Posts Tagged ‘electric co-ops’
Guest post: Alabama electric cooperatives rank last in new regional scorecard
Scorecards rate rural electric cooperatives in Virginia
A scorecard released today by Appalachian Voices reveals that rural electric cooperatives in the Southeast need critical reform to ensure they are operating according to good governance standards and providing clean energy programs to their members. The new scorecards build on a previous project, and find that while Virginia’s electric co-ops have made some reforms and are leading the region, there is still room for improvement.
Read MoreScorecards rate rural electric cooperatives in Tennessee
Today, advocacy organizations across seven southeastern states released scorecards that examine the policies and programs of the region’s rural electric cooperatives across a number of areas, including governance, transparency, energy efficiency, member access to renewable energy and other factors. Though no co-op across seven states scored more than 65 out of 100 total points, co-ops in Tennessee achieved an average score of 28 points.
Read MoreScorecards rate rural electric cooperatives in North Carolina
Today, Appalachian Voices released scorecards examining how electric cooperatives in North Carolina measured up across a number of areas, including governance, transparency, energy efficiency, member access to clean energy and other factors. The results showed that the majority of the 26 co-ops in North Carolina impose significant barriers for customer-members to participate in the democratic governance of their co-ops, while only a few offer services or supportive policies to help members lower their electric bills.
Read MoreEven as 2022 Virginia General Assembly wraps up, threats of environmental rollbacks continue
With the signing of the budget, the Virginia General Assembly wrapped up a session filled with challenges and disappointments.
Read MoreMember-owners join together to support transparency and governance reforms for Virginia’s rural electric cooperatives
Richmond, Va. — A coalition representing member-owners of Virginia’s rural electric cooperative (RECs) is rallying in support of Del. Wendy Gooditis’ legislation that seeks to establish protections and safeguards for customers (member-owners) of the thirteen rural electric cooperatives in the state. These reforms would include allowing member-owners to observe board meetings, voter integrity measures for cooperative board elections, and transparency in cooperative political lobbying.
Read MoreFailure to pass Build Back Better delays key investments for Appalachia; cuts black lung benefits funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, President Joe Biden released a statement making clear that the U.S. Senate would head home for the holidays without passing the Build Back Better bill, which includes crucial investments for Appalachian communities. Among those investments left on the table is the extension of the Black Lung Excise tax at current rates.…
Read MoreFrom the Rockies to Appalachia: Virginia can look to Colorado for electric co-op reform
Undemocratic governance at Virginia’s electric cooperatives is a serious issue that has left co-op members across the state frustrated and ready for reform. Closed-door board meetings and unfair voting practices are two of the issues members hope to change in 2022.
Read MoreCompetitive Electric Cooperative Election in Virginia
Three reform candidates are challenging incumbent Rappahannock Electric Cooperative board members and are pledging to revise co-op policies around transparency and renewable energy if elected in August.
Read MoreCustomer-owned utilities should be leaders on clean energy. Why do most of them fail to deliver?
Clean energy expert Ivy Main looks at how a lack of transparency and democracy at many Virginia electric cooperatives is causing them to fall behind on renewable energy. Member-owners at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative are trying to change that.
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