Contents Volume 17
Number 1
In Every Issue 1 CEO and General Manager’s Column: Paul Sukut 16 Member Series: Count on the co-op to warm you up 18 Feature Series: A day in the life of a ... warehouseperson 20 News Briefs 24 Employee Highlights Feature Stories 2 Meet your directors 5 Basin Electric names Paul Sukut interim CEO and general manager 6 Guarding the grid, protecting the people 10 Renewed focus on renewables 14 Caterpillar safety survey results are in Guest Editor: Tracie Bettenhausen, tbettenhausen@bepc.com Publications Manager: Mary Miller Graphic Designer: Nicole Perreault Photographers: Steve Crane & Chelsy Ciavarella Contributors: Andrea Blowers, Erin Huntimer, Chris Gessele, Dain Sullivan, Lindsey DeKrey, & Joan Dietz
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CEO and General Manager’s Column:
Paul Sukut Following the cooperative principles, Basin Electric begins a new chapter I am pleased and humbled to lead Basin Electric into its next chapter, and I graciously accept the board’s direction to strengthen Basin Electric’s mission and harness our cooperative values. As many of you know, I have been employed at Basin Electric for more than 30 years. I’m a native of Ellendale, ND, and my wife, Colette, and I have been married 22 years. Our daughter, Lizzie, is a sophomore at University of Minnesota and will forever embody all that is good about Colette: her intelligence, quick wit and thankfully, her looks. As we move through this transition, I think it’s valuable to reaffirm our direction. I am deeply committed to the co-op and to the cooperative model. Basin Electric was built over the last 50-plus years to serve its membership. We, along with the other cooperatives in our system, do this by diligently supplying reliable and affordable electricity and services to our member-owners at the end of the line. Our employees – past and present – together with our board and members, understand this commitment. We know it is the people we serve within the communities we live in who matter. We will not let that focus waver. I believe that, and I know my senior staff feels the same. The foundation of Basin Electric remains as strong as ever. Our long-term relationship with our member systems is the bedrock of that strength and will remain for many years to come. You no doubt have heard that we are in the midst of a retirement boom. In 2013, we said goodbye to 179
employees who retired after dedicating their careers to the cooperative. We must never forget their contributions. They helped build Basin Electric, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye. Many have maintained close relationships with their former coworkers, and we intend to keep it that way. Our retirees are formidable forces in our communities, and we will rely on them to help us achieve our mission. So, as we hire and mentor our next workforce, we must keep in mind that we are guided by the cooperative principles. These principles did not appear yesterday and will not go away tomorrow. If you haven’t had a chance to read them lately, check them out: http://bit.ly/ CooperativePrinciples. I believe in these principles and the commitment to community they represent. Additionally, NRECA put together a great video that outlines the cooperative story. It can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/ ElectricCoopStory. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work. As long as we do the right things for the membership, I’m convinced that Basin Electric’s future is stronger than ever.
Paul Sukut, Interim CEO and general manager
January – February 2014
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Meet your
directors
By Erin Huntimer Three new directors joined the Basin Electric board in December: Marshall Collins of District 5, Mike McQuistion of District 7 and Paul Baker of District 10. They replaced retiring directors Wayne Child, Roy Ireland and Reuben Ritthaler, respectively. Collins, McQuistion and Baker are part of the 11-member
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Basin Today
board that directs the business and affairs of Basin Electric. Each director is elected to a three-year term representing one of 11 membership districts. Basin Electric welcomes the three new directors to the cooperative family and invites you to learn more about them through Basin Today’s occasional “Meet your directors” series.
Marshall Collins District 5 Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association
Marshall Collins is a long-time director for Delta-Montrose Electric Association, headquartered in Montrose, CO. He served on Delta-Montrose Electric’s board from 1982 until 1994, and again from 2006 through present. During his first tenure at DeltaMontrose, Collins also served on the board of Colorado-Ute G&T, which later merged with Tri-State. In 2008 he was elected to represent his cooperative on Tri-State’s board. He has served on Tri-State’s Executive Committee since 2012. In December 2013, he was elected to replace Wayne Child on Basin Electric’s board upon Child’s retirement. He works in production agriculture and is married to Cheri. What inspired you to want to serve rural electric cooperatives (RECs)? I have always been involved in community issues and found that electrical service to rural areas was very important to the viability of those rural areas. Are any other family members involved in RECs? If so, who? I am the only one. When you’re not wearing your REC hat, what are you doing? My big passion has always been agriculture. My brother and I were partners in a farming and ranching operation. We farmed 3,000 acres of irrigated land raising corn, pinto beans, sweet corn, and onions. Also we had a 12,000-head commercial feedlot that we operated in conjunction with the farm. We ran yearling cattle on Forest Service leases and BLM (Bureau of Land Management) leases as well as lease deeded ground. As retirement age approached, we began liquidating the farm ground and ended up being a principal in a golf course community development. I have been active full time as a realtor in this development for the past several years.
Coming on as a director at Basin Electric, what was the most surprising thing you learned? That is a difficult question to answer. I believe the diversification of the cooperative was the biggest surprise. I knew of part of it but not the full extent of the enterprise. What role do you see Basin Electric playing in rural America in the next 20 years? The role of the board, as I see it, will be developing the vision that will allow Basin to change as needed with the mounting outside pressures that are exerted on the cooperative. We will not know the cooperative in 20 years. We must change how we do business and how we respond to obstacles that are being placed in front of us. The outside forces have no idea what the rural electrification co-ops mean to the viability of the backbone of this country. Corporate entities operate on profits and will not be satisfied with the low rate of return that accompanies serving the sparsely populated rural areas. Rural G&Ts (generation and transmission cooperatives) are large, capital-intensive businesses that are designed to serve the end user at a reasonable cost. Investor-owned utilities are there to serve their shareholders by providing a good rate of return to their investors. Our investors are our owners, and that is a big difference that we as a board will be challenged to maintain. Do you serve on any other boards or community organizations? At the present time no, but have been active in most of the community organizations in the past as well as state and national organizations. Give me five adjectives that “sum you up.” Intense but fair. Determined. Friendly. Objective. Non-judgmental.
Mike McQuistion District 7 Rushmore Electric Power Cooperative
Mike McQuistion has served West Central Electric Cooperative, Murdo, SD, as a director since October 1996. He was seated on Rushmore Electric’s board in April 2010. He ranches near Ft. Pierre, SD, with wife Arvera. He has two children, Zach, 14, and Ally, 12.
January – February 2014
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What inspired you to want to serve RECs? In 1996, I was asked by the retiring local REC board member to consider running for the director position. After some thought, I threw my name in the hat and was elected. I have found it to be an interesting challenge. Are any other family members involved in RECs? If so, who? My cousin Becky McQuistion works in the office at West Central Electric. When you’re not wearing your REC hat, what are you doing? I don’t believe a director completely removes the REC hat. However, when I’m not attending meetings, one might find me at home or on my ranch in central South Dakota with my wife and two children. My hobbies and pastimes: working, attending family functions, and visiting with friends and neighbors at the local livestock sale barn. Coming on as a director at Basin Electric, what was the most surprising thing you learned? I’m surprised at the level of impact the proposed membership in an RTO (regional transmission organization) will have on Basin Electric. What role do you see Basin Electric playing in rural America in the next 20 years? Continue to help the membership grow and prosper as it has throughout the history of Basin Electric. Give me five adjectives that “sum you up.” Effective. Considerate. Loyal. Earnest. Circumspect.
Paul Baker District 10 Powder River Energy Corporation
Paul Baker was seated on PRECorp’s board in 1994. He currently serves as vice president. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wyoming. He ranches near his hometown of Moorcroft, WY. He and wife Kelli have three grown children: Jace, Jami and Ryan. What inspired you to want to serve RECs? Bob Wenande (former Basin Electric director) asked me to fill a vacant seat on our local co-op. I was maybe 28.
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Basin Today
What happened was, right after annual meeting, a board member was struck by lightning and died. He (Wenande) asked me to fill his unexpired term. Bob (Wenande) was a good friend; I had known Bob my whole life. Are any other family members involved in RECs? If so, who? Not yet but my daughter has shown some interest. She is always asking questions about it, what we do, how it works. Right now she’s a senior in finance and thinking about working on her MBA. She shows obvious interest in energy technology as a possible career path. When you’re not wearing your REC hat, what are you doing? I’ve been raising commercial black angus cattle since I got out of college in 1989. I play pool & golf in the summer. I like to hunt mule deer and elk. I got a 340-inch bull elk this year. (Several points of measurement are summed to describe the size of the antlers with one number.) Coming on as a director at Basin Electric, what was the most surprising thing you learned? The diversity of Basin Electric – what we do, what we own. I was really fortunate to follow Reuben (Ritthaler). He did a good job of informing us about the electrical side of the business. What role do you see Basin Electric playing in rural America in the next 20 years? Leader and innovator. It’s hard to say where we’re going, because I don’t know what role politics and regulations will play. It’s reactionary. Do you serve on any other boards or community organizations? No. I served on the school board for one term and didn’t run for a second term. Give me five adjectives that “sum you up.” That’s a tough one. I really don’t know. You’d have to ask somebody else. But don’t ask my wife! Anything else you’d like to share with the cooperative family? Compared to the other board I’ve served on, we get to make so many decisions on the electric co-op board, and those decisions matter. And what you read, what you do, the preparation beforehand, it all matters.
