Letter From a Member

(Ed. Note: A response to "The Cost of Carbon" the June/July 2009 issue. It came addressed to the author.)

Yesterday when I read my Wedge newsletter, I was horrified by your article.

First, you present the issue of climate change legislation as a choice between increased costs to consumers and no cost. The science clearly demonstrates that it's a choice between limited costs today to manage CO2 emissions and future global crisis through drought, massive storms, displacement of a billion or more people, and other dramatically more costly consequences if we take no action.

Second, you provide misleading information on the costs of climate change legislation to average electric bills. I own and pay the bills for a four-unit apartment building that houses 8 people. Our total kWh consumption last month was 623 kWh—and I have not implemented any conservation measures more dramatic than installing CFLs and suggesting people turn off items not in use. Suggesting that the average Minnesota household uses 1000 kWh is misleading—that level of household electric usage is unsustainable and easily reduced, which could more than make up for any increase from CO2 management policies. In my property at our current consumption levels and using your kWh cost assumptions, the average monthly cost per household would be $7.79. I work daily with affordable housing and low-income families, and I strongly support your call to "consider...affordability" for those families; however, your claims are clearly opposing any action (either intentionally or through poor wording choices), and that is inexcusable. I humbly suggest that MREA focus efforts on assisting members in implementing stronger conservation programs for their customers rather than opposing climate change legislation.

Sincerely,
Janne Flisrand,
Committed co-op supporter and Wedge member of 14 years