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Commentary


A vital call to action A


s member-owners of our electric co- operative, we en- joy the comforts


Chris Meyers General Manager, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


and convenience of afford- able electric power just like our friends served by inves- tor-owned and municipal utilities. But as owners, we cannot be passive consumers.


We have the additional responsibility of protect- ing the interests of our co-op and fellow members. It’s not often, but there are times the membership needs to speak up–and the time is now. I have written here several times about the fact that the climate change issue is being handled un- der the Clean Air Act. This Act was passed in 1970 to deal with pollutants. It gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authority to set limits on pollutants known to be harmful to health based on science and study–it’s been an effective tool, meet- ing its intended purpose, and we have all benefi ted from it. However, using the Clean Air Act to drive policy and pick winners and losers is not appropriate. The limits on carbon dioxide emissions are being arbitrarily set to eliminate coal as a fuel option. The Administration has abandoned its “all-of-the- above” energy strategy for an “all-but-one” strategy. This approach is not only fl awed, it has complete disregard for costs to consumers. For further refer-


ence, see graphic on Page 5. The impact these proposed EPA rules can have on our national competitiveness to produce goods and services, our local economies, and your electric bill is signifi cant. We have already invested heavily to meet regulatory requirements ranging from pol- lution controls on existing plants to cyber security— all of which are making your electric bills higher. We have to be especially careful not to layer more and more costs on consumers to a point it burdens our economy and its ability to grow. We agree that we need to work hard to reduce both pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from all sources, but let’s not eliminate any of our op- tions. I still believe that the most cost effective way is to focus on improving effi ciencies at the power plant level, the distribution level, and in homes and businesses.


Increases in power costs impact members of rural electric cooperatives more than urban consumers. Most of our members live in rural and small com- munities where any cost increase on local busi- nesses and residents is very detrimental to the local economy. Join me in sending a message to the EPA asking


for reconsideration of their proposed rules. Your electric cooperative stands behind an “All-of-the- Above” strategy, not an “All-But-One” approach. Go to www.action.coop. It’s simple and takes just a few minutes of your time.


Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


Chris Meyers, General Manager Joe Harris, President


Jimmy Taylor, Vice-President Kendall Beck, Secretary Gary McCune, Treasurer


Staff


Sid Sperry, Director of PR & Communications sksperry@oaec.coop


Anna Politano, Managing Editor editor@ok-living.coop


Larry Skoch, Advertising Manager lskoch@ok-living.coop


Christy Johnson, Offi ce Manager cjohnson@oaec.coop


Kirbi Mills, Accountant/Offi ce Manager Asst. kmills@oaec.coop


Hayley Leatherwood, Multimedia Specialist hleatherwood@ok-living.coop


Kaylan Watkins, Intern intern@oaec.coop


Editorial, Advertising and General Offi ces


P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309 Phone (405) 478-1455


Oklahoma Living online: www.ok-living.coop Subscriptions


$3.12 per year for rural electric cooperative members.


$6.00 per year for non-members. Cooperative Members: Report change of


address to your local rural electric cooperative. Non-Cooperative Members: Send address


To learn more, visit www.action.coop today! Thankful for rural electrifi cation W


Joe Harris President, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives


4 WWW.OK-LIVING.COOP


hen I think about the month of November, I’m


immediately reminded of the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a special time when the majority of us stop to express how grateful we are about the many gifts in life. We are cer-


tainly blessed as a nation and a people. We know that in our country we are not only fortunate to have our freedoms and economic opportunities, but we are also privileged to have the mindset that we can come together to accomplish great things. This power of ‘togetherness’ is refl ected in the rural electric cooperative industry—a feat that has changed the quality of life for so many


Americans—and Oklahomans. The creation of our electric cooperatives came about because friends and neighbors got together and built the amazing electric infrastructure we benefit from today. Seventy-fi ve years later, electric cooperatives con- tinue to enhance our way of life today in not only rural Oklahoma but in growing urban areas. To keep these cooperatives vital and to maintain and build on this infrastructure, we have an incredible group of men and women who are dedicated to keeping the lights on. Their joy is in serving you, the member-consumer at the end of the line. This month, while we all take time to refl ect on the many things we’re thankful for, please join me in being grateful for the pioneers of rural electrifi ca- tion and also for those who work day in and day out—even on stormy and icy days—so you can con- tinue to fl ip the lights on.


changes to Oklahoma Living, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.


Oklahoma Living (ISSN 1064-8968),


USPS 407-040, is published monthly for consumer-members of Oklahoma’s rural electric cooperatives by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives, 2325 E. I-44 Service Road,


P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309. Circulation this issue: 316,297


Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Association of Electric


Cooperatives is a statewide service organization for the following electric cooperatives: Alfalfa, Arkansas Valley, Caddo, Canadian Valley,


Central Rural, Choctaw, Cimarron, Cookson Hills, Cotton, East Central Oklahoma, Harmon, Indian, KAMO Power, Kay, Kiamichi, Kiwash, Lake Region, Northeast Oklahoma, Northfork,


Northwestern, Oklahoma, Ozarks, People’s, Red River Valley, Rural, Southeastern, Southwest


Rural, Tri-County, Verdigris Valley, and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.


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