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greenhouse gas emissions. But many analysts believe the Act was never intended to regulate carbon dioxide. It was enacted to address problems with smog and acid rain for which proven solutions existed. No commercially viable technology yet exists for removing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.


Still, some environmental groups have been pressing the EPA for regulations that would mandate a 25 percent reduction in carbon emissions, which would require closing plants or severely curtailing their operations. NRECA believes this approach exceeds the intent of the Clean Air Act.


“Some groups are pushing the EPA to go beyond the black-and-white letter of the law and require emission reductions that can’t be achieved with today’s technology,” says Johnson. “We don’t think that’s allowed by the law, and it will cause costs to skyrocket.”


The EPA’s effort to expand regulatory control of power plant emissions and other operations comes at a time when Congress has been unable to agree on legislation to address the same issues. Capitol Hill observers note the EPA took a more active role on greenhouse gases after Congress failed to pass a “cap and trade” program that would have curtailed the emissions.


More recent bills have been introduced to limit EPA’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, but “any legislation whatsoever, whether it’s to strengthen or weaken the requirements, or do something in between, faces a very strong uphill fight because Congress is so divided,” says Johnson.


Electric cooperatives, however, continue to lobby for reasonable solutions to EPA concerns. For example, John Cassady, senior principal for legislative advocacy at NRECA, notes co-ops have been working with a broad-based coalition to find an effective legislative approach to coal ash disposal. The legislation has received bipartisan support in the House, but faces a difficult road in the Senate. “Were continuing to work with our membership to try and spread the message among policymakers,” Cassady says.


Congress may be paralyzed, but electric cooperatives aren’t. Co-ops representatives, along with NRECA staff, have met with EPA officials to make their case. Co-ops also continue to work on upgrades and new technologies to make their plants even cleaner while still providing the service the public expects.


“Our folks are engaged in all kinds of activities to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of our power plants across the board,” says Johnson. “They’re very serious about finding solutions that are affordable for members.”■


Reed Karaim writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. His article originally appeared in March 2014 issue of Oklahoma Living, the statewide magazine


for Oklahoma's electric co-op members.


Online service portal helps you pay—and save.


step toward lowering your energy costs. With Kiamichi Electric's new customer services portal you can monitor your usage daily, or even hourly, and compare it with the local temperature.


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Energy experts say homeowners who monitor their usage tend to use less energy, and enjoy lower monthly bills as a result.


The customer services portal opens the door to a number of other services, too. Use the portal to:


• Pay your bill


• Set up payment options such as automatic draft, automatic payments or e-bill, or


• View your billing or payment history.





Set up alerts to remind you when your bill is due or, if you are enrolled KEC's prepaid billing plan, to alert you when your account balance is low.


Visit the portal by clicking on the Account Access link found on our home page at www.kiamichielectric.org.


aining a better understanding of when, why and how your home uses energy is the first


POWER INTHE PORTAL


Light Post | march-april 2014 | 5


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