Basin Electric names Paul Sukut interim CEO and general manager A long-time Basin Electric employee has taken the helm. Basin Electric announced Jan. 14 It’s been a privilege over three decades to work that Executive Vice President and CFO Paul with such a talented group of men and women doing Sukut has been named interim CEO and critical, life-changing work for millions of people, and general manager effective immediately. it’s an honor to serve in this new role. Former CEO and General Manager Andy Paul Sukut Serri tendered his resignation Jan. 13. “Senior management changes happen daily throughout the business world and it is one of the responsibilities of a board to ensure that a strong succes“This is a time of change for us and for our industry,” Peltier said. sion plan is in place,” said Wayne Peltier, president of the “Many of our longest-serving Basin Electric board of directors, in a note to employees. employees have reached retire“In Paul, we have an experienced, capable public utility executive who will step into his new role without missing ment age – more than 200 in the a beat. Paul’s recent promotion to executive vice president last two years alone – and we is a reflection of the confidence we have in his leadership face emerging challenges to and in his ability to assume the responsibilities of the CEO manage the strong economic and general manager position at this time.” growth in our service area, “Having just celebrated my 30th anniversary with Basin, to continue our tradition of environmental responsibility it’s fair to say the co-op is ‘in my blood,’” Sukut says. “It’s and to integrate new technolobeen a privilege over three decades to work with such gies into our operations. At a talented group of men and women doing critical, lifethe same time, however, these changing work for millions of people, and it’s an honor to serve in this new role.” changes offer unprecedented Sukut has been employed with Basin Electric since opportunities for the co-op, for 1983 and has worked in the energy industry since 1979. our members and for the more than A native of Ellendale, ND, Sukut has a bachelor’s degree 2.8 million consumers and customin business administration and political science from ers who depend on us. Because of Jamestown College and a master’s degree in accounting the dedication and the hard, smart and tax from the University of North Dakota and is a work of more than 2,000 Basin certified public accountant. employees, I am more excited than Peltier thanked Serri for his service and his contribution ever about our future and more to the cooperative and extended the board’s best wishes confident than ever in our ability to for his future endeavors. seize that future.”
Johnson named CFO
On Jan. 15, Sukut named the interim senior vice president and chief financial officer. Steve Johnson, vice president and treasurer, was promoted to the position. Johnson has been with Basin Electric for 32 years, and has served in a variety of positions within the Finance department. “Steve is extremely well-suited to fill this role during my tenure as interim general manager and CEO,” Sukut says.
January – February 2014
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Guarding
the grid,
protecting the
people Cooperative strives for best security practices
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Basin Today
1. People 2. Physical Security 3. Perimeter Defense 4. Network Defense 5. Host Defense 6. Application Defense 7. Data or Process Defense 8. Critical Assets
The “defense in depth” approach addresses the following levels of security: 1. People are the first and last form of defense when securing the cooperative. 2. Physical security involves measures designed to deny unauthorized physical access to facilities, equipment and resources. 3. Perimeter defense encompasses hardware or specialized appliances providing connectivity beyond the localized area of control. 4. Network defenses monitor hardware that connects devices. 5. Host defense is used to protect hardware containing application, data or process software. 6. Application defense helps secure specific software developed for control systems or processes. 7. Data or process defense is implemented for data or control devices, such as sensors, with direct connection to what is being protected. 8. Critical assets, which could be a particular substation or power plant, are the innermost layer containing what needs the most protection.
By Dain Sullivan At Basin Electric, exceeding industry standards at It’s a field that involves the prevention of unintended any level is just good business. But safety is paramount, or unauthorized access to computer-based equipment, and that’s never going to change. information and services, also recognizing the possibility Protecting people, securing of unplanned events and natural disasters. facilities and sustaining the coopI think there’s a real, Kraft and a team of subject erative dream are priorities in an credible threat that’s being matter experts are on the front age when evolving security threats developed with cyberlines of Basin Electric’s cyberregularly occur. security, both foreign and security efforts, with the goal of In a world where the topics of domestic. helping the cooperative establish cybersecurity and physical secuMike Kraft official programs, policies and rity are becoming more critical in procedures that will raise employthe eyes of any major organization, ees’ awareness of new cyber risks. Basin Electric aims to alert every Kraft is also encouraging more communication between employee of potential threats and educate them on what departments for a stronger defense against any form of to do in the event of a security breach. cyberattack. Addressing cybersecurity What recently sparked heavy cybersecurity dialogue, at Basin Electric according to Kraft, is an increased amount of cyberattacks Leading the effort to hone a culture of security and around the globe. Carried out by “cyberwarriors,” also awareness at Basin Electric are a host of project managers referred to as hackers, such attacks have forced the electric and subject matter experts who are engaged in a formal industry to examine the strengths and weaknesses of differprocess that will help better protect the cooperative. It’s a ent systems – and more broadly, the entire electrical grid. story that starts with changing security regulations and Real-life examples of evolving threats have been introwhat cybersecurity advocates like Mike Kraft are doing to duced in recent years, from compromising and controlling establish the best business practices within the cooperative. physical machinery from a keyboard far away, to disabling “I used to never think about cybersecurity in the context critical parts of a substation from behind a rifle scope or of the utility industry,” says Kraft, Basin Electric senior toppling transmission towers via attached cables. compliance engineer. “I think there’s a real, credible threat Such attempts have been made to cut power in other that’s being developed with cybersecurity, both foreign parts of the country. But to what end? Kraft says many and domestic.” possible reasons come to mind, from the criminal or insane, Cybersecurity is defined as technologies, processes to foreign agents, training exercises or terrorism. and practices applied to protect computers and networks. Basin Electric has been prompt in its response to recent January – February 2014
7
Maintaining the best security at facilities is Basin Electric’s goal. The cooperative recently updated its Headquarters employee badge readers to control access to departments and keep track of who is in the building at all times.
He says while Basin Electric has had to address certain cybersecurity discussions. Kraft is engaging the cooperative attempted cyberattacks in the past, none have been in a process, addressed as “defense in depth,” that is being intricate enough to cause major harm. Attempts to access used to mitigate security risks at all levels. the cooperative’s computer networks have been made “You start with knowing what is important to you, then for years, but Kraft and his colleagues have taken each identify and mitigate the associated security risks,” he says. potential threat seriously. Better communication and increased training between “The sky isn’t falling, but we can’t ignore this,” he says. departments is a major part of Basin Electric’s defense in “We also don’t want to be overly complex when proposing depth initiative. Kraft explains that security knowledge solutions within Basin Electric.” and application is different in To Kraft, the idea of over-securmany departments that, up until Yo u w a n t y o u r ing via policies and procedures recently, haven’t communicated employees to be protected. at the cooperative can be just as effectively. You have to be prepared for harmful as unaddressed cyber “We’ve got very intelligent everything. threats. He and other security and competent people, but Gene Giesen personnel within Basin Electric they’re in separate silos,” Kraft aim to increase security training says. “I’m hoping we can get while also refraining from tying cross-functional support.” employees’ hands with compliClearer definitions and more cated requirements in the process. applicable examples included in changing government Kraft says the cooperative plans to implement a solid standards have been helpful with defense against cyberatcybersecurity program by December 2014. tacks. New Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) standards The cooperative completed the planning phase, which are in the works and will help Basin Electric identify critical involved assigning resources and conducting a gap analysis assets that will need updated security. review of Basin Electric’s security practices. Now in the The North American Electric Reliability Corporation design remediation phase, Kraft and others are develop(NERC) has stepped up efforts to ensure security at various ing and approving programs, policies and procedures to electric utilities is up to code. While NERC calls for “good” mitigate gap analysis tasks. business practices when facing potential cybersecurity The next objective is to close gaps where changes threats, Kraft says Basin Electric is shooting for the “best” need to be made. practices. There’s much work to be done. “We’ve got a program and a policy and a procedure. “We have a lot of security improvement to do, especially Now we are going to implement it,” he says. on the operational side of the business,” Kraft says. 8
Basin Today
A compliance readiness phase is also planned, and will be used to draft official compliance documentation. The audit preparation phase will be used to create audit packages, leading to a formal record system that reflects all of the cooperative’s efforts to defend against cyberattacks. The workforce is at the center of cyberdefense, with cross-functional department training as the new shield in an ever-changing security world.
Maintaining physical security
Along with educating multiple departments, Basin Electric continues to work with governing entities to identify infrastructure elements that are considered critical assets. Such assets will be reflected in new NERC and CIP standards, expected to be completely updated by April 1, 2016. Certain substations, for example, are considered critical assets and require specific security upgrades. That’s where Gene Giesen comes in. Giesen, Basin Electric Security and Response Services physical security and compliance supervisor, is engaging in efforts to better secure Basin Electric’s facilities. Security upgrades at the cooperative’s Headquarters, as well as the nearby J&L Building in Bismarck, ND, are first on the docket. “Most likely in the first quarter of 2014, we will be adding exit employee badge readers at the main entrances,” Giesen says. One reason for updating badge readers, he says, is to keep track of who is in the building at all times. “It’s basically a safety initiative, so we know who’s in the building in case of an emergency,” Giesen says. He says discussions are continuing on whether to require card access to other main-access doors and stairwells. Basin Electric employees are required to wear ID badges at work, so the security strip on the back of the cards could be used to enter any locked access points. Non-employees will continue to be given temporary access ID badges, which will be swiped by administrative personnel upon entering and exiting the buildings. “This is basically security for Basin Electric employees, visitors and contractors,” Giesen says. The cooperative’s camera system will also be upgraded. Some existing cameras are analog and have been in place for more than 15 years, Giesen says. New cameras are expected to be in place this summer. “Everything will be in high definition and over the Internet,” Giesen says. “It’s going to be nice.” Employees won’t notice much change with the improved security, he says, and the changes are necessary to keep people safe.
“You want your employees to be protected,” Giesen says. “You have to be prepared for everything.” After updating security at Headquarters and the J&L Building, Giesen is planning to start upgrades at all substations classified as critical assets. Similar to the upgrades being done in Bismarck, he says certain substations will receive card readers, security cameras and alarm systems. “Basin Electric’s plan is to protect the bulk electric system,” Giesen says. “Following substation upgrades, every power plant will most likely be touched.”
NERC compliance through security divisions
With efforts in play to protect the bulk electric system, different task forces have been set up at Basin Electric to address the evolving security culture. Since compliance with NERC Reliability Standards became mandatory, effective June 18, 2007, employees like Dave Rudolph, Basin Electric manager of transmission compliance, work to exceed expectations. Rudolph says Basin Electric’s NERC Compliance Program includes most Class A members, and the cooperative has formed several committees to help facilitate the communication of compliance-related information within departments. Basin Electric is investigating various software tools, technologies and services to support ongoing NERC projects, Rudolph says. With the safety of individuals and critical assets as a top priority, the cooperative continues to strive for an above-and-beyond performance in the ever-changing world of energy security.
Basin Electric’s security to-do list: • Hone a culture of security and awareness between departments. • Establish official security programs, policies and procedures. • Implement the “defense in depth” security approach. (More on page 7.) • Maintain good business practices through NERC standards. • Design a comprehensive cybersecurity program. • Upgrade physical security systems.
