Congress Needs A Reality Check
Climate Change Must Be Fair, Affordable and Achievable
We need your help. As Congress debates climate change this fall, our voices must drown out special interests and businesses interested in turning a profit. We’ve got to send Congress a reality check.
Since early this year, Congress has considered a cap-and-trade system to address climate change concerns. This system focuses on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, vehicles and factories – essentially, impacting all sectors of the economy. As Congress acts on climate change, they will be directly responsible for raising our electric bills. But by how much?
Electric co-ops like Moreau-Grand Electric Cooperative feel it is important for Congress to keep three things in mind regarding climate change. We know rates will go up as a result of any action Congress takes, but any bill should be fair, taking into account regional differences in how electricity is produced. Nearly 80 percent of the electricity you use everyday comes from Basin Electric’s coal-fired power plants. We are all in this together. One part of the country should not benefit at another’s expense.
Next, we’ve got to keep electricity affordable for all Americans. We already have members in South Dakota who barely manage to pay their monthly electric bills or must choose between paying for medications and keeping the lights on. Even a small increase will be a hardship beyond measure for these folks.
Finally, the goals Congress sets must be achievable. Climate change policy must be realistic and in sync with technology to ensure long-term success. Otherwise, we’re doomed to fail.
Moreau-Grand Electric Cooperative and others across the nation have been working hard to make sure these concerns are raised – and we need your help.
More than 377,000 co-op members like you across the nation have joined the Our Energy, Our Future™ grassroots campaign, demanding that elected officials keep consumer interests in mind. Their voices had a major impact this summer, as the U.S. House passed a climate change bill that included more than $3 billion in rate relief for co-op consumers from initial proposals. Still, that bill fell far short of being fair to you our member/owners. The climate change debate now moves to the U.S. Senate. We have an opportunity there to make more improvements – and you can affect the outcome.
Send our congressional delegation a message about the need for fair, affordable and achievable climate change legislation.
On the Web: www.ourenergy.coop
By Phone or Mail:
Sen. Tim Johnson
136 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4104
Phone: 202-224-5842
http://johnson.senate.gov/Senator John Thune
493 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2321
http://thune.senate.gov/Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin
331 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2801
http://hersethsandlin.house.gov
