e-blast is a weekly electronic newsletter created to help provide key cooperative leaders with the latest work of your state association, news from our member electric cooperatives and progress on issues important to us all.

Washington buzzing with energy talks     

President Barack Obama

This week, President Obama laid out a plan to cut foreign fuel dependency by a third in the next ten years, with an emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energy development. Meanwhile, senators made good on their promise to revive a bi-partisan group of 10 lawmakers that includes Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).  

 

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) have taken the lead in reconvening the Gang of Ten, which first formed in the summer of 2008 to address spiking oil and gas prices. Conrad says the reliance on foreign oil is a motivator for the group once again, stating, "Enough is enough. We need to deveop a comprehensive, bipartistan plan to reduce our dependence on foreign energy."    

 

Related Stories:

Editorial: Mr. Obama's energy vision

Conrad revives 'Gang of 10' on energy 

Senate weighs EPA role in amendments    

Sen. Mitch McConnell

As many as four amendments could be put to a vote next week, as the U.S. Senate battles over the power that the Environmental Protection Agency should or should not wield. Many in Washington expected a vote this week on an amendment attached to a small business bill. That amendment, offered by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) would permanently strip the EPA of powers to regulate heat-trapping emissions under the Clean Air Act.  

 

Alternatives to that bill include an amendment filed by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) that would delay climate change rules for two years and another from Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that partly reinforces the EPA's tailoring rule but offers stronger protections for ranchers and farmers. A fourth proposal emerged this week, from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), that would not only suspend EPA rules for two years but also re-authorize financial assistance for fuel-efficient cars. 

 

Related Stories:

EPA amendments may come to floor; ag community divided on Baucus approach

Koch-linked group serves notice on Senate EPA vote  

Leonardo DiCaprio tweets about Senate amendment on greenhouse gases 

S.C. to set renewable energy mandate?

A state bill proposes a renewable energy standard for S.C. electric suppliers.

South Carolina's co-ops weighed in on a state bill to establish renewable energy targets for electric suppliers. The bill - S.719 - was introduced last week by Sen. John Matthews (D-Bowman). It calls for electric power suppliers to increase their use of renewable energy, with 20 percent of total retail sales coming from sources such as wind, biomass and solar by 2022.

Speaking on a panel at S.C. State University, Tri-County Electric Cooperative CEO Bob Paulling and Statewide CEO Mike Couick pressed for data-based decisions and cautioned about measures that would drive up home power bills. Couick also made the case for setting goals rather than instituting government mandates: "Not one of our efforts to increase efficiency...has been in response to a government mandate," said Couick. "Instead it has come as a result of hearing the needs of our members and seeing the challenges on the horizon."
 

Related Story:

Co-ops: Renewable energy standard has costs

 

S.C. co-ops among first to get Chevy Volts

One of two Chevy Volts purchased by South Carolina's electric cooperatives. Photo by Van O'Cain

Since electric cars may soon be plugging in around South Carolina, co-ops are getting behind the wheel to do some homework. Palmetto Electric Cooperative and Central Electric Power Cooperative have added a Chevy Volt to their fleets. Both co-ops will be installing Level 2 chargers, which can charge an electric car in about four hours. Jimmy Baker, vice president, marketing and public relations at Palmetto, says the co-ops will be able to educate members and themselves about the demands that charging will place on their systems. "There's a Level 3 charger that's 50kw, so you can imagine the load you're placing on your system. They're very expensive, but they charge a vehicle in 20 minutes." Baker said members would need transformer upgrades in order to use Level 3 chargers.
 

Related Story:

S.C. Co-ops get new Chevy Volts

 

Little River joins Co-op Connections  

Little River Electric Cooperative is joining the Co-op Connections Card program from Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. The card provides prescription drug savings and discounts with local, statewide and national businesses.    

 

Little River Electric becomes the 17th Touchstone Energy cooperative in the state to join the program. South Carolina is currently first nationally in prescription drug savings by co-op members--more than $4.3 million saved to date. Little River Electric expects to deliver cards to its members this August.

 

See how the card saves members money 

 

Co-ops mourn Freeman  

Jimmy Freeman

Jimmy C. Freeman, a member of the Lynches River Electric Cooperatives Board of Directors, has died. Freeman served on the board for 14 years. Freeman was a retired employee of the Chesterfield County Health Department and had owned and operated Redfearn Feed and Seed. A lifelong member of White Oak Presbyterian Church, Freeman enjoyed hunting, gardening, and buying and selling antique tractors. Memorials may be made to White Oak Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 5386 Angelus Road, Ruby, SC 29741.