January – February 2014
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Renewed focus on
renewables By Andrea Blowers Renewable sources of energy are a big deal for Basin time, the cooperative reported more than 757 megawatts Electric. Take the cooperative’s current portfolio. At the of renewable resources had been added to its portfolio. end of 2013, more than 10 percent of the resources Basin Unfortunately, following the Crow Lake project, the Electric owns or purchases to fulfill its energy obligations nation’s economic situation slowed opportunities for Basin come from renewable sources like wind and waste heat. Electric to add more renewable capacity to its portfolio – Getting there didn’t happen overnight, but it has been until recently. an aggressive resource development program. In fact, the In the last few months of 2013, the cooperative entered cooperative’s first venture with a renewable wind project into agreements to purchase 376 megawatts of additional began only about 12 years ago with two 1.3-megawatt renewable capacity from three different wind projects in turbines north of Chamberlain, North Dakota and South Dakota to SD. It was a small project in coopmeet its member energy obligations, In 2002, Basin Electric was awarded eration with Class A member East and those obligations continue to grow. the Wind Cooperative of the Year River Electric Power Cooperative, It’s due in large part to the booming by the National Rural Electric but it was significant on multiple Williston Basin oil development and Cooperative Association and U.S. levels (see sidebar) and opened associated needs of the communities Department of Energy. a door to further opportunities. in northwestern North Dakota and Over the next decade, there eastern Montana. was a flurry of renewable development including the As part of the resource planning process, Basin Electric addition of 44 megawatts of recovered energy generation sent out a request for proposal in June 2013 to purchase along the Northern Border Pipeline (see sidebar). The power to meet its growing energy needs. opportunities, especially for wind development, seemed According to Becky Kern, manager of utility planning, to find Basin Electric. As knowledge of turbine operation, Basin Electric received responses back in July for more efficiency of wind turbines, the decline in cost of turbines than 10,600 megawatts. Kern says they reviewed all the and tax incentives became available, the size of the wind proposals and short-listed the most economical project projects grew larger and larger. responses for more detailed analysis. That included a total of The last wind project Basin Electric put into operation 674 megawatts of wind resource development opportunity. was the 108 1.5-megawatt turbines of the PrairieWinds “The wind proposals were very favorable offers,” Kern says. SD 1 Crow Lake Wind Project in February 2011. By this “It’s low-cost power and 25-year contracts.” 10
Basin Today
In the late 1970s, 5,000 square feet of solar collector plates were constructed as a demonstration project with the then-Energy Research and Development Administration to supplement the heating system for the Headquarters building. Over time, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment improved and when the Headquarters system was updated in the early 1990s, the decade-old solar equipment was not economically feasible with the new system, so it was dismantled.
Though wind is not considered a baseload resource, it does compliment natural gas peaking resources very well, and the cooperative has peaking units, either beginning operation or under construction, in western North Dakota. They are the Pioneer Generation Station and the Lonesome Creek Station. (http://bit.ly/BEPCProjects) Kern says the first two power purchase agreements for 278 megawatts of wind in North Dakota were signed on Nov. 6. The developer is Infinity Wind Power of Santa Barbara, CA. The two projects are the Sunflower Wind Project, which will be a 106-megawatt project to be located near Hebron, ND, and the Antelope Hills Wind Project, which will be a 172-megawatt project to be located near Golden Valley, ND. Both are planned to be operational by the end of 2015. “We signed another contract on Dec. 20 for an additional 98 megawatts of capacity,” Kern says. The power purchase agreement is associated with the development of the Campbell County Wind Farm to be constructed in South Dakota. It is co-owned by Fagen Inc. of Granite Falls, MN, and the principals of Dakota Plains Energy, Aberdeen, SD. It’s also planned to be operational by the end of 2015. “The addition of these projects will bring the renewable portion of our portfolio to 1,133 megawatts,” she says.
A commitment to renewable resources
The project followed the cooperative’s board of directors authorizing its first renewable energy program in May 2000. The program allowed Basin Electric to purchase renewable energy from member projects when production exceeded member needs. Then in January 2001, the Rural Utilities Service made a historic decision. The agency awarded its first-ever wind energy loan guarantee to Basin Electric for its initial wind project, what would turn out to be the two 1.3-megawatt turbines at Chamberlain. Customer support provided the impetus for this historic wind energy project. More than 4,000 customers signed up to buy wind power in 100-kilowatt/hour blocks for $3 extra per month.
Recovered energy generation
Eight recovered energy generation units use “waste heat” from the Northern Border Pipeline to provide 44 megawatts of baseload generation to Basin Electric member-consumers. Powered by hot exhaust, these units each generate 5.5 megawatts with no fuel and no emissions.
January – February 2014
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Initiating a solar resource strategy
average price of a solar panel has declined by more than As part of the short-listed responses, Kern says Basin 60 percent since the beginning of 2011. Electric also has opportunity to purchase the output of Additionally, according to a Nov. 18, 2013, ECT.coop large solar generation projects, up to about 50 megawatts. article, Solar Where You Might Not Expect It, http://bit. “As we consider our long-term energy needs, we’re not ly/ECTsolar11-13, solar panels lose their efficiency for discounting solar,” she says. In fact, the cooperative is every degree above 80 degrees, and snow can help reflect considering how to best incorporate both small and large sunlight adding to the solar solar into its generation fleet. resource. The article states “Several of Basin ElecBased on a 2005 membership resolution, Basin that taking into account the tric’s members have asked Electric had launched an aggressive, multitemperature and weather, about incorporating solar pronged effort to diversify its energy base and Bismarck, ND, has essentially as a resource option. Solar add more renewable energy in the ensuing years. the same resource as Kauai cities are popping up, solar Electric in Hawaii. companies are seeking to Kern says, like wind, once the initial investment is put in community solar projects,” she says. made, there is no fuel cost. The U.S. tax code includes an Though it’s not widely known, Basin Electric had investment tax credit for solar. It’s a 30 percent tax credit participated in a solar energy project years ago. It was for solar systems on residential and commercial properties part of a supplemental heating system demonstration and remains in effect through Dec. 31, 2016. project at the cooperative’s Headquarters building in the Kern says Basin Electric staff will continue to work late 1970s. Though it was decommissioned in the early with the membership as we develop our solar resource 1990s for economic and operational reasons, the project strategy. “We’ve got several different pieces to put together provided good initial insight into opportunities for the before we move forward,” she says. cooperative to engage in solar projects down the road. Stay tuned for more regarding Basin Electric’s efforts With the rapidly declining costs of solar equipment and to incorporate additional renewable resources into its increased efficiency, now may be the time. According diverse generation portfolio. to the Solar Energy Industries Association website, the
Join the fight against
childhood cancer.
Fight for Leighton and others.
Join us Friday, March 14. To learn more or register, go to http://www.stbaldricks.org/ events/bravetheshave/.
W hen 4 - year -old Leig hton w as d iag no se d w i th acu t e lymphoblastic leukemia, the Backhaus family went into fight mo de . Then w hen Leig ht o n was named a St. Baldrick’s event honoree , mom Lau ra says they could let down their guard, connect w ith others and embrace the fun. “We didn’t feel alone anymore. And Leighton felt like a star.”
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Basin Today
Employment at Basin Electric has allowed me to move our family back to our hometown and has provided a better lifestyle for us. ~Jamie Van Inwagen
Home of your
dream job Basin Electric is a generation and transmission cooperative – a business model you can take pride in. We’re owned and controlled by our members and built around people and principles. We have a wide range of career tracks. Chances are your dream job is waiting for you here. Check out the career opportunities available now at http://bit.ly/BEPCJobs.
Caterpillar safety survey results are in Training, communication, processes targeted for improvement
By Erin Huntimer Kelly Cozby, Basin Electric safety and occupational Presentations. Posters. Banners. Hard hat stickers. health administrator, says 1,874 employees, including Meetings. Videos. Emails. hourly and salaried staff, supervisors and managers, All of these things can be used to communicate a safety took the survey. “That’s a participation rate in the 95th philosophy, but at what point does it become more than that? When does it settle into the core of the organization percentile. The results were statistically validated, giving and become a value that’s expressed in every employee and everyone a good basis on which to start,” Cozby says. manager’s actions? When does it become more than words Survey responses were separated into employee, and evolve into the culture? supervisor and manager groups, and scored on whether A culture of safety can grow and thrive when top the responses indicated strong performance, the need management is visibly committed, middle management for improvement, or the need for immediate attention. is actively involved, front-line supervision If perceptions differed significantly is performance-focused, and employees between employees, supervisors and Front-line employees are actively participating. Those criteria, managers, those issues were flagged for have the desire to combined with safety systems that are immediate attention as well. improve the safety culture, flexible and positively perceived, can lead T he su r vey resu lts ident i fied and leaders have the desire to send every employee an organization to excellence, according to significant strengths. “Employees home safe at the end of Caterpillar Safety Services. cooperative-wide hold the belief that the day. While the cooperative has a strong safety safety is important. Front-line employees record when compared to industry averages, have the desire to improve the safety Kelly Cozby incidents do happen, and employees do get culture, and leaders have the desire to hurt. That’s why Basin Electric retained send every employee home safe at the Caterpillar Safety to lead the cooperative through its Zeroend of the day. Our facilities have safety resources on Incident Performance, or ZIP™, Process to build a safety site, and our ‘Top 10’ scores were solid (see sidebar),” culture from the ground up that will keep employees not Cozby says. only safe, but engaged. Opportunities for improvement were clearly indicated Six steps comprise the ZIP Process. The first step, engaging as well. “There are many perception gaps at all levels at the leadership, started in May 2013 as experts from Caterpillar all sites. Managers, often busy with other tasks, have Safety met with Basin Electric management. The second step, not had appropriate time to be present in the field on the assessing the culture, took place June through August when front lines,” she says. “We also found we’ve not taken Caterpillar Safety conducted a cooperative-wide survey to opportunities to follow through with potential safety assess safety leadership systems and employee perceptions. improvements recognized by employees.” 14
Basin Today
Employees are already contacting us about wanting to be on the Continuous Improvement Teams. They are very open about wanting to get involved.
Top 10 Questions
These were the top questions that indicated the strongest performance and/or agreement, and the smallest perception gap between employees, supervisors and managers.
