B A S I N T O D AY BASIN EL EC T RIC P OW ER COOPER AT I V E
JULY | AUGUST 2015
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M AG A ZINE
A G A RDEN F OR GI V ING
Employees at Headquarters and other Basin Electric facilities in Bismarck, ND, exemplified concern for community during the “Feed Our Future” food drive for the Missouri Slope Areawide United Way’s Backpack Program May 11-22. Employees donated enough food items to fill more than 300 bags that were delivered to children in need at local schools May 27. The United Way Backpack Program supplies local children and their families with enough food for one weekend. The effort was organized and carried out by the Basin Electric United Way Committee with help from Basin Electric’s BE Involved Committee. http://bit.ly/BEPCBackpack2015
CONTENTS V O L U M E 18
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NUMBER 4
ON THE COVER Josey Tarver and Carden Hollevoet, first graders at Highland Acres Elemetary in Bismarck, ND, are part of the class who helped plant Basin’s Backyard Garden in May. Read more about the garden on the back page of the magazine. IN EVERY ISSUE 2 CEO and general manager column: Paul Sukut 4 In brief 12 Member focus: Friends in power 17 Feature series: A day in the life of ... Director Roberta Rohrer 19 Employee highlights FEATURE STORIES 6 Sukut driving to engage and empower employees 9 Basin Electric and BNSF on good terms after settlement 10 Getting the big picture 14 Urea project construction moves above ground
CONTRIBUTORS Editor: Andrea Blowers (ablowers@bepc.com) Publications manager: Mary Miller Graphic designer:
Nicole Perreault
Photographer:
Chelsy Ciavarella
riters: W
Tracie Bettenhausen, Tammy Langerud, Chris Gessele, Dain Sullivan & Joan Dietz
Use your smartphone barcode scanner to view stories online.
JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 1
CEO A ND G E NE R A L M A N AG E R C OL UMN
PAUL SUKUT OUR PEOPLE, OUR CAUSE, OUR PURPOSE I was recently interviewed for a local magazine and was asked about the best part of my job. Hands down, it’s the people. Our members and employees energize me in ways nothing else does. I always contend that I have more to learn from our employees than they do me. I recently had one of those experiences. You never know when the light bulb will turn on. Fortunately for me, I have more than 2,300 employees who incite it every day. One morning as I was heading into the building, mentally going through my day’s calendar, I went through the door leading to our stairway. As I climbed the steps with my head down – which I often get accused of doing – I came face to face with a new employee. She said hello, and because she wasn’t a familiar face to me, I introduced myself. She was one month into her position at Basin Electric and sharp as a tack. She had the enthusiasm of a fresh-eyed employee who was ready to take on the world. During our visit, she referenced key issues ongoing at Basin Electric as they related to her position. Clearly well versed, she said she had just had a meeting with her manager who regularly updates staff on relevant issues at the cooperative. As I walked away, I wished I could bottle that enthusiasm. And then I decided I should at least try. Two things were right about this interaction: We have a sharp, engaged employee on staff. And, her manager was clearly doing his job.
This issue of Basin Today provides an update on Association’s employees. Their CEO Dick Johnson sees our strategic planning efforts, especially as they relate the value in showing employees the power supply side to our people. to electricity delivery. They spent two days visiting with Our 2015 Employee Opinion Survey showed Basin Electric employees, touring Headquarters and drastic improvements across all areas since our 2013 energy country. A CEO who sees the value in investing survey. I’m pleased with these results and with our in employees enough to join them on a bus from Rapid trend line. City to Bismarck and tour Basin But we certainly have room to Electric is a leader who “gets it.” It’s my hope that every continue to improve. We must never Fortunately, our membership is full of one of our employees will grow complacent. leaders who also get it. It’s my goal be energized by their fellow So, how do we build on this? to build on this. Our next efforts will coworkers and our members While I’ve encouraged managinvolve getting our employees into as much as I am. ers to meet with their employees on the membership and letting them a weekly basis, I think we need to dig deeper and focus on the quality of those interactions. We must make sure managers and supervisors are in tune to the issues facing Basin Electric, and they should discuss them with employees, explaining why they should care. We’re in the beginning stages of implementing a process to assure employees are having meaningful dialogue with their managers/supervisors. We must take care to ensure everyone across the board is hearing a consistent message, understands where the cooperative is going and, more importantly, why. I want employees to ask the difficult questions, and we must know how to answer to them. I’ve long underscored the cooperative difference to our employees. With summer here, we’re in the thick of tour season. We recently hosted West River Electric
Paul Sukut
see the distribution side of being an electric cooperative. It’s actually something I learned before starting at Basin Electric more than 30 years ago. It comes down to this: we’ve got each other’s backs. It’s my hope that every one of our employees will be energized by their fellow coworkers and our members as much as I am. I work for the best cause in the world with the best people on the bus. I am indeed lucky to be a part of the ride.
Paul Sukut, CEO and general manager
JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 3
IN B RIE F
Basin Electric employees earn ‘Spotlight on Excellence’ award
Phase III construction under way at Basin Electric peaking plants
During the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association CONNECT® ’15 Conference held May 12-15 in Minneapolis, MN, the 2014 Dakota Gasification Company Responsible Care ® Performance Report won a Gold Award in the Best Special Publication-Large category. The report was designed by Nicole Perreault, Basin Electric graphics supervisor, and edited by Chris Gessele, Basin Electric staff writer. Steve Crane, now-retired Basin Electric multimedia specialist II, served as chief photographer.
Construction equipment is on the move at the Pioneer Generation Station and Lonesome Creek Station sites in northwestern North Dakota. At Pioneer Generation Station, a 135-megawatt (MW) natural gas-based peaking station northwest of Williston, contractors have completed site grading and will begin pouring concrete for some buildings and major equipment by the end of June, according to Christopher Johnson, Basin Electric construction management supervisor. One of those buildings will house the 12 large reciprocating engines, a technology new to Basin Electric.
2014
Responsible Care Performance Report
Co-op gets credit rating reports Basin Electric received high credit ratings, with one agency changing its outlook. Fitch Ratings affirmed its “A+” rating with a stable outlook. The stable outlook was shared by Standard & Poor’s, which affirmed Basin Electric’s “A” rating. Moody’s affirmed the cooperative’s “A-1” rating, but changed its outlook from stable to negative.
Basin Electric pursues contracts to purchase power Earlier this year, Basin Electric’s Cooperative Planning Department issued a request for proposal for short- and long-term purchase power opportunities. They received 18 proposals for 1,354 megawatts (MW). During the May board meeting, directors authorized staff to execute up to 425 MW of those power purchase opportunities. Becky Kern, director of utility planning, said Basin Electric is pursuing the power purchase agreements now to allow the cooperative to delay building new facilities. “The power purchase agreements are lower cost than building new facilities such as a combined cycle or peaking resource,” Kern said. http://bit.ly/BEPCPurchasePower2015
4 | BASIN TODAY
http://basinelectric.com/Projects
Pioneer Generation Station Phase III Location: Williston, ND Capacity: 112 MW Fuel: Natural Gas Purpose: Peaking Units: 12 2016 expected completion. Phase III construction is also under way at Lonesome Creek Station, a natural gas-based peaking station west of Watford City, ND. Contractors are in the midst of site excavation and grading in preparation for the new units, as well as a wastewater containment tank. The new turbines will be adjacent to three existing turbines at the site, bringing the plant’s total generation capacity to 270 MW. The two new units will be arriving on site in September 2015.
Lonesome Creek Station Phase III Location: Watford City, ND Capacity: 90 MW Fuel: Natural Gas Purpose: Peaking Units: 2 2016 expected completion.
