|
|
 |
News |
|
Limon Office Falcon Office Office Hours: |
May 2008 Take Charge of Your Future  With the 2008 Presidential process in full swing, one thing is certain, whoever moves into the White House in November will have ambitious climate change goals at the top of their agenda. In view of a very compressed time-line, we, as members of a not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperative must make ourselves heard now. Special interests have surrounded the table where decisions on climate change will be made. These groups effectively crowd out those of us who will ultimately foot the bill for environmental decisions. America's electric consumers need to work together to ensure that our needs are met not only concerning our energy, but what we must pay to receive that energy. With the cost of fossil fuels to produce electricity and construction materials to build new power plants rising sharply, simply meeting a projected 40 percent increase in electric demand over the next decade will prove to be an enormous and expensive challenge. It will take a dedicated national leadership and a sustained commitment by Congress to enable us to supply that power while at the same time working on reducing emissions of green house gases. Unfortunately, not since the days of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal or John F. Kennedy's determination to reach the moon has the federal government taken such an active role in providing guidance, leadership and support to those undertaking the heavy lifting. If addressing climate change becomes the great mission of our generation, then lawmakers must do more than issue arbitrary emission-reduction targets for some future date when many of these lawmakers will no longer be in office. In the 1930's when Roosevelt initiated the “New Deal,” he did not say, “You people go out and provide electric power across the country while we sit here in Washington and determine what penalties are assigned if the goals are not met.” Instead, he established a partnership between government and the citizens to get the job done. True leadership on energy and climate change means answering difficult questions about economic impact, consequences and reality. “Our Energy, Our Future: A Dialogue With America” is a national campaign designed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to encourage open discussions between cooperative members and their elected officials about the challenges associated with the capacity, technology and costs of “keeping the lights on.” This grassroots campaign focuses on members asking three core questions: 1. Experts say that our nation's growing electricity needs will soon go well beyond what renewables, conservation and efficiency can provide so what is your plan to make sure we have the electricity we'll need in the future? 2. What are you doing to fully fund the research required to make emissions-free electric plants an affordable reality? 3. Balancing electricity needs and environmental goals will be difficult. How much is all this going to increase my electric bill and what will you do to make it affordable? I would like to encourage you to get involved and get the attention of lawmakers. Let them know that you are concerned about our cooperative continuing to prove safe, reliable and affordable electric power while meeting environmental objectives. Let them know that it threatens our future if they don't get energy and climate change policies right. If we do nothing, special interests will be the only voices heard and America risks returning to a time when electric service was a privilege enjoyed only by the wealthy. Cooperative members are 40 million strong nationwide and we have the ability to protect against just such an outcome. Take action now! Please take a moment to visit the www.ourenergy.coop web site to begin a conversation with your local, state and federal representatives on these critical issues. Encourage them to address the hard questions about our future. Essay Contest Winner
Congratulations to Bethany and thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this very important topic. Following is Bethany's winning essay. Is nuclear power the answer to global warming—No! When looking at nuclear power there are dangers just as alarming as global warming. It is also debatable whether nuclear energy is renewable, sustainable or green friendly. Also, despite the pressure to squelch the information, many leading scientists are sharing scientific explanations for global warming other than green house gases, and it is man's fault. Individual responsibility must also be examined. Regardless of where a person stands on the issue, personal responsibility is a must for taking care of our planet and stopping or preventing global warming. Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste, a dangerous by-product which must be guarded from contaminating our world for thousands of years after it is produced; which is not a green friendly solution. The radioactive waste, as well as retired plants, not only have harmful effects on land, they also produce harmful effects on the most precious renewable source known to the planet—children and the generations to come. Nuclear energy is also dependent on uranium for fuel. Uranium is a limited resource that is projected to last at most 60 years. Thus, nuclear energy is not sustainable either. There is data that shows global warming is not caused primarily by mankind and thus not reversible by mankind either. Many leading scientists, some who are former members of the Nobel Peace Prize winning IPCC, are in opposition to the view that man is the leading cause of global warming. Lee Gerhard, “ The End of the climate Debate?” cites many scientists who document that it is not