B A S I N T O D AY BASIN EL EC T RIC P OW ER COOPER AT I V E
SEP T EMBER | OC TOBER 2017
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M AG A ZINE
COOPERATIVE GROWTH
Basin Electric employees teamed with Capital Electric Cooperative and the Bismarck (ND) High School soccer team to paint, build, fix, cut, clean, and more at Papa’s Pumpkin Patch and Papa’s Polar Patch for Missouri Slope Areawide United Way Day of Caring Aug. 16 near Bismarck. Some even made it a family affair and brought their kids along to help.
CONTENTS VOLUME 20
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NUMBER 5
ON THE COVER John Hamilton, a member of Tongue River Electric Cooperative, Ashland, MT, grows fruit and vegetables in his irrigated garden to sell at a local farmers market. Tongue River Electric is one of three Montana members that began receiving power from Basin Electric in 2017. IN EVERY ISSUE 2 CEO and general manager column: Paul Sukut 4 In brief 17 Member Focus: A day at the fair 18 Feature series: A day in the life of ... Senior Contract Administrator Mike Seefeld 20 Employee highlights FEATURE STORIES 6 Focusing on the A: A look into the development of the financial forecast 8 Meet me in Montana 14 One step closer 16 Carbon solutions going underground CONTRIBUTORS Editor:
Chris Gessele (cgessele@bepc.com)
Graphic designer:
Nicole Perreault
Photographers:
Chelsy Ciavarella, Jade Neumann & Greg DeSaye
Writers:
Tracie Bettenhausen, Tammy Langerud, Angela Magstadt & Joan Dietz
Use your smartphone barcode scanner to view stories online. SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 1
CEO A ND G E NE R A L M A N AG E R C OL UMN
PAUL SUKUT DEVELOPING STRATEGY AS THE SEASONS CHANGE It seems like every year around this time, the cooling temperatures get my mind working in two different directions. Looking backward I reflect on the long dry summer we’ve had. We started with very little rain, which set back farmers and their crops throughout the Midwest. Where I grew up in Dickey County, ND, farmers and ranchers qualified for natural disaster assistance this year because of losses and damages caused by the drought. The region got a reprieve of sorts with some rain the last month or so, but all that did was halt combines and settle the harvest haze out of the air. Looking forward, we all know what looms on the other side of our short fall season. While it might be uncomfortable to look forward at what’s to come, there is always benefit in it. I’ll have my snowblower ready to go, sidewalk salt purchased, and my winter emergency survival kit stashed in my pickup before the first snowflakes fall. At Basin Electric we look forward and plan for the future in a variety of ways. With our members’ help, we develop a member load forecast to give direction to resource planning. We develop a financial forecast, which you can read more about on Page 6. And on a more long-term basis, we undergo the
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process of strategic planning. The last of those is what I’d like to focus on in this column. The Basin Electric board and senior staff met for our strategic planning session in May. The session focused on various possible scenarios. Each scenario includes factors or assumptions of the future of Basin Electric and its subsidiaries. Those factors/assumptions were evaluated on commodity prices, such as the price of natural gas and fertilizers; member load growth, and the effect of self-generation; regulatory issues such as a tax on carbon dioxide; and Basin Electric’s margins, which are a key indicator of how the co-op is running. We’re developing action plans for success under any one of the scenarios that comes to fruition. These action plans are going to be specific, and as always, keep our members’ best interests at heart. Senior staff presented those potential action plans and evaluated financial outcomes to directors at a second strategic planning session in September. As part of the strategic planning process, directors are also considering updated mission and vision statements for the cooperative. The statements selected by directors were presented to members of the Resolutions Committee when they met at Basin Electric Headquarters in September.
In the most literal sense, mission and vision statements are just words on paper. But in reality, they spell out, in a very straightforward way, the very backbone of Basin Electric. The co-op’s objectives, how to reach those objectives, and what a successful Basin Electric will look like in the future. Looking backward is valuable. You learn from your successes and your mistakes, and can take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come. But in the rapidly evolving industry we’re in, we need to keep an eye on the future at all times. I feel good about our ability to do that, and to strategically position the cooperative for success. Why? Because the co-op family has some of the best employees in the business who work to serve our members, from mine to end-use meter. Because we have member co-ops who are passionate and work every single day to serve those consumers at the end of the line. By doing this and working together, we’ll fulfill our collective mission and uphold the cooperative values, no matter the season.
Paul Sukut, CEO and general manager
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 3
IN B RIE F
Several Basin Electric member cooperatives were among the droves of electric co-ops lining up to help restore power in hurricane-stricken areas of the country. (Photo courtesy Access Energy Cooperative.)
Co-ops mobilize to assist with power restoration efforts following Hurricane Irma
MN
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CO-OPS
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Cooperatives from across the country, many in Basin Electric’s service area, are mobilizing to assist crews in restoring power in Florida and Georgia af ter Hurricane Irma left an estimated 1 million cooperative members without power. In Iowa, more than 40 lineworkers from 15 co-ops are on their way to the Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation in LINEWORKERS southeast Georgia, where they will spend at least two weeks before being relieved by another crew. In Minnesota, 14 lineworkers from six cooperatives are headed to Suwannee Valley Co-op in Live Oak, FL, to assist in recovery efforts.
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http://bit.ly/CoopIrmaRecovery
Wyoming Lime Producers celebrates eight-year milestone On Sept. 8, the employees of Wyoming Lime Producers achieved eight years IA without a lost-time accident. Wyoming Lime is a division of Dakota Coal Company and owns LINEWORKERS the Frannie Lime Plant, a limestone processing facility near Frannie, WY. Frannie Lime converts limestone to CO-OPS high-quality lime through a heat transfer process called calcination. The operator of the plant is Pete Lien & Sons of Rapid City, SD.
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http://bit.ly/WLPsafety
Registration for 2017 annual meeting now open Registration is now open for the 2017 Basin Electric Annual Meeting of the Membership. This year’s event theme is “Built to Serve.” The meeting is scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck, ND. An evening reception will be held prior to the meeting Nov. 7 at Basin Electric Headquarters. Tours of the Headquarters addition will be available to attendees between 6-8:30 p.m. Basin Electric members and other guests planning to attend the event can register at am.bepc.com. Information is also available on Basin Electric’s Annual Meeting web page at www.basinelectric.com/AboutUs/Annual-Meeting/, such as a tentative event agenda and a list of hotels. For questions about arrangements for the annual meeting, please email registration@bepc.com.
Dakota Gas urea project nears completion The light at the end of the tunnel is nearing as Dakota Gasification Company’s urea project hit 93 percent overall completion. Lucas Teigen, urea project manager, said there are about 900 contractors on-site working safely to complete the urea facility. Teigen said commissioning and startup activities have been further detailed and tied into the integrated schedule. “The integrated schedule supports a mechanical completion mid-November, with commercial operation slated for mid-January,” he said.
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SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 5
A LOOK INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FINANCIAL FORECAST By Tracie Bettenhausen
Even with cost-cutting strategies found and implemented by Basin Electric, Dakota Gasification Company, and Dakota Coal Company staff, and an increase in member rates in 2016, Basin Electric and its subsidiaries are facing a tough financial forecast, primarIn the years where the ily due to low commodity prices. margin is higher, revenue is Despite the fact the Basin deferred and cash is segreElectric family of subsidiargated to the years where we ies and facilities is so directly connected through water, fuel, will need it. electricity, staff costs, and low Andrew Buntrock prices for commodities, when combined with other factors such as lower electricity sales, on a consolidated basis the cooperative is projected to earn relatively strong margins every year of the forecast period.
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Part of the reason for this is this year’s Basin Electric financial forecast, approved by directors at their August meeting, was put together a little differently than in the past. Andrew Buntrock, Basin Electric manager of strategic planning/member support, formerly manager of financial planning and forecasting at the time of the forecast’s approval, says the forecast was pulled together using a deferral strategy. “In the years where the margin is higher, revenue is deferred and cash is segregated to the years where we will need it,” he says. “In the first half of the financial forecast, we are setting aside revenue in a deferral, which pushes the margin down. In the last half of the forecast, to hold rates steady, we dip into the deferral.” Why is Basin Electric able to set aside funds for the next several years to spend it later? Buntrock
CA P
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Miller says, and once vetted, those cost savings will be says doing so means rates are held flat at the current included in the 2018 budget. average member rate of 64.2 mills through 2026. But Another change in putting together this year’s over time, the cost of everything else will continue forecast was the way commodity prices were foreto rise, plus facility maintenance and other projects casted. This year, it was done with more of a blended that were postponed in the early years will need to approach using forward prices from three be completed in the later years. Under this P E X N different entities to gather the outlook plan, a 2.7 mill rate increase is being DI LE T A pricing, Miller says. projected but not until 2027, BunIT Basin Electric’s financial foretrock says. cast team worked with the comCapital expenditure cash modity risk team to determine flows through the term of the an alternative case when pulling financial forecast are down $300 the financial forecast together. million, at $1.2 billion from $1.5 The approved forecast is the billion. “The drop is because we base case. The high case, which found that it was no longer necthrough calculations, assumes essary to build a new generating prices within a confidence level of 25 unit,” Buntrock says. “Also, the cost CA S percent up and 25 percent down from to add the selective catalytic and selecSH FLO W the base case. “Fertilizer pricing in the tive non-catalytic reduction equipment at high case is lower Laramie River Station has also come down.” than the pricing used for the As for consolidated capital expenditures, the At that time, Dakota Gas forecast last year. total is just under $2 billion, which is also lower TAfinancial G was enjoying profits which alAS KO It truly shows how outlooks than last years’ forecast. “That is due to austerity A lowed the company to pay divDcapital for commodity prices have measures, combing out or delaying as many idends back to Basin Electric, dropped in the last year,” project as we can to keep rates low,” Buntrock says. which helped keep member Miller says. “To that end, we’ve also done extensions on the rates consistently lower. Higher margins at Basin lives of some of the transmission and wind facilities, Electric make up some of therefore reducing the depreciation and reducing the Kimberly Miller the shortfall at Dakota Gas, cost of service inside the 10-year window.” Buntrock says the financial metrics derived from which is the opposite of what the results of the forecast show that Basin the cooperative saw Electric maintains its ‘A’ rating with the OTA GAS in 2007-2011, according to Miller. “At that K rating agencies. time, Dakota Gas was enjoying profits DA which allowed the company to pay divOn Dakota Gas’ financial foreidends back to Basin Electric, which cast, Kimberly Miller, Basin Electric helped keep member rates consissenior business analyst, says the tently lower,” she says. forecast shows losses through the forecast period. “The black Buntrock adds “The finanplant was moved from 2023 to cial forecast is the tool to set our 2027, which delays maintenance rates. Lots of parties are involved expenses and keeps the plant operin assembling the forecast, from Resource Planning to Operations ating and producing products to sell,” B LA Miller says. “We do assume freight T and Marketing, eventually to TransmisC K P L A N sion and all the subsidiaries. We start on expense will increase, though, because there will be additional products to ship with Feb. 1, and get approval in August. The comthe completion of the urea plant in early 2018.” plexity of the cooperative speaks to how in-depth the forecast needs to be in order to come up with a qualBoth Basin Electric and Dakota Gas staff are continuously looking for ways to decrease expenses, ity product to assemble rates.”
2023
2027
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 7
MEET ME IN
MONTANA By Tracie Bettenhausen Photos by Chelsy Ciaverella At the beginning of 2017, Basin Electric began delivering power to three new members in Montana: Mid-Yellowstone Electric as part of Upper Missouri Power Cooperative, and Fergus Electric and Tongue River Electric as part of Members 1st Power Cooperative. These members are situated in central and southcentral Montana. Here are some of the people who call these co-ops home. JoAnn Elliot, resident at Heritage Living Center in Ashland, MT. Read more on page 11.
