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Limon Office Falcon Office Office Hours: |
February 2007
Counterfeit Electrical Products Pose Hazards It seems that knock-offs are everywhere these days from sunglasses to clothing to Rolex watches. Trademark counterfeiting has finally started to affect the electrical sector. Counterfeiters have targeted well-known industrial and consumer brands, and registered certification marks of testing and certification laboratories. Counterfeit electrical products can pose significant safety hazards and left undetected, can cause death, injury and substantial property loss in the home and the workplace, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
The electrical products targeted by counterfeiters apply to those used by both consumers and industries. The list includes control relays for industrial equipment, lamps, electronic lamp ballasts, dry cell batteries, lithium ion batteries, smoke detectors, fuses, circuit breakers, electrical receptacles, ground fault circuit interrupters, conduit fittings, power strips and surge suppressors, electrical cord sets (extension cords), power cords, telecommunications cable, and electrical connectors. ESFI noted that the following tips could help avoid potentially dangerous counterfeit electrical products: • Look for the CSA, UL or ETL-SEMKO Certification marks. If you have concerns about the marks, contact the certifier. • Buyers should beware of bargains that seem too good to be true. Products may be cheap because they are counterfeit or defective. • Use established vendors who purchase their goods from legitimate distributors and genuine manufacturers. Fly-by-night vendors may not be willing to grant refunds for electrical products that do not perform as they should. • Check the warning label. It should be free of grammatical errors and not conflict with information elsewhere on the package. • Look for the name and contact information of the manufacturer. If this information is missing, consider purchasing electrical products elsewhere. If you have a question on the safety of electrical appliances, please give MVEA a call and talk to our electrician. You can never be too safe around electricity. Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International Need Help Paying Your Utility Bill?The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is designed to help low-income households with winter home heating costs. It is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating . Following are phone numbers for your county LEAP offices. Applications will be accepted from November 1 through April 30. El Paso – 719-442-0007 Elbert – 719-541-2369 Douglas – 303-688-4825 Lincoln – 719-7432404 Washington – 970-345-2238 Pueblo – 719-583-6356 Crowley – 719-267-3546 Arapahoe – 303-636-1100 or, go to the LEAP website at Other agencies in the area to assist with emergency situations: Health & Human Service Information & Referral – 211, 719-955-0742, 866-488-9742 www.ppunitedway.org Pikes Peak Community Action Agency: Administration office - 719-471-7870 Eastern El Paso County – 719-347-2976 Eastern Colorado Springs – 719-385-7930 Fountain Area – 719-382-8515 Northern Churches Cares - 719-277-7470 Tri-Lakes Cares – 719-481-4864 Salvation Army – 719-636-3891 Silver Key (60 and over) – 719-632-1521 Army Emergency Relief (military personnel and retirees) – 719-526-4783 The Home Front Cares (active military, reservists and National Guard) – Military Service Center Time For Photo Contest Again!
Essay Contest Winner Heads To Leadership CampHaley Wilkison of Colorado Springs tied for second place in our annual essay contest. Haley is the daughter of Robert and Lynn Wilkison and is a home schooled student. She is very active in the Black Forest Saddle Club and has competed in the county, state and national level of horse knowledge, speech and horse judging contests through In July, Haley will attend the Colorado Electric Education Institute's Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Clark, Colorado – just north of Steamboat Springs. She will join approximately 90 other high school juniors from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming in leadership seminars, legislative simulations, tours, and social activities. The students will also setup and run their own cooperative during the week. Congratulations to Haley and following is her winning essay. The question was asked of me, “What is clean coal technology and why is it better for the environment?” After researching it, I began to wonder if the question shouldn't be: “What is clean coal technology and IS it better for the environment?” CNN reported that “Big money is pouring into ‘clean coal' – hyped as an environmentally friendly resource that can keep the lights on and break our dependence on foreign oil – but some critics question whether the investment is worth it.” Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program said, “There is no such thing as ‘clean coal' and there never will be. It's an oxymoron.” But on the other side of the argument, United States President George W. Bush's position is that “clean coal technologies should be encouraged as one means to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil.” Senator Hillary Clinton has also recently said, “We should strive to have new electricity generation come from other sources, such as clean coal.” To better understand this argument we need to know what “clean coal technology” is. Upon interviewing Thomas Kuhn, president of Edison Electric Company, he described clean coal as “a group of new technologies that are being developed to generate electricity with even fewer emissions…Clean Coal technologies also are exploring ways to capture and contain emissions of carbon dioxide, the most common greenhouse gas.” Clean Coal Technology (CCT) was developed in response to environmental concerns. It is trying to find a way to use the world's abundant supply of coal for energy without contributing to global warming. They are designed to reduce the emission of pollutants while increasing the energy gained from burning coal. When he presented his National Energy Policy on May 17, 200, President Bush said, “More than half of the electricity generated in America today comes from coal. If we weren't blessed with this natural resource, we would face even greater [energy] shortages and higher prices today. Yet, coal presents an environmental challenge. So our plan funds research into new, clean coal technologies.” Coal produces 23% of primary energy needs and generates 39% of electricity. Seventy percent of the world steel production is reliant on coal, the worlds most widely distributed fossil fuel source. The problem is that 9 billion tons of CO 2 (carbon dioxide) is produced yearly, most of which is from power generation. CCTs continue to improve coal's economic and environmental acceptability since coal is one of the world's lowest-cost fuels. Thomas Kuhn said, “The goal of Clean Coal Technology is to provide America , and, in fact, the rest of the world, with affordable, reliable electricity that can take advantage of the abundance of coal, while minimizing – or eliminating – the emissions associated with it.” CCT is expensive, but some businesses would rather spend the money to build the new plant now rater than having to add technology in the future when carbon dioxide will be regulated. In a way, they are looking at the extra expense as a 40-50 year investment. There are still some in the coal industry who are hesitant to accept the CCT because it is currently 20-30% more expensive than traditional systems. They are worried that they will be forced to upgrade their plants once the technology is available. Now that we know a little about CCT, it is time to answer the question asked earlier. “Is clean coal technology better for the environment?” The U.S. Department of Energy as announced a project to build and operate a nearly emission-free coal based electricity and hydrogen production plant called the “FutureGen” project. The construction is to begin in 2009 and be operational by 2012. A pilot project was begun in Denmark , which is capturing 90% of the CO 2 produced by the plant. The Bush administration called CCT “the wave of the energy future.” Some environmentalists concede that it has potential, but others disagree. In China and India , coal is far more plentiful than oil or natural gas, and may be burned regardless of the emissions of CO 2. It is argued that CCT will help prevent environmental contamination in countries like China and India where we can't control the use of coal. According to the plant in Denmark , CCT will be capturing the majority of carbon dioxide produced from coal burning plants. Since carbon dioxide is the major cause of global warming, CCT would be helping the environment. In my opinion, even if CCT only succeeds in capturing 20% of carbon dioxide it would be an improvement and a step in the right direction. After researching farther, I have found that Clean Coal Technology is better for the environment. It's Time To Slow Down And Take It Easy! |
2007 News Archive |
Our 2007 calendar was absolutely great with some wonderful photos from our members. So for the fourth year, we are inviting you to send in your photos taken within MVEA's territory and reflecting the seasons and the people, lifestyle or landscape of our area. The winners will be included in our 2008 calendar. The deadline for entry is July 1, 2007. If you have questions, please call Deborah Skillicorn or Patsy Tompkins at either MVEA office.
Everett Churchwell is going traveling, fishing, motorcycling and whatever the heck else he wants. He is going to sleep in when he wants and during the next snow storm, he'll snuggle up with his wife and not worry about what's going on at MVEA. Everett will officially retire on February 15 after almost 38 years of great service to the cooperative and its members. 
Miami Yoder School librarians Juana Hajek (left) and Kathy Whiteis where thrilled with the library books MVEA and CREA donated to their libraries. Included are books on Colorado history, fictional works, a women in sports book and a book on Native American history. MVEA has donated books to several of the schools and libraries in the area. CREA graciously provides these publications. Kathy said, “Books are always a wonderful thing to receive, especially in a small rural school. We are very excited about this gift.” Miami Yoder School has approximately 380 students from K-12. Kathy has been the high school librarian for 13 years, taking over after Juana Hajek's mother retired. Juana has been the elementary school librarian for two years. 
Claud Hugley will be taking over the reins as operations manager for Mountain View Electric Association when Everett Churchill retires on February 15. Claud has worked for the cooperative since 1973. Starting his career in the Limon Headquarters, Claud was hired fresh out of Limon High School as an Engineering Aide. He transferred to the line department in 1974 to begin his lineman apprenticeship. Claud served in several foreman positions before being promoted to the Falcon Operations Superintendent in 1998. MVEA looks forward to having the same excellent leadership in the operations department as it has in the past.