green house gases or man that is the leading cause of global warming, but rather natural drivers such as incident solar energy, orbital changes in the sun and earth's relationship and other solar variables. Climate change and global warming have been recorded for ages at different time periods and lengths, warmer and colder. These changes can be attributed to natural phenomenon in the cosmos showing nuclear energy ineffective in its impact on global warming. Man ultimately must take personal responsibility to stop or prevent global warming and must become a better caretaker of this planet in general. Individuals must take practical measures to save energy. Simple things like turning off power, not just placing things on standby. Items like computers, televisions, and wireless items must be turned off. Use more efficient lighting systems such as the compact fluorescents. Use better rated appliances, and even look at the most efficient and renewable energy source—solar energy. Our world is a collective of individuals, individuals that must take action. Yes, global warming is an issue and not debatable. Most agree that global warming or climate change is happening. The cause of global warming, however, is debatable. Is man the cause or natural cosmic phenomenon? Can man turn the tide or must we ride out the current tide? The reality is that there is statistical and scientific data to support many viewpoints 2007 MVEA Board of Directors
As of the June Annual Meeting, Duane Steinke and Naomi Malcom are resigning their seats on the board. Duane joined the board in 1983 and served as president from 1988-1994. Naomi Malcom joined the board of directors in 1977 and has served as Secretary/Treasurer for 17 years. A more in-depth article on Duane and Naomi will be included in the June issue. The members thank all of these people for their years of service and for stepping up to the plate to ensure that the cooperative gives the best possible service to the members. The Cooperative Way In the early part of the 20th century, society was divided into rural and urban, the haves and the have-nots. Electricity was the great divider. The rural people of America were the have-not's. They were told that, for them, it was not profitable for the electric companies to provide electricity. No profit, no lights. President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed that forever by offering the people a New Deal. As part of the new Deal, the Rural Electrification Administration was established in 1935. The next year, the Rural Electrification Act was signed enabling loans to be made to cooperatives ready to electrify rural America. Shortly after that, in December 1940, approximately 150 people gathered at the Black Forest Community Center to see about getting electricity to the areas beyond Colorado Springs. They established a cooperative and incorporated in 1941. They applied for, and received, a loan to build an electric system. The co-op started by purchasing Commonwealth Electric Company and its generator in Limon. An office was established in the town and remained the headquarters for the cooperative. The power lines running along Highway 24 to Falcon and out to Genoa were also purchased. Membership in the co-op at that time was $5, and members were expected to help build the lines to their houses, contributing equipment and just plain hard work. Eventually, crews and equipment were purchased and the cooperative could more quickly accomplish the building of services to its members. This was the foundation for today's cooperative, Mountain View Electric Association. MVEA still operates on the same principles it started with 67 years ago. We are still owned by the members we serve and we work to provide the very best in service. The original members who worked hard to improve the quality of life for today's members changed our rural service area forever. Remember, as a member, you are part of a great tradition – a rural cooperative.
Counties served – Arapahoe, Crowley, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Lincoln, Pueblo and Washington Year organized – 1941 Power source – Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Number of employees – 131 Number of services – 44,772 Miles of energized line – 5,961 Consumers per mile – 7.5 Total plant in service – $191,812,078 Service territory – 5,000 square miles Mark your calendar for the Touchstone Energy Eastern Plains Relay for Life
For the Eastern Plains Relay, teams of 8-11 people will walk from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. around the Limon School track raising money for cancer awareness and research. Why walk through the night? Because cancer never sleeps. Fighting cancer is a team effort. The strength of people coming together for a common cause is greater than the strength of one. Relay For Life is a great way for corporations, schools, and businesses to demonstrate their commitment to fighting cancer in their community. The Relay is also a community gathering. The Eastern Plains encompasses a lot of small communities that we hope, for one night at least, will become one. If you are a Survivor, join us as an honorary guest for the Survivors' Lap, which begins the Relay For Life. Your strength and courage will help the community see that cancer survivorship is real – that we are making progress in the battle against cancer. Luminaries will be available for those who wish to remember someone special and a special ceremony will take place during the evening. And, activities will be going on through the night – fireworks, music, information booths, and food. Get a team together and come out and join us on July 4 in the fight against cancer. For more information call Deborah Skillicorn at 2577 or 719-641-6539. Join the fight!
