Cap and Trade Legislation

Demand for electricity in America is growing. It is estimated that we will need 30% more electricity by 2030 and experts have warned that unless we do something soon, regions of the country could face electricity shortages as soon as 2011. Consumers should be asking Congress some basic questions:
How is Congress going to help us meet the future demand for electricity?
How are they going to help us develop technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions?
How is Congress going to help keep electricity affordable?
The debate in Congress has begun.

This energy plan “is a giant economic dagger aimed at the nation’s heartland...”
Detroit News editorial March 4, 2009

Our leaders have plenty to say about cap and trade scheme...

“The impacts of this program will be disproportionately felt by states like Ohio which depend on coal for much of their energy needs”.... Permit auctions are designed to maximize the costs that will ultimately be passed on in the form of higher gasoline, power, and heating bills – stressing families and killing jobs. And, because energy costs are a form of regressive tax, the program will hurt our most vulnerable citizens at a time they can’t take any more pain.”
Ohio Senator George Voinovich (R)

“When addressing climate change, we should ensure that revenue generated by a cap-and-trade system goes back to the consumers, states, and industries that are most affected by the changes.”
Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown (D)

“Cap and trade is code for increasing taxes, killing American jobs, and raising energy costs for consumers. Middle-class families are struggling during this recession, and the last thing they need is even higher costs of living and weaker job security, which is exactly what cap and trade would deliver.”
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R)

“A cap and trade system is very attractive basically because you turn this issue over to the folks on Wall Street. If you think they have done a wonderful job in the last six months, you will enjoy turning your electric bill over to them.”
Glenn English, CEO
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Costs matter

President Obama, as promised, has proposed a carbon cap and trade tax which could raise electric bills by $15 or more per month for an average residential cooperative member. If the price of carbon permits goes as high as some predict, you could be paying nearly $55 more per month. Natural gas, propane, fuel oil, gasoline and diesel will also cost more. And, the sky’s the limit because there’s no ceiling on the tax. About 90% of Ohio’s electricity comes from coal-fired generation. Consumers here will bear a greater burden under cap and trade because coal-based power contributes about twice as much CO2 as natural gas. And, Ohio’s rural electric members will pay even more because their annual electric use far exceeds the statewide household average.

What about the environment?

Ohio’s electric cooperatives are environmental stewards. We’re already investing $750 million in pollution control on our coal-fired plants to make them among the world’s cleanest, and getting about 5% of our power from renewables or lower emitting sources. We’ve led the way in load management for more than 30 years as well, delaying the need for new power plants and saving our members millions of dollars. Technology to remove CO2 does not exist yet and is not expected to for many years. Alternate sources are more expensive and can’t meet the reliability demands of our members.

Your voice matters!

As a member of an Ohio electric cooperative, your voice matters to our members of Congress. Register your concern about a Cap & Trade Tax by joining the Our Energy, Our Future campaign. Urge Congress to work with electric cooperatives to meet both federal public policy goals and your need for affordable, reliable electricity. Costs matter! Go to www.ourenergy.coop and make your voice heard. The April 2009 issue of Country Living magazine includes several articles with additional information on this important issue.

Call Member Services at 1-800-521-9879 or email us at mailbox@gmenergy.com to learn more about how you can help keep our electricity costs as reasonable as possible.