Help us shape the future of energy
Help us shape the future of energySeptember 1, 2023
Right now, America’s energy system is undergoing a fundamental transformation, and much of the focus in Washington is on large utilities in urban areas. Electric cooperatives are fundamentally different. Our cooperative is owned by you, the members, and we care about the future of your family and our communities.
Palmetto Electric Cooperative works hard to recognize and meet the needs of your family and neighbors to provide affordable, reliable power to the communities we serve. But energy affordability and reliability mean different things to different communities. Members living in the most rural areas of America have a different set of challenges than members in more populated areas.
Elected officials need to hear from their constituents about the issues that matter to them in order to make decisions about what is best for those they represent. Only by communicating and building relationships with our representatives can we influence the outcome of public policy debates that affect the way cooperatives operate.
One of the ways that we do this at Palmetto Electric is through employee contributions to America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC and ECHO (Electric Cooperative Help Organization), two organizations that provide financial support to our elected officials in Washington and Columbia that have the best interest of electric cooperatives in mind. I have also joined other cooperative presidents and CEOs across the United States in submitting a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing our concern about their proposal to impose regulations on new and existing power plants.
Lastly, Palmetto Electric is now partnering with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) on a new program to make it easier for our members to join the discussion and let our voices be heard.
We invite you to join Voices for Cooperative Power (VCP), a new nationwide community designed to help co-op members share their story with elected officials. We know that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to energy policies, so as an electric cooperative member, speaking up on issues that impact your electric co-op sends a message to elected officials about the unique needs of our communities and their constituencies.
VCP makes it easy to have a say in policy decisions that impact you, because you can choose the issues most important to you, from access to broadband and energy efficiency, to renewable energy, rural development and more. VCP members will receive updates on those issues, and when needed, information on how to contact elected officials and government agencies on proposed legislation or regulations.
It’s quick and easy to join VCP. Simply visit voicesforcooperativepower.com or check out Voices for Cooperative Power on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@voices4coops).
We cannot shape the future of energy without your input and support. Co-ops have democracy built into the fabric of our business models, so we encourage you to use your voice to help ensure that electric co-ops can continue to provide reliable, affordable energy to members like you for generations to come.
A. Berl Davis Jr.
President and CEO
PEC’s Washington Youth Tour delegates (from left) Garrett Simons, Bryan Ruiz and Olivia Besecker.