In mid-September, nine co-op CEOs and members of OEC leadership went to Capitol Hill to meet with members of nearly half of the Ohio Congressional delegation as part of the annual “CEO Fly-In.” Over a busy day and a half, the grasstops advocates shared concerns with lawmakers about the negative impacts that several U.S. EPA rules will have on Buckeye Power and cooperative members and urged passage of resolutions of disapproval to halt their implementation.
Also discussed was support for legislation to improve federal environmental permitting processes for much-needed electric infrastructure improvements. Additionally, the group raised alarm with the US. Postal Service’s misguided proposal to end evening pickups at postal offices that are more than fifty miles from their regional processing centers and the impact on co-op membership. The group of CEOs capped off the trip with productive meetings with Ohio delegation members Rep. Troy Balderson and Rep. Bob Latta of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee between committee votes.