America’s electric co-ops have marked a new milestone in their grassroots strength as we reach 1 million comments sent to the EPA in opposition to its proposed rule targeting existing power plants.
Collected through http://action.coop and tellepa.com, the comments are coming from all 50 states. As of mid-October, 526 comments were from Michigan, and in surrounding states, 57,484 came through Ohio co-ops; 20,534 – Illinois; 20,494 – Indiana; 3,707 – Minnesota; and 693 – Wisconsin.
“Stacked on top of one another, our million comments would tower nearly 10 stories higher than the Statue of Liberty!” comments Jo Ann Emerson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, which started the campaign. “They boost our relevance in our nation’s capital and help send a powerful message to EPA officials.”
And, because the EPA has extended the comment deadline to Dec. 1, there’s still more time for co-op directors, staff, members and their families and friends to grow the number of comments sent on the proposal.
“The advocates that we educate and engage today will partner with us tomorrow in our efforts to represent the best interests of cooperatives,” Emerson explains.
Michigan electric co-ops have been spreading the word about this issue by handing out postcards at their annual meetings, through social media, speaking to community groups, and in Country Lines magazine.
