Speaking before more than 9,000 local co-op leaders from around the nation, Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, warned that federal climate change legislation will be terribly expensive and make electric bills less affordable for consumers. He asked the assembled: “How will we respond?”
The answer he proposed at NRECA’s annual meeting in New Orleans in February should be to engage with co-op member-consumers, to share with them the real-life impact that changes in the industry will have on their power bills and to enlist them as grassroots advocates for affordable energy and climate policies.
“Barring any monumental shift in the prevailing attitude of Congress,” he said, “we will soon see carbon dioxide regulated at the federal level.” English urged co-op leaders to look beyond the polarizing rhetoric and become engaged in a fast tracked policy debate that will bring “seismic change to the electricity business.”
English noted that John Kennedy once observed the great enemy of truth is very often not the lie, but the myth in which “we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” The issue of climate change has grown to such “mythical proportions.” He said experts on both sides are stating their opinions, but no one can prove their position. English said what can be proven is:
• the U.S. Supreme Court has said carbon can be regulated by the EPA;
• the leadership in Congress intends to pass carbon legislation;
• leadership in the House has a 90-vote margin;
• leadership in the Senate has a 9-vote margin.
The question, then, is not when carbon will be legislated, but how.
The former 10-term Democratic congressman from Oklahoma told the crowd that Rep. Henry Waxman, Chairman of House Energy and Commerce Committee, had set an ambitious agenda to move an energy and climate change bill that sets federal carbon dioxide targets by the Memorial Day recess.
“We have 90 days in which to maximize our strength,” said English. “Ninety days to demonstrate to elected officials in Congress that affordability is something they must take into consideration.”
He predicted that any success co-ops have in protecting consumers from excessive increases in their electric bills would be in direct proportion to the amount of political strength they could demonstrate in Washington.
The Senate leadership and new administration share Chairman Waxman’s agenda for fast tracked legislation to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions, said the co-op leader who lamented that current, politically expedient, cap-and-trade proposals amount to turning consumer electric bills over to Wall Street. “Any way you go, this is a tax, either through cap-and-trade or a straight carbon tax,” said English. “A carbon tax is the honest, straightforward way to do it.”
A carbon tax, he said would have multiple advantages; ensuring transparency of application, enabling consumer advocates to directly track cost increases and providing near-term certainty to an industry in transition.
“In the end, it is the responsibility of our elected officials to pass taxes – not pass the buck.”
English implored the association’s co-op membership to adapt to the new political landscape and to embrace their role as consumer advocates, engaging their member-consumers and working with Congress to find solutions that will help keep electricity affordable for all Americans.
Directors and staff from Indiana’s 39 electric distribution cooperatives, Indiana’s two power supply cooperatives and the Indiana Statewide Association of RECs attended the meeting, Feb. 16-18.
Hoosier Energy REC’s manager of marketing and member services, Tom Van Paris, was a panel member on the breakout forum, “The Financial Side of Energy Efficiency.”
'The power of human connections'
Steuben County REMC director Stanley Gilbert helps
hang drywall at a home in New Orleans’ decimated 9th Ward as part of
the REbuilding Together New Orleans Community Service Project during
the national electric co-op annual meeting in February. Some 110
meeting attendees from around the country volunteered at homes in five
neighborhoods still recovering from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Photo by Lynn Moore, Indiana Statewide
Left: Caroline Turcotte shares common ground with Bob Beckel, center, and Cal Thomas at the national meeting. Turcotte, Indiana’s Youth Leadership Council representative, sponsored by Harrison REMC, assisted the two USA Today columnists as they signed copies of their book after their presentation on why and how liberals and conservatives who disagree must find common ground to work together. Above: She carries the torch for Indiana, almost literally, when she carried the torch-emblemed state flag into the meeting during the opening ceremonies.
Photos by Richard G. Biever