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G. Thomas Upshaw | President & CEO
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 Palmetto 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 Palmetto 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 Palmetto Electric
Cooperative, your opinion counts. Let us — and, more crucially, our nation’s
leaders — know what you think by visiting www.ourenergy.coop.
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