Caron Cooper

Experience

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  Unocal Geysers

  Jan 1982 - Sept 1984

  Engineer

  Drilling, environmental, production, reservoir

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  PlanEcon Inc.

  Jul 1986 - Aug 1988

  Energy Economist

  Energy consumption trends Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Drilling and pipeline technology, co-generation..

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  Consultant

  Jan 1988 - May 1995

  Independent Consultant

  World Bank, OTA, PlanEcon, RCG/Hagler. Fuel use, power generation, emissions in USSR/Russia

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  Montana State University

  Jan 1993 - May 1993

  Lecturer

  Geography Department

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  Montana State University

  Jan 1995 - May 1995

  Lecturer

  Geography Department

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  City of Livingston

  Jan 1996 - Dec 1998

  City Council Member

  Elected to a 2-year term on City Commission. Active in saving our downtown Post Office from USPS relocation plans.

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  American Red Cross of MT

  Jan 1999 - Sept 2005

  Chapter Manager
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  City of Livingston

  Jan 2001 - Dec 2002

  City Council Member

  Elected to a 2-year term on City Commission. Chairman of Commission, Transportation Coordinating Committee, economic development and planning issues.

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  Community Closet Thrift Store

  Oct 2005 - now

  CEO and Founder

  A non-profit thrift store dedicated to providing low cost goods in Park County and using the proceeds to fund community projects. Since opening we have given away $250,000 in cash grants to nonprofits and other needs in Park County MT (population 7,000), and a local economic impact of $3.2 million

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  Montana Public Service Commission, District 3 CANDIDATE

  Mar 2015 - now

  Independent candidate, District 3

  Caron Cooper is an engineer, economist and entrepreneur running as an independent for a seat on the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC). She is committed to ensuring consumers have a seat at the regulatory table. Furthermore, her education and experience working in the energy industry make her a uniquely qualified candidate.She has opted out of the two-party structure (and that pot of campaign-finance money) and is refusing to take corporate money because she believes that corporate and political money have no place in our regulatory system.“Caron knows power and regulation,” supporter Gayla Nicholson said. “The position of public service commissioner calls for an independent thinker in touch with the needs of the consumer and knowledge of how energy delivery works. Caron brings all of these things to the table.”Independence and professional qualifications are sorely needed on the PSC, as is a commissioner who puts consumers front and center. After all, Caron says, the PSC exists to, among other things:- Protect Montanans from monopoly interests that want to sell more electricity for more money.- Ensure that Montanans know what’s on those freight trains flying through their backyards and how to protect their kids - Make sure our rural schoolhouses have the same reliable Internet service as urban schools so that ALL Montana kids graduate with the skills they need to make it the modern world."When it comes to finding innovative energy solutions for Montanans, I'm open to looking at everything on the table,” she said. “The industries are going to come at me with whatever makes them money, whether solar or coal. And the industries can advocate for what they want. But at this point, consumers who want lower bills don’t have that corporate structure - or resources - to represent them and they fall through the cracks. All I’m asking for is a fair shake for alternative energy sources and a level playing field for consumers.” Visit www.caroncoopermtpsc.com. Show less