Another update from Capitol Hill

Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has written another opinion column, updating the status of climate change legislation moving through Congress.

As was the case with his previous guest column, we decided to publish it online because the situation in Washington, D.C., is constantly changing, and his words today might not clearly reflect that situation by the time our next issue of Alabama Living magazine is published.


Climate change remedies need change
By Glenn English

We’ve heard a lot about climate change and the impact Congressional action will have on electric bills. Affordability must be a top priority, and electric cooperatives are fighting to make sure Congress keeps this in mind as they work through a number of climate change proposals.

So far, more than 600,000 electric cooperative consumers from across the United States have asked Congress to craft climate change legislation that’s fair, affordable, and technologically achievable. Our message is clear, and our elected U.S. senators must hear us out.

Over the last few months and as recently as early November, electric co-ops urged members of a key U.S. Senate committee to look out for the interests of consumers as they convened hearings on climate change legislation. Electric cooperatives expressed our commitment to help produce legislation that would substantially improve upon what was passed by the U.S. House in June—and help craft climate change legislation that would be economically and politically sustainable over the many years it would be in effect. We offered concrete ideas on how to get this important job done right.

But an early measure passed by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee —S.1733—has ignored these voices and included unachievable emission caps and timelines, inadequate technology development incentives and, most importantly, no guarantee that your electric bill will remain affordable. Rather than moving climate change goals toward a solution that protects consumers, the 959-page measure took a big step backward.

While 11 of the 100 U.S. senators voiced support of S.1733, several other Senate committees and 89 senators have yet to weigh in with their own climate change proposals. In this critical time we must continue to make our voices heard, contacting our senators with one simple message: let’s get this right. Let’s keep this affordable.

Electric co-ops support climate change goals that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while protecting consumers, promote investment in new technologies, and spur economic goals. Our senators must remember to keep climate change goals fair, affordable, and achievable as legislative debate proceeds.

Contacting your U.S. senators at this point is crucial, and calling or writing to them is easy through the Our Energy, Our Future™ campaign. Spend a few moments today making your voice heard. For more information, please visit, www.ourenergy.coop.

Glenn English is the CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA)