Energy Conservation

COSTS MATTER!
President Obama, as promised, has proposed a carbon cap and trade tax which could raise electric bills by $20 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 an extra $55 or 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 then among the world's cleanest, and getting about 5% of our power from renewable or lower emitting sources. We've led the way in load management for more than 30 years, delaying the need for new power lines 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 Cap & Trade Tax by joining the Our Energy, Our Futurecampaign. 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.

"We will look for cost-effective sources of renewable energy to further diversify Buckeye Power's generation mix, but we also want to ensure that out cooperative member' growing need for electricity is met reliably and affordably."

Pat O' Loughlin,
Buckeye Power, Inc.
Chief Operating Officer & Vice President,
Engineering & Power Supply

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