FERGUS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, Lewistown, MT Jim Drissell, fish hatchery manager with helper, Daisy Big Springs Trout Hatchery, MT Fish, Wildlife, & Parks
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Take a short drive outside of Lewistown, MT, and you’ll find a city park with a pond, fed by a natural spring. The water remains a constant 52 degrees. Over the course of a year, about 1 million salmon and trout swim around this pretty patch of Montana. There are four people on staff at this cold water production fish hatchery: a manager, Jim Drissell, and three fish culturists. “We have a spring here with a lot of water,” Drissell says. “It’s gravity flow, which means the water flows in and out; we don’t have to heat it, cool it, filter it, or anything like that.” The fish are sent to public waters, all over central Montana and out to the corners of the state as needed. Raising fish for recreation, the hatchery gets eggs starting in late August through May. The eggs are hatched inside, where they stay until they’re about 2 inches long. Then they move to our outside raceways for further growth to reach stocking size. They are then sent to public waters in April through July, then again in the fall when the water isn’t so warm. “A lot of people see this as a place to visit and see the fish. They can feed the fish in the round pond,” Drissell says. “Also, we have urban ponds in several towns where we stock catchable-size fish. It’s a great resource for people in towns. People of all ages can fish in those ponds inside city limits.”
Having worked at Fergus Electric Cooperative for 40-some years as general counsel, Bill Spoja had been advocating to have a woman serve on the board for decades. That effort has come to fruition in 2017, as Cathy Kombol takes her place at the table. And though he’s been retired for some time now, he made sure to be part of another co-op first: solar panels. “I was pleased to see how many co-op members were interested in the panels, just wanted to learn about them,” Spoja says. “I think we fight against that stuff (solar generation, batteries) at our own peril. I think we need to recognize this is the future. It’s like a retailer fighting customers buying from Amazon. Who are you kidding?” Spoja and his wife, Mary Helen, live in the home he grew up in, which is walking distance from co-op headquarters today. “When we first got power here, I remember my mother and father turning on the light in this house,” Spoja says. “I remember my grandfather telling me that he personally offered to build a line into town to get power from the IOU (investor-owned utility), and they refused. And so when the co-op was getting started, there was never a question whether my family would sign on.”
Bekhi Spika, director of sales and marketing Spika Design and Manufacturing, Lewistown, MT
Lewistown is smack dab in the middle of two things: rural Montana, and some of the most exciting aeronautics projects being built today. That’s due to the growth of Spika Manufacturing, a company that started in 2001 on the Spika family farm. Today, Spika shoots for $6-$7 million a year in sales. With about 55 employees on the payroll, the family business is a dream come true. “We were a one-man shop, with a vision for decentpaying jobs in this area. There are so many people who grow up here, call this home, but how do you start and support a family? So many of our family and friends were having to move away to find work,” says Tom Spika, cofounder and CEO. “Today, we’re advertising for four
Bill Spoja, former legal counsel, Fergus Electric Cooperative, with wife, Mary Helen
assemblers, a welder, a production manager, a drafter, and a designer. We are growing.” The company’s director of sales and marketing (and Tom’s daughter), Bekhi Spika, says the company runs two shifts to keep production going. The company designs and manufactures work platforms for the aerospace industry and government aviation, among others. “The government buys pre-defined work platforms from us for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft maintenance, whereas companies in the commercial sector purchase customized access stands, oftentimes for manufacturing plants. These jobs range from small staircases to systems with 30-plus platforms that are customized for their exact tasks,” she says. “A lot of our growth is from those custom jobs.” The list of clients is impressive, and includes NASA, Virgin Orbit, The Boeing Company, ViaSat, and Lockheed Martin. “We’re only beginning to touch on the various industries that need us and are finding us,” Tom says. “Just yesterday, we were talking with the company that’s manufacturing part of the rockets. We asked, ‘How did you find Spika? Google?’ And they said, ‘Oh, NASA recommended you.’” SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 9
Mike Vlastelic, former director, Fergus Electric Cooperative, with his wife, Deb
Mike Vlastelic is the kind of guy who can’t sit still. He used to run a grocery store just so the members of his community would have a place nearby to buy groceries. He’s been known to buy homes, renovate them, and rent them out as hunting lodges or worker housing. During his time as a director on the Fergus Electric Cooperative board, he learned that a co-op can’t sit still, either. “There is a group of people who are green, and they want that (solar). You have to be ready to provide power to those people. It makes it safer if the co-op is doing it, rather than on top of their house, putting it into your system,” Vlastelic says. “When we did the survey (on solar), enough people wanted to have it done that we voted to go ahead with it. I think the same thing is going to start happening with batteries. Co-ops need to look at being the supplier, rather than somebody else coming in and being the supplier.”
MID-YELLOWSTONE ELECTRIC, Ashland, MT
Bob Strecker, farmer Mid-Yellowstone Electric
Farmers need sun, soil, and water to grow crops. For farmers in eastern Montana, the water is directly linked to electricity. “Irrigation is very important, especially in an extreme drought year,” says Bob Strecker, Mid-Yellowstone Electric member and farmer. “People will say, ‘How are the crops looking?’ The crops look great – it’s the electric bill that doesn’t look so hot, because we’re having to irrigate way more than what we usually would.”