Kelly Cozby
Based on survey data, the Senior Leadership Team identified two sets of initiatives to be reviewed by the Steering Team and prioritized over two years. Year 1 Initiatives • Supervisor development • Communication • Off-the-job safety Year 2 Initiatives • Near-miss process • Incident investigation • Substance abuse • Employee training Cozby says the Steering Team may re-prioritize the initiatives as they see fit, and will form Continuous Improvement Teams to carry out each initiative. Each Continuous Improvement Team will develop solutions in a week-long Rapid Improvement Workshop. They’ll report back to the Steering Team on the last day and select a pilot site to test the solutions. “Using feedback from the pilot site, they’ll change their processes as necessary, and then start implementation at the next site,” Cozby says. The Continuous Improvement Teams will work on the initiatives in sequence, not simultaneously. “The next team will not start until the first team’s solutions are established. Substantial change takes time,” she says. After the cooperative has moved through all seven initiatives over the course of about two years, Caterpillar Safety will conduct another survey to measure progress and identify other areas that need attention, and the process will begin again. Cozby says the services offered by Caterpillar Safety have been gaining popularity around the country, which has led to some delays in their work presenting the survey results to Basin Electric. “We intended the process to move more quickly, but the Caterpillar Safety team has been getting booked up. We’re on track now; they’ve been quite accommodating for us,” Cozby says. She says employee feedback on the ZIP Process to date has been good. “Employees are already contacting us about wanting to be on the Continuous Improvement Teams,” she says. “They are very open about wanting to get involved.”
1
Does your organization actively encourage employees to work safely?
2
Does alcohol or drug use increase incident risks?
3
Do you initiate action to correct hazards?
4
Does management insist upon proper medical attention for injured employees?
5
Do employees have a regular opportunity to attend safety meetings?
6
Do employees caution other employees about unsafe practices?
7
Is safety considered important by management?
8
Is information that is needed to operate safely made available to employees?
9
Have your organization’s efforts encouraged you to work more safely?
10
Do your co-workers support the organization’s safety program?
Bottom 10 Indicators
These were the categories whose scores indicated the greatest need for immediate attention and the largest perception gaps between employees, supervisors and managers.
1
Discipline
2
Recognition for performance
3
Supervisor training
4
Inspections
5
Quality of supervision
6
Goals of safety performance
7
Substance abuse
8
Employee training
9
Involvement of employees
10
Support for safety
January – February 2014
15
Member Series
Count on the co-op to warm you up
Jim Eppard took this photo while waiting out the storm with his family at West River Electric Association’s building.
Hannah, Jim and LouAnn Eppard.
By Tracie Bettenhausen The voices were West River Electric Association lineFor Jim Eppard and his daughter, Hannah, it was going to be a quick trip into town. School was cancelled workers who had just walked a half mile from their own for Hannah and Jim’s wife LouAnn was still at work. The spot in the ditch. Brendan Nelson and Dustin Brimm, West plan: pick up LouAnn, make a stop at the grocery store River Electric journeymen/linemen, had been sitting in and head home. their bucket truck for several hours. They first called a tow The snow was coming down wet and heavy on the truck, which got stuck. Then that tow truck called another narrow two-lane South Dakota road, and trucks and cars tow truck, which got stuck. “So right before dark, we called were on the side of the road, windows for two pickups to come get all of us,” fogged up. They saw a power pole Nelson says. “In the meantime, more They (lineworkers) saved us, down, and then they hit the ditch. poles fell down behind us, so the line no questions. For them to be Cell phones make it nice to call trucks couldn’t get us out.” able to open up their facility the people to let them know you’re stuck. Then, the co-op pickups that came way they did and welcome us, But they do nothing for moving snow to the scene to get their co-workers also we’ll never be able to repay them or power poles. came across a fire truck. You guessed and we’ll always be in debt. “We really didn’t know how we were it, stuck. Jim Eppard going to get rescued,” Eppard says. “The “Visibility was down to so you could Highway Patrol wasn’t excited about only see the front of the pickup somecoming to where we were because of times. You were looking down at the the downed power lines.” line on the road, that’s how you knew The Eppards stayed in their car, getting used to the fact you were on the road,” says Hadley Lemburg, West River they may be there overnight. Electric journeyman/lineman. Lemburg was one of the They had some SternoCandleLamp™ products and co-op employees who were sent out to get the others. “I their jackets, but hadn’t packed an emergency kit yet. It was watching the poles and they were moving pretty good. was only Oct. 4. If one fell behind us while we were waiting, we probably “We heard voices outside and we got really excited,” would’ve pulled it out of the way.” Eppard says. “They told us to hang on, they’ll be back. … They pulled the fire truck out of the ditch. The two co-op We were ready to jump out of the window and just hang pickups were stuffed tight. One pickup, single cab, carried onto the back of the truck to get where we needed to go.” four people: the driver, people who were with the firefighters 16
Basin Today
and a lineworker. The extended cab pickup carried seven people: the driver, another lineworker, a tow truck driver and more of the people who were with the firefighters. Six more people rode in the fire truck. By this time, Nelson estimates there was at least 18 inches of snow on the ground. “It was three miles to get to the fire department, where we dropped those people off, and another couple miles to the (co-op) shop,” Nelson says. “We were driving between the lanes, anywhere we could just to get going.” At the co-op’s office in Wall, SD, West River Electric CEO and General Manager Dick Johnson waited. “Sitting in the office, you sit on pins and needles. You hear the radio going off and you hope and pray that they get back safely.” Once they got to West River Electric’s shop in Rapid City, they joined other employees bound there by the weather. LouAnn Eppard jumped in and helped a couple of the employees who had started cooking a ham that was in the freezer. That evening, the entire crew of about 15 people ate ham on buns, potato chips, and a tray of desserts the Eppards had picked up at the grocery store earlier. That night, a Friday, the Eppards slept in one of the offices. “I had been in the building once before to do some business,” Eppard says. “To be able to just walk around behind the counter and see how the co-op runs during a blizzard like this, it was kind of cool. “The next day, we were just milling around. There was no TV, so we just started looking through the freezer,” Eppard says. “We found five pounds of hamburger, and looked up a recipe for sloppy joes to cook for everybody.” In the meantime, the lineworkers learned more about what goes on in the office during an outage, too, by filling in on phones. “It was nerve-wracking for me because my wife and kid were at home without power. And then our phone went dead so I couldn’t get a hold of her,” Lemburg says. “Once I got a hold of a neighbor who had power, they went and got her so it made it a lot better. Then once we could get out, I went and got them and brought them to the shop so it wasn’t so bad after that.” Johnson says the lineworkers’ families sacrificed after the storm, too. “You have to take your hat off to the spouses that, for 16 days, didn’t see them because they were working such long hours. … It’s engrained in them to want to
get the member back on at the end of the line. They know that’s their job. I think as cooperative employees, they understand the member owns them and they’re going to do everything they can to get that person on.” Just a couple hours before the Eppards were able to leave on Saturday, local emergency management brought in a mother and six-month-old baby. “They had a tree branch break through their roof and needed someplace to stay for a while,” Nelson says. Eppard says he’ll never forget this weekend. “When we woke up on Saturday morning and looked out, there was nobody out there. It was like a nuclear explosion had gone off and everybody was gone. It was just eerie,” he says. “They (lineworkers) saved us, no questions. For them to be able to open up their facility the way they did and welcome us, we’ll never be able to repay them and we’ll always be in debt.” Plus, the Eppards’ power was back on in their home by Wednesday. “We were thinking it would be early the next week. They did an incredible job of being able to get people back in service. … Probably just a tribute to them and their desire to get the job done.”
Storm numbers for West River Electric
• 16,000 meters down • 2,000 poles down • 100 miles of line down, approximately • 12 substations down • 9 months until everything is fixed, weather dependent (projected)
South Dakota co-ops affected • Grand Electric Cooperative • West River Electric Association • Butte Electric Cooperative • Moreau-Grand Electric Cooperative • West Central Electric Cooperative • LaCreek Electric Association • Black Hills Electric Cooperative
January – February 2014
17
Feature Series
A day in the life of … a warehouseperson
Kelly Borlaug Antelope Valley Station warehouse staff (from left): Jim Vind, Cynthia Frank, Delonce Eberle, Eric Schwab and Kelly Borlaug.
By Chris Gessele Kelly Borlaug has a special talent. As one of five warehouse staff, Borlaug tracks all material A warehouseperson at Basin Electric’s Antelope Valley deliveries, storage and appropriate distribution at Antelope Station near Beulah, ND, he can pick up a quarter from Valley Station. The plant’s four warehouses generally the shop floor. contain three types of items – stocked, non-stocked and With a forklift. direct-charge, Borlaug says. That skill likely won’t make him Stocked items are automatically reorI couldn’t ask for better rich or famous, though it exemplifies dered, always on hand and have regular people to work with. the pride Borlaug and his coworkers storage locations. The reorders are transKelly Borlaug take in their jobs, all while having ferred to the procurement division at Basin a little fun. Electric Headquarters in Bismarck, ND. Borlaug started working for Non-stocked items are specialty items Basin Electric as a laborer at Antelope Valley Station ordered as needed and aren’t generally on hand. Directalmost 14 years ago. He’s grateful for his warehouse posicharge items are ordered and immediately used with no tion – especially when peering out the door at less than designated storage space. ideal weather conditions. Borlaug was working the 3:30 p.m. to midnight shift on “That’s the nice thing about the warehouse job: it’s nice Dec. 18, though came in early to give a tour through all four in here,” he says. of Antelope Valley Station’s warehouses on the plant site. 18
Basin Today
The warehouses hold a wide variety of plant parts, including boiler tubes, sheet metal and bolts, nuts and washers of seemingly every shape and size. There are three cold-storage warehouses that hold surplus items as well as materials that aren’t needed often. “Anything that’s big that we don’t have to keep moving all the time we store here, just to get it out of the way,” Borlaug says. “The stuff you need more often is put in accessible spots. Some of this stuff has been here as long as I’ve been here, but you don’t want to throw it in case you need it for parts.” All inventory and its location is tracked by computer. Borlaug learned the system using his “bible” – a binder stuffed full of computer shortcuts and reminders. Nearly everyone in the warehouse keeps a similar reference book handy, he says. “It’s a lot of computer work, but you’ve got to know where everything’s at.” Warehouse employees either work from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. to midnight. The employees rotate, working one week of night shifts per month. Day shift employees spend their time stationed in the tool room to check out tools to employees and contractors, or in receiving to monitor inventory deliveries. “Toolbox meetings” every week help ensure they’re on the same page. The heated main warehouse is Borlaug’s main work station. The large shop holds rows upon rows of shelves and drawers stocked with items less than 50 pounds, along with slightly larger items that are needed often. A letter and number system on the shelves helps employees quickly locate items. The warehouse staff inventories 50 percent of the main warehouse once per year. Drawer by drawer, shelf by shelf, the process usually takes several months. “Some days it can be slow; some days can be overwhelming,” he says. On Dec. 18, Borlaug received an order for parts to build a new shaft for the plant’s fly ash silo building. He fired up the forklift, that same forklift he used to pick up the quarter, and delivered a steel rod to the mechanic shop, which is attached to the main warehouse.
