January 2007
MVEA Considering PURPA Standards
As we move into 2007, the electric utility industry still faces the question of how to best meet the increasing demand for electricity in the future. Our primary consideration must be reliability. Residential, commercial and industrial customers depend on electricity being continuously available 24/7. Currently, fossil fuel or nuclear power is the only reliable, continuous source of baseload generation.
This does not mean the industry is not interested in developing renewable sources of power, but variability is an issue for both solar and wind. They produce power when the source is available and not necessarily when we demand it. Electricity is one of those things that you have to use when you produce it or lose it. Researchers are working on the storage of wind and solar power. One of the most promising projects is using wind energy to produce hydrogen which can be stored and used in fuel cells or gas turbines to produce electricity for peaking plants. Xcel Energy has teamed with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in a $2 million project to use wind energy to produce hydrogen. The project was kicked off on December 15, 2006 at NREL located between Golden and Boulder. The plan is to extract hydrogen from water using wind power and storing the hydrogen in special containers. The research is expected to be completed by 2008. Currently, the cheapest way to derive hydrogen is from hydrocarbons, mostly natural gas. But the process emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Using wind energy to electrolyze water and derive hydrogen is clean and there are no emission problems, but the process costs about four times as much as commercially available hydrogen. This type of generation would be difficult on a large scale, but could also be used to power shopping malls or other venues.
But don't give up hope on producing electricity from coal in an environmentally safe plant. In this issue of Colorado Country Life is an article by Victor Walters, one of MVEA's essay contest winners. He describes the development of clean coal technology that is becoming increasingly available. Clean coal technology is designed to reduce the environmental impact of coal-fired generating plants.
Existing coal-fired plants owned by companies such as Tri-State - MVEA's power supplier - that are concerned about the environment, are operated under strict government regulations. They have renovated their older power plants with the newest technology and their new plants will be even cleaner. I think part of the bad perception of coal-fired plants comes from the power plants of years ago and those on the east coast. Tri-State's new plant in Holcomb, Kansas will be 79 percent less in mercury emission than is allowed under the federal Clean Air Act.
If you recall, California had major electric blackouts during the drought several years ago. Part of the reason was the lack of fossil fuel baseload generation in their state and their belief that electricity generation would be available on the grid to supplement the wind and solar energy they already produced. With the lack of hydropower due to the drought and no other options, their citizens suffered the consequences. California and the utility industry learned a lesson the hard way. Unfortunately, people are starting to forget the blackout and are again questioning the wisdom of building more baseload generation utilizing fossil fuels.
Until we find a way to harness wind and solar to make it available at all times, in large quantities and at a price we can afford to pay, coal-fired is clearly the best economic alternative for reliable baseload generation.
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
www.cdhs.state.co.us/leap
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!
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.
Entry Forms & rules.
Essay Contest Winners Announced
During October and November, MVEA conducts an essay contest for high school juniors. The first place winner receives an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the annual NRECA Youth Tour. They travel with 23 other students from Colorado co-ops, then join over a 1000 other high school juniors from around the nation in Washington. During the week, our student will tour historical sites, meet our legislators for a tour of the capital and learn about how our government and cooperatives operate. MVEA received a record number of essays making it very difficult for the Board of Directors' Education Committee to choose a winner. The essays are delivered to the committee with names and personal information deleted so all entries are anonymous. After much deliberation, the committee chose Victor Walters, a junior at Limon High School, as the first place winner. Victor's parents are Ron and Roberta Walters of Limon.
There was a tie for second place this year, so both students are invited to the Colorado Electric Education Institute's Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Clark , Colorado. While attending the week long camp, students will participate in leadership seminars and activities, legislative simulations, start and run a cooperative, tour a generating facility and coal mine, tour the area and enjoy many social activities. High schoolers from Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming will join Colorado students. Our two-second place winners are Haley Wilkison and Kirk Pottorff. Haley is a home schooled student and daughter of Robert and Lynn Wilkison of Colorado Springs. Kirk is a junior at Limon High School and son of Terry and Wendy Pottorff of Limon.
The three winning essays will be printed over the next couple of months. Following is the first place essay of Victor Walters. Congratulations to our winners and we thank all the students who took time to enter our contest.
