What if a community owned its electric utility cooperatively, rather than paying a for-profit company? Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative could be a model. Energy Services manager Jessica Nelson describes how this locally owned, democratically governed non-profit serves the good of the community. Besides lower rates, customers benefit from incentives to conserve electricity, install geothermal heating/cooling systems, and solar panels (photovoltaics). The coop’s dream? To not only distribute power but to generate it — through a wind turbine project. (www.psln.com). Produced February 19, 2009. Episode 142.
Links:
[1] http://www.wordpress.peakmoment.tv/conversations/?p=297
[2] http://www.psln.com
[3] http://www.energybulletin.net/audio/2009-07-16-1