Net Metering

Why Berea needs net metering


What can you do? Please join the League of Women Voters, Sustainable Berea, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and many individuals in supporting renewal of Berea’s Net Metering Program. Write or call Berea City Council members today and ask that they renew Berea’s Net Metering Program now. City Council members can be reached at City of Berea, 212 Chestnut St., Berea KY 40403, or send an e-mail to each council member using this link: http://www.cityofberea.com. For more information contact: Elizabeth Crowe, LWV of Berea and Madison County, 985-0641 or Elizabeth@cwwg.org. Richard and Cheyenne Olson, Sustainable Berea, 985-1689 or info@sustainableberea.org Steve Boyce, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth 986-9210 or Steve_Boyce@berea.edu	What is net metering? “Net metering” is a term to describe the situation in which residences or commercial buildings with solar or wind systems produce more electricity than needed at certain times of day, and put that energy back onto the electric grid for use by other consumers. The electric utility measures the amount of energy taken from the grid and the amount contributed to the grid from renewable energy, with the “net” amount billed to the customer. In the case of Berea’s Net Metering Program, where a net metering customer puts more clean electricity onto the grid than it takes from the grid, the utility doesn’t literally pay the customer; rather the bill reflects a credit amount that can be applied to the next billing cycle. Net metering customers still pay monthly service fees to the utility, regardless of how much electricity is taken from or contributed to the grid. What happened to the net metering program in Berea? Berea’s Net Metering Program was up for renewal in September 2006. However Berea City Council chose to postpone a formal decision on whether or not to renew the program. The scope of the program is small: it would allow up to 25 households or businesses to have renewable energy systems that generate up to 10 or 25 kilowatts, respectively. In addition to a house at the Berea College Ecovillage, two Berea families now have solar electricity systems that help clean the air and protect the health of Kentuckians. Since Fall 2006, many more residents have expressed interest in solar electricity. However, until the program is renewed, residential and business customers won’t be able to confidently invest in renewable energy systems. A solid net metering program is key to developing clean, safe energy in our city. What are other advantages of a Net Metering Program? It shows that Berea values a healthy community and clean environment. Berea is fortunate in that our utility is ultimately controlled by voters rather than a for-profit company. A good Net Metering Program shows that Bereans care enough about our community and our future generations to take simple steps to protect our health and environment: our most valuable, priceless assets!It can save the City money. Right now, the City pays a fee for its peak energy demand. Because solar tends to produce electricity during some of these peak times, electricity from solar panels can save everyone money. In addition, the price of electricity from burning coal is expected to rise in the near future, as governments take steps to combat deadly power plant emissions. Net metering is a fiscally responsible step to take because it diversifies Berea’s energy sources. It can support economic growth through renewable energy businesses. Already, two solar businesses are working to take root in Berea and Madison County. Other communities with strong renewable energy efforts have been able to attract solar and wind industries
Did you know that: Kentucky is rated #1 in the nation in the number of deaths (per capita) due to smog from coal-fired power plants?	The High Cost of Dirty Electricity in Kentucky Kentucky has some of the cheapest electricity rates in the country! That’s because we get almost all of our electricity from burning coal, which currently seems inexpensive. However we pay dearly for the harm resulting from the dangerous impacts from coal-fired power plants. Did you know that: Kentucky is rated #1 in the nation in the number of deaths (per capita) due to smog from coal-fired power plants? This pollution also causes increased rates of asthma and other respiratory illness. Power plants are the #1 source of mercury in the environment. 630,000 infants are born in the United States each year with blood mercury levels higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s level of potential concern which is the level at which the risk of poor brain development is doubled. Emissions from coal-fired power plants are primary contributors to Global Warming. The broad effects of global warming are well-known and include drastic weather changes like increased flooding and droughts; increase spread of diseases; rising ocean levels; and much more. The practice of mountain top removal coal mining is destroying thousands of acres of mountains and streams, and displacing communities in Kentucky and West Virginia.Toxic coal sludge spills contaminate soil and groundwater, such as with the massive sludge spill in Martin County, Kentucky back in October 2000, which was 30 times larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill. All of these factors cost taxpayers dollars, not to mention the costs of healthcare to address illnesses that are ultimately caused by pollution.
	Renewable Energy Provides Safe, Clean Electricity Electricity from renewable sources is clean, safe and reliable, with none of the dangers associated with electricity from burning coal. Two examples of renewable energy are solar energy, in which solar panels attached to the rooftop of a home or business transform sunshine into electricity; and wind energy, in w hich windmills transform wind into electricity. The benefits of renewable energy include: Clean air and healthy kids. The less pollution from burning coal, the less illness and death for us all from this pollution. What better priority do we have than our children’s health! Reduced greenhouse gases. Solar and wind-powered energy systems don’t produce any of the harmful compounds that cause global warming. Renewable energy helps curb global warming and benefits, quite literally, the entire planet. Cost savings. Renewable energy saves money if one considers the true cost of coal. All of the health care for illnesses caused by pollution from coal-fired power plants and damage from global warming is far more expensive than clean, renewable energy.