The National Rural Electric Cooperatives have launched a national grassroots campaign, 
"Our Energy, Our Future: A Dialogue with America." 
It has one purpose:  to encourage open discussion between electric co-op consumers and their elected officials
about the challenge of keeping electricity affordable and reliable while addressing the issue of climate change.

More than 2 million messages have been sent to elected officials since February 2008 asking them to work with electric cooperatives to keep energy affordable.  Indiana currently ranks in 7th place nationally with over 132,000 messages on the issue of affordable electricity. 

Q.   What is the current status of climate change legislation?

A.   Only one proposal in Congress has been considered by the full House or Senate.  On June 26, the U.S. House approved HR 2454 by a vote of 219-212.  Officially known as the American Clean Energy & Security Act of 2009 (ACES), the bill establishes a cap-and-trade system that would limit carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, vehicles and factories – essentially impacting all sectors of the economy.

The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a bill that would also implement a cap and trade system.  That proposal has not been acted on by the full Senate.

Q.   It seems like we are hearing less about cap-and-trade lately.  What is Congress working on?

A.   Right now, Congress is evaluating what carbon reduction options are politically possible.  Cap-and-trade is not dead by any stretch of the imagination.  However, in an election year and a time when the economy is still uncertain, the risk of economic and political fallout from such a massive proposal may be too great.

The new focus appears to be on developing legislation that will address carbon emissions by encouraging conservation and efficiency.  Congress is exploring mandates such as a renewable generation requirement for utilities and loans for residential and commercial efficiency improvements.  Almost all the proposals are focused on incentives to encourage renewable generation and the hope that green jobs will be created.

Q.   Is the President still a major advocate of cap-and-trade legislation?

A.   The President wants to put a price on carbon emissions but he didn’t use the term cap-and-trade in his 2010 State of the Union address.  This is what President Obama said:

“I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But -- but here's the thing. Even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future, because the nation that leads the clean-energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy, and America must be that nation.”

Still, cap and trade remains a goal as the Adminstration included revenues from such a proposal in the 2011 budget submitted to Congress.

Check out the Indiana Partnership for Fair & Affordable Energy at www.FairPowerNow.org.  The Partnership is a coalition of not-for-profit energy providers and other organizations working to encourage policies that result in low-cost, reliable and environmentally-responsible electricity.