Post Cards Delivered to Senators Hatch and Bennett

In October of 2009, Garkane mailed out Senate Response Cards to all of its consumer/members by enclosing them in the fall issues of its newsletter Highlights. The response cards gave members the opportunity to voice their opinion regarding impending climate change legislation in the U.S. Senate, and "vote" on how they would like Utah Senators to represent them.

	Senator Bennett receives over 5,500 postcards from Utah co-op members opposed to climate change legislation. Pictured are Mike Peterson, Executive Director of the Utah Rural Electric Association, Grant Earl, General Manager of Moon Lake Electric, Doug Holgate, Board President of the Utah Rural Electric Association, Senator Bennett, and Marcus Lewis, Member Services Manager, Garkane Energy.

Two thousand and eighty-one members voted "no" expressing their concern regarding climate change legislation that is under review by the Senate and encouraged their Senator to vote against the Waxman-Markey, American Clean Energy and Security bill.

Seventy-three members marked "yes" expressing their agreement for climate change legislation despite the fact that power bills would be the result of the passage of the bill.

Garkane Energy's staff assistant, Marcus Lewis personally delivered over 10,000 response cards from not only Garkane, but other Utah co-ops including Moon Lake Electric and Dixie-Escalante Electric. Out of the total number of cards, the 98.5 percent were against the Waxman-Markey, American Clean Energy and Security bill.

We were overwhelmed by the amazing response from our members and wish to thank each of you that took time to mail the cards back. It is with your help that we can make a difference.

What's Ahead

The future of climate change legislation is difficult to assess with the changing dynamics in Washington. While the president is committed to moving a climate bill forward, the elements in the bill and the unwillingness of Congress to act during this election year may postpone or doom cap and trade provisions altogether.

In any case, Garkane will keep you up to date on any climate bill concerns and, if necessary, we may call on you again to participate in a grassroots effort to let Congress know how we feel. It worked well this time, thanks to you.