Electric Programs
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Electric Programs >> Success Stories Rural Development Electric Programs Alabama Baldwin EMC Lineman Travis Scott (left) and Paul Lores (right) explain the basic steps required to restore power after a major power outage during a Disaster Plan review, held on May 29, just two days before the official start of the 2009 hurricane season. News media, state and county elected representatives, and city and county officials were invited to the meeting, a first-time event for Baldwin EMC. In addition to the restoration deomonstration, guests toured the co-op's control center, watched a video presentation and learned about Baldwin EMC's disaster plan from Vice President of Engineering & Operations Tom Page and General Manager Bucky Jakins. Baldwin EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving approximately 67,000 meters in Baldwin and southern Monroe Counties, including Alabama's Gult Coast.
### Baldwin EMC recently gained momentum in their efforts to help Baldwin County residents become more energy efficient by going out in the community and doing a little leg work. Last week, the cooperative's energy marketing specialists set up shop at Lowe's and Home Depot in Foley offering free efficiency consultations for shoppers. Many passers-by took advantage of the consultations, which included advice on how to curb energy use in homes and businesses, and demonstrations of energy-efficient products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs. Representatives from the cooperative also participated in Condo Owner managazine's fourth annual Condo Owner Educational Symposium in Orange Beach on May 8. Dozens of condo owners from both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores attended the symposium, and several visited Baldwin EMC's energy efficiency booth to receive information on lowering power bills in their condominiums. "Energy-efficiency is a very important message right now, because the cost of power is going up" says Tim Hobbs, and energy marketing specialist for Baldwin EM who along with fellow marketing specialist Melissa Vaughn, staffed the booths at all three locations. "It's important for people to realize that they have a lot of control over how much energy they use." Vaughn says the cooperative has gotten a good response to their message. "A lot of people are really picking up on what we have to say," Vaughn said. "It shows that they are ready to make some changes." Baldwin EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving approximately 67,000 meters in Baldwin and southern Monroe Counties, including Alabama's Gult Coast.
Baldwin EMC Energy Marketing Specialists Melissa Vaughn and Tim Hobbs offer some energy-efficient tips to a Home Depot Shopper in Foley. ### Daphne High School FFA member Joseph Ouellet recently won the FFA/EMC Electrical Wiring Contest sponsored by Baldwin EMC. Also participating was FFA member Michael Pruett, who placed second in the contest. Participants in the Electrical Wiring Contest demonstrate the proper use of electrical tools, present a speech/demonstration on an electrical energy-related topic, answer problem solving questions pertaining to electrical wiring and complete an assigned wiring problem based on The National Electrical Code. Paul Maurin of M & M Electric and John Kane from the South Baldwin Center for Technology served as judges for the contest. FFA is a national organization of more than 500,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. FFA is an integral part of the agricultural education program in public schools. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Baldwin EMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving approximately 67,000 meters in Baldwin and southern Monroe Counties, including Alabama's Gulf Coast.
First Place Winner Joseph Ouellet of Daphne High School with Melissa Vaughn from Baldwin EMC, Paul Maurin from M & M Electric, John Kane from the South Baldwin Center for Technology, and Second place winner Michael Pruett, also of Daphne High School. Alaska Kodiak Electric Association's (KEA) long-term dream to own Terror Lake came true on February 24, 2009, when the purchase of of this facility from the the Four Dam Pool Power Agency (FDPPA) was finalized. Terror Lake is the cornerstone for KEA's renewable power generation for the future. The facility generated 85% of their total system generation in 2008, and is key to their vision of producing 95% of energy sales with cost effective renewable power solutions by the year 2020. In 1985, the cost to build the Terror Lake facility was more than $230 million. In 2009, the electric cooperative purchased it for $38 million. KEA received a $38 million renewable energy loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA) in August 2008, in preparation for the deal to be finalized. With this investment, KEA will now have the freedom to control operations and set their own course directed toward more renewable energy solutions, stabilizing rates and lowering future costs. Terror Lake is the only hydroelectric facility inside a U.S. national wildlife refuge. The two-unit, 20 megawatt facility delivers power across an 18-mile long transmission line to their substations and distribution lines. In 2009, KEA will continue to research several options at Terror Lake to produce more cost effective renewable power and enhance the facility.
Illinois On April 20, 2009, The Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative, headquartered in Auburn, Illinois, held a dedication and ribbon cutting of its 900 kW Gob Nob wind turbine. The turbine was constructed in December 2008 and started producing electricity on March 5, 2009. The project was constucted on Illinois Department of Natural Resources property, the former site of the Freeman Crown I coal mine. The 230 foot wind turbine was erected on top of a 60 foot former gob pile, putting the blades at a higher elevation to catch maximum wind currents. The 900 kW turbine feeds power into the nearby Farmersville substation and will provide enough power for about 300 homes of the cooperative's members. That's about five percent of the total demand on the co-op's system on a hot day. The project cost $1.8M. Grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program, the Illinois Deparment of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation provided about $750,000 of that total. The remainder was financed with a 15-year zero interest loan through the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds program created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005."
Texas Nueces Electric Cooperative (NEC) has been recognized recently by two programs - the Better Business Bureau with an A+ Rating and as the recipient of a Corpus Christi Caller Times Best of the Best Reader's Choice award. The Caller Times Best of the Best Readers' Choice award means local consumers thought NEC was "good enough" to choose in a readers' choice poll. This was voted by local newspaper readers in Corpus Christi. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating system is a new system that is designed to recognize businesses relative to 16 weighted factors relative to the BBB's Code of Business Practices. The A+ rating is the highest available. Congratulations NEC!
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