Cooperatives are owned by the consumers who buy services from them. They are usually formed as non-profits under state laws and provide at-cost services.
Electric coops were formed in the US in the early 1900s to provide electricity to rural areas that regular utility companies bypassed because they would not be profitable.
Currently, electric coops own and maintain millions of miles of power lines. They provide service at cost, any profits, after operation and maintenance investments, are returned to members through reduced rates or “capital credits” to be paid out over time. Coops are governed by a Board of Directors elected within the coop by its members.
According to the national Rural Electric Cooperative Association, 11% of power supplied came from renewable sources (wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, manure, hydro) in 2007 (the electric utility sector as a whole used 9%). Coops own 450 MW of renewable energy generation nationwide and have contracts for 700 MW totaling 1150 MW.
Just another perspective on US energy supply.
[...] Imagine an atlas of the United States locating every available renewable energy source. Electricity cooperatives could develop specifically for renewable energy sources or just to build grid tie-ins to serve [...]