FERC approves Integrated System joining SPP
Basin Electric makes annual fire department donations
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) substantively approved the Integrated System (IS) joining Southwest Power Pool (SPP) in November. The Western Area Power Administration – Upper Great Plains (Western), Basin Electric and Heartland Consumers Power District comprise the IS. The three entities have been discussing since 2011 the possibility of joining a regional transmission organization (RTO) to increase options for buying and selling power. Following assessments and research, each of the IS members determined SPP was the best option to maximize the opportunity. In July, Basin Electric’s and Heartland’s boards authorized the move toward joining SPP. The SPP Board of Directors approved proposed tariff changes in June. FERC’s order accepted most of SPP’s proposed revisions to the RTO tariff, bylaws and membership agreement, with an Oct. 1, 2015 effective date for tariff changes.
Local fire depar tments are $13,000 crucial for the wellbeing of communities in Basin Electric’s service territory and provide support to cooperative facili28 FIRE DEPARTMENTS ties, so on an annual basis, Basin Electric ND SD MN MT WY NE provides donations to fire departments throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Nebraska.
Headquarters celebrates safety and wellness
http://bit.ly/FireStationDonations
FIND US ON THE WEB BasinElectric.com DakotaGas.com
Read Basin Today online @ basinelectric.com/BasinToday
June 15-19 was Safety & Wellness Week at Headquarters in Bismarck, ND. Activities included a free bike check-up, snacks on the walking path, a Safety & Wellness Fair in the boardroom, massage appointments, several safety and wellness presentations and demonstrations, and healthy meals in the cafeteria all week. The week’s activities were organized by members of the Safety Committee and BE Well Committee. Throughout the week, employees could pay $1 to wear jeans and $1 to wear tennis shoes daily with proceeds going to the God’s Child Project. Employees were also encouraged to bike to work all week.
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JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 5
SUKUT DRIVING TO
ENGAGE AND EMPOWER
EMPLOYEES By Mary Miller
Developing a plan for Basin Electric to meet do. He analyzed the situation. He looked at resources. member needs into the future is one thing. He assigned things to the proper columns. And, Getting the entire cooperative’s workforce in he ultimately made a plan – a measurable plan to sync with that plan is another. accomplish all of this. Ultimately, for the plan to work, the workforce “I will forever say that the two most important must be empowered, engaged aspects of Basin Electric are our and in sync. The end result is an membership and our employees. efficiently run, fiscally responsible Without both, we don’t exist,” Sukut The members’ commitcooperative that is responsive to says. ment to the cooperative family the membership it serves. Sukut’s plan, first written in shines. We’re always evaluating ways to better serve the When Paul Sukut took the the May-June 2014 issue of Basin membership, and will look to helm as Basin Electric’s fifth Today, focuses on four key areas: An improve. CEO and general manager, he empowered workforce, cooperative Paul Sukut had a full plate awaiting him. culture, membership growth and The membership was growing. operational excellence. Basin Electric was on the cusp The plan, which is the cornerof joining the Southwest Power stone of Basin Electric’s strategic Pool, a regional transmission organization. (That step planning efforts, recently spurred a refined plan that alone represented the single largest shift in the way addresses 2015 must-dos. This plan includes a summary the cooperative has conducted business in Basin of Basin Electric’s values, strategic themes and goals Electric’s history.) Add to that a transitioning workforce, and, ultimately, key initiatives for each area. skyrocketing growth in the Williston Basin and Dakota Central to this plan are Sukut’s two priorities: Gasification Company’s ever-diversifying Great Plains employees and the membership. Synfuels Plant, which had plans for a urea processing And, true to his analytic roots, Sukut wanted to plant that needed to be financed and constructed. start with numbers. So, Sukut did what any good accountant would “We’ve started an annual survey process,”
6 | BASIN TODAY
COMMITMENT TO COOPERATIVE
COMMITMENT TO WORKFORCE
he says, “In 2013, we surveyed our employees. We recently completed another survey to see how we’re doing. Additionally, we surveyed our membership and conducted a public perception survey in the areas where we have a facility presence.”
SUPPORT GROWTH
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Public perception
IES
INITIA T
IES
OP P O R TU NI T
S RISK
RISKS
ES LU A
OPPO RTU NI T
IES
A public perception survey was conducted February through April and results were recently compiled. Conducted by Odney Advertising, the randomized phone-call S OPPOR RISK TU survey included samples NI S T E Member input I from Bismarck/Mandan, S V E T h e memb er ship sur vey ND; Beulah/Stanton/ IV revealed positive results and Hazen, ND; Williston/ included constructive feedback Wa t f o r d C i t y, N D; CO-OP on how to enhance service to the Brookings, SD; WheatPLAN membership. The survey showed land, WY; and Gillette/ members are most satisfied with Moorcroft, WY. O S BJ E Basin Electric in the areas of being “The biggest findE C TIV a good environmental steward, giving ing of the survey is that back to communities throughout Basin the value of local presence Electric’s service territory, being engaged cannot be emphasized enough,” in issues important to the membership and Sukut says. “As cooperatives, we must communicating cooperative news and information. continue to serve our communities in multiple Basin Electric also received high marks from members aspects. Reliable and clean electricity scored high ® for living up to all four Touchstone Energy values. on consumers’ value scale. But, local leadership, “The members’ commitment to the cooperative a strong grassroots system and face-to-face family shines,” Sukut says. “We’re always evaluating relationships are key. We have other service ways to better serve the membership, and will look providers in our communities. We must not lose to improve.” sight of the cooperative difference.”
JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 7
S RISK
OPPO R T UN IT
An empowered workforce As Basin Electric continues to see a significant and supervisors – the mainstay of our communications number of retirements, Sukut is taking great care to effort. By enhancing direct communication between assure the existing workforce is empowered and engaged. managers/supervisors and staff, we will help bridge “I have learned a great deal since becoming CEO. geographical and cultural barriers between Headquarters The best way to learn and lead is by listening. I’ve listened and facilities, and assure that as a cooperative, we are to the surveys and now we’re acting.” all speaking from the same page.” The 2015 Employee Opinion Survey revealed drastic Central to this effort will be the quality of inforimprovements in all areas of the cooperative from the mation delivered to employees by supervisors and previous survey conducted in 2013. “We saw 30 percent managers. “We want to make sure all employees are swings in some areas. Peter Stark and Associates, who hearing relevant, consistent information and that we administered the survey, revealed that address questions they may have it was the highest swing he’s seen in about Basin Electric’s direction,” We want employees organizations. That tells us we’re on Sukut says. at Basin Electric to know how the right track,” Sukut says. This will largely be accomplished his or her job contributes to But, Sukut says there’s room for by taking existing communications the mission of the organizaimprovement. “Part of Basin Electric’s tools and aggregating key points tion, which is to serve the challenge is our geographical size. We each week. These will be shared on membership. This cannot have an employee base spread out Basin Electric’s Intranet, accessible happen overnight. across multiple states, many of whom to all employees. Paul Sukut work in the field and do not regularly “Our intent is that managers and access computers. We must bridge supervisors will print these talking this gap.” points and use them as a basis of After the 2013 Basin Electric survey showed communications during their meetings. This will help room for improvement in communications between promote a two-way dialogue, so we can hear what leadership and employees, Sukut took steps to ensure employees are asking about and address them.” employees were receiving regular communications Sukut says this next step is the right thing to do. from the cooperative’s senior staff team. This included “We want employees at Basin Electric to know how his twice-annual CEO visits to all facilities, quarterly CEO or her job contributes to the mission of the organization, email updates, dissemination of senior staff minutes and which is to serve the membership. This cannot happen asking all managers and supervisors to meet with their overnight. When you are working to change the culture staff on a weekly basis if they weren’t already doing so. of an organization, it’s the small and consistent steps “The 2015 results showed tremendous improvethat lead us to great things.” ment,” Sukut says. “But, we still have work to do.” In the coming quarter, we must work to make our communications with employees even stronger. This will involve significant commitment of our managers
8 | BASIN TODAY
BASIN ELECTRIC AND BNSF ON GOOD TERMS AFTER SETTLEMENT By Chris Gessele After a long and drawn-out negotiation, it’s grounds, but the STB’s decision was upheld on appeal only natural for one party to send the opposing party in all respects, except one technical matter that was a batch of homemade cookies. remanded to the STB on the grounds that the STB had Come again? not specifically explained its rationale. BNSF’s request Basin Electric employees swapped cookie recipes for U.S. Supreme Court review was also denied. with BNSF Railway’s legal team as the two parties In a 2012 decision, the STB provided the explananeared a settlement regarding a decade-old rate tion requested by the court on the issue remanded to case, and plan to exchange cookies in the near future. the STB, and upheld the STB’s original 2009 decision. According to Joe Leingang, Basin Electric director In January 2014, the Court of Appeals upheld of fuel and transportation, the gesture illustrates the BNSF’s challenges to that 2012 ruling by a vote of two respectful relationship that had grown over the course to one, and marked the second time the dispute had of the last several months. come before the court and been returned to the STB. “The negotiations were really just two parties Before the STB would reach its decision, Western seeking to understand each other’s needs. It was a Fuels, Basin Electric and BNSF were able to reach thing of beauty,” Leingang says. a settlement. On June 12, 2015, the STB granted Western Fuels Association and Basin Electric, the parties’ petition to vacate the 2009 decision, as the operating agent for the six discontinuing the proceeding. participants of the Missouri Basin According to Leingang, who I think this contract Power Project (MBPP), reached provided data, metrics and analytics signals a new era of a settlement with BNSF Railway to MBPP’s legal team throughout the cooperation and mutual on May 13. The legal dispute negotiations, Laramie River Station respect between the two with BNSF involved coal shipping aims for a stockpile of 900,000 tons, organizations. rates for the Laramie River Station or about 27 days of coal at full load. Joe Leingang located near Wheatland, WY. While the legal dispute didn’t After a contract expired in directly affect the plant’s coal stock2004, BNSF unilaterally set new pile levels, Leingang says, a positive rates to ship coal to Laramie River Station. In working relationship formed with BNSF helped Basin October 2004, Basin Electric and Western Fuels Electric and the MBPP withstand other challenges filed a complaint with the Surface Transportation such as inclement winter weather and rail congestion. Board (STB), asserting they were captive to BNSF In a released statement, BNSF says they are for rail deliveries of coal from the Powder River Basin satisfied with the outcome of the settlement and “look to Laramie River and that the new rates BNSF had forward to working together to serve the Project’s imposed were unreasonably high under governing consumers.” regulatory standards. Leingang says BNSF and Basin Electric are alike in In 2009, the STB determined the rates BNSF several ways, such as their support of coal, staying safe was charging for shipping coal to Laramie River were both at work and home, and in the companies’ devotion unreasonable, and provided an estimated $345 million to military service members. This like-mindedness in current dollar rate relief through 2024. As part of helped the negotiation come to an amicable resolution. this relief, BNSF was ordered to refund nearly $120 “This contract is huge; it’s material to our million for excess rates paid between 2004 and 2009. rates,” Leingang says. “I think it signals a new era of BNSF originally appealed the 2009 decision in cooperation and mutual respect between the two the Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., on several organizations.”
JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 9
GETTING THE
BIG PICTURE
G&T COMMUNICATORS VISIT BASIN ELECTRIC By Tracie Bettenhausen Basin Electric hosted the G&T (generation and transmission) Communicators’ summer meeting June 22-24, leading a tour of North Dakota’s Energy Trail one day, and facilitating their business meeting the following day and a half. Speakers included Vern
Dosch, National Information Solutions Cooperative CEO, and a discussion on the Environmental Protection Agency’s activities with Steve Tomac, Basin Electric senior legislative representative, and Mark Hayes, NRECA senior communications manager.
John Gates, husband of Jonie Gates, Hoosier Energy REC, Bloomington, IN, and director of member services at Johnson County REMC, Franklin, IN, checks out a coal loader tire at The Coteau Properties Company’s Freedom Mine, Beulah, ND. The tire is 11 feet high and costs about $85,000.
10 | BASIN TODAY
Kim Schock (far right), Dakota Gas administrative assistant I, gives a tour of the model room to J.D. Wallace, Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives, and Kathe Breheny, Central Iowa Power Cooperative.
Kathe Breheny, vice president of corporate communications at Central Iowa Power Cooperative, is a 15-year veteran of electric cooperatives, but when she visits Basin Electric, she feels something new. “I have always had the utmost respect for Basin Electric. You are a leader in the G&T family because of your culture. When we were listening to your CEO speak to us, it was just so apparent. This cooperative lives the co-op business model from the top down.” Breheny’s favorite part of the Energy Trail tour was the Freedom Mine. “You can read about a coal mine, look at pictures, watch a video. But until you go down into the pit and see what is done, and then see where there used to be a coal mine and it’s all reclaimed, you don’t really get the full picture. … I appreciate that Basin Electric does these tours for anybody who asks. That is a culture of education and training that is unparalleled. We should be proud of what we do and who we are.”
J.D. Wallace snapping pictures of large equipment during the bus tour at Freedom Mine.
J.D. Wallace, social media and marketing administrator at Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives, is new to the G&T Communicators group, having started work at the cooperative two months ago following a career in broadcast news.
The cooperative business model is what caused Wallace to take the job. “I wouldn’t have left television news for just any job. I knew this was something I could believe in. In an electric cooperative, we look after our members and keep their best interests in mind.” The G&T Communicators group has proven useful to Wallace already. “Being a communicator at the G&T level is a different animal, I’m learning. You don’t directly communicate with and market to the end-use consumers like a distribution cooperative, but at the same time, you want them to know who you are,” he says.
Chris Studer, East River Electric Power Cooperative, gets some pictures of one of three draglines working at Freedom Mine.
Chris Studer, communications and marketing manager at East River Electric Power Cooperative, works for a Basin Electric Class A member, and has been to Antelope Valley Station and the Freedom Mine before. However, every month he hears an update on Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant from Kermit Pearson, East River’s representative on the Basin Electric board. The June tour was his first visit. “Now that I’ve been there, had things explained to me as we can see it laid out in the model room, I feel I have a much broader understanding,” he says. “You can picture the gasifiers. When you learn about all the products made there, you can kind of picture how the process looks. I’m glad I did this.” http://bit.ly/BasinGTComm
JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 11
ME M B E R F OCUS
FRIENDS IN POWER
WEST RIVER SEES LARGER COOPERATIVE PICTURE DURING FACILITIES TOUR During a June 4 VIP member tour, Joel Stephens, West River Electric journeyman lineman, stops to look out the Antelope Valley Station observation deck near Beulah, ND.
