Pressure is mounting in Congress to do something about climate change. And while Hollywood stars touting environmental messages and D.C. political debates may seem far away, the reality is that the outcome will have a direct impact on Kosciusko REMC, our cooperative members and other electric consumers.
Already. our nation faces a looming energy crisis, with demand for electricity ready to outstrip supply. Unless significantly more power plants are placed into service soon, consumers could experience brownouts and even rolling blackouts in the not-too-distant future. But building this generation will be the most expensive in history, coming at a time when prices for fossil fuels and construction materials like steel, copper and concrete are shooting upward.
Additional costs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - notably carbon dioxide, blamed for contributing to global climate change - will only strain the pocketbooks of consumers even further.
Unfortunately, many members of Congress, as well as local and state legislators, mistakenly believe we can solve all of these problems through efficiency measures and by adding renewable energy sources. While we certainly need more energy efficiency programs and "green power," they will not be enough to ensure that you continue to receive a safe, reliable and affordable supply of electricity.
To avert an energy crisis, the federal government must exercise true leadership, the same leadership that got Americans to the moon in the 1960s. Without that leadership - without a sound, responsible plan - government risks not only the reliability of our electric system, but literally the ability of many Americans to be able to afford to pay their electric bill.
We, as electric co-op members, electric consumers and constituents, must call on elected officials to provide this leadership. You don't need to be an energy expert to ask questions. Asking questions will help lawmakers find the answers that will solve the problem of balancing climate change goals while keeping your lights on and your electric bills affordable.
To make things easy, we have a Web site that will write a letter for you. Go to www.ourenergy.coop and plug in your address. There you'll be able to ask a series of questions to your representatives in Washington.
Far too often, questions don't get asked by policymakers until plans go wrong. You can help our elected officials "get it right" by having this conversation. The electric bill you save on will be your own.
