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OREGON RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION |
POWER OF COMMUNITY |
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MESSAGE FROM SANDY FLICKER, ORECA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Imagine having the power to change the world!
Renewable energy has the power to change the world, reducing our dependency on foreign oil and other polluting fossil fuels. Now members of Oregon’s electric cooperatives can learn first-hand about this important issue through the Power of Community program.
Power of Community is a grassroots movement organized by the Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA). By joining Power of Community, you will learn about state and federal policies that impact renewable energy projects and possibly your electric rates.
Lend your energy to help change the world and support your electric co-op by joining this special program. Simply sign up on line at http://www.oreca.org/power_card.htm.
For more than 60 years, your co-op has purchased clean, renewable, electricity from the Federal Columbia River Power System. Oregon’s electric co-ops are proud of their renewable heritage. Oregon’s co-ops, through their statewide association ORECA, recognize the value associated with renewable energy, and support the development of cost-effect projects that will help provide electricity to the region.
Oregon co-ops provide electric service to some of the highest cost and economically depressed areas in the state. ORECA is particularly interested in renewable projects that will provide jobs and other economic development opportunities for communities served by electric co-ops.
The state’s energy loan program and other tax incentives are good ways to finance renewable projects without unfairly burdening co-op members. Renewable energy research, as funded by the state and federal government, will continue to make such projects economically feasible, as well.
Certain issues involving renewables could impact electric rates and need to be discussed further. For example, how will the region’s transmission system, already at capacity, handle these new projects coming on line? How will utilities pay to interconnect smaller renewable projects to their local distribution systems? Ratepayers are being looked at to foot the bill for both, and it could be costly.
If renewable energy is of interest to you, please sign up to learn more about this issue through the Power of Community program. Return the card with your electric bill, or sign up on line at http://www.oreca.org/power_card.htm.
Power of Community needs your energy to keep this grassroots network of Oregon co-op consumers going strong! As a Power of Community member, you will receive:
v Salem Scoop, a monthly newsletter highlighting bills and issues on renewables at the state and federal levels
v Powerline, a full-color publication profiling co-op communities and renewable projects throughout Oregon
v Action alerts providing you with step-by-step instructions in contacting your elected officials to express support or opposition to policies involving renewable energy
ORECA never shares your personal information, and you may cancel your participation at any time. Please support your local electric co-op and sign up today!
In 1998, Oregon's consumer-owned utilities started a grass-roots program called Power of Community. Eleven meetings were held around the state with community leaders to address the restructuring of the electricity industry and its potential impact on Oregon's small and rural communities. The meetings were designed to build a coalition of support to maintain local control of Oregon's consumer-owned utilities by the locally-elected governing boards. This grass-roots coalition helped maintain local control of consumer-owned utilities in the electrical industry restructuring legislation of 1999.
However, the challenges to local control and preferential access to federal hydro-based energy are far from over. Consumer-owned utilities will face increased political pressures from a variety of sources, both regional and national. The political strength of cooperatives rests in the voices of the 300,000 Oregon consumers. Informed and politically-active consumers can and will persuade legislators to maintain cooperative principals such as local control.
By signing on as a Power of Community supporter, you will receive a newsletter (Power Line) which explains issues of importance to cooperative members. From time to time you may be asked to contact your Senators and Representatives to voice your opinion. Hearing from grassroots constituents does make a difference to lawmakers. Your support will allow us to have a strong presence in upcoming debates on the regional and national energy picture.
Please take a moment to complete the Power of Community card and send it to ORECA. If you don't receive one in the mail, you can electronically submit your application by clicking the link below.
Click Here For a Power of Community Card
Saving Salmon
Each year, about 20% of each BPA customer's electric bill is dedicated to fish and wildlife protection programs. BPA has spent more than $6 billion on these programs since 1980. Currently, the region is questioning the high costs and minimal benefits of spilling water over dams in the summer to protect juvenile salmon. Click the salmon to view People Power's Saving Salmon brochure describing the debate.
You can review the Salem Scoop (in pdf format) by selecting the following issues:
Current:
Powerline is a full-color newsletter produced semi-annually by the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association for ORECA’s Power of Community members.
It contains information of interest to grassroots members about electric co-op
and legislative issues.
Powerline – Winter 2007
Powerline – Summer 2007
Powerline – Winter 2006
Powerline – Fall 2006
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