'I'm from the Government And I'm Here to Help you'
Facing
thousands of electric co-op leaders is an experience Jim Andrew, administrator
of the Rural Utilities Service knows very well. From 1988 to 2004, Andrew
had been on stage during various NRECA annual meetings while serving
on the national board and eventually rising to become the association's
president. "Now let's just have a friendly talk for a minute," Andrew
said, "I will start by saying I'm from the government and I am here
to help you"? a declaration that drew peals of laughter from the audience
at the NRECA Annual Meeting. Though there was a folksy tone in his address,
the message was all business. Applications for RUS electric loans have
swelled from about $5 billion in November 2005 to $9 billion now, he
said. "This activity can be considered as a new round of developing
generation and transmission. The last round was over 25 years ago, he
said. Andrew encouraged co-ops to seek projects to bring broadband and
high-speed Internet connections to rural areas. He pointed out how rural
communities suffered when they were bypassed by railroads and highways.
"Everyone believes and now really knows that high speed internet will
be just as important as the railroads or the modern highway system,
he said. "If you missed the first train, don't miss this second chance."
Compliments of NRECA's "Electric Co-op TODAY
- Special Edition NRECA 64th Annual Meeting"
Facing
thousands of electric co-op leaders is an experience Jim Andrew, administrator
of the Rural Utilities Service knows very well. From 1988 to 2004, Andrew
had been on stage during various NRECA annual meetings while serving
on the national board and eventually rising to become the association's
president. "Now let's just have a friendly talk for a minute," Andrew
said, "I will start by saying I'm from the government and I am here
to help you"? a declaration that drew peals of laughter from the audience
at the NRECA Annual Meeting. Though there was a folksy tone in his address,
the message was all business. Applications for RUS electric loans have
swelled from about $5 billion in November 2005 to $9 billion now, he
said. "This activity can be considered as a new round of developing
generation and transmission. The last round was over 25 years ago, he
said. Andrew encouraged co-ops to seek projects to bring broadband and
high-speed Internet connections to rural areas. He pointed out how rural
communities suffered when they were bypassed by railroads and highways.
"Everyone believes and now really knows that high speed internet will
be just as important as the railroads or the modern highway system,
he said. "If you missed the first train, don't miss this second chance."