Avid listener
Marty Littrel represents Kentucky co-ops on national board
PERHAPS BECAUSE OF HIS EXPERIENCE in communications and community relations, Marty Littrel is often called upon to represent electric cooperatives on panels and public events.
But the Meade County RECC President and CEO says an equally important skill is knowing when not to speak.
“I am a very avid listener,” Littrel says. “I think I learn best by listening to other people.”
It’s a necessary practice when serving on the 48-member National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board of Directors. Since 2022, Littrel has represented Kentucky co-ops on the board, which is composed of one locally elected director from each state where electric co-ops operate.
“I want to make sure our values are represented at the national level,” Littrel says. “When you are team-oriented and work toward building a consensus, you can best advocate for your state’s priorities.”
The Henderson native and University of Kentucky alumnus identifies regulatory threats to affordable and reliable electricity as the top issue for Kentucky co-ops.
“NRECA has been a strong advocate for us at the federal level,” Littrel notes. “That’s really where it begins. It’s not a state issue, it’s a federal issue, and it’s had an impact on the reliability of our generation plants.”
Littrel, whose nearly 25 years working for Kentucky co-ops also includes experience in economic development and government affairs, emphasizes both common ground and common sense.
“I believe Kentucky is poised for a lot of great opportunity. The problem is we’ve got to have electrons to provide that,” Littrel explains. “And right now, we’re in a limited capacity market and that’s a concern. What can we do to return to a world where we have plenty of energy to serve the economic development projects that will help our state improve and progress?”
Meanwhile, Littrel is full of questions as NRECA addresses other emerging challenges, such as employee retention, training opportunities and technological advances.
“What technologies could provide benefit to our members? Are they cost achievable? Would they be something that we could do affordably, and if so, how? How do we get into that market?”
For anyone with a good idea, Kentucky’s NRECA director has a simple message.
“I’m listening.”
