
Electric Co-ops Meet the Moment as Technology Advances and Demand Surges
From GridPulse, a Grid Forward podcast by gridforward
March 24, 2026 · 31 min · Episode 74
About this episode
Jim Matheson discusses how electric cooperatives are adapting to meet the challenges of rising demand and technological advancements.
What does it take to power rural America in a time of fast-changing technologies and rising demand and costs? Jim Matheson of NRECA shares insights into how electric cooperatives are adapting to meet supply chain pressures, infrastructure needs, and the rapid growth fueled by data centers and other energy demands. He also discusses the importance of federal financing and the cooperative model to maintain affordability and reliability on the rural grid. How well are U.S. co-ops suited to meet the day? Tune in to listen to our lively conversation.
People in this episode
Guest: Jim Matheson
Topics covered
- electric cooperatives
- technology
- rural energy
- supply chain
- infrastructure
- federal financing
Keywords
- affordability
- reliability
- data centers
- energy demands
Mentioned in this episode
Places: America, U.S.
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