The Fourth of July is a festive day on which we celebrate our nation’s independence with family and friends. Typically, it’s not a day of quiet reflection; we spend a lot of energy having fun, and if we give any thought to our forbearers and their determined efforts to bring about our nation’s independence, it’s fleeting.
However, it is worth reflecting on this uniquely American spirit of self-determination that remains part of our collective DNA 250 years after the U.S. was formed and the Declaration of Independence was crafted.
For example, more than 80 years ago, farmers across America’s countryside were told that it wasn’t profitable to bring electric lines that far from city centers. Aside from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s promise of federal aid in the form of low-interest loans and engineering expertise, rural Americans had little help in bringing electricity to their homes.
So they pulled together and worked cooperatively to do it themselves—a shining example of American determination and ingenuity.
For the past 50-plus years, nearly every president since Richard Nixon has talked about the goal of U.S. energy independence—reducing our reliance on imported oil and other forms of foreign-supplied energy. Today, while we still have a way to go, we’re closer to that goal than ever before. We’re exporting more gas and importing less foreign fuel than in recent memory.
American ingenuity in the form of new technology and innovation is opening up more options and spur-ring greater efficiency across all forms of energy.
The best news is this: Consumers have an important role to play in the road to energy independence. They don’t have to wait for Democrats and Republicans to agree or environmentalists and fossil fuel advocates to reach consensus.
Consumers can play a part in moving us toward national energy independence by taking action in simple, practical ways—insulating and caulking around windows, doors and electrical outlets; washing clothes in cold water instead of hot; replacing air filters; installing programmable thermostats; and using more energy-efficient appliances and home heating and cooling systems. Efficiency efforts can cut costs for individual households, but the collective benefit to our country is even greater.
If we all work together to achieve increased energy efficiency and reduce our overall energy consumption, we can make even more progress on the road toward energy independence. At Bandera Electric Cooperative, we want to be a resource for you in this effort. We can provide energy-saving tips tailored for your unique household needs.
Electric co-ops across the country have been actively engaged in promoting renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, hydropower and biomass (including landfill gas, livestock waste, timber byproducts and crop residue). Today, nearly 95% of the nation’s 900-plus electric co-ops provide electricity produced in part by renewable sources, all playing a key role in powering rural America while fostering our nation’s energy independence.
Recent advances in technology are transforming how we make and move electricity, and over time, these changes will greatly improve not only the efficiency but also the reliability of electric power.
So this Fourth of July, as you gaze at the fireworks lighting up the night sky, reflect on the enduring spirits of hard work and independence that are integral to our American character, and remember the ways you can contribute to our nation’s energy independence.