November 2014 | Volume 76 | Issue 11
Renewable energy surveys deliver
both questions and answers
Mailing a renewable energy survey to all members is a first for Platte-Clay. In fact, having your distribution co-op involved in generating power is a first–especially solar energy.
For those who haven’t responded, we encourage you to visit the web site, pcec.coop and click on See Details at the top of the screen. It will only take a few minutes to provide important feedback to your co-op.
The comments coming back in the surveys indicate both high interest in a community solar farm and a good measure of skepticism.
Other members are interested in knowing more about solar energy. So for those of you who want to know more, we’re right there with you.
That’s one of the reasons the co-op will form a Solar Committee. We’ll be learning together.
The form to sign up to be considered for the Solar Committee also is on the web site, pcec.coop in the News section — you’ll find the tab along the top of the home page. We hope you’ll consider being a part of this pioneer group.
Some of the representative comments include:
- I’m on a fixed income and can’t afford solar energy.
Only members who want to participate in the community solar farm will be buying the energy from the solar panels.
So for those concerned about the cost of solar energy, the pilot project won’t be a factor in Platte-Clay’s rates or operations.
Your co-op will continue to purchase its power, most of which is lowcost coal, blended with some wind energy and some hydro energy, through the cooperative program which has a commitment to providing the lowestcost power available to members.
- I need to know more, I don’t know enough about solar energy.
Platte-Clay is learning about how effective solar energy is too.
Rural electric co-ops have a commitment to help one another, to share information–it’s one of the Cooperative Principles–Cooperation among Cooperatives.
We’ll be learning from the Platte- Clay system and other co-ops that have installed solar energy and what their experience has been. The Solar Committee will be included in the educational process.
- We believe in renewable energy and love it. It’s much more environmentally sound.
Your co-op is building the pilot community solar system as a result of members indicating a strong interest in renewable energy, calls and letters, and the responses in the annual meeting survey.
Because of increasing member interest and survey responses, Platte- Clay felt it was time to explore the opportunity for members to invest in solar energy without the capital cost.
We’ll be sharing more information as details are finalized.
But for now, we’re looking forward to hearing from co-op members–either with the paper survey or by completing the online survey. Thanks in advance for your help.
Heating up, cooling down
Mike Torres
From the CEO
This month we’re starting to move into the cooler weather. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting that from the Plains States east will be cold and dry, with temperatures as much as 5 degrees lower in some months.
That weather prediction was in September, and we’re thinking it’s about as good as any. Last year, the publisher reported, their temperature predictions varied by only 2 degrees.
Their weather predictions are based on 30-year averages provided by the National Weather Service (NWS), plus the Old Farmer’s Almanac meteorologists blend in scientific climatology, meteorology and solar science data.
Solar science is taking a place in Platte-Clay’s operations for 2015 too. Based on the annual meeting survey earlier this year and member interest, with 54 percent in favor including 50 percent who would be willing to add more than $10 a month to their electric bill for renewable/solar energy, we are moving forward.
As part of your co-op’s continuing goal of staying current on issues and opportunities, Platte-Clay will build a pilot solar project on co-op property.
Platte-Clay’s solar array will be organized as a community solar farm, as the energy will be sold to members who wish to participate in the project.
In addition, to offer members and your co-op an opportunity to learn more about solar energy together and to provide a healthy discussion about the project, your co-op is asking members interested in to join the new Solar Committee to learn about the ins and outs of solar. A form is on the web site, pcec.coop in the Educational category.
While this project is the first for a Missouri rural electric cooperative, it will be organized, generally, to take advantage of Federal tax credits and accelerated depreciation, both of which contribute to a lower cost per kilowatt.
This project is good for the co-op and Platte-Clay members as it will be a first hand learning experience on a small, but “real” scale.
Interested members will have the opportunity to participate in the co-op solar project, purchasing solar energy with no upfront cash outlay and having the solar panels located offsite.
A community solar farm is a benefit to members interested in solar energy: not all homes have proper southern exposure, not everyone is a homeowner and not everyone wants to deal with the ins-and-outs of constructing a solar system on their home or property. Platte-Clay is handling all of this for co-op members while providing transparency through the member solar community.
The co-op and members alike need to learn and familiarize themselves with solar / renewable facts as they will likely play a part in our future energy supply.
