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It's time to start the conversation...

Minnesota's forty-four member-owned electric cooperatives serve more than 1.4 million people, covering 85 percent of the geographic area of the state in mostly rural and suburban areas. Since commercial and industrial electric customers are usually concentrated in large cities served by investor-owned utilities, ninety-three percent of electric cooperative members are residential consumers. Seventy-nine percent of co-op consumers have a per capita income below the state average.

Every electric cooperative member and employee can help keep electricity both affordable and reliable by contacting their elected officials. Make sure your representatives in the U.S. Congress and the state legislature understand that affordable, reliable electricity for individuals and local businesses must be their top priority. Ask them these three important questions:

Experts say that our nation's growing electricity needs will soon go well beyond what renewables, conservation and efficiency can provide. What is your plan to make sure we have the electricity we'll need in the future?

Our position: Some people say we can meet future demand through improving efficiency and increasing renewable sources of energy. Minnesota's electric cooperatives are proud to say we have been leaders in developing new renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and refuse-derived fuel for more than a decade. We are continually researching and developing cleaner coal-burning methods and increasing efficiency of electric plants. We also aggressively encourage our consumers to conserve energy on "their side of the meter" by purchasing Energy Star rated appliances and electronics, installing compact fluorescent light bulbs and replacing aging heating and cooling systems.

What are you doing to fully fund the research required to make emissions free electric plants an affordable reality?

Our position: Simply put, significant reductions in carbon emissions over the long term will not happen without expensive investment in research and development. Without leadership at the federal level, this investment will not be made. Leaders from Minnesota's electric cooperatives and their members must remind their legislators that the climate change debate will have real consequences for consumers and our communities, and our interests must be heard and considered when enacting legislation that will increase the cost of electricity.

Balancing electricity needs and environmental goals will be difficult. How much is all this going to increase my electric bill and what will you do to make it affordable?

Our position: A Purdue energy forecast predicts electric rates could increase up to 22 percent by 2012 as a result of current environmental protection laws, fuel costs and new construction. Purdue also states that future carbon emissions legislation could add an additional 50 percent to your electric bills over the next 5 to 10 years. Minnesota electric cooperatives will continue to invest in new and affordable energy technologies while taking an active role in encouraging our legislators to develop a national energy policy that offers a balanced solution to climate change concerns. To be successful, the energy policy must include input from all parties, including electric cooperative members like you!

You don't have to be an energy expert to ask questions...

Asking questions helps find answers that balance two important goals: addressing climate change concerns while keeping your lights on and your electric bill affordable. Take two minutes of your time today to begin a dialogue with your legislators. Go to www.OurEnergy.coop and enter your address to send your questions to your legislators.

"We're very close to the edge. We operate under tight conditions more often than ever. We need action in the next year or two to start on the path to having enough electricity ten years from now."

-- Rick Sergel, CEO of NERC,
LA Times, January 18, 2008

What is the Lieberman Warner Bill (S.2191)?

Reduce Green House Gas or CO2 emission to 2005 levels by 2012; 1990 levels by 2020 and 65% below 1990 levels by 2050; calls for zero CO2 emissions after 2030
CO2 emission allowances decrease annually

How much will a carbon tax cost the average electric cooperative customer annually?

The following is a conservative estimate of the increase in electric rates as a result of proposed carbon emission taxes.

	Residential	Small Business	Large Business
$35/ton	19% $228	24% $1,820	31% $38,675
$50/ton	36% $614	45% $4,912	59% $104,380

What can I do?

Contact your elected officials and ask them to carefully consider the potential costs to rural and suburban America when shaping America's energy policy. Go to www.ourenergy.coop and send a message to your elected officials today.

Nobles & Federated lead in Our Energy Our Future campaign

As of July 8, Minnesota co-ops have sent 4,800 messages to their U.S. Congresspersons and Senators. Lake Country Power is leading in political engagement with 1,275 messages sent by their members and employees. Nobles has sent 723 and Federated REA has sent 492 with Lake Region Electric Cooperative right behind at 471. To find out how many messages were sent on behalf of your co-op, e-mail carolyn@mrea.org.