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Let your voice be heard
 Message from the President and CEO
June, 2008
Our nation and our cooperative face serious challenges regarding energy. To meet them, electric co-ops nationwide are promoting a dialogue between our consumer-members and our nation's leaders.
It's called "Our Energy, Our Future." Visit the Web site www.ourenergy.coop to make your voice heard. Ask your leaders how we will meet our growing energy needs while at the same time addressing climate change.
At York Electric Cooperative, we approach this challenge with three key considerations in mind: responsibility, reliability and affordability. We have an obligation and responsibility to make sure electricity is available when needed. Our responsibility includes caring for the environment while also providing a reliable service at an affordable price.
While York Electric Cooperative actively promotes the increased use of renewable resources and energy efficiency, some proposals now under consideration would place an undue financial burden on low-income families. Consider:
- 22 percent of South Carolina co-op families make less than $25,000 annually, compared to 15 percent nationally
- $1,000 to $1,500 — Net annual loss in the average S.C. household's disposable income by 2020 under current federal proposals to curb, or "cap," emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide
- 20 percent of federal Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program funding slashed from 2006 to 2008, with additional cuts proposed for 2009
- $1,500 — approximate cost for highest-efficiency washing machine with an Energy Star rating of 83. Compare that with $360, the approximate cost of the lowest-efficiency washing machine with Energy Star rating of 20
- $16,000 to $20,000 — approximate cost to install solar panel system able to provide 50 percent of average home's needs.
A lot of South Carolinians are limited in what they can do with energy efficiency and renewable energy. And South Carolina's four-season climate contributes to our reliance on electricity that is greater here than in many states. But we are looking for solutions, not excuses. That's why the state's co-ops are distributing energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs. That's why we support legislation recently introduced in the state Senate that would help lower-income families afford to make home energy improvements.
Some plans in Congress, however, could offset these efforts. Proposals there could hamper the growth enjoyed by the communities we serve. And growth is crucial. Even with it, our state in the last 10 years has lost manufacturing jobs at a 50-percent higher rate than other states.
We believe technology is the key. The carbon "cap" must not tighten faster than technology is able to create viable, affordable generation options. The bottom line: Congress must create incentives to fast-track construction of nuclear generation. Safe and available waste storage is a must.
As you can see, we face tall hurdles. Fortunately, as a member of York Electric Cooperative, your opinion counts. Let us — and, more crucially, our nation's leaders — know what you think by visiting www.ourenergy.coop.
Paul Basha
President and
Chief Executive Officer
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