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| Members called to action! Over 800 members and their families came to pick up their capital credit checks and to enjoy a delicious lunch served by the Pork Producers. This year the capital credit refund was $350,000. Checks not picked up at the Annual Meeting will be mailed the week of April 7. Re-elected to the Runestone Electric Board of Directors were Audrey Hjelle of District Three (188 votes) and Mike Johnson of District Seven (167 votes). A new director was elected in District Six with Bryan Withers (128 votes) over Herb Hoppe (94 votes). After representing District Six for five years, Mary Rassat chose not to seek reelection. In addition to the election of directors, the future of energy and how it will impact our nation highlighted the event. Experts say that our nation's growing electricity needs will soon go well beyond what renewables, conservation and efficiency can provide. Members were encouraged to take action by asking our legislators tough questions. Over 500 postcards were completed by members and sent to Senators Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar posing three simple questions: 1. What is your plan to make sure we have the electricity we'll need in the future? 2. What are you doing to fully fund the research required to make emissions-free electric plants an affordable reality? 3. Balancing electricity needs and environmental goals will be difficult. How much is all this going to increase my electric bill and what will you do to make it affordable? “What is needed is time for people to work on possible solutions,” commented REA President Bill O'Brien. “Millions of dollars have been spent on the power plants in North Dakota owned by our power supplier, Great River Energy, to reduce harmful emissions. There is currently no good way to capture or sequester CO2. The legislators who are pushing legislation need to slow down.” O'Brien went on to explain that the Rural Utility Service has announced they will not be loaning money in 2008 or 2009 to build any coal-fired power plants due to the unknown cost of the restrictions that may be put on these plants. “We hear predictions of brownouts or rolling blackouts. There is talk of electric bills going up 20 to 50% and maybe more. If this happens many people will not be able to pay their electric bills,” explained O'Brien. Runestone's CEO Rick Banke echoed this concern and called members to take action. “We are not here to debate the science of global warming. However there appears to be a real disconnect between recognizing the issue and what people are willing to pay to fix the problem. We believe a federal solution is needed, not a state or regional approach.” Banke continued “It's time to show decision-makers that we are concerned with pending global warming legislation. You need to contact your legislators and ask them these tough questions. They need to know that you are concerned with the potential impact on your electric bill and our nation's economy.” Guest speaker for the Annual Meeting was Will Kaul, Great River Energy's vice president of transmission . “Great River Energy is committed to our members with reasonable rates, reliable electric service and environmental stewardship,” said Kaul. During his presentation, Mr. Kaul detailed Great River 's resource portfolio, rates and environmental initiatives. He also explained that increasing wholesale power prices are affected by many things including increases in the price of commodities, the inability to proceed with new generation, an aging and inadequate transmission system, increased member usage and climate change legislation. At an organizational meeting after the Annual Meeting, the following officers were elected: For more information on how to start the conversation of global warming legislation and its effect on consumers, please visit www.ourenergy.coop.
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