By Dain Sullivan As his white tour bus sits in front of The Coteau “How Basin Electric buys and sells power was Properties Company office June 4, Tour Guide Daryl enlightening to me,” says Kusser, West River marketing Hill raises a microphone and turns to the 30 West River and member services manager. “This tour is a great Electric Cooperative employees seated behind him. opportunity because a lot of our employees have never “As Paul Harvey used to say, ‘Stand by for news,’” seen Basin Electric’s facilities, let alone received in-depth Hill says over the vehicle’s intercom system. background on how they operate.” Chuckles float throughout the aisle as Hill grins, Lane Butler, a West River foreman who frequently and the bus moves on to continue a communicates with Basin Electric tour of Basin Electric’s facilities. The dispatchers, is especially intrigued by This tour is a great Wall, SD-based cooperative group the meter response protocols in place opportunity because a lot may have just met the comical tour at Headquarters. of our employees have guide, but they already like him. “There’s a lot more behind a never seen Basin Electric’s “That tour guy’s awesome,” one phone call or radio call than you think,” facilities, let alone received man says from a few seats back. Butler says, as he recalls the advanced in-depth background on how It’s day two of the tour, and the weather-, meter- and security-monitorthey operate. West River group is excited to be in ing systems in place at Basin Electric. Veronica Kusser Beulah, ND. For many of them, the Many group members snap previous day’s Headquarters tour is pictures as they leave Dakota Gasificastill fresh in mind. tion Company’s Great Plains Synfuels The group sat in on a Basin Electric overview Plant, which the group had visited earlier that morning. luncheon in the cooperative’s board room, and visited They pause briefly to hear their tour guide again. the Marketing and Asset Management floor and the “Some people have described the gasification plant Security and Response Services center in Bismarck, ND. as a chemist’s dream because it literally disassembles West River, as well as Basin Electric’s other member the molecular structure of coal, and through different cooperatives, plays a huge role in the success and processes downstream from the gasifiers, reassembles efficiency of all parts of Basin Electric. it into other products,” Hill says. As she waits for the next stop in Beulah, Veronica During the trip, Christine Ritter mouths a silent Kusser says she is amazed by the seemingly endless “wow” as she learns that, while it takes millions of market trading and electrical-use data displayed on years for the earth to make natural gas, it only takes traders’ monitors at Headquarters. the Synfuels Plant 20 minutes.
12 | BASIN TODAY
Cheri Schantz, tour guide for The Coteau Properties Company’s Freedom Mine near Beulah, ND, leads West River Electric employees into the mine.
Daryl Hill, Basin Electric tour guide, walks West River Electric employees through the model room at Antelope Valley Station.
“It just blows my mind that Dakota Gas has that where their power comes from,” says Bonnie Almeida, technology,” says Ritter, West River customer service West River customer service representative. representative. Driving further into the mine, West River employRitter also finds Basin Electric’s wind projects and ees get to see a dragline up close, after the machine nearby Antelope Valley Station interesting, siting their is stopped and the swing radius is safe to enter. They significant role in the cooperative’s generation portfolio. learn there are about 500 employees at the site, and “We’ve done a couple of tours in West River’s The Coteau Properties Company’s goal is to keep territory to see what the linemen do, but it’s really them all safe. neat to see where the power actually comes from,” As the tour bus makes its way to the nearby she says. “I had no idea turbines could be controlled Antelope Valley Station, pheasants and a whitetail deer from Basin Electric Headquarters.” can be seen along the road. The Dick Johnson, West River CEO group learns that Coteau and Basin This trip helps our and general manager, smiles as his Electric firmly believe in restoring employees get to know Basin employees talk about the surrounding mined land to as good or better Electric better. Seeing this technology. shape than it was originally found. technology firsthand and shar“This trip helps our employees Upon reaching Antelope ing it through word of mouth get to know Basin Electric better,” Valley, the West River group is important. says Johnson, who always finds new follows Hill into the plant’s model Dick Johnson questions to ask when he visits the room. He points out such features cooperative’s facilities. “Seeing this as the boiler, environmental technology firsthand and sharing it controls and the turbine generator, through word of mouth is important.” then guides everyone on a tour of the actual plant. Employee reactions continue as the bus enters The The group is particularly interested in the plant’s Coteau Properties Company’s Freedom Mine, under ash and water discharge. Hill explains ash is hauled the guidance of the mine’s tour guide, Cheri Schantz. out to be used to make other products, and water “That is one big truck,” says one woman upon only leaves the plant through evaporation. watching it being loaded by a front-end loader, and “In my humble opinion, this is the prettiest power hearing Schantz report that each of the loader tires plant in North Dakota,” Hill says. costs $85,000. “Aren’t they just amazing?” whispers Upon leaving Antelope Valley, West River another as a nearby haul truck transports 300 tons of employees no doubt have a lot of information to take coal to the unloading area a few miles away. home. But what they’re encouraged to remember “I really enjoyed the coal tour, just because that’s above all else is, at the end of the day, Basin Electric not something that you think of every day when you’re truly values its members. They are who Basin Electric talking with your members on the telephone about exists to serve.
JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 13
UREA PROJECT CONSTRUCTION MOVES ABOVE GROUND
14 | BASIN TODAY
Dakota Gas directors approve amending project budget, increasing it to $500 million: May 2015 FEED study: Fall 2013
Engineering starts: February 2014
Peak of construction: Summer 2016
Project engineering complete: Fall 2015
Equipment commissioning: December 2016
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Major equipment from Austria arrives: November 2015
Construction begins: July 2014 Dakota Gas directors approve $402 million project: January 2014
Project general contractor chosen: May 2015
Engineering substantially complete: October 2015
Urea and diesel emission fluid available for market: Spring 2017
General contractor mobilizes: June 2015
By Joan Dietz The Great Plains Synfuels Plant is buzzing with activity. About 60 Dakota Gasification Company and contract employees are currently on site working on the new urea project. Those numbers are projected to increase throughout the year, peaking at 750 workers in 2016. Currently on site, workers are focusing on below-ground construction activities, like the auger cast pilings and storm drainage systems. Crews are also working to complete the new craft parking lot, install a permanent guard shack, construct a permanent site access road, and create additional material laydown yards. Engineering is now about two-thirds complete for the urea plant construction project, said Jim Greer, senior project manager. “The issue-for-construction piling drawings are getting out to the field so the piling contractor, Berkel, can continue to diligently work on the more than 1,000 piles needed to be placed,” Greer says. A recent engineering milestone was met when the 70 percent CAD model review was successfully completed. The model shows the steel structures, mechanical, piping and electrical systems for the urea plant. “It is a three-dimensional model and has been a large portion of the team’s focus for the past three weeks,” Greer says. “We only had to make a few changes, like moving valves and taking out a mezzanine platform for better maintenance access. It was very successful.” Engineering is also working on issuing structural steel drawings to the steel fabricator, a North Dakota company, for the Melt building. Other members of the
engineering team are preparing concrete foundation drawings for issue in June. Greer says that the goal is to complete engineering for the project in the fourth quarter 2015. Another big step in the project is awarding the general contractor bid. Greer says staff worked for five months to put the general contractor bid package together. “We had a very large volume of information to put together for this package,” Greer says. “The process takes time with the bid package going out to multiple bidders in December, pre-bid meetings held in January and bids due in March. We created a short list of bidders and focused on clarifying the bids in March and April. There are lot of factors we review. We also had competing contractors interview with us as we conducted an evaluation survey indicating safety practices, the strength of their team and company, quality control, ability to meet schedules, costs and familiarity with construction of urea plants. In the end, the project team selected one and made a recommendation to senior management.” Aecom’s URS division, based out of Denver, CO, was chosen to be general contractor for the project and should be on site in June. Staff is currently working through the pre-mobilization phase, which includes submitting schedules, safety plans, quality control plans, approving staffing plans and other initial steps to mobilize. Greer says a notice to proceed has been issued with Aecom, and staff will be working to complete the contract award. Worley Parsons of Billings, MT, was chosen as the construction management contractor earlier this year
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and now has a core staff of 11 people on site tailored Greer says the urea storage building site is also to the needs of the project today, which includes site being prepared. “The soil is weak in that area,” he civil work and mobilization. Their staff will increase says, “so a specialty contractor, using a technique as the construction activities pick up. called ‘rigid inclusions’ will be contracted in June to Activity continues to increase on the construcuse pressurized grout to put in vertical columns that tion site, with several pieces of equipment arriving will squeeze out into the soil to strengthen it to be able recently. Greer says they are using the Big Top tent to hold the 53,000-ton urea pile that building will hold.” to house the heat exchangers that have arrived. The Greer also says the Dakota Gas commissioning large pieces of equipment, includteam, led by Dale Moline, is now ing the stripper, scrubber and pool established and growing in staff. reactor, will be arriving from Austria They have been busy developing The commissioning in November, as they are currently turnover plans. The construction team was in the lot at 3:30 being fabricated there. team will use these plans to turn a.m. to complete the tests “We are working with BNSF over systems to the commissioning to make sure that the lumen intensity was accurate, and to make arrangements to bring team at end of construction. The it was successful. these large vessels to the Synfuels first system was tested recently Plant,” Greer says. “It will be quite when the new craft parking lot lights Jim Greer the process as the pool reactor alone were successfully turned on. “The weighs half-a-million pounds.” commissioning team was in the lot More than 80 equipment at 3:30 a.m. to complete the tests vendors are now under contract to supply materials to make sure that the lumen intensity was accurate, for the project. Greer says the majority of the equipand it was successful.” ment needed to complete the project is now under Contractors broke ground on the urea facility contract. “We are working on procuring specialty in July 2014. The project is set to be complete and valves, instrumentation and piping bid packages,” producing about 1,100 tons of urea a day early in 2017. he says. About 185,000 gallons per day of diesel emissions fluid Rachael Construction continues work on installing will also be produced in the unit and sold. The project the storm drain system. They closed up one of the continues on schedule and within budget. main open channel ditches, installing a permanent http://bit.ly/DakotaGasUrea concrete pipe storm drain.
