Wolverine Co-Op Coal Permit Denied, But Member Money Still at Risk as Appeal Considered
Cherryland election to play major role. Media blitz underway in northern Michigan to get out the vote in advance of June 16 board member election. Learn more about what this election means here.
At a public gathering near the proposed coal plant site, Eric Baker, CEO of Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative complained about the State of Michigan report that showed his coal plant was unneeded. Baker wanted to keep hope alive within the small rural community with above average unemployment even as recent events continue to cast doubt on the economic feasibility and the air permit required for construction. Noting that the co-op had already spent over $20 million of member money on the proposal, he was undeterred in cutting member losses promising to stay the course noting that board of directors had recently voted to continue funding the proposal with member funds, and even if it meant waiting for the next governor to be elected. Click Here to read the full story from the Presque Isle Advance | Read more about the Wolverine coal proposal
Wayne-White Electric Cooperative—An electric utility in southern Illinois is frightening thousands of its customers by spreading misinformation about President Obama’s clean energy reform agenda. The Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative has joined the American Petroleum Institute’s “Energy Citizens” propaganda campaign, telling its members to oppose the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
Cobb EMC—South Carolina's electricity cooperatives have an $800 million plan that could dramatically cut energy use in nearly a quarter-million homes -- and cost almost no money. The plan could save billions of dollars in costs for electricity use and power plant construction, and substantially cut greenhouse gas pollution
Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative—Data supplied by Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative concerning its proposed Rogers City coal plant is deeply flawed, according to a national firm that consults on energy, economic, and environmental topics. Synapse Energy says that Wolverine badly underestimated the cost of building and operating its proposed coal plant and significantly overestimated the cost of using more wind energy, energy efficiency, and natural gas to meet its member’s needs.
Atlanta, Ga. — Why are electric rates higher for customer in Cobb County, Georgia's electric membership corporation (EMC) than for other utility customers? That's only one of the questions Cobb and other EMC members hope to find answers to as the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) gathers in Atlanta this week for its annual meeting. America's electric co-ops were founded in the 1930s as member-owned utilities in rural areas where big utility companies were not serving the population. Today, 900 co-ops still provide power to 42 million Americans in 47 states, but often these associations look more like big private corporations than the democratically-managed cooperatives of earlier days. These days, co-op members are asking a host of questions about the governance and energy decisions of their co-ops, and what they are doing to move toward democratic transparency and encourage energy efficiency and clean alternative energy production.
My name is Mo Charbonneau and I’ve been working with Tom Karas on Co-op Conversations for over a year. Here in northwest Michigan Tom’s work began in response to a proposed coal plant – one that has been deemed unnecessary by our Public Service Commission and one that has no true cost picture attached to it.
When Tom first began explaining to me what was going on in the electric cooperative industry and why reform is so badly needed, I had a hard time applying that to our rural area of northern lower Michigan. Co-op structure brought to my mind farmers, community, involvement with the “little guy.” I remember going with my grandparents to pay their electric bill at their local cooperative. But then I learned about the misinformation being given out by Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative on the proposed coal plant. I learned a lot about information being hidden and not given to the members. Yep. Reform is needed right here in northern Michigan. Member-owners not only deserve, but are entitled to, transparency. Open records. Affordable electricity.
Jim Cooper’s report – you can find it near the top of the Home page – most helped me see the big picture. He gives an excellent explanation of the original intent of cooperatives and how the industry evolved over the years into a very different way of doing business – at least in many cases. That change brought with it varying levels of serious problems. Jim Cooper’s report is a great place to start if you’re just beginning to look at the issues.
The good news is that our changing times today are bringing much-needed reform on a national level. Member-owners are getting educated and involved to protect their interests. Momentum is building one member-owner at a time. Each of us counts. These are not idle words. As I write this I’m working on my own campaign for the board of directors of my local cooperative. Change is in the air and I want to be a part of it. I’ll keep you posted on the outcome.
Check back often because a lot is happening. We’ll soon have some tools for you to use to measure the financial health of your cooperative. Send an e-mail with your questions and concerns. We want to hear from you! Explore our site. And to those of you who already belong to reform groups, we look forward to posting your updates on your state page.
Co-op Conversations is not financed by or affiliated with any rural electric cooperative.
This website complies with the "Fair Use" provision of Title 17, (Copywrite Act - http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode).