Get those cameras out and for that perfect picture in our service territory. Maybe you will be one of the lucky winners to have their pictures on the MVEA calendar. For instructions and entry forms for the 2008 photo contest, click here. Gift of Life Benefit The barbeque is from 5 – 8 p.m. and will include a variety of entertainment for young and old. The barn dance begins at 8 p.m. in the hayloft with live country music. Cost of the event is $15 per person over 12 and $5 for children 6-12. Deadline for tickets is May 30. For more information, please call Gloria Beedy at (719)768-3263 or Judy Vick at (719)743-2212. Come out and support this worthwhile and fun event. Need Help Paying Your Utility Bill? Click HereLimon Heritage Museum Opens May 26
Limon's first Railroad Day is Saturday, June 7 starting at 9:30 a.m. Events, operating models, a swap meet, food, speakers, and drawings will all be part of a fun filled day for the young and young at heart. Admission to the event is only $3. Call 303-324-2634 for more information on this event. The Limon Western Festival Trail Ride is Friday, June 13 with riders starting out at River Bend Frasier Ranch at 8:30 a.m. and riding across the historic Lasater Ranch. Lunch and a barbeque dinner with entertainment by cowboy singer Roger Stone is included in the cost. Call 719-541-2736 for more details. The free Limon Museum is open Monday-Saturday 1-8 p.m. and will feature fantastic new exhibits again this year. For information on their exhibits and special events, call 719-775-8605. Get in the LOOP with compact florescent light bulbs MVEA urges you to join in conserving power by installing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in your home and business. The Energy Star© qualified bulbs can last up to 10 times longer than a standard light bulb and use 2/3 to ¾ less energy. The first CFL bulbs were developed in the 1980's and were expensive. Many people complained about dim light output, flickering, noise, funny colors and sizes that were too big to fit in many fixtures. Today's CFLs cost much less while offering great performance. They have instant turn-on, quick warm-up and great light quality. They come in a wide variety of shapes, most of which are no larger than the standard bulbs they replace. MVEA has joined the national Energy Star© campaign to encourage all Americans to install CFLs. A component of this effort is MVEA's CFL Fund Raiser in which non-profit organizations can sell CFLs as a fundraiser for their organization. MVEA will provide these light bulbs to the non-profit groups at less than wholesale cost. Groups can expect to make approximately $1 for every bulb they sell. If you are a member of a non-profit group within MVEA's service territory and would like more information on how your group can participate, contact MVEA member services department at 719-495-2283 or 719-775-2861. Energy Efficiency today at MVEA! DCP Utility Consulting |
2007 News Archive |
Bethany Taylor of Limon is our third essay contest winner and will be attending the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Clark, Colorado, in July. Bethany is the daughter of Richard and Melanie Taylor of Limon and a junior at Limon School. MVEA posed the question, “is nuclear energy the answer to global warming?” to high school juniors in our service territory as an essay question for this contest. The students that submitted essays did extensive research before they formulated their answers. MVEA was not looking for an answer that fell in line with what we, as an electric cooperative might think, but rather asking a question to make the young people, who are our future leaders, think about nuclear power and how they feel about this type of energy. How they answered gave us an idea of a 16-year-olds conception of nuclear power. Their ideas are important to us because we are deciding their future by our actions today. 
Being a director takes time and dedication. Directors not only attend day-long board meetings each month, but also serve as directors for other related organizations, attend seminars, conferences and classes to better serve the cooperative. 
Co-op Facts 
On July 4, 2008, families, friends and coworkers will join together in Limon to CELEBRATE the lives of those who have battled cancer, REMEMBER those who lost and FIGHT BACK against a disease that has touched nearly everyone. Sharing the power of purple. The Eastern Plains Relay for Life will be a life changing event for those that participate. Relay for Life represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported and that one day cancer will be eliminated. 
2008 Photo Contest Begins
The 13th annual Gift of Life benefit barbeque and barn dance will be Saturday, June 7 at the beautiful Homestead Barn in Genoa. Proceeds from the event are used to purchase medical equipment for the Lincoln Community Hospital, to provide two $1,000 scholarships and to promote better health services in the community. 
The award-winning photography of essayist-photographer Stephen Jones will be showcased in the “Shortgrass Prairie” display in Limon's lively Heritage Museum Exhibit Building this year. The museum's 2008 season will begin on Memorial Day, May 26. 
Fund raising opportunities!