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The Strecker family has been farming this land since 1974. Bob and his brother, Shane, are third generation on the land, hoping to one day pass it down to their sons. The crops they raise include malt barely for Coors Brewing Company. Malt barely needs 15 inches of rainfall each year. This year, they made up the deficit with irrigation. “Most of our fields, we can give them an inch in 72 hours, depending on the field size. I do have one field, it takes all of four days to give the field 0.75, just because it takes the irrigation that time to get across the field,” Strecker says. Some of the sprinklers are run using an app on their cell phone now. The use of technology is vital as inputs to the crop get more precise just to take care of profit margins. “For what we do, and for the amount of sprinklers and pumps and power we use, a consistent voltage is important,” Strecker says. “The electric co-op here has made great strides in improving its power lines, which has provided us with more consistent power. Big pumps in the heat don’t like low voltage, it makes them run hotter. They don’t like power surges, neither do center pivots. That has gotten way better this year since the co-op put in new power lines. That’s been a nice improvement.”
Fred Borman, farmer/rancher Mid-Yellowstone Electric
Reliable electricity means survival on a Montana farm, because electricity means water. Good relationships make the difference, too. “When we lose power, the co-op is very responsive. I call Kenny (Rolandson, Mid-Yellowstone Electric operations manager), and they handle it. The main problem we’ll have out here is we’ll have lightning knock the power off. To be honest with you, we don’t have many problems,” says Fred Borman, MidYellowstone Electric member and farmer/rancher. Borman uses moisture sensors in his fields, which are monitored by an agronomist. “The sensors are at 6 inches and 24 inches. So we can tell where the moisture is in the soil. Those moisture sensors help us gauge how much water we have to run through these pivots,” he says.
TONGUE RIVER ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, Ashland, MT
Bertha Hogan, resident Heritage Living Center, Ashland, MT
“The Miracle on the Hill.” The nickname seems like a bit of a stretch until you hear the story of this assisted living community in Ashland, MT. Started by Fr. Emmett Hoffmann on the strength of his ministry and his legendary fundraising skills, the Heritage Living Center provides a home to members of the Northern Cheyenne once they’re not able to live at home on their own. The 50,000-square foot facility, with the front doors facing east (an observance of the Cheyenne tradition to meet the Creator each morning at sunrise), houses up to 40 people. The majority of residents are only about 30 miles from their home and family. They pay $100 month, a feat made possible by donors. The residents have a garden of raised beds, where they can choose to plant whatever they like. They also
Jerry Thex, administrator Heritage Living Center, Ashland, MT
have a landscaped area with ponds, and a sweat lodge for ceremonies. Jerry Thex, Heritage Living Center administrator, says it means a lot to the local community to have a comfortable residence nearby, rather than having to relocate hundreds of miles away in some cases. “This is considered assisted living, but not a nursing home,” Thex says. “We’re looking at moving to another level of care in early 2018, and we have staff in training now. We could provide more care in this location.” Bertha Hogan has been living at Heritage Living Center since 2010. “I find it very comfortable,” Hogan says. “I’m ready to be settled down, and at ease here. I do what I need to do, without needing to be here or there.”
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 11
Harold Hanson, former manager, Tongue River Electric Cooperative, with his wife, Norma
John Hamilton, operates hobby garden and two orchards
Sometimes inspiration comes when you least The name Hanson is a popular one at Tongue River Electric expect it. For John Hamilton, it came in a note he could Cooperative. barely read. Tary Hanson is the cooperative’s general manager today. But “I was getting out of the Angus cattle business in before him, his father Harold Hanson held that job for several years 1999, and a guy from Oklahoma wrote me a note. Told until 2002. me, ‘I want to come to your sale and buy a bunch of Look at the photos of the cooperative’s early leaders, still hangcows on credit.’ Looked like it had rained all over the ing in their boardroom, and you’ll see Harold’s father and Tary’s note, ink was smudged,” Hamilton says. “So he shows grandfather, Edward Hanson, who served as the cooperative’s first up in Miles City, and says, ‘Hi, I wrote you that note. I chairman of the board. was out picking watermelons for the church social and Harold, Tary’s father, remembers the cooperative being a popI sweated through my shirt and I didn’t want to write it ular topic of conversation around the dinner table. He grew up again, but I hope you could read it.’ So we got to talking. learning about electricity, and eventually became manager of mainHe bought cattle, and he became my coach for growtenance at the coal-based power plant in Colstrip, MT. When the ing watermelon.” manager position came open at Tongue River Electric, he decided Hamilton learned about the best seeds for growing to come home. watermelon in Montana, and expanded to cantaloupe He says there are differences between working at the power and more. Today, as a hobby, he grows fruit and vegetaplant, and being manager at the cooperative. “With the co-op you have more bosses, because you have a bles in an irrigated garden board of directors. But I had a good bunch to sell at the local farmers A lot of people don’t understand of directors and they were good to work for,” market. that the co-op is something different. he says. “There were a couple of them who “The thing about a They move here from an IOU (investorunderstood operations. If we had to ask for watermelon is the day you owned utility), and they don’t underequipment or something, it helped that they pick it, that’s as sweet as stand that the capital credits are theirs, understood why it was needed.” it will ever be. The factory which is a real positive. shuts down, it doesn’t proHanson says the challenges he sees duce any more sugar. So facing the cooperative today are in the Harold Hanson when you buy a watermove to renewables, which he says are melon off a shelf, it was likely not as reliable as coal-based generation or picked green to extend its hydroelectric dams. Also, he sees some life, and shipped. You get opportunity in teaching the cooperative something that tastes like a watermelon.” members of today about what it means to be part of a co-op. Customers in Miles City know to ask when his “This area is real rural. The co-op is not as family oriented as vine-ripened melons will be ready each year. it used to be. People are so busy that the annual meeting is not as “More people want to eat fresh from the farm – important as it used to be,” Hanson says. “A lot of people don’t underyou get about 600 watermelon off these three rows,“ stand that the co-op is something different. They move here from an he says. IOU (investor-owned utility), and they don’t understand that the capital credits are theirs, which is a real positive. It’s an education.”