Clean Coal Technologies
Man has developed many great technological advancements to provide for human comfort and survival. Most inventions developed today are primarily intended for society's convenience and life style. Through history, machines were constantly improved along with energy that powers them. As machines are developed to provide conveniences, our ecosystem has suffered. Clean coal technology promises to reverse or at least lower significantly this environmental predicament.
Clean coal technology describes a new production of energy process that reduces pollutants released into the atmosphere from coal burning power plants. According to the BBC News, coal is the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. The raw coal by-products that are released in the atmosphere deplete the ozone. The harmful emissions can also change our planet's climate for the worse. Clean coal technology was begun in 1986, formulating ways to reduce trace emissions of mercury in the air we breathe.
The clean coal technology has primarily three ways of reducing the environmental impact of coal-fired power stations. First, the coal that arrives at a power plant contains minerals that must be removed before it is incinerated. The coal is ground into smaller pieces and passed through a process called gravity separation. The coal and excess mineral are separated in a barrel with water. The coal floats and minerals sink making the coal accessible to be used. Next, washed coal is used in a process called gasification. Coal is burned to produce syngas (primarily hydrogen). Syngas is then incinerated in a combustor. The hot gas dries gas turbines and the cooling gas is used to heat water. Burning coal produces a range of pollutants that harm the environment, such as: sulphur dioxide (acid rain), nitrogen oxides (ground-level emission), and particles (affects people's respiratory systems). To remove traces of sulphur, a mixture of limestone and water is sprayed over the flue gas and this mixture reacts with the SO2 to form gypsum. This calcium build-up is later removed and used in the construction industry. Second, there are burners that reduce the amount of oxygen that reaches the combustion chamber where the coal is burned, which minimizes the production of escaping nitrogen. Finally, removing particles from the flue gas is accomplished by an electrical field which is charged and attracts the particles to collection plates.
The final process used in clean coal technologies is the carbon capture and storage. This involves capturing the carbon dioxide and preventing the greenhouse gasses from entering the atmosphere. Instead, the carbon is stored deep underground. CO2 is pumped into unused coalfields. The carbon displaces methane, which can be used as fuel. The second way is the CO2 can be pumped into and stored safely in saline aquifers. The final way is the CO2 can be pumped into oil fields, which help maintain pressure making extraction of the underground oil easier.
Clean coal technologies work to reduce the release of pollutants in the air. According to U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy, electricity will increase 53.4 percent over the next 25 years. Meeting this growth rate would require the construction of more than 1,200 new power plants of 300 megawatts each, which are about 65 plants a year. Clean coal technologies will help meet these needs in slowing this rate down. According to BBC News, clean coal technologies have been developed and have been proved plausible, but because of the cost, it has yet to be used on a commercial basis. Clean coal technologies will be the world's first zero emission coal-fired plant.
Winner of MVEA Holiday Drawing Contest
Ryan Aldridge stands by a poster of the picture he drew to win MVEA's holiday drawing contest. Ryan's picture appeared on MVEA's greeting cards this year. He is holding his McGruff the Crime Dog and the $50 he received as prizes. Ryan is a 9 year-old third grader at the Pikes Peak School of Expeditionary Learning and the son of Eric and Karen Aldridge of Falcon. Ryan enjoys judo, soccer and, of course, drawing. He is in the Boy Scouts and is currently working on a Book of 3D drawings. Ryan is putting his $50 prize money into his savings account until he dicides what he would like to do with it. Congratulations to Ryan on his win and MVEA thanks him for providing us with such a great drawing!
She's Taking the Slow Road
Avelyn Ullom has decided to join her husband, Dick, and take a more leisurely path. As of January 4, she became the newest MVEA retiree. Avelyn has worked for the cooperative for seven years in the Falcon Operations Center as the engineering clerk.
Avelyn's family moved to eastern El Paso County from Toledo , Ohio when Avelyn was in second grade. She married her high school sweetheart, Dick Ullom, after he graduated from CSU 47 years ago. Dick was the Simla superintendent of schools for 27 years and Calhan Superintendent for 7 years. The couple have three sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.
Before coming to MVEA, Avelyn was the municipal clerk for the Town of Simla for 13 years. She really enjoys long range planning and organizing files. When hired for the engineering clerk position for MVEA, Avelyn developed the job far beyond the previous clerk and original job description to an essential position of the engineering department. Dave Waldner, engineering manager, says, Avelyn has made this job evolve into something much better than I ever expected. It has truly been a pleasure working with her.
