communities across the country. At the same time, a new assessment projects how extreme temperatures and rising electricity demand could affect the nation’s power grid in the years ahead.

Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to provide an update on how rural communities were affected by the recent extreme weather and how electric cooperatives have been responding to outages and system challenges.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Matheson also discussed the findings of NRECA’s new long-term reliability assessment, outlining key highlights from the report and what they signal for the power grid’s future. The conversation focused on what these projections mean for rural communities and their access to reliable electricity, as well as the steps that may be needed moving forward to address reliability concerns.

Related Stories
Investment and access to capital remain critical for agriculture.
Strong ethanol exports support long-term growth in corn demand.
As data centers expand across Texas, experts and officials weigh economic benefits against concerns over farmland loss, water use, and impacts on agricultural land and rural communities.
Groundbreaking Marks Next Major Milestone in Strengthening U.S. New World Screwworm Preparedness
A new partnership with the Montana Beef Council is bringing protein-packed refuel stations to high school sports tournaments across the state.
As budget hearings continue on Capitol Hill, policymakers focus on long-term solutions to stabilize the fertilizer market to support U.S. farmers.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Beekeepers across the nation face a common challenge during winter—helping bee colonies survive the harsh conditions. Now, a new product developed by an innovated apiarist is changing the game. Enter, the Hive Hugger.
Season 2 of Muletown in the Round features host Wynn Varble alongside veteran singer-songwriters who share the stories behind some of Country Music’s greatest hits. Songwriters in this season include Brice Long, Mark Nesler, Shane Minor, Moe Pitney, Clint Daniels, Ronnie Bowman, Don Sampson, and Jim “Moose” Brown.
In this behind-the-scenes look at the newest episode of Where the Food Comes From, “A Day Without Sunshine” written by show producer and script supervisor Donna Sanders — find out what Florida citrus growers Dundee Citrus did when life handed them some lemons.
As the USDA tracks how Plant Hardiness Zones are slowly shifting across the country, they are also adjusting their recommendations for gardeners when it comes to perennial plants. The data is also used the by Risk Management Agency to determine crop insurance rates.
Growing citrus undercover in a giant screened-in enclosure has huge advantages. But what happens when there’s a hurricane?