A budget adjustment
$500 MILLION
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In May, Matt Greek, Basin Electric’s senior vice president of Engineering and Construction, requested an amendment to the urea project budget. The Dakota Gas board of directors approved a new budget of $500 million. The budget had been set originally at $402 million. “Even though the cost of the project has increased, the return on this investment is very good due to strong product pricing and demand, as well as favorable financing rates for the project,” says Dale Johnson, plant manager. Greek explained to directors how the original budget was determined, what has caused it to shift, and what staff is doing to stick to the updated number.
He said the original budget was set based on a cost estimate prepared during the front-end engineering study (FEED) in 2013. General construction bids came in higher than estimated and other factors transpired, resulting in the request to amend the budget. “Going forward, there is a series of things we will do to make sure we stick to the budget, including active work management, assuring the parts we need are procured to complete the job in a timely manner, scheduled work and cost containment, making sure the quality and quantity of equipment is appropriate for the project, and execution of the project to make sure it is completed on time,” Greek says.
F E AT URE SE RIES
R
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF … DIRECTOR
ROBERTA ROHRER By Tracie Bettenhausen Little did she know, but Roberta Rohrer was running a 1979 co-op board election campaign from a pickup truck on the edge of the Great Plains. Rohrer had been working alongside her husband Arnold Rohrer in their land leveling business. Land leveling was common in Montana then, Roberta Rohrer says, because government money was available to help farmers and ranchers do it for irrigation purposes. Roberta and Arnold Rohrer would drive from landowner to landowner around Great Falls, MT, marking out how they would change the slope of the land, Arnold doing the measuring and Roberta making the mark. One of their customers, S. T. McFarland, saw something in Roberta Rohrer she had never considered. McFarland was soon retiring from the Sun River Electric Cooperative board, and wondered if Rohrer would like to run in his place. Nobody in Rohrer’s family had served on electric co-op boards in the past, and she had never been to a co-op meeting. But Rohrer decided it was worth a shot and ran. Her daughter, Linda, went along to that November meeting for moral support. “We were sitting in the crowd with about 300 people. I wasn’t sure what to expect, because I wasn’t actively involved with the co-op up to that point. I was completely shocked when it was announced that I had won the election,” she says. “On the way out, Linda turned to me and said, ‘All that time, I was sitting there thinking what I was going to say to you when you lost.’” When she thought about things later, she’s convinced her position staking land helped stake her seat on the board. “I think so many members knew me because I was in their fields marking stakes. JULY – AUGUST 2015 | 17
F E AT URE SE RIES
’You see that lady? She’s the one out staking fields,’” thinking. “I’m convinced we will eventually build on to Rohrer laughs. Dry Fork Station. (The Gillette, WY, coal-based power She was the first woman to serve on Sun River plant was designed with room for another unit to be Electric’s board, and the only woman to this day. built on site.) I think the discussion is eventually going to Rohrer holds that same distinction on the Basin Electric go back to the cost of electrical generation,” she says. board. But her Class A board, Central Montana Electric “If we abandon coal, the cost of electricity will go so Cooperative, is a different story. Half of the seats, four high, it will open people’s eyes. They will realize coal is of eight, are held by women. the cheapest and most reliable fuel we have available Rohrer admits that makes her proud. She grew to us, and people will come to learn how clean these up in Livingston, MT, then worked as a stenographer new coal plants can be.” at a welfare office in Bozeman, MT. She met Arnold While interviewing for this story, Rohrer is sitting in at a rodeo dance while he was going to school to be a Washington, D.C., hotel lobby, getting ready to meet a civil engineer. The couple lived in with U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), New Mexico for a year, then Colorado U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and I consider it a high for a year, eventually moving back to U.S Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), as honor for me to be able to Montana. part of the annual National Rural serve members. Working for Roberta Rohrer has formed Electric Cooperative Association the end-user – the elderly, long-lasting friendships with fellow Legislative Conference. During the fixed incomes. We need to be concerned about those directors, and says she wishes more visits, cooperative representatives people, and it has been my people could get involved in electric are mainly addressing the Environgoal to keep their electricity cooperatives. She says being busy mental Protection Agency’s 111(d) costs down. shouldn’t keep people away. Her Clean Power Plan, the Federal Water children were in their teens and Quality Protection Act and the Coal Roberta Rohrer twenties by the time she joined the Combustion Residuals Act. Sun River Electric board. Arnold “I consider it a high honor for me Rohrer, who eventually closed his staking business and to be able to serve members. Working for the end-user started a concrete business, had a heart attack at 47 – the elderly, fixed incomes. We need to be concerned years old. The Rohrers sold the concrete business to about those people, and it has been my goal to keep their sons, and Arnold Rohrer became an attorney. He their electricity costs down,” she says. also built both homes the Rohrers and their children, Rohrer says her life has been richer for serving Jim, Linda, David and Bob, ever lived in, the last one cooperatives. “Everybody in the co-op world I have just eight years ago. Through this, Roberta Rohrer worked with has been respectful and treated me very held down the home front and continued serving the well. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. I have cooperatives. made more friends than I can count, and have been Rohrer joined the Basin Electric board in 2004. able to travel to more cities and states than I would She says the thing that surprised her most when she have otherwise,” she says. first joined was the magnitude of all discussions. “We Thirty-five years later, Rohrer isn’t sure what were not dealing in thousands of dollars like I was used caused McFarland to ask her to serve on the Sun River to, it’s millions and billions. Eventually, I just had to Electric board, but she is forever grateful and remained ask, ‘Does anybody here know how many projects and friends with him until McFarland died three years ago. how much money we’re spending?’” she recalls with “He probably had the most influence on my life than a laugh. “Somebody said, ‘That’s a good question.’” anybody else. This has been my life.” As for Basin Electric’s future, Rohrer sees a http://bit.ly/RohrerRoleModel lot more regulation. But she also predicts a shift in 18 | BASIN TODAY
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Employee, cancer survivor throws out first pitch at Minnesota Twins game Will Hangsleben, real time trader II, with the baseball he threw at the May 16 Minnesota Twins baseball game.
