“100% carbon-free,” “90% reduction in carbon emissions by 2040,” “80% carbon-free by 2050,” “25% renewable by 2030;” the list goes on and on.
Lately, it seems like people are constantly asking me, “Why doesn’t Cherryland Electric Cooperative have a long-range, carbon-free goal?” It seems that all the “cool kids” are doing it in Michigan and across the country. It is a good question with a few explanations.
First, I’m old. I have been around this industry a long while and I’ve seen cycles come and go. I have watched the rise of renewables and the fall of coal-fired generation. What I have not seen is a utility executive make a carbon-free claim in a timeframe he or she will actually be responsible for and accountable to see through.
It would be so easy for me to make a 2040 claim, gather a bunch of slaps on the proverbial back, let the public relations chatter quiet over several months or a few years and then slip off into retirement or another job long before 2040. I simply choose not to do that. Whenever I retire, I will look back proudly on a record of accomplishments rather than news clippings of grandiose statements.
Second, why would I give up my best-negotiating lever by letting energy developers know my deadline, the size of my need and what types of energy I am locked into? Why wouldn’t anyone want room to negotiate the best price? Well, I guess if you are an entity that really doesn’t care about affordable power supply, you might not care about giving up negotiating leverage. That entity is not Cherryland.
Third, if climate change is truly at a critical stage, shouldn’t we be doing something today and not 20 plus years from now? Cherryland has gone from less than 1% renewable and somewhere below 10% carbon-free 20 years ago to a portfolio of power that was nearly 20% renewable and 62% carbon-free in 2018. We have done it with only two rate increases in the last 10 years as well.
Our goal at Cherryland is to get better every year. We are proud of a 62% carbon-free accomplishment, but we are not satisfied. We will continue to look for opportunities to make that number even better in the months and years ahead. When the opportunities in Michigan are defeated like they have been over the past 12 months, we will look to our neighboring states. If those opportunities slip through our grasp, we will look farther out into the regional grid.
My point is simple. Cherryland will always be looking to improve our portfolio of clean, affordable power—today, tomorrow, next month and next year. We don’t need a 2040 goal. We need to improve on the success of our last 20 years. This is simply how we choose to go about our business. If we focus on doing the right things today, 2040 takes care of itself through our actions and not the hollow words of a far-off date.
Thank you for your thoughtful piece and step-by-step goal. Couldn’t agree with you more and appreciate your leadership.
Tony:
The best reality based ballzie responsible article/statement on energy I’ve read in years. You have my attention and vote. This whole debate has been lacking accountability in our real world risk management environment.
“What I have not seen is a utility executive make a carbon-free claim in a timeframe he or she will actually be responsible for and accountable to see through.”
Tony,
Great piece of information and YES! let’s concentrate on the results. Keep UP the great job. Archie
Thank you for a very good common sense article. I think it’s best to tell people what they need to know. Not what they want to hear.
Thank you for your candor Tony. I believe in science and statistical analysis, so here’s an opinion from the other side. Our planet’s climate has been changing and going through natural cycles since the day it was created. In recent years it appears the severity swings in the weather is becoming more extreme. The facts point to the “environmental terrorists” (yes these environmental activists fit the definition of terrorists) interfering with the planet’s natural cycle by “sucking” carbon out of the atmosphere. It appears they are on a suicide mission for all of mankind. If the environmentalists would take the time to do their own research instead of engaging in group-think they just may come to the realization they are the problem. I am in favor of a clean environment but the current environmental movement ignores reason and slaps nature in the face.
A thoughtful and accountable approach. We thank you and your team members for your leadership!
What you did in this letter is exactly what you accuse other companies of doing. You claim to be doing something, not to worry, but you haven’t laid out one tangible thing. You’re just putting people off in the same way and you’re extremely condescending about it. You’re also using a questionable definition of “carbon-free.” I know this because we’ve had this discussion before. Stop touting your accomplishments over the last two decades. What have you done in the last 5 years, two years, this year? Tell us about your current actions to decrease our carbon footprint and move to more renewables. What projects are you currently pursuing? Who are you negotiating with? Do you have anyone dedicated to pursuing these goals? You seem to spend all your energy explaining why you’re not doing more instead of actually taking reasonable OR, dare I dream it, industry-leading actions. In short, your letter is full of “hollow words.” Give us something concrete and show us your dedication to moving forward. This is so disappointing. You can do so much better, particularly with the support of your customer base. I’m old too, old enough to have heard this all before.
We are industry leading. Show me one investor owned utility in Michigan or the Midwest with better numbers. We made our biggest jump by adding a nuclear contract to our portfolio just about 3 years ago. Yes, nuclear is carbon free and there is no question about that. Some may not like the waste it produces but it is carbon free. In the last 2 years, we lost a 150 MW wind deal in the Thumb and another 150 MW wind deal in the U.P. Both times, anti-wind groups and NIMBY interests defeated the projects. There wasn’t one environmental group to support either project (even after I pointed local wind advocates in that direction). Landing just one of these would have put us over 70% carbon free. Today, we are looking for large scale renewable projects outside of Michigan. Who do we have dedicated to this? Wolverine Power Cooperative has staff dedicated to seeking large scale projects of all kinds to meet our needs far into the future.
I smile at your disregard for what we have done the past 20 years. It is what I would expect from those who don’t want us to be successful. It’s okay. I can take it. When I look back at the environmental movement in TC, I see one windmill and a teeny bit of solar to show for 20 years of work.
I stand by our record and my words.
Okay, I can accept your rational for not announcing a goal publicly, as long as your record shows that you’re making good progress. 20% & 62%sound like good numbers. How do those numbers compare to other electricity suppliers in Michigan, and the nation?
Their isn’t an investor owned utility or a municipal with numbers anywhere close to ours in the state of Michigan. Nationally, you can find utilities with access to more nuclear and or hydro facilities that will have better numbers. Out of the 900 electric cooperatives nationwide, you won’t find 100 with better numbers.
I commend your honest response to those that think we have the tools readily available to be economically carbon free and using renewable energy sources in just a matter of a few years. Other utilities that service the region, in their radio ads, are alluding that they will be exclusively utilizing renewable energy sources in the near future. They must consider natural gas a renewable source? Like you said it is easy to make a claim when you know full well you will be long gone from the scene and won’t be held accountable.
Great article.
Tony, I look forward to reading your comments because you seem to be in the rare category of a person in a leadership position who speaks with honesty, acknowledges your frustrations, and doesn’t sugarcoat the situation.. I respect that you respond to criticism with professionalism but without taking up the weapon of negativity. It seems to me that you are sincerely interested in making the best choices for Cherryland customers, for the utility company, and also for the environment. Not an easy task for sure. Keep up the good work.
Set a goal Tony. Let it be a goal that stretches the coop. Better to aim high and fall short than to just wait and see what opportunities present themselves. We will champion your efforts and forgive your shortcomings. Setting a goal acknowledges the seriousness of rising levels of carbon pollution.
Tony— I don’t ever take time to read emails from Cherryland, but something drew me to the item you wrote about Everett Kilmer. It caused me to wish that I had known him. What a tribute to a man, and a friend. It also causes me to think that I know you a little as well, and am thankful for someone of your caring and compassion to be the general manager of our Coop.
Sincerely