Are you a Rural Electric Co-op Member (Or Do You Know Someone Who Is)?

One of the largest contributors to carbon dioxide emissions is our homes - houses, condos, apartments, all of them. There is a program available from the USDA, called the Rural Energy Savings Program, that finances energy saving upgrades to our residences through our Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs). Upgrades as basic as air sealing and additional insulation to new energy efficient furnaces and air conditioning units or even solar panels on your roof. These upgrades reduce carbon dioxide emissions from your property and immediately lower your electricity usage, reducing your monthly electric bill. You then pay back the loan to your electric utility as a line-item on your electric bill, known as on-bill financing.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin is organizing residents in western Wisconsin to urge their REC to utilize available funds from the USDA and other potential sources. These programs use the funds to upgrade residence’s energy efficiency and see an immediate savings while paying off the initial loan, called Pay As You Save, all the while reducing carbon emissions. Through this project rural Wisconsin will become a leader in reducing carbon emissions through residential energy efficient upgrades.

Thanks to the efforts of Citizen Action members, Vernon Electric Co-op has announced they will be offering their members on-bill financing. This is huge news and Citizen Action wants to celebrate and use this momentum to convince more utilities to join the fight against climate change. We encourage Sierra Club members across Southwest Wisconsin who are also members of Rural Electric Co-ops (RECs) to attend their annual membership meetings. In recent years, RECs have worked hard to invest in solar energy and other green energy production methods. We want to show our support and learn more details about the programs these co-ops will be rolling out to fight climate change!

First up is Vernon Electric Co-op’s annual meeting on March 21st at 110 Saugstad Rd in Westby. A free pancake breakfast will be offered starting at 8:00 AM and the meeting begins at 10:00 AM. If you can make it, please RSVP here. Additional Western Wisconsin Rural Electric Co-op Membership Meetings this spring include (list is not exhaustive):

Riverland Energy Cooperative: Saturday, March 28th, 8 a.m. Pancake Breakfast & Registration, 10 a.m. Meeting, Arcadia High School, 756 Raider Dr., Arcadia, WI 54612

Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services: Saturday, March 28th, 9 a.m. Registration, 10 a.m. Meeting, Ellsworth High School Auditorium, 323 W. Hillcrest St., Ellsworth, WI 54011

Jackson Electric Cooperative: Tuesday, April 7th, 7 p.m. Meeting,  Lunda Theatre, 1202 Pierce St., Black River Falls, WI, 54615

Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative: Saturday, April 4th, 9 a.m. Registration, 9:30 a.m. Meeting, UW Extension Office - Youth & Ag Building, 916 East Elm Street, Lancaster, WI  53813

Richland Electric Cooperative: TBA

Oakdale Electric Cooperative: Saturday, March 21st, 7:30 a.m. Pancake Breakfast & Registration, 9:30 a.m. Meeting, Tomah High School, 901 Lincoln Avenue, Tomah, WI 54660

Please contact Amy Dummer at amymarie311@gmail.com if you are interested in attending any of these meetings or would like more information on the campaign.