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John Hamilton
This October, co-ops celebrate commitment – to jobs, education, members, and community. Join us and 40,000 other co-ops nationwide this National Cooperative Month in our steadfast commitment to the cooperative principles, and shared mission to build a better world. #CoopsCommit #CoopMonth SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 13
ONE STEP
CLOSER
Mountain West Transmission Group seeks membership into SPP RTO By Tammy Langerud
The existence of a regional transmission organization (RTO) in the western U.S. came one step closer to reality in September, marking a major milestone for the Mountain West Transmission Group. aSouthwest Power Pool (SPP) about membership in SPP. Starting in October, Mountain West will begin negotiations with SPP through a public stakeholder process. This step toward an RTO is a culmination of four years of evaluating options, ranging from a common transmission tariff to membership in an existing RTO. Basin Electric and a number of its neighbors to the west, including Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and Western Area Power Administration, have been involved in Mountain West since its creation in 2013.
Benefits of an RTO Various studies conducted during the past four years show that collectively there’s an economic benefit of an RTO for all participants, according to Mike Risan, senior vice president of Transmission. “From Basin Electric’s perspective, an RTO in the Western Interconnection will improve efficiencies and provide value to our membership,” Risan says. Benefits of RTO membership include optimized use of existing generation and transmission assets through an expanded electricity market, improved grid access, improved grid reliability, and improved generation and transmission planning across multiple states and systems. The possibility of Mountain West joining SPP would create one market solution across the East and West Interconnections. “The point is you’ll take the whole region—east plus west— use the DC ties and run one market dispatch,” says Tom Christensen, director of Transmission Rates. “This brings additional benefits, too.”
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Participants in the Mountain West Transmission Group include: • Basin Electric, based in Bismarck, ND; • Black Hills Energy’s three electric utilities in Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming, subsidiaries of the Rapid City-based Black Hills Corp; • Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU); • Platte River Power Authority (PRPA), based in Fort Collins, CO; • Public Service Co. of Colorado (PSCo), an operating company of Xcel Energy based in Denver; • Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State), based in Westminster, CO; and • Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)’s Loveland Area Projects (LAP) and Colorado River Storage (CRSP) Project.
Next steps Initial stakeholder meetings to discuss Mountain West membership are scheduled for Oct. 13 in Denver, CO, and Oct. 16 in Little Rock, AK. The SPP stakeholder approval process, which would involve about 100 member utilities, independent power producers and related industry stakeholders, is expected to take several months. Dependent upon the success of the negotiations, the participants would expect to make filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the first half of 2018. Individual state regulators will continue to be informed about and involved in the ongoing negotiations between Mountain West and SPP. Market implementation into SPP, if pursued by the group, could occur as soon as late 2019. While Mountain West remains optimistic that an RTO would benefit its entire membership, each Mountain West participant will ultimately need to evaluate for itself whether potential membership makes sense.
Mountain West Transmission Group at a glance
10 ELECTRIC
SERVICE PROVIDERS
MWTG and SPP Footprint (with DC Ties) 16,000 MILES OF TRANSMISSION
RapidCity City Rapid Mountain West SPP DC Ties
Stegall
Sidney Sidney Lamar
APPROXIMATELY
6.4 MILLION CUSTOMERS
One benefit of Mountain West potentially joining SPP is the ability to use the DC ties to create one market solution across the East and West Interconnections.
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SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 15
CARBON SOLUTIONS
GOING UNDERGROUND By Chris Gessele Its full name is a mouthful, but Carbon Storage Assurance and Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) could play a big role in the development of an envioronmentally friendly, economical, and long-term carbon mitigation strategy for coal-based power generation facilities. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Carbon SAFE initiative was implemented to develop commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) complexes, to be constructed and permitted for operation around 2025, that are capable of storing 2 million metric tons of CO2 per year over a 25-year span. Basin Electric is currently a partner in one of only three Phase II CarbonSAFE feasibility projects underway in the U.S. In addition, Basin Electric is participating in a CarbonSAFE pre-feasibility project in Wyoming, one of 13 sponsored by the DOE.
CarbonSAFE-North Dakota
NORTH
CarbonSAFE-North Dakota, overseen by the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), Grand Forks, ND, has multiple industry partners assessing the feasibility of developing a commercial-scale CO2 storage site able to store more than 50 million metric tons of CO2 safely, permanently, and economically in central North Dakota. The two-year feasibility project consists of evaluating storage opportunities in two study areas, one in Oliver County and one in Mercer County. According to the EERC, a formation of interest about 6,000 feet below the surface is ideally suited for the geologic storage of CO2. To better understand the formation’s geologic properties, the project will include drilling two characterization holes to gather geologic cores. The temD A K O T A porary test characterization holes will be developed and plugged following state regulations.
C arbonSAFE 16 | BASIN TODAY
In addition to the planned characterization holes, a seismic survey was recently completed in Oliver County, providing more data to better understand the nature of the target formation. EERC will hold open houses to communicate project details and gather public input. The open houses are scheduled for Oct. 11 at Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant, near Beulah, ND, and Oct. 12 at the Civic Center, Center, ND. The CarbonSAFE-North Dakota project runs from summer 2017 to summer 2019. If results suggest that CO2 storage may be technically feasible in the defined study area, the next step will be to seek DOE funding for a more detailed examination of the geology at a specific storage site and continue a parallel effort in developing economical CO2 capture.
CarbonSAFE-Wyoming In Wyoming, the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources’ Carbon Management Institute is leading the charge, with support from EERC, on a project that will characterize the area for potential of a commercial-scale CO2 storage site. The study’s pre-feasibility stage identified Basin Electric’s Dry Fork Station, near Gillette, WY, as the project’s proposed primary source of CO2, and geologic sites in the plant’s immediate vicinity are being analyzed for CO2 storage potential. The geology surrounding Dry Fork Station is wellsuited for CO2 sequestration storage and the potential for enhanced oil recovery, according to the University of Wyoming. Carbon capture is not new to Basin Electric. Dakota Gas sends captured CO2 through a 205-mile pipeline to Saskatchewan, Canada, where oil companies use it for enhanced oil recovery that results in permanent CO2 geologic sequestration. The plant has captured and transported nearly 35 million metric tons of CO2 for geologic sequestration since 2000.