When Will Hangsleben, real time trader II, was Sitting in the stands at Target Field, the Twins asked to throw the ceremonial first pitch to represent stadium, one can tell it’s pretty vast, but Hangsleben says leukemia and lymphoma survivors at a Minnesota the stadium looks much bigger from the pitcher’s mound. Twins baseball game, he didn’t hesitate to say yes. “It’s like it’s twice as big when you’re down on the But the butterflies set in as he realized it was really field looking up at it. It’s massive,” he says with a laugh. going to happen. “And those lights … People say those lights are bright Hangsleben, a survivor of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, on the field, and yes, they are!” was asked by his cousin’s friend, The opportunity to represent Scott Olmstead, a fellow lymphoma fellow cancer survivors served as an So much has happened survivor and active volunteer with opportunity for Hangsleben to reflect and so much has changed. It the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on how far he’s come since his cancer just makes me excited for office in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. diagnosis. other things the future has Olmstead, who served as a resource Life threw him a curve ball at the in store for me. to Hangsleben during his battle with end of his senior year in college. During Will Hangsleben cancer, had the honor of throwing out the week of his final exams, he was the ceremonial first pitch last year and diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. recommended Hangsleben because of When Hangsleben should have been his similar cancer experience. focusing on graduating college and getting a job, he Three years and one week after being diagnosed instead began cancer treatments. with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hangsleben’s ceremonial “It was the beginning of an interesting journey,” pitch kicked off the May 16 baseball game between the Hangsleben says of the next four months of chemoMinnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays. Leading up therapy and one month of radiation treatments. He to the game, his friends sent him videos of ceremonial credits his positive mindset and a good supporting cast pitch bloopers and jokingly told him not to screw up of family and friends that got him through it. the pitch. As for his time on the pitcher’s mound, Hangsleben “I threw the pitch, which surprisingly was down considers it a benchmark in his life. “Three years ago, the plate,” Hangsleben says. ”I’m not going to lie, I was I was there and now I’m here. So much has happened a little worried about my friends giving me grief if I did and so much has changed. It just makes me excited for screw up the pitch.” other things the future has in store for me.”
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2015-2016 Basin Electric scholarship winners announced Twenty-five $1,000 scholarships were awarded to children of Basin Electric and subsidiary employees to further their education this fall. Recipients were chosen for their participation in school and community activities, academic excellence, work experience and career goals.
Micah Apodaca, is the daughter of Lee (Laramie River Station) and Rhonda Apodaca. She will be a sophomore at University of Wyoming, majoring in chemical engineering. Meghan Battest is the daughter of Scott (Dakota Gasification Company) and Paula Battest. She will be a senior at North Dakota State University, majoring in hospitality and tourism. Sarah Bolton, is the daughter of Richard (Antelope Valley Station) and Jackie Bolton. She will be a sophomore at the University of Mary, majoring in occupational therapy. Connor Candrian, is the son of Dennis (Dakota Gasification Company) and Kim Candrian. He will be a sophomore at Bismarck State College, majoring in pre-engineering. Kourtney Carr is the daughter of Don (Antelope Valley Station) and Deb Carr. She will be a sophomore majoring communication science at the University of North Dakota. Kathryn DeWitt is the daughter of Tammy (Headquarters) and Jason DeWitt. She will be a junior majoring in civil engineering at the University of North Dakota. Logan Eisenbeis is the son of Erwin (Antelope Valley Station) and Margo Eisenbeis. He will be a sophomore at North Dakota State College of Science, majoring in precision machining.
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Hunter Eller is the son of Steve (Laramie River Station) Eller and LaRon Eller. He will be a freshman at Riverton Community College, majoring in land ranch management and equine science. Rachel Funkhouser is the daughter of A.T. (Dakota Gasification Company) Funkhouser. She will be a sophomore majoring in accounting and finance at University of North Dakota. Perrin Goetzfridt is the son of Lori (Headquarters) and Chad Goetzfridt. He will be a freshman at Bismarck State College, majoring in carpentry.
Victoria Hageman is the daughter of Shannon (Laramie River Station) and William Hageman. She will be a sophomore at Casper College, majoring in radiology. Madissen Hester is the daughter of Frank (Laramie River Station) and Janelle Hester. She will be a freshman majoring in microbiology at the University of Wyoming. Meghan Huber is the daughter of Tim (Headquarters) and Brenda Huber. She will be a junior at University of Mary, majoring in exercise science and physical therapy.
Katelyn Johnson is the daughter of Tim (Leland Olds Station) and Rebecca Johnson. She will be a junior at the University of North Dakota, majoring in biology and Norwegian.
Cody Przybylski is the son of Jeff (Headquarters) and Ruth Przybylski. He will be a sophomore at Colorado State University, majoring in computer engineering.
Courtney Kemmet is the daughter of Ralph (Dakota Gasification Company) Kemmet. She will be a sophomore majoring in elementary education at North Dakota State University.
Bailey Roth is the son of Robert (Laramie River Station) Roth and Kathy Roth. He will be a sophomore at Western Nebraska Community College, majoring in information technology.
Neil Lelm is the son of Lynn (Leland Olds Station) and Stacy Lelm. He will be a sophomore at North Dakota State University, majoring in zoology.
Jaden Schmidt is the son of Darvin (Dakota Gasification Company) and Kristie Schmidt. He will be a freshman at Bismarck State College, majoring in electrical lineworker.
Allison Pillar is the daughter of Dan (Dakota Gasification Company) and Kristie Pillar. She will be a senior at North Dakota State University, majoring in marketing and web design.
Hailey Tollefson is the daughter of Shane (Dakota Gasification Company) and Jen Tollefson. She will be a junior majoring in occupational therapy at University of North Dakota.
Emily Pillar is the daughter of Dan (Dakota Gasification Company) and Kristie Pillar. She will be a freshman majoring in elementary education at North Dakota State University.
Claire Wiseman is the daughter of Scott (Headquarters) and JuLann Wiseman. She will be a freshman at North Dakota State University, majoring in biology.
Lindsey Pouliot is the daughter of Steve (Dakota Gasification Company) and Linda Pouliot. She will be a freshman at North Dakota State University, majoring in public relations.
Philip Louie Wolf is the son of Donald (Antelope Valley Station) and Soledad Wolf. He will be a sophomore majoring in civil engineering at North Dakota State University.
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New employees Amanda Schauer, associate scheduler, started work at Headquarters June 15. She previously worked at Graybar Electric in Bismarck as a customer service representative/oil and gas specialist. The Ashley, ND, native has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. Shannon Julson, contracts manager, started work at Headquarters April 13. Originally from Parshall, ND, he previously worked for Bobcat Company as a planning and procurement manager. Previously, he worked as a mechanical engineer. Julson has a master’s in business administration from University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Tanner Seibel, was hired May 11 as an electrical engineer II at Transmission System Maintenance-Mandan. He previously worked as a substation engineer for Montana-Dakota Utilities. The Minot, ND, native has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in North Dakota.
