Environmental Stewardship

Cooperative Solar

Walton EMC’s cooperative solar projects provide access to consumers who might otherwise be excluded from owning and installing their own solar electricity generation.

Obstacles like improper roof orientation, excessive roof shading, restrictive subdivision covenants or landlord prohibitions are frequent barriers to homeowners and renters who want to install solar systems.

As a Walton EMC customer-owner, you can receive solar electricity according to your needs and interests. Every month, the energy output of your portion will be calculated and credited to your bill. This solar energy will offset energy produced from traditional fuels.

Fleet Vehicles

Included in Walton EMC’s vehicle fleet are several hybrid and electric cars, trucks and SUVs.

Recycling

Walton EMC employees strive to serve the co-op’s customer-owners while also working to better the environment. Whenever possible, we find ways to reuse and recycle materials.

• Paper, cardboard, aluminum cans: Walton EMC office employees recycle paper, cardboard materials and aluminum cans that are collected by a local certified recycler each week.
• Motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze: Walton EMC’s mechanics’ shop collects motor oil and used oil filters from all company vehicles, which are then picked up by local recyclers once a month. We also reuse our antifreeze whenever possible.
• Tires: We collect used tires from our company vehicles and send them in to be recycled.
• Line hardware: Through the International Program, Walton EMC ships replaced line hardware (leftover when our lines are upgraded) to a third world country for their use.
• Porcelain materials: Most of the products needed to build electrical systems are made of porcelain. Porcelain materials have a long life expectancy, and therefore can be used again instead of being wasted. In some cases, Walton EMC reuses materials taken down from old lines.
• Aluminum, copper, steel wire: Line technicians recycle all scrap materials when constructing a new distribution system. The scrap aluminum, copper and steel wire is picked up by a certified recycler and resold.
• Wire reels: Most wire is shipped to Walton EMC on steel reels that are returned to the manufacturer for reuse when the reel is empty. The few wooden reels we now receive are sent to a recycler to be refurbished and reused.
• Transformers: Walton EMC recycles all un-repairable transformers, as well as the transformer oil. The transformers are sent to a certified recycling center, where all usable metals are stripped and collected for reuse.
• Meters: Broken meters are repaired whenever possible; those that cannot be repaired are collected by a certified recycler. All usable parts of the meter are separated and used as parts for new meters.
• Vehicles: At Walton EMC’s Annual Meeting in June, one lucky co-op member drives away in one of Walton EMC’s recycled meter trucks. Other retired vehicles are sold once a year in a bid process.