While not all members are enthusiastic about renewable energy, your co-op believes that there is enough interest that we need to move forward with a pilot project. And your co-op wants to include solar and renewables as a generation mix at the level that the majority of the co-op membership wants it included.
Keep an eye on this project, get involved and keep us informed on your position on this very important subject. To wrap up the month, have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Focus Group and Solar Committee now being formed
Your co-op is seeking members to participate in two important member activities — the Focus Group, which meets quarterly and new for 2015, a Solar Committee, which will meet every other month. Both groups meet in the evening.
The true value of having members involved in co-op activities is to get a sense of what a diverse group of members think and how they feel about a wide variety of topics.
The online forms are at pcec.coop in the News tab, at the top of the home page. We hope you’ll consider joining one of them.
Focus Group
The Focus Group has been in place for many years and provides important feedback and suggestions on co-op projects and activities. The advisory group shares their individual perspectives on everything from how they get their news to energy topics.
It’s a lively, fast-paced evening, from 6 to 9 (at the latest) and includes a meal and a small stipend to offset fuel costs.
Solar Committee
The Solar Committee will be a new special interest group of co-op members. They will discuss a variety of topics and learn about how the community solar farm is operating.
One of the benefits of a community solar farm, with the energy sold to co-op members, is that it allows families to participate without buying and building a solar system.
In short, a community solar system makes solar energy accessible and affordable to those who are interested in adding renewable energy to their energy mix.
Solar Committee members will learn about how effective the sun is in generating electricity based on actual, measured experience.
Holiday Open House Friday – Dec. 5
This month Platte-Clay starts a new feature written by members: Member Viewpoint. The first member to write in is Mike Torres, CEO.
Platte-Clay will hold its annual holiday open house on Friday, Dec. 5, complete with a hot dog and chili lunch, holiday cookies and drawings for prizes.
The co-op is asking members to bring at least one item of nonperishable food in cans or boxes, no glass, to be distributed to area food banks.
Based on the success of the 2013 coat drive, the co-op is asking members to bring in clean, gently-used coats also to be distributed to those in need.
Members who bring in food items or a coat in good condition will receive an energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulb. Lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and refreshments served from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
The co-op will continue collecting food and coats through the month of December.
Let’s save energy and save money
Dave Christensen, Platte-Clay’s energy auditor, caulked the Wolfer home on Oct. 4 as part of the co-op’s work on their home to make it more energy efficient.
Whether or not we have a record cold winter or it’s a mild winter, it doesn’t really make any difference when it’s 20 degrees outside.
That’s cold. And with the wind blowing, it’s worse. So here are some tips to help keep the cold outside and the warm inside. One of the easiest ways to determine how energy efficient a home is and to get a list of what needs to be done is to have a Platte-Clay energy audit. Available only to co-op members, the cost is $50–normally $300 to $400 when an outside company provides the service.
The $50 provides a wealth of information, but almost all energy audits find that the house needs to be caulked and sealed, first and foremost.
So to get ahead of the curve, it would make sense to start caulking on those days when it’s still pleasant to be outside.
It’s important to caulk where parts join–such as around the window frame and the siding, where the soffitts join the siding and around any penetrations, such as around the outdoor faucet or any lines come into the house.
Another easy fix is to change the lights to either compact fluorescents (CFLs) which are becoming cheaper with more LED (light emitting diodes) becoming available. According to the Department of Energy, lighting is about 20 percent of a home owner’s bill.
LEDs are the best choice for areas that can get cold, such as a porch or flood light; CFLs a good choice for areas where the lights are on for some time. CFLs don’t like to be turned off and on, so we don’t recommend placing them in children’s rooms, for instance. LEDs, however, seem to be working just fine about everywhere we need lights.
As the member who brought up the motion to create the new column in the Northland Connection I want to say thanks for agreeing that such a forum is a good idea.
We are a member-owned organization and it is good for us to have a place to discuss important co-op issues.
It was also good to see that the survey conducted at the shareholders meeting showed that 75% of us said “yes” when asked if you are concerned about the environment and climate change.
I hope that many of you will further voice that concern as a part of the updating PCEC’s environmental policy. Tell the Board, and this forum, “why” you are concerned. Think of it as answering the survey question in essay form.
