February 27, 2025

Local leaders talk public power in Washington D.C.

Advocacy

Municipal representatives recently flew to the nation’s capital to speak with legislators about their locally owned utility, advocating on behalf of their community’s customers during American Public Power Association’s 2025 Legislative Rally.

The annual event took place Feb. 24-26 in Washington D.C.

“By meeting with our legislators, we can help ensure national policymakers keep public power customers’ bottom line in mind when they’re making proposals,” said Joseph Owen, director of government affairs for WPPI Energy. “Their choices have consequences in our local communities, so it is important to present our views. We are fortunate to have a congressional delegation that is receptive to issues affecting communities with locally owned, not-for-profit utilities and works to help however they can.”

Attendees met with Wisconsin Senators Tammy Baldwin (D), Ron Johnson (R) and Iowa Sens. Chuck Grassley (R) and Joni Ernst (R), as well as Reps. Scott Fitzgerald, Tony Wied, Mark Pocan, Glenn Grothman, Tom Tiffany, Jack Bergman and Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Some also spent time with staff from Mich. Sen. Gary Peters’ office.

Local officials spoke with senators and representatives from Wisconsin, Iowa and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan about the critical role tax exempt bonds play in financing utility infrastructure, ensuring city owned utilities have access to the same cost saving mechanisms that for-profit utilities use, streamlining the regulatory backlog on building critical grid infrastructure and ensuring that tariffs on raw materials don’t exacerbate supply chain constraints on distribution transformers.