At Risk

September 9, 2009

Over the past several months, I have been telling you about the happenings in our legislative process instead of what’s happening here on the South Plains. Truth is, what’s happening in Washington is dramatically going to affect our quality of life on the South Plains, and that’s why I’ve been keeping you informed. You’re not hearing about it on your local news channel and won’t until it’s bad news and too late.

That’s why it’s important that I deliver the news to you. Our national association (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) headquartered in Washington, D.C., is keeping me informed about what is at stake with climate change legislation now pending in Congress.

No matter what you believe about climate change (real or not) the legislative debate has moved past this discussion and is now focused on what to do to fix it. My overriding concern is the impact of any legislative action on the pocketbooks of South Plains Electric Cooperative members. If “they” say changes in our climate are man made and American electric consumers can measurably and positively impact the situation, then we should take action—but those actions have to be achievable and affordable for all Americans.

I’m concerned about pouring trillions of your dollars into an effort to improve our climate and in the end not being able to substantiate any positive impact on the climate. From my point of view, that would be unwise at the least and purely foolhardy at the worst.

I deeply desire a healthy environment for my three grandchildren’s future, but I also deeply desire a viable economy for them to live and work throughout their lives. This is a landmark decision for the economic viability of the United States of America. If we get it right, we’ll be able to maintain our quality of life and our kids will be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor in a free and prosperous society. Get it wrong, and we may find our future generations slave to costs they can’t afford and sustain a comfortable way of life.

Our grassroots campaign, “Our Energy, Our Future,” is giving you the opportunity to ask Congress to look at the vast amounts of information available and make a sound decision by weighing all data—including the cost of any decisions on consumers. Without knowing voter concerns, legislators move on the information at hand, which usually comes from a special-interest lobby group with business profits in mind. Our effort is to make sure the consumer voice is heard. They need to know that consumers are concerned about the financial impact of legislation on their pocketbooks and whether investments will have a cost-effective impact on the problem.

I urge each of you to let your voice be heard. The people in Congress do work for us—and they need to hear from us. They took these jobs to be our representatives and we should expect nothing less than their concerted efforts to dig for the truth in any decision.

Throughout the history of this country, following the will of the people has proven to be a wise route to follow, and I see nothing different this time. Please join me in urging members of the U.S. Senate to keep climate change legislation fair—recognizing regional differences in how electricity is produced; affordable for all Americans; and achievable, so that when goals for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases take effect the needed technology is commercially viable.

Visit the Our Energy, Our Future Web site and participate in the grassroots campaign. We must ensure that when our senators do vote on a climate change bill, they keep our best interests in mind. There is too much at risk for us today and generations to come.

James C. Driver, general manager

Visit Our Energy, Our Future and participate in this grassroots campaign.

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