Ben Bella Joins WECA
Ben Bella, a leader in safety and compliance for electric cooperatives, joined the staff of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association as director of compliance services in December.
Bella is responsible for all aspects of WECA’s compliance services program including program design, curriculum, implementation, scheduling, evaluation, and budgeting. He will lead a team which will create a uniform curriculum that is largely consistent among cooperatives.
Bella will monitor changes to state and federal regulations and work with program staff on implementation strategies and will serve as the WECA representative on the Job Training & Safety committee.
Bella previously served as safety and loss control manager for Eau Claire Energy, Riverland Energy, Oakdale Electric, and Jackson Electric Cooperatives.
Bella was awarded the Potthast Award for his commitment and dedication to safety in the electric cooperative field in 2022.
Evers Declares Energy Emergency
Governor Tony Evers has signed back-to-back executive orders declaring energy emergencies in the state of Wisconsin.
Evers cited “persistent challenges caused by a pipeline disruption within the Midwestern pipeline distribution system, coupled with high demand from severe winter weather for residential heating fuel, including heating oil and propane” as the reasons for the declarations.
The orders allow for a waiver of certain state and federal hours of service restrictions, allowing suppliers to get caught up from the pipeline and weather-related delays. The waiver remained in effect through January 16, or as long as drivers transporting residential heating fuel are responding to the emergency, whichever is shorter.
Delayed Heating Funds Released
During the government shutdown last year, $3.6 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), known as WHEAP in Wisconsin, was withheld, but the funding was released in December, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. States typically receive funds at the beginning of November. The federal government shutdown ended November 12.
WHEAP offers energy assistance in the form of a one-time payment to households making less than 60 percent of the state median income, which is about $38,000 for a single person and about $78,000 for a family of four.
Last year, more than 180,000 Wisconsin households received federal heating assistance through WHEAP.
EIA Cuts 2026 Power Generation Forecast
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revised its 2026 power generation projection and dropped its growth forecast by more than one percentage point. EIA had projected U.S. electricity generation to grow by 3% in 2026 but now estimates it will be 1.7%.
The revision is “based on how much large load electricity demand has come online so far this year,” particularly in Texas, “and its implications for near-term growth,” EIA said in its Short-Term Energy Outlook.
EIA now projects generation growth to hit 2.4% this year.
House Hearing Focused on “New Nuclear Era”
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held its first hearing of 2026 with a focus on advancing nuclear energy. “American Energy Dominance: Dawn of the New Nuclear Era,” was the title of the hearing which took place on January 7. Lawmakers and industry leaders talked about a potential resurgence of nuclear energy and how it can help meet surging electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, data centers, advanced manufacturing, and national security needs.
The hearing confirmed this remains one of a few topics that maintains bipartisan support as committee members from both parties reaffirmed support for nuclear energy as a clean, reliable source of power.
Trump Withdraws from International Organizations
In a presidential memorandum issued January 7, Trump announced the withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, UN Energy, the International Solar Alliance, and 63 other organizations, groups, and commissions that he deemed “contrary to the interests of the United States.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the withdrawal will save billions and exit the country from international organizations that are “wasteful, ineffective, and harmful.”
Most of the agencies, commissions, and advisory panels that Trump ordered withdrawal from are focused on climate, labor, migration, and other issues that do not align with current administration priorities.
Rock Youth Visit Co-op
WECA Director of Youth Education Tina Walden joined a group of Rock Energy Cooperative youth members in wrapping up 2025 with a visit to the co-op.
Five of Rock Energy Cooperative’s youth members—including past youth board members Thomas Peters and Garrett Schneider, and current youth board member Kelby Schneider—met with the cooperative’s board of directors and CEO for a special Q&A session.
The youth members also enjoyed a behind‑the‑scenes tour of the facilities led by Justin Busfield, assistant operations manager–north, getting an up‑close look at how they keep energy flowing safely and reliably every day.