Our Energy, Our Future: A Dialogue with America

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Our Energy, Our FutureA Dialogue with America

• Mobilizing co-op consumers to ask their elected
  representatives tough questions about the future
  of energy.

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America Faces a Looming Electricity Crisis

• Americans depend on safe, reliable electricity at
  an affordable price but rates are steadily
  rising, putting affordable electricity at risk.
  In the last five years, utility bills have risen
  30 percent.
• We have maxed out our generating capacity yet
  Americas economic growth will require 30 more
  electricity by 2030.
• National climate change goals are being set even
  though America lacks the technology to meet
  deadlines.
• Investments in energy research and development
  declined precipitously in recent years.

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Challenges Ahead

• Address the issue of greenhouse gases
• Increase generating capacity by 30 percent to
  keep up with projected demand over the next 20
  years
• Prevent the possibility of an electricity
  shortage, which could be here as soon as 2011 in
  some parts of America
• Keep electricity affordable

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The Current Political Landscape

• Americans are sensitive to global climate issues
• The availability of affordable, reliable power
  has never been more in doubt
• Carbon reductions and new costs are coming,
  either by legislation or regulation
• Many components of climate change proposals will
  impact electric cooperatives

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The Legislative Status

• The U.S. House passed an energy-climate bill that
  mandates GHG emission reductions to 17 below
  2005 levels by 2020 and 83 in 2050 and a full
  auction of emission allowances by 2030.
• The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works
  Committee passed a bill that mandates GHG
  emission reductions to 20 below 2005 levels by
  2020.
• Neither bill meets the test of keeping
  electricity affordable for all electric consumers

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Another Approach

• Sen. Cantwell is drafting another approach for
  the Senate to consider
• Eliminates many factors that would raise costs
  without providing any environmental benefits
• Places strong price signals on resources that
  produce greenhouse gas emissions

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The Electric Cooperatives Goal

• Set CO2 caps consistent with the commercial
  availability of technology
• Keep Wall Street speculators out of the allowance
  market
• Help Congress develop and pass a simple,
  affordable, flexible and effective piece of
  legislation to address the nations energy and
  climate change objectives
• Make sure elected representatives remember their
  obligations to protect the publics interest in
  maintaining affordable, reliable electricity

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To Be Successful We Need to Do It All

• To meet future demand we must
• Restrain the rate of demand growth through energy
  efficiency
• Increase energy generation from renewable energy
  sources
• Make our current fossil-fueled power plants more
  efficient
• Figure out how to capture and store carbon
  dioxide from power plants
• Increase our reliance on nuclear energy
• Bring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to market
• Improve the viability of consumer-generated
  energy

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What We Need

• Leadership and sustained commitment by Congress
• Public-private partnerships
• Our members/consumers in one unified voice
  demanding legislators strike a balance between
  our electricity needs and climate change goals

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Why Electric Cooperatives

• We are well-positioned to lead the debate about
  our energy needs and influence opinion as we have
  a direct stake in the outcome
• Our message is about keeping the lights on and
  electricity affordable
• We are a consumer movement for a balanced
  responsible energy future
• We are speaking for consumers not special
  interests

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What We Have To Do

• Bring co-op members/owners and their elected
  officials together to talk about what needs to be
  done to ensure a reliable and affordable supply
  of electricity
• Urge Congress to work with electric cooperatives
  to be sure public policy meets your need for
  affordable electricity.
• Now is the time to get involvedlater will be too
  late

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Join the Campaign
Join the Campaign
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Join the Campaign
Join the Campaign
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Join the Campaign www.ourenergy.coop
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Overview

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