  We have measured the energy and momentum dependent loss function of Li_2CuO_2
single crystals by means of electron energy-loss spectroscopy in transmission.
Using the same values for the model parameters, the low-energy features of the
spectrum as well as published Cu 2p_(3/2) x-ray photoemission data of Li_2CuO_2
are well described by a cluster model that consists of a single CuO_4 plaquette
only. This demonstrates that charge excitations in Li_2CuO_2 are strongly
localized.