A DAY AT THE
FAIR In the Midwest, county and state fairs are a summertime tradition, and electric co-ops are often part of the celebration. Whether they’re sharing a meal, a cool treat, or a safety message, Basin Electric’s member co-ops have been busy out in their communities sharing the cooperative spirit in person and on social media. Here are a few snapshots of our members’ days at their local fairs.
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 17
F E AT URE SE RIES
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF … SENIOR CONTRACT ADMINISTRATOR
MIKE SEEFELD By Angela Magstadt Mike Seefeld’s day begins at 4 a.m., so he can get in some exercise before hitting the road for the hour-anda-half drive from his home in Mandan, ND, to what has become his second home – the construction site of the urea production and storage facility at Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant. Seefeld, Basin Electric senior contract administrator, has been making this daily drive for almost a year now. Before then, it was once or twice a week. He says the urea project has become his “baby,” and by the time it’s completed at the end of this year, he will have seen the project through the entire process – from paper to production. Urea is a granular agricultural fertilizer. Urea production requires anhydrous ammonia and carbon dioxide, both of which are produced at the Synfuels Plant. Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid fertilizers, but costs less to handle, store, and transport than other nitrogen-based fertilizers. It is also safer to transport and handle than anhydrous ammonia. A lot goes into constructing a project that, once completed, will include a production facility that will produce 1,100 tons of urea per day, a storage facility that will hold 55,000 tons of urea, and a load-out facility for trucks and railcars with the capacity to load up to 110 railcars in a single shipment. Seefeld and his team have written more than 100 material and contracted services contracts, as well as all the purchase orders for every nut, bolt, and steel beam that makes up the buildings. He has also done the bidding for engineering services, hired civil and concrete contractors, helped prequalify bidders, issued and evaluated Requests for Proposals, and awarded and is currently managing all the contracts that have been written, all with help of the procurement staff and other onsite project staff. It is a complete project staff effort to bring a project such as this to fruition.
18 | BASIN TODAY
About a year later, he was hired as a full-time buyer, and Seefeld says he spends lots of time in meetings now 15 year later he has also held the positions of purand walking around the site answering questions and chasing agent, associate contract administrator, contract helping solve issues that arise. “Sometimes I feel like administrator, and now senior contract administrator. a policeman – dealing with problems and walking in Seefeld says the urea project is by far the biggest traffic. You wouldn’t believe the number of trucks project he has ever been involved in, and the experience that drive in and out of here every day.” has been a good one. Construction of the urea project began in “When I first jumped in and started working on the summer 2014, and after a 2016 summer storm levproject, the atmosphere was certainly more high energy eled the storage facility, causing construction on that and intense than sitting in an office. I’ve really enjoyed building to start almost completely from scratch, the negotiating contracts that are fair and equitable to both project is on track to begin producing urea by early sides. And seeing the project finally winding down is a 2018. really good feeling.” Seefeld says the project is a team effort, credHe says the best parts of his job are the times when iting the other four people with whom he shares an things are going smoothly and he can just stand back and office. “We are a real tight-knit group,” he says. That feel the satisfaction of seeing a projgroup includes Basin Electric ect almost completely finished. Contract Administrator I LindIt’s a never-ending chal“It’s been quite a ride,” he laughs. say Kostelecky, who is at the lenge. You can’t get comfort“We’re finally starting to see the project site three days a week, able. You have to constantly light at the end of the tunnel, and it and the employees of Worley looks good. The storage facility is a keep learning. Parsons, the construction manhuge building and I can’t wait to see agement company contracted Mike Seefeld it full of fertilizer.” for the urea project. “We share a lot of ideas and work together For several months after the projto deal with lots of different sitect is completed, Seefeld will keep uations that come up. We make a really good team.” busy closing out contracts and working with accounts Seefeld started his career with Basin Electric payable and Finance to help make sure all the project’s in 2002 after working several years for an electrical costs are accounted for and taken into consideration. contractor as an apprentice, journeyman, and masAfter that, he expects smaller projects and routine mainter electrician. His purchasing career started when tenance contracts will be in his future for a while. his boss asked him if he would be interested in tak“It’ll be an adjustment, that’s for sure,” he smiles. ing over as the company’s purchasing agent. During “But I have to say I am looking forward to whatever his five years in that position, he became acquainted comes next … and being able to get back to a more norwith several members of Basin Electric’s procuremal sleep schedule.” ment staff, and when an opening for a temporary “It’s a never-ending challenge. You can’t get combuyer opened up in 2001, he applied and was hired. fortable. You have to constantly keep learning.”
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E M P L OY E E HIG HL IG H T S
Employees receive degrees Dana Friedt, administrative assistant III at Headquarters, bachelor’s degrees in business administration and human resources management, Dickinson (ND) State University, May 2017.
Chase Betz, enterprise database administrator I at Headquarters, bachelor’s degree in management information systems, Minot (ND) State University, May 2017.
Kimberly Sawhill, administrative assistant II at Transmission System Maintenance – Mandan, associate degree in business administration, Bismarck (ND) State College, December 2016.
Joey Schrepel, power supply engineer I at Headquarters, master’s degree in business administration, University of South Dakota, May 2017.
Zach Jacobson, product manager of fertilizers for Dakota Gasification Company at Headquarters, master’s degree in business administration, University of Mary, March 2017. Eric Nimmo, enterprise applications architect III at Headquarters, master’s degree in software engineering, North Dakota State University, December 2016. Daltin Berger, process operations field technician at Great Plains Synfuels Plant, associate degree in power plant technology, Bismarck (ND) State College, May 2017. Jordan Kenner, coalman A at Leland Olds Station, associate degree in power plant technology, Bismarck (ND) State College, December 2016.
