I began writing about industry issues in this magazine two years ago, shortly after I became president and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives. I noted then that these are “interesting times.”
Actually, these times are more than simply “interesting.” Fact is, we’ve gone through a period of historic change: Older coal plants have been cleaned up or closed, while natural gas, wind, and solar power generation have increased, surpassing the role that coal once played as the leading source of power generation. The electric power that’s produced today is cleaner than it has ever been.
The approach taken by our federal government to further regulate fossil fuel use and development has changed recently. The most extreme and expensive environmental regulations that would have affected future electricity production are getting a second look. I remain hopeful that the result will be a more balanced approach that considers the high cost of making incremental improvements, as well as the impact of over-regulation on the reliability of power supply.
While some headlines and sound bites may express grave concerns about the consequences of reviewing recent regulations, the long-term trend toward an even cleaner supply of electricity will continue. There are common-sense solutions available that will allow us to have an electricity supply that is both clean and affordable. Your electric cooperative leaders, representing you — our member-consumers — will continue to pursue balanced solutions.
For example, Ohio electric cooperatives have developed the OurSolar program to take advantage of the latest advances in technology with only a modest investment. We apply best-in-class technology to scrub pollutants from our coal-fired power plant emissions, and we continue to take advantage of a cleaner-burning and (for now) relatively inexpensive supply of natural gas. Finally, we empower you, our members, to help hold down the collective cost of electricity by reducing demand at peak usage times. It’s a small, but important, step that means lower electric bills year-round. We explain how in more detail beginning on Page 4.
These are interesting times, and as they keep changing, you can be assured that we’re making every effort to keep costs down and service reliable — while continuing to reduce our environmental footprint.
