Fairfield-based Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative provides electricity to thousands of Illinoisans in 11 downstate counties. Similar to other energy co-ops in Illinois, they are also fearmongering about the effects of a proposed congressional cap-and-trade bill.

Like their representative in Congress -- Republican John Shimkus -- officials at Wayne-White have consistently spread misinformation about the effects the American Clean Energy and Security Act would have on local electric rates. The Wonk Room's Brad Johnson flags one article that quotes CEO Daryl Donjon calling cap-and-trade “an unfair tax to the Midwest [that] would raise electric rates by 80 percent.” This mirrors a letter Donjon sent to customers claiming that the legislation will “lead to the transfer of wealth (PDF) from the Midwestern states to the coastal states.” (These are points we've dealt with in the past.)

Johnson also notes another interesting tidbit. Following up on a massive mail campaign, Wayne-White will lead a bus trip to the state capitol in Springfield tomorrow in an attempt to pressure Sens. Dick Durbin and Roland Burris:

Wayne-White encourages concerned citizens to participate in the free bus trip and rally in Springfield. The co-op recently mailed out nearly 10,000 informational letters and signature forms to enable concerned citizens to help themselves by speaking out and opposing this issue. As of Monday, more than 4,000 postcards had been returned to the co-op office which will be hand-delivered to Burris and Durbin at their Springfield offices, the Wayne-White news release said.

Wayne-White isn't the only energy interest converging on Springfield tomorrow to rally against cap-and-trade (legislation that is desperately needed to control the nation's carbon output). Check out the full list:

Illinois Association of Convenience Stores, Associated Builder and Contractors of Illinois, Grain & Feed Association of Illinois, Growmark, Home Builders Association of Illinois, Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers, Illinois Coal Associations, Illinois Energy Forum, Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois Oil & Gas Association, Illinois Petroleum Council, Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association, Illinois Pork Producers, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Trucking Association, MidAmerica Energy, Mid-West Truckers Association, National Federation o f Independent Business, Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative, Southwestern Illinois Employers Association and Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative.

For more on the Illinois Petroleum Institute, check out this post from earlier today.