Jennifer Seibel, safety representative at Great Plains Synfuels Plant, master’s degree in occupational safety and health/environmental management, Columbia Southern University, May 2017.
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Collin Kittelson, process operations field technician at Great Plains Synfuels Plant, bachelor’s degree in energy management, Bismarck (ND) State College, May 2017.
Employee Kudos Jason Byram, generation/ load quantitative analyst, was one of 18 participants accepted into Leadership Bismarck-Mandan, coordinated by Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce. Each year, up to 20 participants are accepted into this program through an application process. This long-standing community leadership program gives participants an inside look at the inner workings of the community and a better understanding of the challenges facing Bismarck-Mandan in the future. Participants also will strengthen their leadership skills, connect with community resources and contacts, as well as work on a group field project.
New employees Jeannette Kaufman, administrative assistant, started work Aug. 21 at Laramie River Station. She previously worked for Platte County (WY) Public Health as a public health response coordinator.
Brandon Zamora, Security & Response Services dispatcher, started work Aug. 21 at Headquarters. The Denver, CO, native previously worked for Target in Bismarck, ND.
Sam Whinery started work July 24 as a maintenance assistant at Laramie River Station. She previously worked at Moorhead Machinery & Boiler Company.
Liz Goddard, training representative, began working at Laramie River Station Aug. 21. She previously was the center coordinator for Wyoming Child and Family Development in Guernsey, WY.
Alex Musson began work June 26 as an apprentice system protection technician at Transmission System Maintenance-Williston. He has associate degrees in electrical construction and maintenance, and electric utilities and substation maintenance from Mitchell (SD) Technical Institute.
Patricia Winn began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant Aug. 21 as an environmental specialist. She previously worked for the North Dakota Department of Health. Winn has an environmental science degree from Carroll College, Helena, MT, and is a member of the North Dakota National Guard.
Joel Ross started work May 15 as a business analyst at Headquarters. He previously worked as a financial analyst for WBI Energy, Inc., in Bismarck, ND. Ross has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Dickinson (ND) State University and an MBA from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.
Jenny Zastawniak, service dispatcher, started work Aug. 21 at Headquarters. She has an associate degree in instrumentation and controls from Bismarck (ND) State College and previously worked as an assistant E&I co-op student at Basin Electric.
Duane Ehrens, food services coordinator, started work June 26 at Headquarters. Prior to working at Basin Electric, he was chef/supervisor at CHI St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, ND. He has an associate degree in chef training form North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, and an associate degree in management from Minot (ND) State University. Jake Tweeten, assistant coal yard supervisor, started work July 24 at Leland Olds Station. Before joining Basin Electric, he worked for Northern Improvement in Bismarck, ND, as the superintendent of the power plant operations division.
Tyler Hamman started work Aug. 21 as a senior legislative representative at Headquarters. He was previously the director of governmental affairs with the Lignite Energy Council in Bismarck, ND. Hamman has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. James Nottingham began working at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant Aug. 7 as a protection services specialist. He is originally from Gainesville, TX, and had been working as a material manager for Kenny Construction on the urea construction project at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant.
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E M P L OY E E HIG HL IG H T S
Service awards
Gail Keator
Darwin Reinhardt
Phil Dubois
Bryan Keller
Mike Neely
manager, accounts payable
shift supervisor
inventory analyst/ asset receivable
vice president, transmission system maintenance
operations specialist
40 years
Headquarters
40 years
Antelope Valley Station
35 years
Headquarters
35 years
35 years
Dakota Gasification Company
Transmission System Maintenance-Mandan
James Arbogast
Brian Gehring
Gary Fales
Shannon Kelley
Barbara Maike
control room operator
coal/yard supervisor
plant operator
control room operator
auxiliary operator
30 years
Laramie River Station
30 years
Antelope Valley Station
25 years
Laramie River Station
25 years
Laramie River Station
25 years
Laramie River Station
Tony Montoya
Nancy Taylor
Kayleen Wunder
Shawn Bornemann
Roger Bosch
water treatment operator
electrician I
mechanic/welder I
field technician
area planner
25 years
Laramie River Station
25 years
Laramie River Station
25 years
Laramie River Station
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
Mark Degenstein
Bryan DeWitt
Will Erker
Joe Everett
Allan Frederick
supervisor – inspection
field technician/ shift maintenance
mechanic II
supervisor, E&I maintenance
mechanical supervisor
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
20 years
Antelope Valley Station
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Antelope Valley Station
Dakota Gasification Company
Randy Frenzel
Byron Grabow
Doug Gunsch
Conrad Haag
Duane Huelsman
field technician
field technician
field technician
field technician
field technician
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
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20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
Troy Johnson
Robert Koch
Joe Leingang
Bob Miller
Robyn Miller
shift supervisorchemical production
senior electrical engineer
fuel & transportation superintendent
field technician
electrical designer II
20 years
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
Headquarters
Ronnie Opp
Matt Parisien
Mark Pollak
Eric Pressnall
Paul Remmick
field technician
field technician
field technician
area planner
field technician
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
Monty Reub
Randy Richter
Chris Rosborough
Jesse Sabot
Steven Schaeffer
field technician
field technician
field technician
supervisor-field maintenance
field technician
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
Dakota Gasification Company
Dean Klindworth 20 years
field technician
Dakota Gasification Company
Shane Tollefson
Cledus Wiedrich
shift supervisor-fertilizer
field technician
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
20 years
Dakota Gasification Company
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 23
E M P L OY E E HIG HL IG H T S
Retirees Editor’s note: Expanded retirement stories were written only for those who returned their questionnaire to Basin Today staff.
