Balancing Renewable with Affordable

While renewable energy is often embraced as the answer to America�s energy crisis, the price tag associated with its development � and how reliably renewable projects operate � often leaves a lot to be desired. It�s clear developing power generation resources like solar, wind, and biomass to meet government renewable energy mandates will impact electric bills. The amount of this increase may depend on how closely Congress is willing to work with electric cooperatives. 

Your electric cooperative is committed to providing you with affordable and reliable power in an environmentally responsible fashion. And we want to work with Congress to ensure that rates for electricity don�t rise too much as a result of any federal mandates requiring utilities to add a certain percentage of �clean and green� power to their generation mix. Investments in renewable energy must be made with the impact on electric bills in mind.

Co-ops are well ahead of the curve when it comes to investing in renewable resources. In fact, 11 percent of the power co-ops

deliver nationwide comes from renewables, compared to 9 percent for the entire utility industry. In years ahead, co-ops will bring much more renewable power on-line.

When it comes to meeting our nation�s energy challenges, not-for-profit, locally owned and governed electric co-ops are offering Congress our experience on how to make the right choices on behalf of consumers. But we need your help.

Through the �Our Energy, Our Future� grassroots campaign, hundreds of thousands of electric cooperative members like you have sent more than 1.5 million messages to Congress, asking lawmakers to focus on issues related to generation capacity, new technologies, and keeping electric bills affordable when developing energy and climate change policy.

If you haven�t already done so, get involved in the campaign by asking your representatives on Capitol Hill this important question: Are you willing to work with electric cooperatives to ensure our nation has reliable power at a price consumers can afford? To learn how to begin a dialogue with your elected officials, visit the following Web site: