Cooperative Living October 2014 - 5

EDITORIAL
by Jack Reasor
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
AND AFFORDABLE POWER CAN,
AND SHOULD, GO HAND-IN-HAND
By working together to accelerate efforts to use energy more wisely, and by speaking out about our
concerns with a recent EPA-proposed rule, we can make sure that we're both good environmental
stewards, and good stewards of the affordable, reliable power on which our nation's economy depends.
I
n the August issue, I wrote a column
about our concerns regarding the new
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) rule 111 (d) of the Clean Air Act
that will close some coal-fired electric
generating facilities around the country.
While ODEC and the electric cooperatives
in Virginia support the basic intent
of this new rule - to create a cleaner
environment - such environmental
stewardship has always been a foundational
part of the business principles of
electric cooperatives.
" Concern for community, " in fact, is
one of the Seven Cooperative Principles
that guide the daily business practices of
our member-owned utilities.
So it's certainly not surprising that
electric cooperatives have always supported
efforts to protect our environment,
our waterways and our wildlife.
All of us enjoy the beauty of the areas
where we live, the hunting and fishing
opportunities that we have, and the
enjoyment of hiking and camping
throughout this region of the country.
We too want to protect the majestic
beauty of our Commonwealth.
And ODEC has done just that over the
years. We spent over a third of the cost of
our only coal-fired power plant at Clover,
Va., on pollution-control equipment, to
make that facility one of the cleanest
coal-fired plants in the country. This
environmental commitment is also why
today we purchase over 200 MW of
capacity from wind turbine facilities.
It's why ODEC has entered into
long-term purchases from three landfill
gas-to-energy facilities. And it's why
ODEC is working with the 11 member
cooperatives that we serve to determine
how we can also economically incorporate
solar power and other types of renewables
as electric generating resources.
October 2014/www.co-opliving.com
Working together, we can influence
the EPA to change its rule, to reduce
the financial impact on you, our
member-consumers. At the same time,
all of us can make a significant impact
by using electricity more wisely. " Energy
efficiency " is not just a pair of buzz
words. They represent an opportunity
for all of us to save electricity and to
save money.
Indeed, by being energy efficient
every day, you can lower your power
bill and reduce the amount of electricity
that your cooperative needs to produce
and provide to you. In fact, the lowestcost
power plant we can have is the one
we do not need to build.
So please consider taking advantage
While we support the intent of the
new EPA rule, we question the method,
the cost and the impact of the rule on
our member-consumers. We are also
concerned with the impact of this new
rule on the reliability of the electric grid
and on our ability to provide sufficient
power to our 11 member co-ops,
which would then impact their ability
to provide power to you, the memberconsumer,
when you need it.
These concerns were discussed in
detail in my August column, and we
continue to encourage you to express
your opinion to EPA and to your elected
officials. If you share the concerns I've
outlined, please go to www.tellepa.com
or www.action.coop and let EPA officials
know how you feel.
of energy-efficiency opportunities,
by slightly raising the setting on your
thermostat in the summer and lowering
it in the winter; by using energyefficient
light bulbs; and by making
sure that you have the best insulation
possible in your attic and around your
doors and windows.
Another good way to take advantage
of efficiency programs is to talk with
your local electric cooperative about the
various programs it offers its memberconsumers.
By working together, we
can preserve our environment, help
maintain affordable, reliable power, and
provide ourselves with the opportunity
to lower our monthly bill through
efficiency measures.
Because, in the end, not only can
strong environmental stewardship
and a strong electric grid both be
achieved, electric cooperatives believe
that both must be achieved in order
for our nation's high quality of life to
continue for our children and grandchildren.
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http://www.tellepa.com http://www.action.coop

Cooperative Living October 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living October 2014