Louis Colby, mechanic I, retired July 7, after almost 44 years of service. Colby started working as a yardman in 1973 at the William J. Neal Station, located near Voltaire, ND. While working at this facility, Colby also held positions of coalman, plant attendant trainee, operator helper trainee, plant attendant, and operator helper. In 1985 he transferred to Antelope Valley Station and became a mechanic/welder apprentice, followed by mechanic and mechanic I, the position he held at retirement. “Louis was always the first person to show up for work every morning even though he lived further away than most, and would always be the first person to help if you needed it,” John Erickson, mechanical supervisor, says. “As far as knowledge of the job, there were few who knew the details of the job more, and Louis was very humble about it.” Erickson jokes he’ll miss having coffee already made when he shows up for work. “Even though that is true, the biggest thing we’ll miss is Louis’ positive attitude and humor he always brought to the job.” Wayne Mattheis retired July 7 as a maintenance planner/scheduler supervisor at Leland Olds Station. Mattheis began his career at Basin Electric in 1986 as a maintenance scheduler located at the Glenharold Mine, near Stanton, ND. He transferred to Leland Olds Station in 1993 to become a warehouseperson. Mattheis also served as a maintenance planner/scheduler and eventually maintenance planner/scheduler supervisor, the job he held at retirement. Russ Bosch, maintenance superintendent, des cribes Wayne as one of the busiest guys at the plant. “Somehow he was able to juggle all of the contractors, activities, and maintenance work that keeps a plant running. And he did it with a positive, get-it-done attitude,” Bosch says. “During his time
24 | BASIN TODAY
as the maintenance planning & scheduling supervisor he assembled a Planning & Scheduling group that he knew was going to be capable of carrying the load when he moved on to bigger and better things.” Brian Striefel retired from the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in December 2016, after more than 32 years of service. He began his career at the plant in October 1983 in the chemistry laboratory, and retired as lab superintendent. “The lab is one of the most complex in the country, reflecting the plant’s unique path to an assortment of chemicals starting with coal, air, water, and the endless determination of 700 employees,” Striefel says. “The operational units are as complicated as entire plants elsewhere, with process streams and end products that include organic and inorganics – solids, liquids, and gases – there isn’t much chemistry missing. Much of the science itself was and still is unique. “The most enjoyable part of my career was working for a great team, 24 scientists and their often maddening challenges,” Streifel says. “The ‘aha’ moments were many. Thanks to everyone in the lab for their resolve, and thanks to everyone outside the lab for your patience. We really learned by doing because the textbooks just didn’t prepare us for most of this. Urea, diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), and whatever comes next will be a lab adventure, and I will miss that.” Amy Garman, lab superintendent, describes Striefel as a genuine person with a kind soul who could fix anything in the lab with duct tape, caulk, and a multimeter. “He was the kind of boss that didn’t boast about personal victories, but praised our team when we’d succeed at a given task like catching a leak or helping the engineers/operations troubleshoot a problem,” Garman says. “If Brian was invited to a meeting, it began with a random story that had nothing to do with the topic, but it drew you in with his delivery and humor. These stories put people at ease and overcame the natural awkwardness most meetings have, allowing real conversations to happen.”
Linda Schuler, service dispatcher, retired Aug. 12. She started in 2006 as a service dispatcher at Headquarters in Security and Response Services (SRS). “In SRS, the work can be slow, and more often, so busy you can’t think straight,” Schuler says. “Only when I became of retirement age did I ever consider quitting the work here. I have enjoyed my time as an employee at Basin Electric, and thanks to all for the smiles and help everyone has shown me.” During retirement, Schuler plans to spend more time with grandkids and watch their sporting events, camp, quilt, and garden.
Bill Rowe, shift supervisor at Leland Olds Station, retired Aug. 23. Rowe began his co-op career in 1989 as a boiler attendant. Other positions he held at Leland Olds Station include equipment attendant, turbine electric operator, control room operator, and finally, shift supervisor. Francis Brunsell, operations superintendent, says Rowe loved the outdoors, and hunted and fished as much as he could. In addition, he was very family oriented and liked to talk about his grandkids. “We wish Bill the best in his retirement,” Brunsell says.
Barry Mehlhoff, lead mechanic, retired from Basin Electric Aug. 3. Mehlhoff started his 42-year career with Basin Electric as a mechanic at the Glenharold Mine, near Stanton, ND, in 1975. In 1992, he transferred to Laramie River Station (LRS) as a mechanic/welder and assumed other roles as mechanic/welder I, lead mechanic, and eventually lead mechanic. Greg Petroski, assistant mechanical supervisor, says Barry was very knowledgeable about the plant and was the “go-to” guy if you needed help. “His knowledge and expertise about LRS will be impossible to replace,” says Petroski. “Barry is a great person and very laid back. It was very rare that he would get upset about anything. He will truly be missed at LRS.” “Glenharold Mine and LRS have been good to me,” Mehlhoff says. “I will miss all the people and the good times we had.” During retirement, Mehlhoff plans to enjoy a slower pace of life. Immediately, this includes filling his bighorn sheep tag this fall in Wyoming, followed by more hunting and fishing. He and his wife will also travel to see their children and grandchildren.
Bray Harrison, an intern in Basin Electric’s “Grow Your Own” program, died Aug. 15, in a car accident near Mandan, ND. He was 19 years old. Bray was born on May 14, 1998, to David Harrison Jr. and Tawna (Hey) Harrison in Bismarck, ND. He attended Mobridge (SD) High School, graduating in May 2016. He was attending Bismarck (ND) State College to pursue a career in power plant technology with the plans of one day being a plant operator. Bray was working at Leland Olds Station at the time of his death. In the short time he spent working there, Francis Brunsell, operations superintendent, says he left a positive impression. “He was a quiet, polite young man who seemed to have it together, and I think he would have been a good addition to the Leland Olds family,” Brunsell says. “It’s sad when someone so young with drive and ambition is taken from this earth so soon in life.” Bray is survived by his father David Harrison Jr., Mobridge, SD; mother Tawna (Hey) Harrison, Cherokee, N.C.; sisters Kinzey and Mercedes Harrison; brother Rope Harrison; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
We will remember. . .
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2017 | 25
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