Today's Quote
"We are really on to something that will have a significant impact on rural communities all across America."
-Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), speaking last week in Washington, D.C., about his reasons for supporting a nationwide energy efficiency program inspired by South Carolina's electric cooperatives.
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| Calendar |
April 3
Annual Meeting
Horry Electric
April 4
Annual Meeting
Newberry Electric
April 5
Annual Meeting
Edisto Electric
April 10
Annual Meeting
Santee Electric
April 11
Honor Flight for
WWII Veterans
April 13
Annual Meeting
Mid-Carolina Electric
April 21
Annual Meeting
Marlboro Electric
Visit our online calendar for more events
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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.
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S.C. model featured at national forum | | Rep. James Clyburn speaking this week about Rural Star. |
Good ideas that have sprung from South Carolina's electric cooperatives and lessons being learned from improving energy efficiency for members were two topics covered by Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Statewide CEO Mike Couick at a national forum on rural energy solutions. The day-long event took place Monday in Washington, D.C.
Couick explained the "Help My House" program, a pilot to analyze which energy efficiency measures deliver the greatest returns for members. "Just selling folks electricity and leaving it at that
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Mike Couick explaining the co-ops' approach to energy efficiency.
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can create a real downward pull on families," Couick said, explaining why the co-ops are working on efficiency.
Clyburn lauded S.C. co-ops for their idea to lend members money for energy efficiency upgrades, with repayment of those loans made through savings on monthly bills. That proposal was the foundation of a national Rural Star energy bill, which Clyburn first sponsored and which passed the House in 2010. Rural Star is seeing new life. It was reintroduced in the Senate on Wednesday by Sens. Jeff Merkley, (D-Ore.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind).
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Co-op sponsored Honor Flight nears
More than 100 World War II veterans will be on an Honor Flight April 11, a flight sponsored by South Carolina's electric cooperatives. More than 270 veterans, all members of the state's co-ops, applied to go.
"Many of the vets who go are from larger cities. We wanted to take rural veterans to D.C. We had an overwhelming response," Statewide CEO Mike Couick told WSOC-TV in Charlotte. Veterans selected to make the April 11 flight met in Columbia on Wednesday to learn what to expect. Those who couldn't make the April flight will travel on future Honor Flights.
Related Story: Local veterans to travel to D.C. to see WWII memorial (includes video)
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Investment in SmartState pays off | SmartState Endowed Chair
Dr. Jochen Lauterbach |
The state's co-ops were among the first to support SmartState, recruiting Dr. Jochen Lauterbach for an endowed chair at the University of South Carolina. "Here was a chance to bring a rising star in energy research to USC and for the electric co-ops and our partner Santee Cooper to use this new brain power to stabilize or reduce future energy costs," explains Statewide CEO Mike Couick.
This week, SmartState announced it had reached 99 percent of its funding goal, bringing $1.2 billion in non-state investment into South Carolina and creating more than 7,000 jobs. SmartState was created in 2002 to establish Centers of Economic Excellence at Clemson, the Medical University of South Carolina and USC to expand the state's knowledge-based economy.
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