Looking out for you...
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They want
Congress is debating a plan to put Wall Street in charge of reducing carbon emissions from the power plants that serve Nebraska. It's called "cap and trade." |
And yes, it would be expensive, complicated, and wasteful – and would raise your monthly electric bill substantially.
There are better, cost-effective ways to solve the problem, including finding new ways to conserve electricity or use it more efficiently, using a sensible approach to wind energy and renewables, and adding more low-emission power plants. Teaming with our power supplier, we’re working on them all. |
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Follow this link to see a Cap and trade Powerpoint Presentation on the NREA (Nebraska Rural Electric Association) web site...
Download a printable PDF version of this information...
Cap & trade proposals in Congress
- "Cap & trade" means there would be a limit, or
cap, on the amount of carbon emission each power plant is allowed to
produce without purchasing additional allowances.
- Utilities that are under their cap could sell or trade carbon allowances
to utilities that are over their limit.
- Some proposals would allow Wall Street to set up a speculators market
for trading carbon allowances.
- Cap & trade will raise rates.
- A big question is how the initial allowances are allocated among utilities. Will
they have to buy 100% of the allowances they need?
- Who gets the money from the allowance trading? Wall Street speculators? New energy technology and renewables? Or will it be used to fund other government programs?
Key facts
- Nebraska gets most of its electricity from
coal generation resources (over 60%), as do most midwestern states.
- If not fairly written, cap & trade laws could
amount to a huge transfer of money from the midwest to the coastal states
through the allocation and trading of allowances.
- Visit www.NREA.org for more info.
Download a printable PDF file of these talking points...