Kelly Borlaug jokes with a coworker before delivering a rod to the Antelope Valley Station mechanical shop with a forklift. See a demonstration of Borlaug’s forklift-operating prowess at http://bit.ly/forklift-trick.
“You’d be surprised at some of the stuff those guys can make,” Borlaug says over the steady growl of the forklift. The warehouse employees work closely with the mechanic and electrical shops, and usually have a good time doing it. “I couldn’t ask for better people to work with,” he says. Antelope Valley Station has a planned outage in March, and warehouses are filling up with scaffolding, picnic tables, and other materials that will be used during the outage. Inventory understandably peaks right before an outage and plummets afterward, he says. With millions of dollars in inventory at the plant staff’s disposal, a lot of traffic comes through the warehouse doors. The warehouse staff keeps their workspace presentable by cleaning the main warehouse every Saturday – sweeping the floor one day and washing it the next. “It doesn’t stay clean very long, but it sure looks nice that next morning when you come in,” Borlaug says.
January – February 2014
19
News Briefs
Lessons learned during pipeline emergency drill
an emergency kit, and drove to the pipeline to shut off the manual valve, and then came to the site to advise the fire department. All that took a little less than an hour. At 5:20 p.m., the Hendricks Fire Department responded as expected and took command of the situation. Brookings Fire Department showed up as well. Kelly Schafer, Basin Electric sa fet y coord i nator–N D, sa id Hendricks Fire Department hadn’t been included in previous drills. “This is why we do these events. When we have emergency respondBrookings County Emergency Manager Bob Hill (in yellow) led the emergency drill on the ers out to the plant in the future to Basin Electric pipeline. review our plans and procedures, they will be included.” In addition to drills like this, Basin Electric holds annual On Oct. 15 at 5 p.m., Brookings County farmer Dan first responder training and meetings, according to Kevin Lutgen made a 911 call. “This is an exercise. … I just hit a Tschosik, Basin Electric manager of distributed generation. buried pipeline that comes through my property.” While the South Dakota Department of Transportation does The phone call was three months in the making through not require this drill, Tschosik said Basin Electric chose to a partnership between Brookings County Emergency go through it anyway. “This is a good thing to do for our Management and Basin Electric staff to perform a full-scale employees, first responders, landowners and for the general emergency exercise on the 14-mile natural gas pipeline public. We want the public to be aware Basin Electric is in that connects Deer Creek Station to the Northern Border the area with a gas pipeline, and we are prepared in case Pipeline. something would happen.” Bob Hill, Brookings County development director/ Joshua Rossow, Basin Electric environmental coordinaemergency manager, said the Basin Electric pipeline runs tor, said the drill helps test communications, which was an through the service areas of four different fire departissue. Cell service was nonexistent in the valley in which ments. “Hendricks Fire Department will get the call. We the exercise was performed, and radio signals weren’t didn’t know that until we started the planning, and that’s able to get out, either. After the exercise outdoors, all important to know. (Hendricks is in Minnesota.) We got crews got together at Deer Creek Station for a “hotwash,” them involved as soon as we found that out. This is another in which they went over what happened, and what went state’s fire department coming into Brookings County. We right and wrong. pay money to that fire department, and we expect them The pipeline runs one-eighth of a mile from Lutgen’s to respond accordingly.” home, and he said the drill served as good education for From Basin Electric’s perspective, shortly after the 911 local landowners. “Up until now, we really didn’t know call was made by Lutgen, 911 called Basin Electric dispatch what should happen in case we would hit the pipeline,” at Headquarters. Brian Donbroski, lead operator technician he said. “Being a part of this was kind of fun, and gives in Deer Creek Station’s control room, received a call from me an idea of what to say if this ever happens in real life.” Headquarters to shut off the gas. Donbroski had Kevin Watch a video showing this drill: http://bit.ly/ Crose, outside operator technician, call Northern Border DCSpipelinedrill Pipeline to close off the control valve. Crose then grabbed 20
Basin Today
2013: Big year for retirements at Basin Electric and facilities
Basin Electric’s human resources division has calculated 112 people retired in 2013 from Headquarters and plant facilities, and subsidiary Dakota Gasification Company had 67 retirements at their facility. “There were a number of factors that made 2013 such a great year for those considering retirement,” said Ellen Holt, Basin Electric vice president of human resources. “Most of those who chose to retire had been working for Basin Electric 30-plus years. They began their careers when Basin Electric had a significant hiring phase in the early 1980s as its facilities were starting up.” Holt said some employees were also able to retire earlier than the normal retirement age of 62 because the cooperative has offered both a 401k plan with a match and a cooperative-provided retirement plan. “It’s quite unusual for employers to offer two retirement plans,” Holt said. “Add the fact that the cash-out calculation for those taking a lump sum distribution is the best we’ve ever seen because of interest rates.” The cooperative had been preparing for all the retirements prior to 2013 and has been working throughout the year to fill positions as needed and, anticipating more retirements in the next few years, has begun “hiring early” to fill the positions that will open as long-time employees leave. All open positions are listed on the cooperative’s websites at basinelectric.com and dakotagas.com.
Lonesome Creek Station Unit 1 goes commercial
Basin Electric’s Lonesome Creek Station, a natural gasbased peaking station west of Watford City, ND, started commercial operation of Unit 1 on Dec. 1. Lonesome Creek Station was approved by the Basin Electric board of directors in February 2012 and was built to serve the increasing demand for electricity by member cooperatives in northwest North Dakota. Unit 1, with a capacity of 45 megawatts (MW), will primarily be used to support the local transmission system and serve loads developing in the area. Phase I construction was approved by the Basin Electric board of directors in February 2012, and construction began in mid-2012. The board approved Phase II of the project, which will include two additional 45-MW units, in July 2012. Targeted completion of Phase II construction is late 2014.
Basin Electric ranked highest revenue-earning electric co-op
The National Cooperative Bank (NCB) Co-op 100 lists the nation’s top revenue-earning cooperative businesses. The report, recognizes and celebrates cooperative successes during National Cooperative Month in October. Basin Electric was listed at No. 24 according to the report, and the top electric cooperative with 2012 revenues of more than $1.9 billion. Basin Electric’s latest ranking is up four spots from the 2011 report. The NCB Co-op 100 debuted in 1991 and is the only annual report of its kind to track the profits and success of cooperative businesses throughout the United States.
Agencies’ high credit ratings reflect Basin Electric’s financial strength
Basin Electric has again received high credit ratings from outside agencies. The cooperative’s long-term senior secured bond rating from Moody’s is ‘A-1,’ while the long-term secured bond rating from Standard & Poor’s remains an ‘A.’ They both include a stable outlook, according to Paul Sukut, Basin Electric interim chief executive officer and former chief financial officer. Basin Electric also has a senior secured long-term bond rating of A+ with a stable outlook from Fitch Ratings. Sukut traveled to New York the week of Oct. 7 to visit with rating agencies and several banks. He accompanied
January – February 2014
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News Briefs
former Basin Electric Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Andrew M. Serri, Vice President and Treasurer Steve Johnson, Director Wayne Peltier, and Director Kermit Pearson. “A solid ‘A’ rating, which we’re seeing, shows the financial community that the agencies believe Basin Electric is very strong financially, and in a very good position to repay its outstanding obligations,” Johnson said. Sukut said Basin Electric is seeing positive growth, which contributes to the high ratings. “We are probably the only utility in the country that is forecasting or projecting the magnitude of growth that we’re forecasting going forward for the next 10 years or so,” Sukut said. “It’s not only growth, but also the strength of our members. It’s more reliance on sales to our members, as compared to surplus sales.” Also reflected in the agencies’ ratings is Basin Electric’s stable rates. “We’re very competitive to what the rest of the surrounding utilities are charging. That’s a strength,” Johnson said. During the agencies’ analysis, it was also apparent that initiatives are taking place to make Dakota Gas more efficient. Examples Sukut included were an added 30,000-ton anhydrous ammonia tank, an upgrade to the clean cooling water system, and the addition of a tar oil stripper column.
Montana facility reaches ten-year safety milestone
The employees of Montana Limestone Company’s fine grind plant and rail load out facility reached 10 years without a lost-time accident Dec. 16. Montana Limestone is a subsidiary of Dakota Coal Company, which is a subsidiary of Basin Electric. The fine grind plant provides chemical grade agricultural products as well as limestone products. The rail load out facility transfers and loads limestone onto railcars for sugar beet refineries. This facility also loads unit trains of limestone for the scrubber at Leland Olds Station near Stanton, ND. The fine grind plant and rail load out are located 70 miles south of Billings, near Warren, MT. Bob Bartosh, chief operating officer of Dakota Coal, says the milestone is a great source of pride for the team. “We make working safely a top priority at our facilities, and this milestone goes to show that attention has paid off. I congratulate our employees on their hard work, and am so glad they’re able to go home every day safe and healthy.” 22
Basin Today
Minnesota statewide manager retires
Basin Electric Director Gary Drost (far left) and Steve Tomac, Basin Electric senior legislative representative, (far right) present a clock to Glaess.
