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Limon Office Falcon Office Office Hours: |
March 2007
Protect Your Right To Choose
The Colorado Cooperatives support the spirit of the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) Bill 1281, which increases the standards set by Amendment 37. Colorado Rural Electric Association (CREA) who lobbies for cooperatives, worked with the governor's office and Rep. Jack Pommer (D-Boulder) to reach an amiable agreement on this bill. The bill requires all rural electric cooperatives to meet a 10 percent renewable portfolio standard by 2020. It also includes a 1 percent cap on rate increases that may result from meeting this standard. In Amendment 37, cooperatives over 40,000 members had the opportunity to conduct a vote of their members to opt-out of the Amendment 37 requirements. Cooperatives smaller than 40,000 did not have to comply with the provisions of the Amendment. The members of two cooperatives impacted by Amendment 37 conducted elections to opt-out of their provisions. This new law will override those election results. CREA is in support of the co-op provisions in HB1281 that recognize the differences between IOU's and the cooperatives. We strongly believe that elections conducted by the cooperatives should be honored and that the grandfathering and opt-out provisions for electric cooperatives included in Amendment 37 should be in any renewable portfolio standard (RPS). The second bill, HB 1169, addresses the subject of net metering. Net metering is a system that allows members to generate their own electricity (usually from a renewable energy source) and to add back onto the utility's electric grid any excess power generated. The cooperative then pays them for their generation. In 2002, CREA and the Colorado electric cooperatives worked with the General Assembly to adopt a comprehensive net metering statute (HB 02-1415) which requires electric cooperatives to offer net metering programs (up to 25kW) to their customers. The current law gives each system the flexibility to develop a program that determines the appropriate value of the electricity generated by a member. This works well for electric cooperatives since each system has unique characteristics. HB 1169 removes the autonomy of the cooperatives by repealing the 2002 statute and enacting one of the most radical and aggressive net metering bills in the country. This bill removes the flexibility for each cooperative to design and implement its own net metering program. This bill is state-mandated, one-size-fits-all net metering. MVEA would need to dramatically increase the current 25 kW limit of our net-metered generation system to accommodate up to 2,000 kW. This is 80 times the current law and electric load requirements equivalent to two and one-half Wal-Mart super centers. This bill is targeted to serve the large industrial accounts, not the residential members. HB 1169 sets up a scheme that may result in well-funded wind and solar developers making profits at the expense of our members. It requires MVEA: • To purchase and install more complex and expensive meters in order to comply with the bill • Does not allow us to control or phase-in the number of net-metered systems being forced onto our system; • Requires us to make fundamental and costly changes to our rate and billing systems; • Strikes from current law safeguards that were adopted by the General Assembly to protect the safety, reliability and affordability of electricity to rural consumers: • Prohibits MVEA from collecting costs specific to a generation facility, the costs will be born by the entire membership. Proponents of HB 1169 claim this bill will standardize and simplify net metering in Colorado. In reality, the bill will benefit a small number of investors, but result in significantly higher electric bills for other members. Basically, this proposed legislation is reversing the principles of the “Robin Hood” model by taking from the poor and giving to the rich. More importantly, this bill takes away the right of electric cooperatives to make decisions on what is best for its members. It removes local control, denies the members the right to set local policy and only applies to electric cooperatives. Government is stepping in to regulate our organization. Over the years, cooperatives have increased their programs for renewable energy and designed their net metering policies to be fair to all members. I would encourage our members to contact their legislators on HB 1169 and urge them to preserve the rights of the cooperative and vote “NO” on HB 1169. 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 CampKirk Pottorff tied for second place in MVEA's essay contest and will be off to Cooperative Youth Leadership camp in July. Kirk is the son of Terry and Wendy Pottorff and a junior at Limon High School . He is vice president of his junior class, is in L-Club, the junior-senior play and a youth basketball coach. He is also on the football, basketball, baseball and track teams. Congratulations to Kirk! Following is Kirk's winning essay on clean coal technology. Clean coal technology is the result of the world's efforts to reduce air pollution. There are many environmental challenges that the world is facing today that have been created by energy needs and industrial demands. Many problems have developed around the world due to air pollution such as greenhouse gases that can alter the global climate and acid rain falling on our forests. The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970 by the United States Government. The purpose of this “Act” was to begin addressing our need to clean up the environment and reduce air pollution. Science and technology has improved tremendously over the past thirty years and we have a much better understanding of how to reduce air pollution. In 2002, President Bush proposed the Clear Skies Initiative according to the EPA. The hope of this initiative is to reduce air pollution by 70 percent below the 2000 levels in an affordable manner. The major contributors to air pollution are emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and carbon dioxide. Clean coal technology is scientifically addressing all of these pollutants and helping power plants in the United States and all over the world significantly reduce these emissions. A major impact on the environment and air pollution is that clean coal technology is helping reduce smog, which creates respiratory and cardiovascular health problems for people everywhere. As the population around the world continues to grow, so does economic growth. The challenge is to make sure that we continue to focus on a safe clean environment as this growth occurs. Clean coal technology is helping to have a major impact on helping to clean up our environment and keep it safe for future generations. This technology is helping improve the world's air quality by reducing emission from carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury. It is also helping to reduce acid rain, smog, and greenhouse gases. The United States government, along with governments from all over the world, needs to keep supporting the development of new science technologies that will continue to help us clean up our air and environment. Great progress has already been made, but we still have a long way to go to achieve the goal of a completely clean environment. The environment is a global issue and everyone on this planet must work together to keep our environment safe. Ultimately, our very existence on Earth depends on it. Books For Another Local Library |
2007 News Archive |
There are currently two bills in the Colorado State Legislature that MVEA members should be aware. House Bill 07-1281 (Renewable Portfolio Standard) and House Bill 07-1169 (Net Metering) could impact our cooperative. 
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.
Limon Memorial received over $235 in books from Mountain View Electric and Colorado Country Life Magazine. Library director, Lucy Reimer (right) and library assistant Margaret Burgess display some of the 12 books donated to the library. Some of these books feature Colorado or western subjects or Colorado authors. Included in the selection are eight great nonfiction books, including one about planning a trip in Colorado and one about mountain biking emergencies. 
Three new employees joined MVEA this month. Karen Logan, Lisa Hoxie and Brenda Paintin. Karen and Lisa will be manning the lobby at the Falcon Operations Center . Karen will assume the secretary duties. She comes to us from Salt Lake City where she worked with the Parvus Corporation in document control. 
Lisa is the new cashier and will be more than pleased to take your money when you come to the office to pay your bill. She was formerly employed as a receptionist/title clerk for Gateway RV in Colorado Springs.
Last, but by no means least, is our new data entry clerk, Brenda Paintin. Brenda was employed by Goodwill Industries as a material handler before joining our co-op. Welcome to our cooperative
The sight of our mountains often overshadows the beautiful plains of Colorado . However, wild flowers, huge trees and beautiful rolling plains are right under our noses. June 8 is your opportunity to ride across some of the oldest ranches in Colorado and enjoy the beauty of the plains on the Limon Heritage Society's Annual Trail Ride.