Energy Democracy for All
Energy Democracy is local people having control of how their electricity is produced and distributed to ensure everyone has access to affordable and clean power.
Two decades into the 21st century, advances in solar panels, battery storage, modernized electric grids and other technologies are revolutionizing how our electricity can be produced and distributed. But large utility companies with monopoly control over the market — such as Duke Energy and Dominion Energy — are keeping us locked into using increasingly expensive polluting fuels like coal and fracked gas to generate our electricity.
At the same time, the increasing impacts of global climate change, including dangerous heat waves and severe storms, are taking a toll on countless communities, but especially disadvantaged communities and communities of color. And monopoly utility companies charge ever higher rates while they knowingly continue to worsen the climate crisis.
But a movement toward Energy Democracy is growing across Appalachia and throughout the country. Local individuals and groups are standing up to demand a seat at the table with decision makers to ensure we transition to a system that is affordable and fair, provides community wealth and jobs, and is built on clean, renewable energy.
Why Energy Democracy?
Learn how monopoly control and a focus on profit have locked us in a pattern of polluting fossil fuels and ever higher rates
State-Specific Info
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Latest News
Members of Choctaw Electric Continue to Reform Their Co-op
Deep-seated corruption at an Oklahoma electric cooperative spurred several member-owners to organize a campaign for reform.
Forming a Municipal Utility
Some cities and counties like Winter Park, Fla., have terminated their contracts with commercial utilities and formed municipal, publicly owned utilities instead.
Advocates Increase Powell Valley Electric Co-op Member Participation
A citizens group is calling for transparency at their electric cooperative, and helped to generate the second-largest voter turnout in recent history at the co-op’s annual meeting.
Reformers Uncover Corruption, Bring Change to Pedernales Co-op
Poor solar policies led members of the nation’s largest electric co-op to investigate the board and file a class-action lawsuit.
MVP and ACP fracked-gas projects both dealt major blows — again
The Virginia State Water Control Board voted 4-3…
Virginia electric co-ops fight to keep doors closed to members
Rural electric co-ops were set up as democratic institutions, but have increasingly become unresponsive to their customers, who are also owner-members. In Virginia, members of two co-ops are challenging the status quo.
