| Resource Type | Article |
| Author / Source | Mark Lozano, Sam Mardell, and David Valdes (RMI) |
| Publication Date | September 2026 |
| Location | United States |
| Initiative Type | Partnership, Program, Policy |
| Project Complexity | Intermediate |
| Recommended For | Board, Staff, Community Organizations |
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Why This Matters for Rural Electric Co-ops
Co-ops make up a small share of national electricity sales. Yet RMI finds that 41% of projected wind and solar through 2035 falls on land co-ops serve. Many of these projects face local pushback, so co-ops sit at the point where regional energy plans meet local permitting, land use, and community concerns.
This article frames the co-op as a trusted translator rather than a project advocate. It shows how peers have used economic development work, seats on local planning committees, and member education to help their communities weigh benefits and tradeoffs. Leaders can use it to decide how active a role their co-op wants to take as development arrives in their territory.
Key Takeaways
| › | Co-op territories overlap with 41% of projected wind and solar buildout through 2035, far above their 15% share of national sales. |
| › | Co-ops can act as translators in three ways: linking development to local economic opportunity, informing local planning, and helping members understand tradeoffs. |
| › | Projects that export power elsewhere still bring tax revenue, lease payments, and jobs, but host communities may weigh these against local impacts. |
| › | The translator role is about representing member priorities, not winning support for a particular project. Its scope should fit local context. |
Implementation Considerations
- Regulatory or Governance Considerations: Formal involvement in local zoning or siting processes is not standard utility practice. Boards should set clear guidance on the co-op's role so it stays neutral and member focused rather than appearing to take sides on specific projects.
- Staffing or Technology Requirements: Sustained engagement with local officials, planning bodies, and landowners takes dedicated staff time. Smaller co-ops may need to lean on statewide associations, G&T partners, or regional economic development groups.
- Time-Sensitive Information: The 41% territory overlap and the EIA projection that wind, solar, and storage make up 93% of 2026 capacity additions are forecasts that will shift as markets and policy change.
Notable Examples
- Newberry Electric Cooperative: Worked with the South Carolina Power Team to land a Samsung manufacturing plant bringing 950 jobs and $350 million in investment.
- Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative: Served on a Virginia county Solar Ordinance Review Committee that set local standards for new solar facilities.
- Oklahoma Electric Cooperative: Turned a small solar garden into an education site, then built a 2 MW solar park on school district land whose lease revenue offsets about 95% of two high schools' electricity costs.
- Sioux Valley Energy: Expanded its community development team to help address workforce housing, childcare, and water access in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
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