Contact

With deregulation, the Federal Production Tax Credit, and the booming green energy credit (among other names) market, huge corporations are reaping fantastic profits at our expense. Only an act of Congress can end the “deregulation” that has caused our coal, gas, and oil prices to skyrocket. Keep in mind that our economy is now suffering from these high prices because manufacturing and transportation of goods rely on the cost of coal, gas, and oil. The energy brokers, such as Enron and the AES Corporation, are making great profits at the expense of those who can least afford it.
We may not be able to get Congress to reverse the laws on deregulation, but a strong grassroots effort to use considerably less energy can certainly cripple the corporations and perhaps save our mountains, wildlife, water resources, and wildlife habitats. As individuals, we can control our personal use of energy in numerous ways. Not everyone would be able to make all the suggested changes, but even if each person could make one change, it would make a difference. Some ideas:

• Turn off the lights, TV, computer, radio, and other appliances when they are not
required.
• Make sure your home is well-insulated, including storm windows and drapes.
• Plant a garden or buy produce locally. Long distance produce transportation costs
fuel.
• Raise chickens as an egg and/or meat supply.
• Plant an orchard to supply year-round fruit.
• Use greenhouses and cold-frames to extend your growing season.
• Make a compost pile or purchase a compost maker. Use roof runoff for water.
• Plant deciduous trees in the southwest corner of your yard and coniferous trees on
the northeast. “The Tree Book” provided by the National Arbor Day Foundation
(100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410) has great ideas/plans.
• Use solar panels for heating water or providing electricity, including storage in
batteries.
• Use a small residential windmill to provide electricity, including storage in batteries.
• Use programmable thermostats and change heating and air conditioning filters
regularly.
• Upgrade old, inefficient appliances.
• Recycle aluminum cans, glass, plastic, and cardboard.