REA marks 75th anniversary

Tuesday, May 11, 2010, marked a significant milestone for the nation's rural electric cooperatives. It was on that day 75 years ago that President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order that created the Rural Electrification Administration.

REA is hailed as having the greatest impact on rural American, credited with transforming a life of challenges into one of productivity and prosperity. Today, REA's successor, the Rural Utilities Service, continues that mission by focusing on rural develop projects, financing electric, telecommunications and water and waste systems across the country.

"With the help of REA, electric cooperatives changed the way rural America works and lives," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Today's rural electric cooperatives are innovative leaders, delivering smarter infrastructure to deploy broadband and develop renewable energy."

For the nearly 60 years of Tri-State’s existence (incorporated in 1952), the Westminster, Colo.-based wholesale power supplier to 44 electric co-ops and public power systems, has relied upon government-backed, guaranteed loans from the REA, and its successor the RUS, to help it fund needed power supply infrastructure to meet the growing requirements of its member systems.

• Learn more about Tri-State's history