I care about our impact on the environment for many reasons. Among them is the fact that the earth is unique and finite. We know of only one. Damaging it now does not show concern for future generations. The environment deserves a priority when making decisions on energy as much as our monthly bill.
I hope that this column can help promote a serious discussion within our co-op on this issue.
– Thomas Ruggieri
2015 Youth Tour Essay/Video contest
Sophomores and juniors — What do you think the greatest energy issue is facing your generation and how can youth be a part of the solution?
Who
Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative, other rural electric cooperatives throughout the U.S., along with the educational communities served by them.
Entries are open to sophomores (new for 2014) and juniors. We anticipate that about 100 Missouri students, fully chaperoned, will participate in both programs.
What
For Platte-Clay, an essay or video on a specific topic. This year: What do you think the greatest energy issue is facing your generation and how can youth be a part of the solution?
When
Now through Jan. 9, which is the deadline.
There will be a final presentation of the top students to be held at Platte-Clay’s Kearney office in the spring where the top two students will be selected to go to Washington, D.C., June 12-18. The remaining top finishers, positions 3-6, will be encouraged to attend CYCLE, July 15-17 a leadership conference in Jefferson City.
Where
In the seven counties where Platte-Clay provides electric service: Buchanan, Caldwell, Clay, Clinton, DeKalb, Platte and Ray.
Why
Because it’s important to introduce students to a variety of concepts, including energy, and reward them for their work. Platte- Clay supports the educational community and wants to provide opportunities in schools for the students.
How
Educators are encouraged to support their students’ work, making the Youth Tour essay contest a class project or extra credit with strong encouragement.
Students may produce a 2-3 minute video, new this year, or write a 600-750 word essay.
Expense note: Both trips are funded by Missouri rural electric cooperatives, including the plane trip, the hotel and meals, so all parents need to add is encouragement.
Concern for Community
It wasn’t a typical day at the office when Platte-Clay employees started working Saturday, Oct. 4.
The tools of that day were paint brushes, circular saws, crow bars, and instead of business casual, it was jeans and safety glasses.
Mike Torres, CEO, joined the crew working on one of the toughest jobs–replacing a shaky deck.
Friends and family joined in, along with businesses that Platte-Clay frequently works with: Climate Control, Trane, Overhead Door and The Water Heater Guy.
Platte-Clay was part of Rebuilding Together Clay County, part of 400 volunteers and many other groups that repaired 28 families’ homes.
In Kearney, the employees worked for the Wolfer family, who, because of an injury, hadn’t been able to afford deferred maintenance on their home.
As a result of the generosity of time and materials, the Wolfer family gained two new storm doors, repainted trim and shutters, new deck flooring and stairs, a high efficiency gas furnace and air conditioner from Trane through Climate Control in Liberty, two new garage doors from Overhead Door of Kansas City and plumbing service from The Water Heater Guy, Platte-Clay’s water heater contractor.
It was the first time the co-op had worked with the Clay County organization. The volunteer effort was part of Co-op Month activities and one of the co-op principles – Concern for Community.
Top Right, Jamie Lawson, facilities superintendent and Jared Wolters, manager of engineering, installed new storm doors, along with other jobs.
Top left, Mike Torres, CEO and John Chapman, warehouse manager working on the deck. Top middle, Ken Brown, finance manager, working on the deck. The Platte-Clay volunteers replaced the deck boards and built and and installed new steps.
Above, co-op employees, friends and family members worked outside of their normal duties to help a Platte-Clay family whose home needed repairs. It was the first major volunteer actitivity for the co-op as part of Co-op Month and reflected the 7th Cooperative Principle — Concern for the Community.
Rebuilding Together Wants to Expand to Platte County
Rebuilding Together Clay County would like to expand into Platte County, said Clay McQueery, executive director. The only hold back is funding, he said. The Board of Directors of the volunteer repair organization has approved the expansion, he said, but the group needs $50,000 to head west.
Rebuilding Together is a little different from other organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, McQueery said, because their goal is to provide both interior and exterior repairs, allowing families to stay in their existing home.
The 501 (c) 3 group accepts individual and corporate contributions.
For more information, contact Clay McQueery at 816-781-8985 or visit their website, www.rebuildingtogetherclaycounty.org
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.