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■ commentary Co-ops Rally On Issues EPA regulations and other issues affect co-op members T


he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has imposed new regulations aimed at curbing carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions from power plants. These regulations are likely to increase the cost of generation.


The implied strategy by EPA is to reduce U.S. emissions to offset the increase in emissions in China, India and other developing economies. At Choctaw Electric Cooperative (CEC), we are committed to keeping the lights on in southeast Oklahoma. It's time for the lights to come on in Washington, DC.


Co-op board members and


staff from across the country gathered in April for a national legislative rally where speakers addressed EPA regulations and the current perspective on Capitol Hill. They discussed other topics, too, such as distributed generation and the importance of protecting our national electrical grid from physical attacks and cyber attacks.


Addressing the crowd, Senate Minority Whip Steny Hoyer stressed the importance of making national leaders aware of the impact of environmental policies on co-op ratepayers. Chairman Frank Lucas and Senator John Thume also spoke at the rally, discussing energy and other rural issues.


At this time, these “hot button” issues for electric co-ops include Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) funding, CO2 emission standards, improving


BY TERRY MATLOCK CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


water heater standards to 200 percent efficiency, and concerns involving the Endangered Species Act, which was created in 1973 to protect species considered on the brink of extinction .


“At Choctaw Electric Cooperative, we are committed to keeping the lights on in southeast Oklahoma. It’s time for the lights to come on in Washington, DC. “


For CEC, the issue of FEMA funding is especially important. Electric co-ops depend on FEMA funds to assist us in our disaster recovery. To give you an example: CEC’s system suffered $72.5 million in damages following the 2000 ice storm. FEMA funds covered 75 percent of this cost, while emergency funds from the state of Oklahoma covered 12.5 percent. This left your co-op with a $9.4 million repair bill that took us years to payoff. Without FEMA assistance, the burden of cost resulting from that storm would’ve been unimaginable.


We are also concerned about EPA guidelines and are asking our congressional delegates to help us pass four pieces of legislation surrounding this issue.


Senator Tom Coburn appears to have developed a relationship with President Obama. With some luck, we hope Sen. Coburn can convince the President to reconsider the EPA regulations, or at least delay their implementation until technology required for power plants to meet the new emission standards is fully tested. We wish him well.


Members who would like to know more about the EPA regulations and how these rules could affect electric rates, should visit www.action.coop.


Choctaw Electric Cooperative BOARD OF TRUSTEES


Mike Bailey, President Bob Hodge, Vice President


Rodney Lovitt , Secretary Treasurer MEMBERS


Bill McCain Henry Baze Bob Holley


Buddy Anderson Joe Briscoe


Larry Johnson MANAGEMENT AND STAFF


Terry Matlock, Chief Executive Officer Susan G. Wall, Executive Assistant Jia Johnson, Director of Public Relations Tonia Allred, Benefits Specialist


Jimmie K. Ainsworth, Director of Finance and Accounting


Jim Malone, Director of Operations Darrell Ward, District Supervisor


HUGO OFFICE PO Box 758 Hwy 93 North


Hugo, Oklahoma 74743


Toll Free: (800) 780-6486 Local: (580) 326-6486 FAX (580) 326-2492


Monday-Friday • 8 am - 5 pm IDABEL OFFICE


2114 SE Washington Idabel, Oklahoma 74745


Toll Free: (800) 780-6486 Local: (580) 286-7155


Monday-Friday • 8 am - 5 pm


ANTLERS OFFICE HC 67 Box 62


Antlers, Oklahoma 74523 (One mile east of Antlers)


Toll Free: (800) 780-6486 Local: (580) 298-3201


Monday-Friday • 8 am - 5 pm On the Web:


www.choctawelectric.coop


24 Hour Outage Hotline 800-780-6486


inside•your•co-op | 3


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