Basin Electric recently honored Mark Glaess, retiring general manager of Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA), for his many years of service to rural electric cooperatives. Glaess started as MREA general manager in 1991. Basin Electric Director Gary Drost and Steve Tomac, Basin Electric senior legislative representative, presented a clock to Glaess at his retirement open house Dec. 17 in Minneapolis, MN. The clock was inscribed with the message: “Presented to Mr. Mark Glaess on the occasion of his retirement by the folks who were ‘inspired, illuminated and irritated’ by the leader who carried the cooperative torch with more swagger than anyone alive.” “Mark is a very proactive strategic thinker who challenged MREA to think outside of the box for the past 20-plus years,” Tomac said. “His extensive vocabulary and quick wit added color to every conference and meeting at which he was present. He would often post his editorials on current issues impacting rural electrics on Sunday mornings.” Glaess, known for his commitment and dedication to addressing the national issues facing rural electric cooperatives, helped spearhead the annual MREA Energy Issues Summit, an event intended to “inform, illuminate, irritate and implement.” He also served as a panelist at a preconference session held during Basin Electric’s 2013 Annual Meeting. Watch a video: http://bit.ly/2013AMGlaess “These past 35 years representing co-ops and public power districts in Nebraska and Oregon, with the past 22 years in Minnesota, have been among the happiest times of my life,” Glaess said. “Each of you have inspired me, made me think, and made me laugh making me ever, so ever, appreciative of, and, to each of you.”
Dakota Gas emergency drill a great learning experience
Kurt Dutchuk, Dakota Gas protection services supervisor and operations officer, (middle) directed the staged incident from the field.
Emergency response skills and coordination were put to the test during a full-scale exercise held Nov. 6 at Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah, ND. The drill included 70 Synfuels Plant employees and Mercer County emergency response members representing various entities at the plant, as well as 68 participants at Sakakawea Medical Center (SMC), Mercer County Ambulance and the Mercer County Dispatch headquarters. “We staged a scenario that included an anhydrous ammonia release, a fire, and equipment malfunctions,” said Warren Herman, Dakota Gas emergency response coordinator. “As a result, we identified 23 victims located in various areas of the plant that needed emergency assistance.” Employees from all areas of the plant were involved. Representatives from the Mercer County Emergency Management, North Dakota Emergency Management, and Mercer County
Find us on the web basinelectric.com basinmembers.com dakotagas.com
Sheriff’s Department were also involved in the exercise. The Synfuels Plant is required to plan for emergencies by several different mandates including the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard, the Responsible Care Management System, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. The mandates require pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties and appropriate participation in development of community preparedness plans. They also encourage supporting emergency planning efforts at the state and local levels. Participants and exercise observers completed evaluations at the conclusion of the event. An exercise planning group will review the evaluations, corrective action points will be pulled from these evaluations, and adjustments that need to be made to procedures, plans and equipment will be completed.
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January – February 2014
23
Employee Highlights
Wreaths Across America Michelle Weidrich, senior administrative assistant, at her father’s gravesite at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery near Mandan.
Noel Noakes served in the Navy from 1952-1956, during the Korean Conflict aboard the USS Oriskany, first as a fireman, later in the hydraulics division. Then Noakes was a machinist at Leland Olds Station near Stanton, ND, from 1971-1977. In 2010, he died and was buried in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Noakes’ daughter Michelle Wiedrich, Basin Electric senior administrative assistant, says she’s proud of her dad and thankful for his service to his country. As she places a wreath at his gravesite each year through Wreaths Across America, she’s reminded of how much she misses him. “It’s comforting to see all the other families there for the same reason. This was the first year there were enough donations to put a wreath on every grave in the cemetery. It was beautiful,” she says. Basin Electric gives $1,500 each year, enough to supply 100 wreaths. There are more than 5,000 headstones at the cemetery.
Pilot earns certification
Mark Burke, pilot, has completed the process required to add the rating “instrument flight instructor” to his pilot certificate. “This additional rating allows me to teach others how to fly an airplane solely by reference to flight instruments or ‘in the clouds,’” Burke says. To prepare for the check-ride with the Federal Aviation Administration designated examiner, he and Loren Carson, pilot/aviation safety officer, spent several hours flying instrument approaches and practicing maneuvers. Burke had to be able to teach each task from the passenger seat of the Cessna 150 they used for the training. In addition to teaching others, Burke can help interns transition into flying Basin Electric’s Cessna Caravan. 24
Basin Today
Employee Christmas tree becomes tradition
Santa Claus, husband of Staff Counsel Deb Levchak, stopped at Headquarters. Here, he visits Paul Cook, web designer III (in navy), and family (from left) Eli, Quin and Nicole.
For the second year, employees decorated a tree at Headquarters in bright bulbs and ornaments. This year’s employee Christmas tree was near the upper parking lot. Employees and their children enjoyed cookies, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa Claus. Watch this video to see the action: http://bit.ly/2013BEPCtree
Payroll analyst earns certification
Jon Klein, payroll analyst, is now among fewer than 10,000 certified payroll professionals in the nation. Klein says it took him several months to prepare for the test. “I bought a dictionary sized book (about a thousand pages worth) and spent four months reading it, taking notes, and I even got flashcards,” he says. Klein found his work experience came into play on the test. “Benefit experience from my previous job and a lot of accounting experience from working at Basin helped me on the test,” Klein says. “When studying for the test I found it is easy to know all the rules, but the trick is knowing all of the exceptions to the rules.”
New Employees
Darold Zenker, call taker, began working at Headquarters Sept. 23. The Streeter, ND, native previously worked for Unisys as a maintenance service supplier agent in Bismarck, ND. Zenker also worked at MAC’s Hardware in customer service. He has an associate degree from Bismarck State College and a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson (ND) State College in universal studies.
Angela Dockter began working at Headquarters Aug. 12 as a buyer. The Bismarck, ND, native previously worked for Doosan/ Bobcat Company as a material analyst in Bismarck. Dockter has a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in computer information systems from University of Mary, Bismarck.
Lacy Brousseau started her position at Headquarters as an accounting analyst II Sept. 23. Originally from Linton, ND, Brousseau previously worked for Brady Martz & Associates as a staff accountant in Bismarck, ND. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. She is a certified public accountant.
Heidi Kaylor began working at the Synfuels Plant as an administrative assistant Sept. 26. Originally from Upham, ND, she was a first grade teacher at Hazen Elementary School in Hazen, ND.
Zachary Klein, maintenance field technician, began working at the Synfuels Plant Nov. 25. The Hazen, ND, native had worked in the warehouse at Menards in Bismarck, ND. Klein has a mechanical maintenance technology associate degree from Bismarck State College.
Jeremy Baranko began working at the Synfuels Plant Oct. 28 as a rotating equipment engineer. The South Heart, ND, native worked for Case New Holland in Fargo, ND, as a test engineer. Baranko has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Erica Becker, injury prevention specialist, began working at the Synfuels Plant Oct. 28. Originally from Bismarck, ND, she had worked at Sanford Health in Bismarck. Becker has a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Mary, Bismarck. Adam Brindle began working at the Synfuels Plant Dec. 9 as a field technician in the chemistry laboratory. He is from Casper, WY, and worked for WestBred in Bozeman, MT. Brindle has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Montana State University, Bozeman. Stephanie Hottman, registered nurse, began working at the Synfuels Plant Oct. 9. The Beulah, ND, native worked for St. Alexius Heart and Lung Clinic in Bismarck. Hottman has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Medcenter One College of Nursing, Bismarck, ND.
Katie Klindworth began working at the Synfuels Plant as an engineering assistant Sept. 30. Originally from Center, ND, she worked for the city of Beulah, ND. Klindworth has a bachelor’s degree in child development family science from North Dakota State University, Fargo.
Brenda Kraft, senior administrative assistant, began working at Dakota Gasification Company Dec. 5. Originally from Mobridge, SD, she had lived in Beulah, ND, and worked at the Synfuels Plant for 23 years. She recently worked at Sanford Health Occupational Medicine Clinic in Bismarck, ND. Gilbert Rakes began working at the Synfuels Plant Nov. 4 as a protection services specialist. The Tucson, AZ, native was in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Minot (ND) Air Force Base.
January – February 2014
25
Employee Highlights
New Employees
Micheal Farley started his position at Transmission System Maintenance - Mandan as a training coordinator. The Wahpeton, ND, native previously worked for Harlow’s as a safety manager in Bismarck, ND. Farley has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from North Dakota State University, Fargo. Scott Ternes, network security analyst I, began working at Headquarters Oct. 21. The Strasburg, ND, native previously worked for Capital Credit Union as a network administrator in Bismarck, ND. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems and business administration from University of Mary, Bismarck. Bryan Kuntz began working at the Synfuels Plant Sept. 23 as a process operations field technician. The Underwood, ND, native worked for Scheels in Bismarck, ND. He has a power plant technology associate degree from Bismarck State College.
Isaac Michaelson, rotating equipment engineer, began working at the Synfuels Plant Oct. 28. Originally from Beulah, ND, he worked for Otter Tail Power Company, Beulah. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from North Dakota State University, Fargo. Larry Murphy began working at Dry Fork Station Oct. 21 as a lab technician. He is originally from Eagan, MN.
Megan Emter began working at Headquarters Nov. 11 as a cafeteria technician. She is originally from Bismarck, ND.
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Basin Today
Chris Vizenor began working at Headquarters Oct. 21 as an associate business analyst. Originally from East Grand Forks, MN, Vizenor previously worked for Rasmussen College as a student finance officer in Bismarck, ND. He also worked as a sales and leasing consultant at Kupper Subaru in Mandan, ND. He has a master’s degree in human resource management and business management from University of Mary, Bismarck. Kimberly Badenhop, cooperative planning project coordinator, began working at Headquarters Nov. 4. While growing up, Badenhop has lived in Georgia, Indiana, and Oregon. As an adult she has lived in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and now in North Dakota since August 2012. She previously worked for the federal government and government contractors. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, Lexington. Brenden Leier, electrician II, began working at Leland Olds Station Dec. 2. Originally from Hazen, ND, Leier previously worked for Energy Tech Systems as an electrician technician in Bismarck, ND. He also worked for Cardinal Glass Industries as a maintenance technician in Fargo, ND. He has an associate degree in electrical technology from North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton. Kelly Schnaidt, electrical and instrumentation field technician, began working at the Synfuels Plant Dec. 9. The Beulah, ND, native worked for Basin Transload in Zap, ND. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration, information systems from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. Lisa Carney, administrative assistant I, began her position at Headquarters Nov. 18. She is originally from Richardton, ND.
