In these days of sour economic activity, a high unemployment rate and the closure of struggling businesses, it does our heart good to see a company celebrate its 100th anniversary. Empire District Electric Company is celebrating its 100th year of operation this year.
The company provides power to more than 168,000 customers in an area that spans from Hickory County in Missouri to Craig County in Oklahoma. Its electricity generation plants push 1,255 megawatts to its customers, and it also provides natural gas to customers across western Missouri.
We offer our congratulations to the company for reaching this milestone. A look back at the company’s history could also serve as a glimpse into the future, however.
Empire sent electricity to its first customers from hydroelectric plants at Redings Mill and Lowell. Demand quickly grew, however, leading the company to burn coal in order to produce power.
Coal still provides 60 to 70 percent of the power we consume from Empire. But that is changing. Empire has already constructed two wind farms that use a renewable, clean source to provide power.
In the near future, we hope to see Empire continue to invest in green power. The company’s proximity to Oklahoma and Kansas should allow easier construction and investment into these kinds of ventures.
Empire was ready to meet Missouri’s renewable energy standards for 2020 after voters approved those standards last year. The company has a 100-year history of making decisions that keep prices low for customers.
But regardless of how one feels about global warming, cap-and-trade or any of the recently passed legislation regarding carbon emissions, it makes sense to draw power from sources that will never run out.
The amount of power Empire pushes out is also in our hands. We can all take simple, small steps to reduce our demand for power, such as switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs, ensuring proper insulation and seal of doors and windows and remembering to switch off power to lights, computers, TVs or whatever else we’re not using.
It wasn’t the flames of coal 100 years ago, but the natural movement of water that allowed Empire to power the area. We wish the company success in its efforts to return to those days of naturally-generated power.
Opinion
In our view: Empire’s milestone is call to action
- Opinion
-
-
Our View: Santorum's Achilles' ear
Rick Santorum knocked everyone for a loop this week, not just with his victory in Missouri but with the landslide size of the thing.
-
Our View: Are school loans next 'debt bomb'?
The late American middle class struggled for decades to keep pace with an American dream slipping from its grasp.
-
Our View: A better way of limit terms
A Missouri House committee on Tuesday endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow lawmakers to serve 16 years in the state Legislature, either the House or the Senate.
-
Your View: Is it our fault?
When did coveting things and money take over character? What happened?
-
Your View: No way to run a school
All throughout the state of Missouri, you’ll hear much discussion about teacher tenure and the indefinite contracts that go along with that. Most — if not nearly all — jobs in the private and public sectors have no such career protection.
-
Your View: Prime suspects
If it’s too cool in the house, you can turn up the heat if you think you can afford it.
-
Our View: Worldwide concern
There is growing concern worldwide that Israel might launch an attack on Iranian nuclear plants.
-
Other Views: FAA deal up in air five years
The Federal Aviation Administration bill was delayed 23 times, but the agency finally has a law giving it $63 billion and full operating authority for the next four years.
-
Don Ray, columnist: Obama's pipeline excuse an election-year cop-out
On Jan. 18, President Barack Obama announced he was rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline project — a project that had its beginnings some 40 months ago (September 2008).
-
James Whitford, guest columnist: Broken people or broken system?
Are the people broken or is the system broken? If you walk into Watered Gardens, our rescue mission, it may seem the people are broken. But it’s a rescue mission. It just feels that way. And sometimes, it just looks that way.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
