May 2015 | Volume 77 | Issue 5
Community solar provides member benefits
A community solar farm, or solar garden, gives Platte-Clay members the opportunity to buy the output or lease between one and five solar panels.
Solartech, a community solar project, is a relatively new concept and makes sense on many levels.
First, there’s no large capital output, an important benefit for many members.
Second, it allows all of those interested in renewable energy to be involved with a very modest impact.
And third, it makes members feel good. It’s a matter of values and it resonates with many co-op members.
Solartech, Platte-Clay’s brand name for the co-op solar array, provides all of the benefits of using solar energy without having solar panels on a home, without being concerned about where the panels should be placed for maximum output, and best of all, makes makes renewable energy available for everyone, including renters.
And a solar panel makes a great present.
Plus Platte-Clay will take care of the maintenance and co-op, members get the bragging rights.
Attached is my solar contract.
Thank you for offering this renewable, sustainable energy option!
There are two options for Platte-Clay members:
Option 1
Purchase the output of up to five solar panels. Each panel is projected to produce about 525 kWh of energy a year, which will cost around $2.50 a month per panel.
In addition, the Option 1 member will pay for the routine non-solar energy consumed, in other words, the normal electric consumption.
Option 2
Members may enter into a long-term, 25-year lease. Members will pay $815 per panel, up to a maximum of five panels. The energy cost from the panel will be zero each month, and will offset some of the “regular” energy consumed, thus reducing the monthly bill.
All solar members also will pay a modest charge for solar array maintenance and general distribution, which will be broken out on the bill.
The co-op will begin billing for solar output beginning with July solar production, which will appear on the August bills.
Solar members will be billed with the first of the month billing cycle.
Members make the co-op
Mike Torres
From the CEO
First, I want to thank everyone who took time to attend your co-op’s annual meeting. It was a good meeting, and if your schedule didn’t allow you to participate, we encourage you to watch for news of the 2016 annual meeting and to put that date on your calendar.
These are exciting times for Platte-Clay. Just as we made history in 1938 when we started setting those first poles to carry those first electric lines, we’ve made history with the first Missouri community solar array.
While the location of that first pole and that first electric line route has been lost over time, we know where the first Missouri rural electric co-op community solar array is and plan to celebrate it as part of the co-op’s history in years to come. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
We also want to thank everyone for their interest in participating in the first Solar Committee. High interest in an innovative co-op project is good news and we are pleased to welcome a large group to interact with the co-op. We’ll continue through the year and review all that’s involved with integrating renewable energy into your cooperative’s operations—from the mechanics to operations to rate structure. And we will keep you informed on member participation in your solar farm.
From the outside looking in using solar energy appears to be simple enough. But it’s important that all members are treated fairly and that the costs are borne by the members who want to make certain part of their energy comes from the community solar array.
At this time, Platte-Clay has commitments from several co-op members for the maximum of five solar panels of the 416 available. It’s nice to share the excitement of a community solar energy with co-op members.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Charts presented at the annual meeting show that energy sales have dropped slightly, rates are below inflation, PCEC shows increasing reliability and the total capacity of energy by source. All good news for Platte-Clay members.
2015 Annual Meeting in photos
Thanks to all of the Platte-Clay members who attended the 77th Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative annual meeting. The annual meeting is part of what makes your rural electric cooperative special — co-op members.
Above Left: Grand prize – 6 months of electric service, maximum $750, Amanda Stubbs, Lathrop. Above Middle: Grand prize – 12 months of electric service, maximum $1500, Stephanie Seabaugh, Camden Point. Above Right: Grand prize – 6 months of electric service, maximum $750, William Pinney, Liberty.
Kid stuff. The annual meeting is geared to families with a carnival that runs from 4:30 until 8 p.m. and prizes for the co-op members-to-be. Shown above are the children’s prize winners given out at the end of the meeting.
XBox 360, Terry Thomas; Kindle Fire HD6, Ivan Booth; Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 (2) Camden Haney and Andrew Johnson; Beats Solo 2 Headphones, Easten Haggert; Beats Pill 2.0, William Crain; Power Wheels Dune Racer (2), Lillyana Haney and Emma Graff. Emma, one of the younger members in attendance, is in the orange Power Wheels Dune Racer — she’s seven and a half months old.
Fuel card winners were: Jay Stryker, R.E. Woods, Matthew Fisher, Peter Keim and Jeff Wolfer.
Congratulations to all.
Monarchs need our help
Missouri is along the Monarch butterfly’s North-South routes. Unfortunately, like many species, their habitat and primary food source, milkweed, has been significantly reduced and as a result, their numbers have dropped dramatically.
But we can help by avoiding chemicals in pesticides that kill many beneficial bugs, including Monarchs and by planting milkweed.
First, avoid these chemicals included in neonicotinoids, which are absorbed by plants and taken up by pollinators.
- Acetamiprid
- Clothianidin
- Dinotefuran
- Imidacloprid
- Nitenpyram
- Thicocloprid
- Thiamethoxam
The Missouri Department of Conservation recommends planting common milkweed, purple milkweed, climbing milkweed, whorled milkweed, also known as four leaf milkweed, butterfly weed, Mead’s milkweed, an endangered plant and American Fevervew, also called wild quinine.
Member Viewpoint is an opportunity for co-op members to share their thoughts on a variety of topics. To submit a Member Viewpoint, go to pcec.coop click on News – top tab and enter your Member Viewpoint.
Other Member Viewpoints appear on your co-op web site.
Member Viewpoint is for Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative members. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to share your comments and thoughts on issues that are important to you with your friends and neighbors.
The cost of the output of one solar panel will be about $2.50 a month, or for the maximum number, five panels, $12.50 a month. Leased panels are $815 each, with modest operating and no solar energy costs during the 25-year lease.
Board election, new officers
The 2015 Platte-Clay annual meeting, held May 7, wrapped up wih no changes in co-op board members, although there was one contested seat.
Platte-Clay Electric Co-op members elected Dennis Fulk, West District, and Theresa Wren, North District, by acclamation, as their seats were uncontested.
Members re-elected Kendall Davis to represent the South District. John Graff, of Kearney, had petitioned to be a candidate from the South District, but lost the election.
In the Board reorganization meeting, which follows the annual meeting, the group elected Gary Shanks, of Kearney, South District, president; Debi Stewart, of Lathrop, North District, vice president; Dennis Fulk, of Platte City, secretary; and Theresa Wren, of Trimble, North District, Treasurer.
Call before you dig – 1-800-DIG-RITE or 811
It’s the law in Missouri, and it could be an expensive and dangerous mistake.
The Northland Connection is published monthly by Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc., 1000 W. 92 Highway, Kearney, MO 64060. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Northland Connection, PO Box 100, Kearney, MO 64060 or mail@pcec.coop.
Platte-Clay is an equal opportunity employer.