Glen Allen, VA – Old Dominion Electric Cooperative (ODEC), a not-for-profit wholesale provider of electric generation and transmission services to 11 member distribution cooperatives, has published its first-ever Sustainability Report.
Aimed at informing industry leaders, elected officials and the communities served by its member cooperatives, the report describes ODEC’s comprehensive approach to protecting and enhancing our environment, including energy efficiency and demand side management programs.
Recent conservation initiatives include placing protective covers on transmission lines near Chincoteague, Va. to provide safe perching sites for birds and planting six acres of trees at ODEC’s natural gas generation facility in Louisa County to create wildlife habitat. In the past year, ODEC’s information technology staff recycled 3,075 pounds of electronic equipment.
“At ODEC, we are committed to being both reliable energy providers and responsible environmental stewards,” said Jack Reasor, president and CEO. “ODEC has never received a notice of violation for any of the facilities we operate, and we are using an environmental management information system to track all regulatory requirements to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to keep our facilities in full compliance.”
ODEC is a founding member of the National Renewables Cooperative Organization (NRCO), which pools the expertise and resources of member cooperatives to facilitate the development of renewable energy resources. In recent years, the cooperative has added wind and landfill gas-generated energy to its power supply mix and plans to expand use of renewable energy in coming years.
Given the vital role of consumer education in achieving measurable reductions in energy use, ODEC and its member cooperatives launched EnergizeEfficiently.coop to help members use electricity more efficiently and lower their expenses. Conservation and energy efficiency information is also shared through individual cooperative websites, bill stuffers and handouts distributed at cooperative meetings and community events. Each issue of Cooperative Living magazine, the most widely distributed publication in Virginia, features energy-saving articles, opportunities and advice provided by ODEC.
The cooperative also supports a wide array of philanthropic programs and employee volunteerism for community service programs of their choice, including community clean-up events.
“At ODEC, we work hard every day to contribute to our communities while reducing our environmental footprint,” Reasor said.
View official press release: Report Details Electric Cooperative’s Commitment to Community and the Environment (PDF)