Currents

To assist in forest management and law ­enforcement, there is a new Shawnee National Forest Tip Line. Available 24-hours a day, people now can report ­suspicious or illegal activities or relay important infor­mation about conditions on the forest. You can text or leave a message at 618-201-3364; if you prefer, you can remain anonymous. To […]

Throughout the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump pledged to review burdensome federal regulations when he became president. On March 28, President Trump took an important step to follow through on that commitment by ­signing an executive order to promote energy independence. The order also calls for review of the Clean Power Plan. “Electric co-ops have two […]

During the Illinois Electric and Telephone Cooperative’s Youth Day, March 29, in Springfield, more than 240 ­students from around Illinois had an opportunity to visit the state capitol, view state government in action and question their legislators on key issues. “Elected officials always enjoy the oppor­tunity to meet with students and learn first-hand some of […]

Property taxes are insignificant to some and the bane of others existence. Here in Illinois we have the distinction of having the second highest property rate in the country ­compared to all the states plus the District of Columbia. Only New Jersey has a higher rate ­according to WalletHub.com. The average American household spends $2,149 […]

Phil Carson, Tri-County Electric Cooperative ­director, will serve a two-year term as board president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). NRECA is the national service organization that ­represents the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit, ­consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide ­service to 42 million people in 47 states. “It’s a tremendous honor to have […]

The geothermal heat pump industry and several other clean energy technology industries are a step closer to ­saving thousands of jobs with the reintroduction of tax credit legislation by a by bipar­tisan group of 13 Republicans and seven Democrats. The group of legis­lators included Congressman Darin LaHood of Illinois. HR 1090 will reinstitute and extend […]

The President is hearing a strong bicameral, bipartisan message from over 100 House and Senate leaders asking him to include broadband improvements in a national infrastructure package. The House Rural Broadband Caucus and Senate Broadband Caucus organized ­letters signed by 71 House members and 48 senators urging the Administration to ensure any infrastructure plan includes […]

  National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO Jim Matheson said electric co-ops welcome the Trump ­administration’s willingness to take another look at the controversial Waters of the U.S. rule (WOTUS). He said, “The Waters of the U.S. rule would increase costs for electric co-ops to build and maintain ­critical infrastructure without meaningful environmental ­benefits. […]

In recognition of the earthquake risk in southern Illinois from the New Madrid and Wabash Valley seismic zones, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and local emergency management agencies have been ­promoting earthquake preparedness. “While we don’t ­experience major earthquakes with the same ­frequency as the western U.S., some of the most powerful ­earthquakes to […]

It has become a tradition for Touchstone Energy Cooperative volunteers from across the country to join forces once a year during the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting to repair and rebuild local homes in the meeting’s host city. Pictured here is Nancy McDonald, the Regional Representative for Illinois, who joined 120 other volunteers […]