Kate Schlag started her position at Headquarters Nov. 18 as an accounting analyst I. Originally from Garrison, ND, Schlag previously worked as a disbursement manager at Unisys Corporation in Bismarck, ND. She has a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from Minot (ND) State University. Ashley Ollenburger, accounting analyst I, began her position at Headquarters Nov. 18. The Bismarck/Mandan, ND, native previously worked for Bartlett & West Administrative as a technician in Bismarck. She also worked in accounts payable at Scheels. Ollenburger has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dickinson (ND) State University.
Robert “R.D.” Reimers, income tax administrator, began his position at Headquarters Dec. 2. Originally from Carrington, ND, Reimers previously was self-employed as a certified public accountant. He also worked for Internal Revenue Service and Carlson Companies, both in Minneapolis, MN. He has a master’s degree in business taxation from University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Tami Bohne began her position as a risk analyst at Headquarters Dec. 2. The South Heart, ND, native previously worked at EMC Insurance Companies as an underwriter II in Bismarck, ND. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Dickinson (ND) State University. Bohne recently earned the chartered property casualty underwriter designation.
Paul Davis started his position as lead lineman at Transmission System Maintenance - Williston Nov. 18. The Grand Forks, ND, native previously worked for North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives as the director of safety in Mandan. Karl Edler started his position as an apprentice substation electrician at Transmission System Maintenance - Williston Oct. 7. Originally from Lubbock, TX, Edler previously worked for Visionworks as a lab technician in Lubbock.
Michael Kepler, substation electrician journeyman, began working at Laramie River Station Dec. 2. Originally from North Platte, NE, Kepler previously worked as an electrician for Bonneville Power Administration in Longsview, WA. He has an associate degree in electronics.
Daniel Schaaf Gallagher began working at Headquarters as a real-time trader I Dec. 2. The Mandan, ND, native previously worked for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as an economist in Billings, MT. Schaaf has a bachelor’s degree in economics from North Dakota State University, Fargo. Samantha Krueger began working at Headquarters Nov. 25 as an administrative assistant I. The Underwood, ND, native previously worked for North Dakota Guaranty and Title Company as an escrow closing assistant in Bismarck.
Cody Zimmerman began working at Lonesome Creek Station Dec. 2 as an operator technician. The Colstrip, MT, native previously worked for Rosebud Power Plant as a plant technician in Colstrip. He has a bachelor’s degree in community health from Carroll College in Helena, MT.
Kristyn Nieuwsma began her position as settlement analyst II at Headquarters Dec. 16. The Bismarck, ND, native previously worked for Bismarck State College as a student finance relationship coordinator. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
January – February 2014
27
Employee Highlights
New Employees
Bobby Wade began working at Dry Fork Station Dec. 9 as a utility operator. The Gillette, WY, native previously worked for Wyodak Resources as a production technician in Gillette. He has more than fifteen years of experience working in home improvement sales and service.
Owen Myhre, operator technician, began working at Deer Creek Station Dec. 16. Originally from Langdon, ND, Myhre previou sly worked for Da i r yla nd Power Cooperative as a shift leader of Genoa Station #3 in Genoa, WI. He has an associate degree in power plant technology. Terry Fahlsing Jr. began working at Antelope Valley Station as a laborer Dec. 18. The Hazen, ND, native previously worked for Swanson & Youngdale as a painter in Beulah, ND. He has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College.
Michael Schutt began working at the Synfuels Plant Sept. 23 as a process operations field technician. Originally from Beulah, ND, he worked for the city of Beulah and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Schutt has a process plant technology associate degree from Bismarck (ND) State College. Jason Haas began his position as laborer at Antelope Valley Station Dec. 16. The Turtle Lake, ND, native previously worked for Great River Energy as fuel core system laborer in Underwood, ND. Haas also worked for K G Contracting at the Mandan (ND) Tesoro Refinery. He has an associate degree in process plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College Spencer Wagner, executive sales account manager – fertilizer products, began working at Dakota Gasification Company Oct. 14. Originally from Turtle Lake, ND, he worked for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture in Bismarck. Wagner has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN.
Cody Hoffert, laborer, began working at Antelope Valley Station Dec. 16. Originally from Leeds, ND, Hoffert previously worked for Blue Flint Ethanol as a relief operator in Underwood, ND. He has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College.
Jordan Bauman began his position as laborer at Antelope Valley Station Dec. 16. Originally from Golden Valley, ND, Bauman previously worked for Totter Construction as a fence builder in Grassy Butte, ND. He has an associate degree in power plant technology from Bismarck (ND) State College.
Lee Westby, protection services specialist, began working at the Synfuels Plant Nov. 4. Originally from Rapid City, SD, he has a fire science associate degree from Western Dakota Technical Institute, Rapid City, SD.
Amanda Solberg began working as a field technician in the chemistry laboratory at the Synfuels Plant Dec. 9. The Belfield, ND, native worked for Marathon Petroleum Corporation in Canton, OH. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Dickinson State University. 28
Basin Today
Travis Watson began working at the Synfuels Plant Nov. 4 as a protection services specialist. The Big Fork, MN, native worked for the Beulah Police Department and Mercer County Ambulance. He has a law enforcement associate degree from North Hennepin Community College, Brooklyn Park, MN.
Jesse Wrangham began working at the Synfuels Plant Nov. 4 as a protection services specialist. The Bismarck, ND, native was a Local 1091 millwright in Bismarck. He has a fire technology associate degree from Northland Community and Technical College, East Grand Forks, MN.
Service Awards
David Herriott
Blair Mitzel
Della Mastel
Nancy Gilbertson
Robert McManus
operations superintendent
manager of payroll
accounting analyst II
administrative assistant III
water treatment operator
35 years
35 years
Headquarters
35 years
Headquarters
Laramie River Station
35 years
Leland Olds Station
35 years
Laramie River Station
Gerry Henriksen
Brian Larson
Micheal Fisk
Arthur Hendrix
Myron Singleton
maintenance supervisor
plant manager
field technician
lab technician lead
mechanical engineer III
35 years
35 years
30 years
30 years
25 years
Deer Creek Station
Laramie River Station
Dakota Gasification Company
Leland Olds Station
Laramie River Station
Mark Nelson
Dan Swigost
Scott Olson
Flora Bascus
Charles Cox II
maintenance superintendent
electrical consulting engineer
instrument I
instrument I
auxiliary operator
25 years
25 years
20 years
Laramie River Station
Antelope Valley Station
Headquarters
Jeremy Perkins
Robert Walsh
James White
mechanic/welder I
auxiliary operator
system protection technician lead
20 years
Laramie River Station
20 years
Laramie River Station
20 years
Laramie River Station
20 years
Laramie River Station
20 years
Transmission System Maintenance - Beulah
Bruce Albertson
William Knudson
Kyle Pearson
control room operator
electrician I
desktop applications analyst III
35 years
Antelope Valley Station
25 years
Leland Olds Station
25 years
Headquarters
January – February 2014
29
Employee Highlights
Retirees Editor’s note: Expanded retirement stories were written only for those who returned their questionnaire to Basin Today staff.
Ronald Johnke retired from Laramie River Station Sept. 15 after 25 years of service. Johnke began working as a laborer in 1988. He also held positions as a utility operator and auxiliary operator. Johnke plans to spend time with his children and grandchildren. Nancy Scheid, electrician I, retired from Antelope Valley Station Oct. 22 after 30 years of service. Scheid started in 1983 as an apprentice electrician. In retirement she plans to visit her mother in Minnesota and her daughter in Texas. She also plans to ride horses and raise cows. Darlene Ziegler retired from Headquarters Nov. 8 after 38 years of service. Ziegler began working as a secretary in 1975. Her title was then changed to secretary/administrative assistant, secretary/engineer assistant, administrative assistant and senior administrative assistant. Ziegler says when she started at Basin Electric her first typewriter was electric. “That was it. No bells or whistles and all documents were typed with carbon copy. We ordered Wite Out® by the case. Then I got an IBM Selectric, and that was a big deal,” Ziegler says. Mike Risan, senior vice president of Transmission, says Ziegler was extremely efficient. “We will miss her organizational skills associated with meeting scheduling, agendas, and minutes. She was always very helpful to me whenever I had a request even though these last few years we were in different departments.” Ziegler says it was a privilege to work closely with the members through the Manager’s Advisory Committee, Rate Subcommittee, and Regional Transmission Organization Committee, along with the Missouri Basin Power Project Participants. “They have been wonderful to work with, totally committed to their member consumers, and nice to me, even when I strand them at the airport,” Ziegler says. Ziegler is interested in photography and plans to pursue it further in her retirement. She and her husband are planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand in 2014 to celebrate their retirements. 30
Basin Today
Roger Short retired from Laramie River Station Oct. 24 after 34 years of service. Short began working as a laborer in 1979. He then worked as an assistant yard equipment operator, yard equipment operator, and lead yard equipment operator. “Everything about working at Basin is a good memory,” Short says. In retirement, he is looking forward to “doing what I want to do.” Sheryl Massey retired from Headquarters Sept. 12 after 33 years of service. Massey began working as a clerk/typist in 1980. She also held positions as input operator, secretary, administrative secretary, government relations assistant and government relations coordinator. “I remember my first trip to Leland Olds with escort Bill Schott who showed me the plant and the trout ponds. Then to Laramie River Station with Judy Eastman and George Bartholomew (Bart) who not only gave me a tour of the plant and Greyrocks, but of the surrounding area including Register Cliff in Guernsey, WY.” Massey also shared memories including work with the political action committee (BEPAC). “The fundraising events gave me the chance to meet many elected officials and the golf event was a great opportunity to meet many plant employees and have some fun,” she says. She enjoyed working with the Resolutions Committee, which allowed her to meet many cooperative board members. “I was able to learn of the varying issues throughout our service territory. I had the pleasure of working with Fletcher Poling for many years and appreciated his historical knowledge of cooperatives and the legislative process. I considered him a valuable mentor,” she says. Massey attended 16 North Dakota legislative sessions while at Basin Electric. “Working through them and with the Lignite Energy Council on the teachers’ seminar and at the North Dakota State Fair, with the North Dakota Historical Society on the George Catlin project, serving as president of Keep ND Clean, and organizing and attending numerous fundraising events were all very rewarding.” Dale Niezwaag, senior legislative representative, says Massey was an asset to Basin Electric. “Sheryl was a big help during the legislative sessions on organizing and
tracking bills and she always kept our department on the straight and narrow regarding our lobbying reports,” Niezwaag says. She plans to play softball, volleyball, go cross country skiing, walking, hiking, bike riding, hunting and fishing, four-wheeling, and traveling. “I will be continuing my genealogy research and spending time at the cabin on Lake Sakakawea,” Massey says. “I have a whole list of projects at home but most importantly I am planning on spending time with my grandchildren in Fargo and Gillette, WY.” Vicki Colis retired from Headquarters July 22 after 36 years of service. Colis began working as a microfilm specialist trainee in 1977. She held many positions throughout the years including microfilm specialist II, documentary specialist II, input operator I, accountant I, associate accountant, marketing/billing analyst, and settlements coordinator. Sharon Lipetzky, supervisor of rates and revenue, worked with Colis for more than 15 years. “Throughout the years we spent here at Basin, I remember Vicki’s generosity. Being a generous soul, her giving extended from gifts under the tree here at work, to United Way, and to friends and family. I’ve always admired that quality about her and I appreciate her friendship,” Lipetzky says. Colis plans to travel, with a trip already planned for to Costa Rica and Ecuador. “Our grandkids live in Big Sky, MT, so we plan to make several trips out there. I enjoy snow skiing, so it is really nice to have a place to stay for free,” Colis says. She plans to go on a cruise to the southern Caribbean also. She says she spends a lot of time boating and fishing salmon on Lake Sakakawea every summer. “We don’t yet have a cabin there, but have the next best thing — a cabin boat that we stay on,” Colis says. “It’s our camper on the water. No grass to mow!” Ronnie Eagle retired from the Synfuels Plant Dec. 17 after 25 years of service. He began working at the plant in 1988 and worked in process operations, finishing his career as a process operations supervisor.
