Join Oregon Voices for Cooperative Power
Picture this: It’s a cold winter evening in Oregon. You’re sorting through the day’s mail when you spot your electricity bill. Opening it, something catches your eye—the numbers look different. As you process what you’re seeing, a troubling thought emerges: Vital decisions about your home’s energy—decisions that affect your family’s comfort, your monthly budget, and your access to reliable power—are being made without your input.
For Oregon communities, these issues are especially pressing.
From liability for wildfires to the critical role of the lower Snake River dams in providing affordable renewable energy, state and federal energy policies have far-reaching consequences. Policymakers hear from special interest groups, so it’s crucial they hear from electric cooperatives, too.
When our representatives don’t hear from us, we run the risk of 1-size-fits-all legislation that fails to address the unique challenges rural Oregonians face. Ensuring that your voice is heard is essential to protecting your community and shaping smart energy solutions.
Policymakers must understand the challenges of delivering electricity in Wasco Electric Cooperative’s service territory. Wildfire risks demand proactive safety measures and thoughtful planning to keep communities safe while balancing unmitigated liabilities that could bankrupt your electric cooperative. Meanwhile, debates about the future of the lower Snake River dams threaten a key source of renewable, carbon-free energy that powers our homes during extreme weather events and keeps rates affordable.
When policymakers hear from the people affected by these decisions, they are more likely to develop thoughtful, practical solutions. Your voice is powerful, and it can make a difference in shaping a stronger, more sustainable energy future.
What Can Oregonians Do To Protect Reliable Energy?
Oregon Voices for Cooperative Power is a grassroots network of more than 1.1 million advocates working to shape energy policy for the better. This collective effort brings the voices of cooperative members directly to decision-makers in Salem, Washington, D.C., and beyond.
By joining the VCP, you help ensure rural and cooperative communities across Oregon continue to have access to the safe, reliable, and affordable electricity they depend on every day.
There are several benefits of joining VCP:
- Shape policy decisions. Engaging in the policymaking process is crucial for shaping policy decisions. Current issues include addressing the costs related to wildfire liability, which could drive up rates or bankrupt electric cooperatives like Wasco Electric Cooperative. Additionally, support for the lower Snake River dams as a vital renewable energy source ensures Oregon’s energy policies address local needs.
- Protect co-op interests. Share your perspective and personal stories with policymakers to highlight how energy decisions affect your family and community. This ensures that cooperative priorities, including affordability, reliability, and sustainability, remain a focus in energy policy discussions.
- Empower communities: Oregon’s electric co-ops are critical to powering and strengthening rural communities. Joining the VCP amplifies your voice, giving you a say in shaping decisions that directly affect your quality of life and access to essential services.
Rural electric co-ops are committed to tackling the challenges facing Oregon’s energy landscape. With growing wildfire risks, climate concerns, and debates over renewable energy resources like the lower Snake River dams, it’s more important than ever to get involved. By joining VCP, you’ll help ensure your co-op can continue to innovate, adapt to new challenges, and build a more resilient energy future for our state.
Your participation in VCP helps policymakers better understand the real-world effects of their decisions. With your help, Wasco Electric Cooperative can continue to deliver the reliable, affordable power that our community depends on— now and for future generations.
Together, we can build a brighter, more sustainable energy future for Oregon.