Edgecombe Martin County

Information may not be reliable

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are doing their part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and increase renewable energy generation. Cooperatives are also communicating with members of Congress, who will vote this year on new national energy policies that will likely increase electric rates. Cooperatives assert that any public policies on these issues include the following principles:

Assurance of a continuing supply of reliable and affordable electricity to consumers and businesses in North Carolina, the Southeast and the nation.
Retention and creation of American jobs.
Equitable sharing of costs across all geographic regions and emitting industries.
Recognition that greenhouse gas emissions are a global issue requiring an enforceable global solution.
Access to least-cost financing for mitigation efforts by emitting industries.
Diversity in power supply fuels, including renewables, clean coal and nuclear energy.
Acceleration of the most critical technological research and development.
Recognition of and support for energy efficiency and demand side management programs

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives will continue to look for ways to support environmental stewardship bearing in mind the high concern members have for affordability and reliability of electric service.
Cooperatives have embraced diverse approaches to reduce greenhouse gases. These approaches include support for enhanced energy efficiency, demand side management, deployment of intelligent grid technology, expanded renewable resources, new nuclear generation, advanced coal initiatives, expansion of plug-in hybrid vehicles and new technologies for distributed generation. North Carolina’s electric cooperative pledge:

To develop resources or programs with the proper balance between reducing our greenhouse gas emissions while assuring reliable and affordable electric service to our members.
To explain our involvement and actions on this issue to our Boards of Directors and our member-owners in a straight-forward manner.
To educate our legislative officials concerning issues with pending proposals.

We must work together on this challenging issue to meet environmental concerns in the most sensible, responsible and cost effective way for our consumer members who depend on their local cooperative.