National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Encyclopedia
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is the organization that represents over 900 electric cooperative
s in the United States. Independent electric utilities are not-for-profit and are owned by their members. The Association, which was founded in 1942, unites the country's generation, transmission and distribution cooperatives which are found in 47 states
and serve over 42 million people. It is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia
.
Electric cooperatives serve 12 percent of the nation's population, yet own 42 percent of America's distribution lines, which covers three-quarters of the country. Currently, over 90% of electric cooperatives include renewable generation
in their portfolios, receiving 11 percent of renewable power
compared to 8 percent for the entire utility sector.
Utility cooperative
A utility cooperative is a type of cooperative that is tasked with the delivery of a public utility such as electricity, water or telecommunications to its members...
s in the United States. Independent electric utilities are not-for-profit and are owned by their members. The Association, which was founded in 1942, unites the country's generation, transmission and distribution cooperatives which are found in 47 states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
and serve over 42 million people. It is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
.
Electric cooperatives serve 12 percent of the nation's population, yet own 42 percent of America's distribution lines, which covers three-quarters of the country. Currently, over 90% of electric cooperatives include renewable generation
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
in their portfolios, receiving 11 percent of renewable power
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
compared to 8 percent for the entire utility sector.