Derek Ness, dispatcher, started work at Headquarters April 13. The Bismarck, ND, native previously worked as a shift supervisor at CVS Pharmacy and as a maintenance intern at Headquarters. Ness has a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in communications.
Mike Hausauer started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 17 as a process operations field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck State College. He previously worked at Northwest Contracting in Bismarck.
Aaron Baker started June 1 at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant as a maintenance field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in mechanical maintenance from Bismarck State College.
Matthew Kolling, senior staff counsel, started work at Headquarters May 11. He previously was the city attorney for the City of Dickinson (ND). Kolling has a law degree from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a bachelor’s degree from University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Billy Binstock, process operations field technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 17. He has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College and was a cooperative education student employee at the plant. Binstock is originally from Mandan, ND.
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Mason Buchholz started at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a process operations field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck State College.
Eric Hawks started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a process operations field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck State College.
Andrew Heironimus began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a protection services specialist. Originally from Langdon, ND, he has a degree in fire science and is a paramedic. Justin Davy was hired May 11 as a power supply engineer II at Headquarters. The Bismarck, ND, native previously worked for Ulteig Engineers as a protection and controls engineer, and for The Shaw Group in Denver, CO, as an instrumentation and controls engineer. Davy has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo. Nichole Rohrich, was hired May 18 as a multimedia specialist I at Headquarters. Originally from Napoleon, ND, Rohrich previously worked at BEK Communications as a graphic designer and owned her own graphic design business. She has an associate degree in graphic design from Minnesota State Community and Technical College, Moorhead. Zach Denning, process operations field technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck State College. Brendan Ereth started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a process operations field technician. The Mandan, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College.
Reid Gentzkow started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as an electrical and instrumentation maintenance field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native is a journeyman electrician and previously worked for Industrial Contractors, Inc. and Minnkota Power Cooperative. Christopher Gustin, process operations field technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck State College. Previously, he was as an intern at Minnesota Power/Allete in New Salem, ND. Ben Sargent, accounting analyst II, started work at Headquarters June 1. He previously worked at Sanford Health as a financial analyst.
Austin Hibl, electrical and instrument ation maintenance f ield technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18. He is a Dickinson, ND, native and has a degree in instrumentation and control from Bismarck (ND) State College. Kevin Holen started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1 as a maintenance field technician. Originally from Superior, WI, he had worked for Dingwells North America, Duluth, MN. Holen has a degree in machine tool technician.
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New employees Tyler Hotten, electrical and instrument ation maintenance f ield technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1. The Underwood, ND, native has an associate degree in instrumentation and controls from Bismarck (ND) State College. Austin Kahl, process operations field technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 17. He has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College. Michael Kramer started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1 as an area inspection specialist. He previously worked at the plant from 1983 to 2001. He is originally from McLaughlin, SD. Jordan Kuntz started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1 as a process operations field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck State College. Thomas Senger, rate and revenue analyst I, started work at Headquarters June 1. The Mandan, ND, native previously worked at WBI Energy as a measurement analyst in Bismarck, ND. Kurt Capouch was hired June 1 as a multimedia specialist II at Headquarters. He previously worked at Media Productions as a technical director, audio visual and managing producer. Previously, Capouch was the owner/operator of Pro-Clips Video in Bismarck, ND, and worked at KFYR-TV and KNDX-TV. Capouch is originally from Pisek, ND.
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Karson Laframboise, process operations field technician, began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1. The Grand Forks, ND, native has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College. He was as an intern at Minnesota Power/Allete in New Salem, ND. Michael Larson, maintenance field technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1. The Madison, SD, native has a degree in energy technology from Lake Area Technical Institute, Watertown, SD. Preston Blinsky, electrical engineer I, started work at Headquarters June 1. He previously was an intern at Basin Electric.
Benjamin Good, dispatcher, started work at Headquarters May 11. The Bismarck, ND, native previously worked at Montana-Dakota Utilities as a credit representative. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and is fluent in American Sign Language. Tyler Mongeon started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 17 as a process operations field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck State College. He previously worked at Scheels in Bismarck and was an assistant baseball coach at Shiloh Christian School.
Skylar McKay started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a process operations field technician. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck State College. John Gagnon was hired April 25 as a wind technician. He previously worked for the United State Air Force as an ICBM codes superintendent in Great Falls, MT. He has associate degrees in human resources management and missile space systems. Nick Moran began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a process operations field technician. The Billings, MT, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Montana State University, Billings. He previously worked at CHS Inc. Refinery and Jupiter Sulphur, LLC, in Billings. Brittnay Bauer was hired May 18 as a records coordinator II at Headquarters. Originally from Garrison, ND, she worked as a support staff supervisor at Rodenberg Law Firm in Bismarck, ND. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Dickinson (ND) State University. Aaron Morman, process operations field technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 17. The Riverdale, ND, native has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College.
Charles Roy, pipeline engineer, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1. The Grand Rapids, MN, native has a mechanical engineering degree from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. He was a mechanical engineering intern at UPM Blandin Paper Company in Grand Rapids, MN. Joe Nelson, operations technician, started work at the Lonesome Creek Station May 18. He previously worked as an operator technician for Rupert Cogeneration in Rupert, ID. Courtney Souza started May 18 at Headquarters as an assistant travel coordinator. Originally from Live Oak, CA, she previously worked as a customer service agent for Delta Airlines in Bismarck, ND. Dustin Scheurer, process operations field technician, started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant June 1. The Golden Valley, ND, native previously was a cooperative education student at the plant. He has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College. Landon Schmidt was hired June 1 as an electrical and instrumentation maintenance field technician at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. The Bismarck, ND, native has an electrical and industrial degree from North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, ND. David Schuetz began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a process operations field technician. He has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College.
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New employees
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Curtis Fletcher, communication technician, started April 20 at Transmission System MaintenanceWilliston. He previously worked for Colorado Interstate Gas in Vernal, UT.
Alyssa Prelle was hired May 18 as an assistant laborer at Dry Fork Station. She previously was a sales associate at Eddie Bauer in Billings, MT.
Tyler Snider was hired May 18 as a process operations field technician at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck State College. He was working at Vertex Refining Ohio, Columbus.
Slade Ternes, electrical engineer, began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18. He has a bachelor’s degree in electric engineering from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. The Mandan, ND, native serves in the North Dakota Army National Guard.
Jim McKay, operations and maintenance supervisor, started May 4 at the Pioneer Generation Station. He previously worked for Great River Energy, most recently as a fuel and logistics manager. McKay has an associate degree in electrical technology and master’s degrees in management and business administration.
Ryan Bohmbach began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 4 as an electrical and instrumentation maintenance field technician. The Burlington, ND, native has an associate degree in electrical technology from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND. He previously worked as an electrician for Edling Electric.
Adam Stein was hired May 17 as a process operations field technician at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 17. The Bismarck, ND, native has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck State College.
Amy Just, receptionist, started May 4 at the Dry Fork Station. The Gillette, WY, native previously worked as an escrow officer at Stewart Title Company in Gillette. She also was the vice president of mortgage lending at First Northern Bank of Wyoming.
Brenden Sweeney started work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 18 as a process operations field technician. The Randolph, NE, native has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College. He was working at Backer Bees,Center, ND.
Josh Hanson began work April 20 as a process operations field technician at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. The Bowbells, ND, native has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College.
