"Rural communities may be on a path to higher electric rates if they fail to restructure over $7 billion in debt tied to coal production, according to findings in a new fact sheet. 'Rural Electrification 2.0—a Clean Energy Economy,' was released Tuesday by Lyle, Nebraska-based Center for Rural Affairs, in partnership with Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) Minnesota and We Own It.
CURE's home is Montevideo, Minnesota, with a mission for Energy Democracy, as well as grassroots environmental action in the Minnesota River Basin.
CURE's Energy Democracy Organizer tweeted about the report:
We put a lot of work into this report. I’m excited to begin sharing some of our findings. https://t.co/wjezVF7rpB
— Erik. (@prairieerik) April 30, 2019
We Own It is a "national network that stands together with co-op member-owners working to reform and make positive change at their co-ops," with staff based in Omaha, Nebraska, and Madison, Wisconsin.
Here's the factsheet:
The CRA notes:
Cooperatives in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, and North Carolina are highlighted for their leadership on setting clean energy goals. One example includes a New Mexico cooperative that has committed to produce 100 percent solar powered energy for its customers in the summer season by 2022.
The Minnesota co-operative is Great River Energy, which is highlighted for its goal of "50 percent renewable energy by 2030."
In late April, Minnesota Public Radio's Paul Hutner and Elizabeth Dunbar discussed electric co-op members' organizing in How local electric co-op elections can impact greenhouse gas emissions. Worth a listen.
Photo: A smokestack.
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