A. A cooperative organized under this article may:
1. Sue and be sued in its corporate name.
2. Have perpetual existence.
3. Adopt and alter a corporate seal.
4. Engage in the generation, manufacture, purchase, acquisition, accumulation, transmission, marketing, sale, distribution, supply and disposition of electric energy, either individually or jointly in collaboration with other entities.
5. Assist persons to whom electric energy is or will be supplied by the cooperative in wiring their premises and in acquiring and installing electrical and plumbing appliances, equipment, fixtures and apparatus by means of financing.
6. Assist persons to whom electric energy is or will be supplied by the cooperative in constructing, equipping, maintaining and operating electric cold storage or processing plants by means of financing.
7. Construct, purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, and equip, maintain and operate, and sell, assign, convey, lease, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber electric transmission and distribution lines or systems, electric generating plants, lands, buildings, structures, dams, plants and equipment, and any other real or personal property, tangible or intangible, that is deemed necessary, convenient or appropriate to accomplish any purpose for which the cooperative is organized or that it elects to undertake.
8. Purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, and use, and exercise and sell, assign, convey, mortgage, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber, franchises, rights, privileges, licenses and easements.
9. Borrow money and otherwise contract indebtedness, and issue notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness, and secure the payment thereof by mortgage, pledge or deed of trust of, or any other encumbrance on, any or all of its presently owned or after-acquired real or personal property, assets, franchises or revenues.
10. Construct, maintain and operate electric transmission and distribution lines along, on, under and across publicly owned lands and public thoroughfares, including all roads, highways, streets, alleys, bridges and causeways, and acquire for such purposes franchises, licenses, permits, easements, rights-of-way and all similar rights and privileges relating to such purposes.
11. Exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner and to the extent provided by the laws of this state for the exercise of such power by other corporations constructing or operating electric transmission and distribution lines or systems.
12. Become a member of other cooperatives or corporations or own stock in those cooperatives or corporations or otherwise financially participate and invest in those cooperatives or corporations.
13. Conduct its business and exercise its powers within or outside this state.
14. Adopt, amend and repeal bylaws.
15. Do and perform other acts and things and have and exercise other powers that may be necessary, convenient or appropriate to accomplish the purpose for which the cooperative is organized or to carry out its business and affairs.
16. Subject to any limitation imposed by federal law, invest its own monies, make loans or guarantees or participate in rural community infrastructure projects, in job creation activities and in other activities to promote economic development in rural areas if the rural development activities are approved by the rural utilities service.
17. Directly or through an affiliate, construct, operate, maintain, lease and license fiber-optic cables and other facilities to provide broadband service over, under, across, on or along real property, personal property, rights-of-way, easements and licenses and other property rights that are owned, held or used by the cooperative, including easement or other property rights owned, held or used by the cooperative to provide electricity or other services.
B. The authority granted in subsection A, paragraph 16 of this section shall be used only for economic development in rural areas, and the electric cooperative shall not use monies intended for rural economic development to purchase or acquire electrical works or electrical facilities, whether real or personal property, or both, by the exercise of the right of eminent domain or condemnation nor shall such monies be used to purchase, construct, lease or acquire any electrical works or electrical facilities or make any extensions or additions designed to serve areas or territories already being lawfully served. For the purposes of subsection A, paragraph 16 of this section and this subsection:
1. "Economic development" includes project feasibility studies, start-up costs, incubator projects and other reasonable expenses for the purpose of fostering rural economic development.
2. "Invest" means to commit monies to earn a financial return on assets that are not expected to be used or useful in furnishing electric service. The total amount that the electric cooperative invests, loans or uses as a guarantee is limited to those monies authorized under federal law for rural development programs.
3. "Job creation activities" includes providing technical, financial and managerial assistance.
4. "Rural community infrastructure projects" includes water and waste systems and garbage collection services.
C. The indemnification of members, directors, officers, employees and agents of a cooperative shall be in accordance with chapter 31, article 5 of this title.