Service awards Robert Jones began work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 4 as a protection services specialist. The North Augusta, SC, native is a firefighter, fire inspector, emergency medical technician and has a degree in business management.
Barry Mehlhoff
Francis Brunsell
mechanic-lead
operations supervisor
40 years
Laramie River Station
40 years
Leland Olds Station
Lyle Zinke began work at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant May 4 as a process operations field technician. The Mercer, ND, native previously worked at Tesoro Refinery, Mandan, ND. Sourav Dan, mechanical engineer I, started work at Headquarters June 1. He previously worked at CNH Industrial in Fargo, ND, as a facilities and energy engineer. He was previously a design engineer at AGCO Corporation in Jackson, MN, and as a design engineer at SnoBear USA in Fargo. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo. Riley Skager, office service technician, star ted work June 15 at Headquarters. The Bismarck, ND, native previously worked at Pony Express Shell as a cashier.
Gordon Goetz
Stephan Miller
electrician I
equipment attendant
40 years
Leland Olds System
35 years
Antelope Valley Station
Timothy Hanks
David Bruner
maintenance planner/ scheduler
turbine electrician operator
35 years
Laramie River Station
30 years
Antelope Valley Station
Gary Froelich
Dale Johnson
turbine electrician operator
plant manager
30 years
30 years
Antelope Valley Station
Dakota Gasification Company
Cindy Lee-Feist
Charley Barnes
senior business system analyst
instrument-lead
30 years
30 years
Laramie River Station
Headquarters
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Service awards
Thomas Kritzberger
Marcy Lickteig
maintenance planner/ scheduler
procurement assistant
25 years
25 years
Headquarters
Antelope Valley Station
Kay Pickett
Randy Schramm
purchasing agent II
SRS shift lead
25 years
Headquarters
Headquarters
James Taylor
Larry Hruby
assistant mechanic supervisor
maintenance planner/ scheduler
25 years
Laramie River Station
Myles Hafner 20 years
system protection supervisor
Transmission System Maintenance – Beulah
28 | BASIN TODAY
25 years
25 years
Leland Olds Station
Retirees
Editor’s note: Expanded retirement stories were written only for those who returned their questionnaire to Basin Today staff.
Gerald Schrempf retired from Leland Olds Station May 1. He started working as a welder in 1976 for Basin Cooperative Services, and then as a mechanic. In 1993, he was transferred to Leland Olds as a welder/ mechanic. In 2014, he became lead mechanic. During his time at Leland Olds, Schrempf maintained plant equipment and repaired lignite train cars. Dave Soma, mechanical supervisor at Leland Olds, says Schrempf was a pleasure to work with for many reasons. “Gerald has great mechanical knowledge coupled with common sense and a strong work ethic. He’s one of the steadiest welders you could ever know,” Soma says. “Back in the day when Gerald and I both worked in the shop or out in the plant, I was always happy to have him as my partner on any project. He values safety, efficiency and doing work anyone would be proud of, along with a side of fun. He will be sorely missed for those very reasons.” During retirement, Schrempf and his wife plan to spend more time with their four grandkids and other family members. Besides fishing, doing yard work and tinkering around the shop, he might also build yard art, such as rusty art work combined with old barn wood. Dick Sass retired May 8 from Laramie River Station, where he was a mechanic. Sass started working at Laramie River in 1994 as an electrician II. He was promoted to electrician I the following year and held that position until retirement. Many of his coworkers describe Sass as easy going, very good at explaining how things worked and great to work with. “He was always steadfast and helpful,” George Reddicks, electrician apprentice, says. “I’ll miss working with a person that never let small things bother him.” Moses Martinez, electrician I, says Sass never got excited. “When the heat is on he’s the guy you want to be working with,” Martinez says. “I’ll miss being able to ask him about solutions to problems. He was very knowledgeable about the plant.” “Dick Sass was an excellent hand,” says Gilbert Ortiz, electrical supervisor. “He always came to work with great attitude and willingness to work. We wish Dick a happy retirement.”
Irene Beckman retired June 1 after working as a nurse for 40 years. She began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant Nov. 7, 1983, and has seen the medical services area change from a one-room shop to a newly equipped, state-of-the-art medical services facility. Employed first as a registered nurse, Beckman ended her career as medical services supervisor. “In the early days, we worked out of one exam room combined with a nurse’s station and waiting room in the hallway,” Beckman says. “Working out of our new facility the past three years has been so enjoyable. The extra space and new equipment has been really nice.” The expansion of services throughout the Basin Electric organization more than quadrupled the number of patients Beckman and her team saw each year. More than 1,000 influenza vaccinations are given each year alone, and typically 40-plus patients are seen daily. Over the years, Beckman has seen thousands of patients, touching many people’s lives in a variety of ways. Beckman says she enjoyed travelling between all the facilities and meeting employees throughout the cooperative family. “Dr. Kaspari and I travelled one or two times a week. It was interesting to meet employees at all the facilities and rewarding when they’d say how much they appreciated our visits,” Beckman says. “I also
learned a lot travelling with Dr. Kaspari and listening to the advice he gave employees.” Beckman recounts a story of very carefully removing multiple, small pieces of glass from an employee’s eye after an incident. “The patient could not be transported until we removed all the glass or he would have lost his eye. I remember ever so carefully, with a steady hand, picking out several pieces of glass from his eye. In the end, it was a very rewarding feeling that we were able to save his eye. “I will really miss the people,” Beckman says. “With such close care of our employees I have formed many relationships over the years and I will miss that. The employees were like family, and I always appreciated their trust in me. I will miss being able to help people.” As a long-term employee, Beckman has been part of the Great Plains Synfuels Plant family since the beginning, enduring all five name changes. From American Natural Resources to American Natural Gas to the Great Plains Gasification Associates, to the Department of Energy and then finally the Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant. She says it’s been quite a ride, and she is ready to enjoy life a little differently now. Beckman and her husband, Clayton, plan to work on home projects, spend time at the lake, go camping and travel.
DID YOU KNOW?
Basin Electric made history with wind At the end of 2005, Basin Electric had just 5.2 megawatts (MW) in wind generation. Cooperative directors gave their blessing in February 2008 to create two wind energy subsidiaries, PrairieWinds ND 1 Inc. and PrairieWinds SD 1 Inc. After completion of an environmental assessment, construction began in August 2009 on the PrairieWinds ND 1 project, which included 77 turbines south of Minot, ND. The project would generate about 116 MW. In the waning hours of 2009, Basin Electric made history. The PrairieWinds ND 1 project was complete
and, at the time of completion, it was the nation’s largest wind project owned solely by a cooperative. In South Dakota, the PrairieWinds SD 1 project was to be even larger, with 101 turbines and generation of nearly 152 MW. That project was completed in February 2011 and took the title as the largest wind project owned solely by a cooperative in the United States. With a number of other wind project developments and purchased power agreements, Basin Electric now has wind capacity of 810 MW.
2005 5.2 MW
2015 810 MW
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BISMARCK, ND PERMIT 224
1717 EAST INTERSTATE AVENUE BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA 58503-0564 701-223-0441 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
BASIN’S BACKYARD GARDEN BEGINS
2ND SEASON OF GIVING A few of the volunteers who assisted with the first year included (from left) Chris Gessele, Steve Crane (retired), Alyssa Gessele, Tracie Bettenhausen, Sheila Renner and Karen Will (retired).
500 POUNDS
DONATED TO LOCAL CHARITIES IN 2014
In its second season, the garden has expanded, and when it was time for planting a class of first graders from Bismarck’s Highland Acres Elementary School came to Basin Electric to help. Watch the garden grow: https://basingarden.wordpress.com/