Wake Electric 2008 Annual Meeting

A Summary

Wake Electric and its members are facing a monumental challenge - climate change. Many scientists agree that greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, warm the Earth and are accumulating in the Earth's atmosphere as a result of human activities. However, there is still some uncertainty as to how greenhouse gases actually affect the Earth's climate.  That’s one of the messages Wake Electric’s CEO Jim Mangum shared with members at Wake’s recent annual meeting at Louisburg College Auditorium in Louisburg.

Mangum explained to members that new legislation calls for electric utilities to implement technologies and utilize renewable energy sources in order to slow, stop and eventually reduce the level of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

“Wake Electric takes its role for responsible action very seriously,” said Mangum.

There is no single solution to climate change, said Mangum, but there are technologies that, combined, can reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the benchmark 1990 level. These technologies, according to recent studies, are: energy efficiency, different sources of renewable energy, nuclear generation, advanced coal generation, carbon capture and storage, plug-in hybrid vehicles and distributed energy resources.

As these technologies develop, we all have the opportunity to become more energy efficient, advised Mangum.

He suggested to members that they consider changing traditional incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), upgrading appliances to newer, more energy efficient appliances, and follow home improvement tips like adding insulation (additional tips are on Wake Electric’s website at www.wemc.com).

Members also learned that in 2007, $50,000 was awarded to local teachers through Wake Electric’s, Bright Ideas grant program, $8,000 was given in scholarships, and another $20,000 was granted in Classroom Technology Awards.

Three members were elected to the cooperative’s Board of Directors to serve three-year terms:

• Mike Dickerson of Oxford, District 3;

• Roy Ed Jones of Wake Forest, District 6;

• and Reuben Matthews of Middlesex, District 9.

564 registered members attended the meeting. Drawings were held for several cash prizes.  The winner of the $1,000 grand prize was Carman Watson of Wake Forest; Landis Floyd of Creedmoor and Ronald White of Wake Forest each won $500.  Clifford Reid of Wake Forest, Tahkiya Kale of Middlesex, Janice Jones of Youngsville, and Lawrence Rohlik of Youngsville each won $250.  Several $100 cash prizes were also awarded.