One of Avelyn's responsibilities was responding to County Planning issues in the seven counties that MVEA serves. Avelyn was the initial contact before the planning commission. Other job duties included coordinating any requested Releases of Right of Way with the attorney, daily data entry for the SCADA/DSM system; maintaining the database of recorded and unrecorded subdivision plats; answering inquiries regarding subdivision development and processing Joint Use contracts and applications. Avelyn said, I really enjoyed record management, so this job was absolutely perfect for the very organized Avelyn.
When asked what she had enjoyed the most about her seven years with MVEA, Avelyn replied, The people, camaraderie, and progressiveness of the people I have worked with. The MVEA engineering department is on top of all the newest technology and it is very exciting.
Avelyn and Dick have some busy times ahead of them. They have already planned a romantic cruise down the Danube for September. They also now have a better chance of keeping up with the activities of the children and those seven grandchildren and some time for her church activities and garden.
We will definitely miss Avelyn around the office, but wish her and Dick the very best in their retirement. Congratulations!
People Helping People
The holiday season is traditionally a time for giving to those who need it the most. But what happens to these people after the season ends? For those in eastern El Paso and southern Elbert Counties, there is a place they can turn to. The Helping Hands Food Pantry provides food and staples in emergency situations.
Peyton resident, Jean Woolsey saw the need in the community and has provided space at her family's business for the Pantry. Located in the Falcon Storage Facility's warehouse, Jean has set up a place where people can feel comfortable and secure coming to ask for help.
When the Falcon Business League decided to give away 20 dinners to needy families in the area, Jean discovered there was no food pantry to connect her with the families they wished to help. Being a problem solver by nature, Jean moved to action and contacted organizations in the area to see what could be done. Since opening in May 2006, the volunteer staff has grown to approximately 35 people, including home schooled students. When looking to get the ball rolling in the planning stages, Mountain Springs Church assisted Jean with the non-profit status and support in setting up her facility. Businesses, schools, churches and organizations in the Falcon/Peyton area have all lent a helping hand in making this project a success.
Jean, her husband and 2 of her 4 children moved to the Peyton area in 1994 from California where Jean worked with the Head Start Program. She was a teacher of life skills, helping families with parenting skills, budgeting and getting their lives on the right track. Since that time, the community has truly supported this endeavor. Mountain View Electric sponsored a one-hour onsite radio broadcast on KBIQ for donations and the radio station not only matched the time, but broadcasted on all three of their affiliate stations rather than just one. Jean and the radio station were extremely pleased with the turn-out from the broadcast. The Pantry has also benefited from a $5,000 grant from MVEA's Operation Round-Up.
In the future, Jean is planning on providing classes on budgeting, job interviewing, and issues that face senior citizens. She hopes to organize a health fair at the Falcon Business Fair in the spring. Jean has a lot of wonderful ideas that will benefit the folks in the area who occasionally need a leg up.
The Food Pantry can accept donations of non-perishable foods, blankets, clothing in good condition, meat (including wild game if processed professionally) and cash. They purchase much of their stock from the Care and Share, so cash is very much appreciated. Hours of operation are Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Food Pantry has special hours of 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays only for those that are employed and cannot come in at the regular operating hours. They are located 3.5 miles east on Hwy 24 from the intersection of Woodmen Road and 24. It is just east of Big R in the Falcon Storage Facility.
Jean says, I want everyone that comes to the pantry to feel comfortable and that we are not judging anyone. We just want to help people until they get back on their feet.
She sincerely appreciates all the support this community has given her. We encourage the support of this worthwhile endeavor. Helping Hands Food Pantry's number is 888-HLP-HAND.
DCP Utility Consulting
DCP Utility Consulting will be conducting an attachment audit of MVEA's overhead electric distribution system for approximately ten months (until summer 2007). The purpose of the audit is to insure that all joint use attachments to our poles are in compliance with applicable safety codes and that appropriate joint use agreements are in place for all attachments. DCP employees may require access to your property in order to complete their work on our system. They are only gathering data and should be able to complete their tasks at any given location very quickly. Please extend them the same cooperation you would extend to an MVEA employee. If you have questions please call Mike Garland at 719-495-2283 or 800-388-9881.
