News > CEO’s Message – May 2026

CEO’s Message – May 2026

Co-op Advocates for Members’ Best Interests

Legislative affairs are an important part of the cooperative business model. In Minnesota, Stearns Electric works with local legislators and the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) to support policies that benefit our electric cooperatives and our member-consumers. Nationally, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) helps advocate on these issues. 

MREA ANNUAL MEETING
In March, Stearns Electric participated in the MREA Annual Meeting and Day at the Capitol. Directors Greg Blaine, Michael Cramer, Jerry Fries, Jeff Koehler, Randall Rothstein and Paul Tomasek joined me to meet with local legislators to discuss issues impacting your cooperative. We co-hosted a dinner for local legislators alongside Meeker Energy and Kandiyohi Power Cooperative. 

Our top priorities this legislative session were: 

1. Lifting Minnesota’s Nuclear Energy Moratorium 
2. Reforming Net Metering (HF 845 and SF 1142 – read more about this in the February 2026 CEO Column) 
3. Opposing proposed legislation threatening energy reliability, affordability and local governance 

LIFTING THE NUCLEAR ENERGY MORATORIUM (HF 2002 and SF 2953)
You may have seen our recent social media posts encouraging you, our members, to contact legislators in support of lifting Minnesota’s nuclear energy moratorium. This issue is about ensuring reliable, cost-effective electricity to our members. 

As Minnesota works toward its goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, co-ops need the flexibility to consider every reliable energy option available. A 1994 law created a ban on new nuclear energy development in Minnesota. Current proposed legislation would end that ban and allow policymakers and energy experts to evaluate whether nuclear energy should be part of the state’s future energy mix. 

Ending the ban would not authorize the construction of a nuclear plant. It would simply allow Minnesota to consider nuclear power alongside other carbon-free resources. 

The legislative session closed May 18, after this column went to print. I don’t anticipate any significant updates to come late in the session, but if there are, I will share updates in a future issue of Power Connection. As always, it is a pleasure to serve you. Please contact me with any questions regarding these legislative issues. 

Sincerely,

Matt O’Shea
Chief Executive Officer