How do electric cooperatives impact the local, as well as the national Essay

How do electric cooperatives impact the local, as well as the national economy - Essay Example The electric cooperatives have raised the standard of living for millions of Americans and have contributed greatly to our gross domestic product. Though electric cooperatives had operated sporadically since the early 20th century in the US, by 1935 electric power was available to very few US farmers. In the United States, electric cooperatives were established to bring electric power to rural areas that were not being served by the large public utilities. The large investor owned utilities saw this as a losing venture with few customers per mile of line ("A 2005 Snapshot, 8). However, by 1941, electric cooperatives were serving 35% of the nation's rural homes ("Historical Overview"). The immediate economic impact was to bring business, manufacturing, and commerce to areas that were previously dependent on agriculture and self-sufficiency. The introduction of electricity also placed an increase demand for electrical appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and radios. This has been extended to "Alaskan fishing villages, dairy farms in Vermont and the suburbs and exurbs in between" (NRECA). Today, the electric cooper atives in the US maintain 43% of the lines and deliver 10% of the nation's electric needs (NRECA). While the impact on the national e... They provide employment for 67,000 workers in the United States that contribute a payroll of $3 billion to the businesses and commerce of the local area of the cooperatives (NRECA). In addition to providing a direct benefit for the people who are employed in the generation and distribution of electricity, there are also indirect economic impacts. Electric cooperatives supply their businesses through local purchases of the required resources. This can be anything from computers to vehicles. This money circulates back through the local economies and generates a ripple effect through the communities. Construction of major projects, though temporary, contributes a considerable financial input to a local area during the life of the project and can have a significant effect on the local economy (Schunk 5). The economic activity from these business transactions creates local jobs for service and retail businesses. In addition to providing employment and stimulating the local economies around the country, the cooperatives contribute $1.2 billion in local, state, and federal tax revenue (NRECA). These revenues provide relief for the tax system and generate increased economic activity through the funding of federal infrastructure programs. In addition to the direct input of tax revenue, the electric cooperatives receive a smaller federal subsidy than municipal and investor owned power companies. According to Lawrence R. Klein of the University of Pennsylvania, "...all types of utilities (Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), Municipal Owned utilities and electric cooperatives enjoy some form of subsidy" (qtd. in NRECA). However, the lower subsidy received by the co-ops is substantial and may amount to as much

Risk Assessment Paper Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Risk Assessment Paper - Coursework Example An analysis of the possible dangers of using this pesticide in dealing with the problem becomes essential in decision-making. A comprehensive and critical understanding of the inherent dangers remains fundamental in making informed and sound decisions. A measurement of the dangers needs to be analysed from two perspectives; severity of the danger and probability of danger occurring. A solution providing severity that could be classified as catastrophic might be classified as risky to pursue. In the case of Malathion, the pesticide continues to be graded as having low toxicity. However, ingestion of the pesticide might bring fatal results. The greatest danger posed by Malathion on human beings remains application of Malathion in enclosed environments. Within the case of Genericville City, the pesticide shall be utilized within open environments, therefore, reducing the inherent danger immensely. The probability of a hazard occurring should be calculated to determine the possibility of utilizing the proposed solution. According to available sources, the probability of a Malathion related hazard occurring might be categorized as remote. Dose response Dose response could be identified as the observable change in organisms resulting from exposure to chemical. It enables the decision-makers to understand critically the effects of the chemical under different exposure levels. This understanding becomes fundamental in determining the safe dosages for possible environmental pollutants. The dose response could potentially assist decision maker in determining dosage levels safe for humans. Malathion preparations of 0.5% could be utilized in treating head lice and body lice. This means that Malathion could possibly be utilized in controlling mosquito infections without negative effects on humans. Malathion remains one of the two recognized agents potentially utilized and approved for treatment of pediculosis. The utilization of Malathion in treatment of several ailments cl early indicates the possibility of the pesticide causing minimal hazard. In the treatment of the mosquito infected areas, mixing Malathion with diesel becomes essential in diluting the concentration of the pesticide. Adding diesel essentially makes the pesticide concentration weaker, hence reducing the hazardous danger created by concentrated Malathion pesticide. Though the chemical has been classified as low toxicity, children remain susceptible to negative effects of the pesticide regardless of the dose response. The symptoms that could be exhibited include irritations of the skin and eyes. During the time of spraying, remaining indoors could essentially reduce the possibility of coming into contact with the insecticide (National Pesticide Information Center, 2011). The inhabitants of Genericville should be informed when the activity should be carried out. This would essentially allow safety precautions to be undertaken. Exposure Exposure provides a measurement of the magnitude of harm realized from exposure to harmful elements. Exposure could assist in establishing protective standards within a specified environment. The Malathion pesticide could be exposed through several routes. These methods include inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption. When performing the proposed solution, safety precautions shall be installed to ensure none of these exposure routes causes potential harm