News

12/1/2008

Campaign continues with newly elected officials

There's no sugarcoating the power crisis we face as Americans. Largely because of sharply rising costs for coal, natural gas and basic construction materials such as steel, concrete and copper, the price of electricity faces potentially dramatic increases. At the same time, electricity consumption continues to increase.
Electric cooperatives, growing much faster than other sectors of the electric utility industry, face a double-whammy in all of this. A report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture finds we will need to double existing generation capacity by 2020 to keep the lights on. This means adding power plants that will be the most expensive in history thanks to escalating prices, inflation, international competition for raw resources, labor and expertise, as well as impending federal climate change mandates.
By taking steps such as promoting energy efficiency and offering home efficiency audits, URE is working as best we can to minimize the effects of cost increases that we are all enduring.
But if we expect electricity to continue being a safe, affordable and reliable resource we must convince policymakers to work for energy solutions that are economically, technical and politically sustainable over the long term.
What we need now is strong leadership on the part of our elected officials, who will address the tough questions we've been asking for close to a year:
What is your plan to make sure we have the electricity we'll need in the future?
What are you doing to speed the development of new technology, which will allow me to have the electric power I need while meeting national climate policy goals?
What will you do to keep my electric bill affordable?
The answers aren't simple, but they're out there. For one, energy efficiency must become a national priority. Adequate insulation, upgraded doors and windows, Energy Star appliances and efficient HVAC systems all trim electric demand, and, more importantly, lower monthly bills.
Technology remains the true key to our energy crisis, and it must be treated as such. Over the next decade, significant dollars must be devoted to research and development of technologies, which allow carbon capture and storage thus reducing power plant emissions of carbon dioxide. Only a sustained commitment like this will deliver the solutions our nation needs.
Nuclear power must also be made a priority, with a national initiative to accelerate the construction of new plants. Nuclear power is a proven low-emissions producer of base load generation and is a valuable tool in meeting growing demand.
Electric cooperatives across the country are currently engaged in a grassroots campaign called "Our Energy, Our Future: A Dialogue With America" to ensure that these important policy considerations are made a priority. Please visit www.ourenergy.coop to join this crucial conversation. Many of URE's members have already participated, and we thank you. URE encourages you to continue your conversation with newly elected officials.
Let's keep letting lawmakers know that actions they take regarding our energy challenges carry enormous consequences for the folks back home.

Back to News