The state agencies that make up the Drought Response Task Force in Illinois met in mid-July to provide recommendations and assistance in dealing with persistent dry weather in the state. The Drought Response Task Force is chaired by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and includes experts from the [...]

As copper theft continues to plague electric cooperatives and other utilities, a new report offers little hope of swapping out copper for other metals.  “The comparison shows that other metals such as zinc, iron, aluminum, etc. are not suitable as a direct replacement to copper since the conductivity of these metals is significantly lower,” CEATI [...]

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.- Illinois Corn Growers Association President Jeff Scates, a family farmer from Shawneetown, IL, released the following statement in response to the House Agriculture Committee’s 35-11 passage of the 2012 farm bill early Thursday morning: A 2012 farm bill signed and enacted by President Obama remains a top priority of the Illinois Corn Growers [...]

As electric bills rise because of summer temperatures, a handful of consumer-members at electric cooperatives have fallen prey to a coast-to-coast telemarketing scam offering bogus help with energy bills. Bogus telemarketers are telling consumers that President Obama will pay their electric bills if they provide personal information. Co-ops are warning members about the scam in [...]

Electric cooperatives have offered to work with public safety officials across the nation as these officials set out to create a single interoperable public safety broadband network. “As owners and operators of facilities, networks and infrastructure, we stand ready to assist” in the effort, NRECA said in a filing with the National Telecommunications and Information [...]

Two electric cooperative priorities are on their way to the House after clearing the Senate as part of the sweeping 2012 farm bill. A program to help co-op members with insulation and energy efficiency is part of the Senate-passed farm Bill. The legislation, which passed on a bipartisan 64-35 vote June 21, includes a program that [...]

The way you light your home is changing, starting with how you shop for light bulbs. In addition to new choices in technology – state of the art LEDs or CFLs, for example – you have a variety of options in terms of brightness, as well as how long you want the bulb to last. [...]

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just getting started, the job search process can be overwhelming. Here are seven career search and interview tips to make your job search successful and rewarding: 1. Organize your search. Create a plan of attack-this can include developing a preparation timeline, creating or updating your resume, and compiling a [...]

The Department of Energy announced common-sense energy efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers that will save consumers $20 billion in energy and water costs. The clothes washers standard announced in June will save households approximately $350 over the lifetime of the appliance. And home dishwashers will use approximately 15 percent less energy and [...]

Electric cooperatives say the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed carbon reduction standard deviates from the Obama administration’s “all of the above” energy pledge by eliminating coal as a fuel for new plants. At separate public hearings May 24 in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, co-op officials told the agency that its rule takes coal off the table as [...]