Marvin Aberle retired from the Synfuels Plant Oct. 4 after 24 years of service. Aberle began working at the plant in 1989 as a maintenance field technician. He spent his years at the plant overhauling compressors, turbines and pumps. He plans to spend time with his kids, spoiling the grandkids, gardening, working in his yard and woodworking. Charles Fettig retired from the Synfuels Plant Dec. 19 after more than 30 years of service. He began working at the plant in 1983 and worked in process operations finishing his career as a process operations supervisor. David Bangen retired from Headquarters Nov. 1 after 31 years of service. Bangen began working as an electronic data processing auditor in 1982. He then worked as a system auditor, senior system auditor, financial analyst, senior financial analyst, and manager of financial planning and forecasting. Bangen says Basin Electric was a wonderful place to work. “Both inside Basin and inside the cooperative family, I was surrounded by very hard working and caring people that made my work much more interesting and enjoyable. During the last few years I was very fortunate to work for two very professional chief financial officers (CFO), Buzz Hudgins and Paul Sukut, and a very talented support staff. I will miss not being a part of this great organization, but I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life,” Bangen says. Paul Sukut, interim CEO and general manager, says Bangen was an asset to Basin Electric for many years. “Dave had a complete grasp of our business. He always came to the workplace with a positive attitude and was an extremely hard worker. Most importantly, Dave had a great analytical mind such that he could break down any business endeavor we considered in order for us to make solid business decisions. Dave’s counsel will be greatly missed,” Sukut says. Bangen says he intends to spend parts of each winter with his wife in the south. “North Dakota is a wonderful place and as long as we have family, friends, and the family farm in this state, it will be home base for us.”
January – February 2014
31
Employee Highlights
Retirees
Daryl Hill retired from Headquarters Jan. 3 after 35 years of service. He was hired in 1978 as an information specialist and began coordinating the communications efforts of constructing the Antelope Valley Station. His title changed to senior communications specialist, news media coordinator, media relations supervisor, and supervisor media/communications relations. His most recent position was manager of media and communications relations. As Antelope Valley Station was nearing commercial operation in 1984, Hill became the main tour guide for the plant in the early 1980s, while based at Basin Electric Headquarters, and served in that capacity until the mid-1990s. In May 2013, Hill conducted his 1,500th tour of the plant. Hill says one of his favorite memories was when the History Channel visited Basin Electric’s facilities. They interviewed Hill for an episode, “Modern Marvels: Carbon,” that featured the technologies that capture, compress, and transport carbon dioxide at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. “The producer, camera man, reporter and I got up on the turbine deck at Antelope Valley Station and the camera man stopped dead in his tracks and said ‘Whoa.’ He couldn’t believe we were in a coal plant and to me that speaks volumes of what it means to have a clean power plant,” Hill says. Mike Eggl, senior vice president of Communications and Administration, says he will miss Hill’s playful spirit. “Daryl was always dedicated to his fellow employees and to the cooperative principles,” Eggl says. “He had unbridled optimism.” Mary Miller, manager of communications, says Hill was a loyal and passionate employee. “He carried himself with professionalism, dedication to the Basin Electric family and a reverence for the story of coal. He treated everyone with respect, kindness and mastered the balance of light-hearted humor with a strong work ethic and a high standard of conduct.” Miller says she will never forget the night she and Hill were called because of a fire at the Leland Olds Station. “Daryl and I met at the office around 11 p.m. while our video folks headed to the plant to capture footage. Daryl’s phone was ringing off the hook, and he and I were turning out talking points, emailing media statements and updating the web. Daryl greeted each reporter’s call as if it were 11 a.m. — chipper and ready to take on the world. Between those calls, he was 32
Basin Today
calling the plant control room and other personnel and getting updates. I remember being so impressed with the rapport he had with those folks, and the respect they had for him. They kept him in the loop all night, and he always thanked them and complimented them on their good work. We left sometime between 3:30 and 4 that morning, and Daryl was back at work by 8 a.m. to cover the board meeting. He had the same twinkle in his eye and carried the same positivity for which he is so well known. I learned more from watching Daryl that night than any college course taught me,” Miller says. John Jacobs, plant manager at Antelope Valley Station, has worked with Hill since the construction days of Antelope Valley Station. Jacobs says Hill acted as his marketing manager. “He was of the opinion that Antelope Valley Station is the prettiest power plant in the Basin fleet. I may be biased, but I think so as well,” Jacobs says. Joan Dietz, communications specialist at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, worked closely with Hill through the tours program for more than 25 years. “He was the most positive person I’ve ever met and always promoted Basin Electric in the best way possible in every situation,” Dietz says. “He was truly my mentor.” Chad Edwards, operations supervisor at Antelope Valley Station, says Hill was always a friendly face at Antelope Valley Station. “He was one of our biggest supporters,” Edwards says. Allison Zeller-Winkler, administrative assistant III at Antelope Valley Station, says it was a privilege to work with Hill. “Daryl spoke from the heart and taught everyone how important the cooperative philosophy is to all of us,” she says. “He had a hard time turning away a request for a tour. He could always squeeze another group through the doors — even if it meant coming out on a Saturday.” Audrey Vind, administrative assistant III at Antelope Valley Station, says she appreciates Hill’s friendship and mentorship. “We learned from the best,” Vind says. Hill says one of the things he will miss most is all the people he had the opportunity to work with. “One of my goals is to keep in touch with the folks that I have worked with for so many years who I consider very good friends,” Hill says. He will also miss doing the tours. “They were always a blast. You could have fun and be a ham, but still get the message across,” Hill says. “I enjoyed every single tour.” Hill plans to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He and his wife are planning a trip this summer, possibly to Ireland or scuba diving.
Jim Garrett retired from the Synfuels Plant in October after 30 years of service. He began working at the plant in June 1983 working in process operations finishing his career as a process operations supervisor. He plans to enjoy retirement. Sid Johnson retired from the Synfuels Plant Oct. 28 after more than 28 years of service. He began working at the plant in January 1985 and worked in the process operations department in gas production and coal handling. Paul Sowers retired from Laramie River Station Dec. 3 after 33 years of service. Sowers began working as a laborer in 1980. His title then changed to utility worker, auxiliary equipment operator, plant system operator, control room operator, and shift supervisor. Kerry Vetter retired from Antelope Valley Station Dec. 3 after 29 years of service. Vetter started as a warehouseperson in 1984. His title was changed to warehouse supervisor in 1998. Vetter says he appreciated everyone he worked with. “I had the best people working for me that you could ever ask for,” Vetter says. Vetter plans to do a lot of camping, fishing, and traveling. He also plans on going south in the winter. Les Larson retired from Headquarters Dec. 16 after 34 years of service. Larson began working as a mechanical engineer II in 1979. His title was changed to mechanical design engineer II, mechanical design engineer III, mechanical engineer IV, and senior mechanical engineer. Linda Will retired from Headquarters Dec. 31 after 32 years of service. Will began working as a secretary in 1981. Her title was changed to administrative secretary and later senior administrative assistant. Will says it was a pleasure to work with everyone in the Financial Services department and all of Basin Electric. “They truly care about each other and
I always felt their support throughout my years at Basin,” Will says. Paul Sukut, interim CEO and general manager, says Will was a hard worker who always came to the workplace with a positive attitude. “She was continually cognizant of the needs of Financial Services and managed it in an efficient manner. Linda was a true asset to Basin Electric as she understood our overall mission and carried out her day-to-day job functions accordingly. Linda will be truly missed,” Sukut says. In retirement Will plans to spend as much time as she can with her children and grandchildren. She will spend more time at their farm located in the Linton area. “I suppose that makes me a farmer’s wife! Yikes!” Steve Krueger retired Dec. 13 from the Synfuels Plant after more than 30 years of service. He began as an experienced process operations field technician in the steam generation area in 1983. He also worked in the MIS control room during the startup of the plant. Krueger became a process operation supervisor in 1990 and worked in the utilities areas of the plant. “The past 30 years have gone by fairly fast,” Krueger says. “I can still vividly remember walking out into the plant back in June of 1983 like it was yesterday. I have a lot of great memories, and worked with a great group of guys and gals. I have shared a lot of laughs and good times in the last 30 years. The crews and people I worked with were the best. The past few years working on developing an operations training program has been very rewarding. Taking 30 years of knowledge from the experienced operators and passing it on to the new young guns at the plant. I have faith that the new operators will continue to make DGC a success.” Krueger say his plans after leaving Dakota Gas are simple. “I’ve been in operations for the past 41 years so why quit now. I’m going home to Dickinson to take the weekend off. Then it’s on to my new job of starting up the first refinery in the United States in 40 years – Dakota Prairie Refining. Retirement can wait, besides that’s for ‘Old People.’”
January – February 2014
33
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