Peak Moment 142: Energy Co-op Brings Power to the People

By Janaia Donaldson, originally published by Peak Moment Television

July 16, 2009

NOTE: Images in this archived article have been removed.

Image RemovedWhat 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.

Janaia Donaldson

Janaia Donaldson is the host and producer of Peak Moment TV conversations showcasing grass roots entrepreneurs pioneering locally reliant, resilient communities during these challenging times of energy and resource decline, ecological limits, and economic turbulence. We tour North America in our mobile studio, taping on location. Peak Moment Conversations are online at www.peakmoment.tv/conversations. Produced bi-weekly, there are over 200 half hour programs as of 2012.

Tags: Building Community, Consumption & Demand, Education, Electricity, Media & Communications

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