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USDA Investment for Rural Electric Infrastructure

Dirt road lined with power poles extending into the distance through golden fields under a cloudy sky.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its $2.7 billion investment for rural electric infrastructure. Through the Electric Loan Program, the USDA will invest in 64 projects across 26 states, benefiting nearly 2 million rural people and businesses. Two Colorado electric co-ops will receive funds to improve and expand its infrastructure from this program. Sangre de […]

Safeguarding Wildlife and the Grid

An osprey standing in a large nest made of sticks and debris on a utility pole, set against a clear blue sky.

By Amy HigginsAll photography provided by Rick Harness, EDM Our nation’s bird populations have been a topic of concern since the early 1900s when the Migratory Bird Treaty Act was enacted to control market hunting. As decades passed, additional legislation was added to protect birds from modern-day human conveniences, safeguarding wildlife while also protecting the […]

Get the CREA Newsletter

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Do you want to read current news about Colorado’s electric co-ops’ efforts to advance innovative solutions and facilitate a sustainable future? Get the CREA Newsletter. Colorado’s electric cooperatives utilize technology to adapt to their consumer-members’ changing energy needs. Your electric co-op acts as a resource for you by promoting beneficial electrification projects, such as replacing […]

Cold and Snow Present Challenges

Worker in safety gear atop a snow-covered utility pole, surrounded by snow-laden pine trees.

When a cold snap hit Colorado at the end of 2022, heavy snows snapped tree limbs, causing them to fall onto power lines. Cold and snow present challenges and are common causes of power outages, which many Coloradans experienced as we rang in the new year. While many spent the holidays in the comfort of […]

Copper Theft on the Rise

Several neatly stacked coils of copper wire arranged in a grid pattern.

In recent months, there has been a huge uptick in copper thefts across the United States and in Colorado. In the last five years, copper thefts have risen by more than 500% with over 32,000 incidents being reported nationwide. In some of these cases there have been power disruptions that require additional resources to help […]

Co-ops Discuss Grid Reliability with Congress

The image shows the U.S. Capitol building with its iconic dome, surrounded by green lawns and trees, under a partly cloudy sky. A fountain is visible in the foreground.

A resilient, reliable electric grid that provides affordable power is crucial for rural communities as America transitions to cleaner energy, an electric cooperative CEO told a Senate committee in November. Local energy needs and grid reliability discussions with Congress are ongoing. As cooperatives look to the future, they are exploring all options, technologies and ideas […]

CREA Legislative Directory Now Available

Image of the Colorado State Capitol dome with U.S. and Colorado flags. Text reads: "2023 Colorado Legislative Directory, presented by Colorado Rural Electric Association.

CREA’s 2023 Legislative Directory is available, both as a paper booklet and through CREA’s legislative app. The popular directory includes contact information for the governor and other state officers, as well as state senators and representatives and Colorado’s congressional delegation. Download the app for mobile devices at no cost from the App Store or Google […]

Electric Vehicles’ Impact on the Grid

Two electric cars parked on either side of a charging station at sunset, reflecting on a glossy surface under a cloudy sky.

By Katherine Loving Last year saw a record increase in electric vehicle sales, and experts are predicting that many major vehicle manufacturers will only produce electric models by 2035. But what does electric vehicles’ impact on the grid look like? A 2021 study by the Department of Energy showed that increased electrification, or replacement of […]