Mass. & Electric Bills
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
The recent election of a new Republican senator in Massachusetts took me, and most of the country, by surprise. Indiana and Massachusetts are miles apart - not only geographically, but in many ways, philosophically. While Indiana tends to be a red state politically, Massachusetts has been a blue state for many, many years. Since 1962, Senator Ted Kennedy served as a voice for Democrats, for both his own state and for Democrats from across the nation.
With Senator Kennedy's passing, Massachusetts held a special election to choose their next senator. Massachusetts's Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat, and Republican Scott Brown faced off in the election. And the results of the election rocked the Senate and the country, as Scott Brown defeated the favored Democrat.
How and why did this traditionally Democratic state elect a Republican? And what does that have to do with Indiana, Kosciusko REMC, and your electric bill?
Opinion leaders like George Will and the Sunday morning talk shows are of the mindset that because of the election of Brown, cap-and-trade legislation will be dead. It has been in the best interest of co-op members to oppose cap-and-trade legislation, and we've talked a great deal about it over the past two years. Indiana co-operative members sent more than 167,000 e-mails to our legislators to voice our concerns about energy policies that were being considered.
However, the failure of the cap-and-trade legislation to be approved does not mean that legislation to address carbon emissions won't go forward. There could still be serious ramifications ahead for states like Indiana that are reliant on coal to provide affordable energy.
Congress and the Administration are reading the Massachusetts message as a call to focus on economic recovery and jobs. This stance could also attract many Republican votes. There are many people in Washington who believe that advancing carbon emission policies would not only help the environment, but would also help in the creation of "green" jobs. That means that cooperative concerns about energy policies are still at the forefront of our thoughts and actions to best serve our members by providing affordable energy.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also continues its work to restrict carbon emissions. Some members of Congress are taking steps to restrict the agency's authority before the EPA puts rules into effect. A senator from Alaska and a congressman from North Dakota are asking the Administration to focus on other priorities, but Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) qualified her Senate resolution that would block EPA action as an effort to return responsibility for climate change initiatives to Congress. It's obvious that carbon control issues are still alive and well in Washington.
What this means for KREMC, our members, and anyone concerned about energy policy and keeping jobs in Indiana is that we need you to stay involved. KREMC members should read their Electric Consumer newsletter every month to stay informed about current issues. Keep in touch with our legislators to let them know that you are still concerned, and that we need climate change policy that is fair, affordable and achievable. Send them a message online at www.ourenergy.coop KREMC members should also attend your annual meeting and vote for the director candidates of your choice. You are the owners of Kosciusko REMC, and you can help make a difference in keeping energy affordable.
If you don't believe that you can help with change, just ask the voters of Massachusetts about how their votes made a difference.
Steve Rhodes
President & CEO
Kosciusko REMC
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
The recent election of a new Republican senator in Massachusetts took me, and most of the country, by surprise. Indiana and Massachusetts are miles apart - not only geographically, but in many ways, philosophically. While Indiana tends to be a red state politically, Massachusetts has been a blue state for many, many years. Since 1962, Senator Ted Kennedy served as a voice for Democrats, for both his own state and for Democrats from across the nation.
With Senator Kennedy's passing, Massachusetts held a special election to choose their next senator. Massachusetts's Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat, and Republican Scott Brown faced off in the election. And the results of the election rocked the Senate and the country, as Scott Brown defeated the favored Democrat.
How and why did this traditionally Democratic state elect a Republican? And what does that have to do with Indiana, Kosciusko REMC, and your electric bill?
Opinion leaders like George Will and the Sunday morning talk shows are of the mindset that because of the election of Brown, cap-and-trade legislation will be dead. It has been in the best interest of co-op members to oppose cap-and-trade legislation, and we've talked a great deal about it over the past two years. Indiana co-operative members sent more than 167,000 e-mails to our legislators to voice our concerns about energy policies that were being considered.
However, the failure of the cap-and-trade legislation to be approved does not mean that legislation to address carbon emissions won't go forward. There could still be serious ramifications ahead for states like Indiana that are reliant on coal to provide affordable energy.
Congress and the Administration are reading the Massachusetts message as a call to focus on economic recovery and jobs. This stance could also attract many Republican votes. There are many people in Washington who believe that advancing carbon emission policies would not only help the environment, but would also help in the creation of "green" jobs. That means that cooperative concerns about energy policies are still at the forefront of our thoughts and actions to best serve our members by providing affordable energy.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also continues its work to restrict carbon emissions. Some members of Congress are taking steps to restrict the agency's authority before the EPA puts rules into effect. A senator from Alaska and a congressman from North Dakota are asking the Administration to focus on other priorities, but Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) qualified her Senate resolution that would block EPA action as an effort to return responsibility for climate change initiatives to Congress. It's obvious that carbon control issues are still alive and well in Washington.
What this means for KREMC, our members, and anyone concerned about energy policy and keeping jobs in Indiana is that we need you to stay involved. KREMC members should read their Electric Consumer newsletter every month to stay informed about current issues. Keep in touch with our legislators to let them know that you are still concerned, and that we need climate change policy that is fair, affordable and achievable. Send them a message online at www.ourenergy.coop KREMC members should also attend your annual meeting and vote for the director candidates of your choice. You are the owners of Kosciusko REMC, and you can help make a difference in keeping energy affordable.
If you don't believe that you can help with change, just ask the voters of Massachusetts about how their votes made a difference.
Steve Rhodes
President & CEO
Kosciusko REMC
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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