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Catawba Nuclear Station

Q: What type of U.S. power plants were the most productive in 2019?

A: Last year, nuclear plants were the most productive of the nation’s generation fleet: Nine of the 10 U.S. power plants that generated the most electricity in 2019 were nuclear plants, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. These top 10 plants accounted for 5.6 percent of all electricity generation in the country.

“Nuclear generation has been a reliable, safe and affordable energy resource for North Carolina’s electric cooperatives for 35 years,” said Scott Brame, manager of Compliance and Jointly Owned Resources for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “As an emissions-free resource accounting for more than half of the NC electric co-ops’ power, nuclear energy will also play a vital role in meeting co-ops’ net-zero carbon emissions goal as part of their shared Brighter Future vision.”

To learn more, visit: NCElectricCooperatives.com/Brighter Shivalee Patel

Alex Scruggs

NC Students Receive Youth Leadership Council Scholarships

Students representing Randolph EMC and Union Power Cooperative recently awarded two 2020 Youth Leadership Council (YLC) Scholarships to NC students: Shivalee Patel, a student at Piedmont High School in Monroe, representing Union Power Cooperative; and Alex Scruggs, a student at Southwestern Randolph High School in Asheboro, representing Randolph EMC.

“I’m thrilled that we were able to recognize these outstanding students for their achievements despite the challenges posed by COVID-19,” said Paul Mott, Youth Tour coordinator for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives.

Both Patel and Scruggs will receive a $2,000 college scholarship. They will also join the ranks of previous delegates selected to represent North Carolina on the Youth Leadership Council, a national electric cooperative program that seeks to develop strong leadership, presentation and advocacy skills in young leaders. While this year’s council activities have been canceled at the national level, Patel and Scruggs will be invited to attend North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ annual meeting this spring, pending any COVID-19 cancellations or changes.

Earlier this year, both Patel and Scruggs were selected to represent their local electric cooperative on the 2020 NC Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., which was originally scheduled to be held this past June, but was later canceled due to the pandemic. The annual tour, which brings together close to 1,800 high schoolers from more than 40 states, gives exceptional students the chance to spend a week in our nation’s capital learning about government, U.S. history and the cooperative business model, while building leadership skills and making new friends from across the state and nation.

Typically, North Carolina’s YLC representative is selected on the first day of Youth Tour by a peer vote based on a live speech competition; this year, however, the speech competition was held virtually. Patel and Scruggs were both named as representatives after tying for the most votes received from their fellow Youth Tourists, the first YLC tie in recent memory.

“Thank you to our Youth Tourists for making this year’s competition a success,” Mott said. “Our Youth Tour delegates have been incredibly supportive and resilient during this time, and we appreciate their flexibility as we’ve worked to transition our tour activities to a virtual environment.”

Virtual Youth Tour In lieu of an in-person trip to Washington, D.C., the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association launched “YTO: ShineOnLine” for 2020 Youth Tour participants. The weekly series brings the vast national network of Youth Tour delegates together with engaging speakers, co-op leaders and elected officials.

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Cookie-Making For the Hanes family, Moravian baking traditions run deep Masters Masters By Pamela A. Keene Photos by Revival Creatives

Evva Hanes the woman behind Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies, started baking almost before she could reach the kitchen table. Today, Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies are shipped around the globe, and they are still hand-rolled and hand-cut in a kitchen on the same farm property where she was born.

Evva, a 7th generation Moravian, says “My mother allowed me to actually help take the cookies off the pans and stack them when I was 5 or 6, but I was much older before I was allowed to handle and roll the dough.” Her ancestors immigrated to North Carolina in the early 1700s, from an area east of what is now the Czech Republic. “Even before I was born, my mother Bertha Crouch Foltz baked Moravian cookies to sell as a way to help support our family that included her, my father and seven children, so baking just comes naturally for me.”

It was a big day when Davidson EMC (now EnergyUnited) electric cooperative brought electricity to Clemmons when Evva was 4 years old.

“Until then we had a wood-burning stove, and Mother was very skilled at getting the temperature right so that the cookies wouldn’t burn,” she says. “These days, things are a bit easier, but we still roll, cut and pack all our cookies by hand. Ours are the only Moravian cookies in the area that are still being made by hand.”

A GROWING FAMILY

In 1952, she married Travis Hanes. In the early days of their marriage, Travis attended college while Evva worked at Hanes Hosiery Mill (no relation) and continued to help her mother bake cookies.

“As she got older, Mother couldn’t roll the cookies, so I took on more of the responsibility, helping every day after work and on Saturdays. We were also raising our two children, Mona and Mike, so it was a very busy time.”

“Ours are the only Moravian cookies in the by hand. by hand.area that are still being made

Ten years later at the birth of her third child, Jonathan, Evva left Hanes Hosiery and turned to cookie making fulltime, shifted her baking kitchen to the family’s remodeled basement. They installed air conditioning and two ovens, making it possible to increase the capacity to bake thousands of Moravian sugar cookies to sell each day.

“At that time, I was only making sugar cookies, but I also developed a serious allergy to flour dust, so I had to ask two neighbors to help me,” she says. “Still, I kept baking and soon added molasses cookies to our choices. By the time Caroline, our fourth child, came along in 1968, we decided to hire two fulltime employees to do the work and get me out of the flour dust. Caroline literally saved my life.”

BUILDING A BRAND

It was time for a business decision. In 1970, she and Travis constructed a dedicated building on the family farm. After several additions, it has become the official home of Mrs. Hanes. By 1985, they incorporated and formally named the company Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies/Moravian Sugar Crisp Co. Inc.

The recipe is the exact same one that her great- great-grandmother brought to America more than 200 years ago, when they settled near Winston-Salem with others who founded the Friedberg Moravian Church and one of the two largest Moravian communities in the United States. Baking these special cookies 125,000 pounds of cookies baked annually

1pound of dough when rolled properly, makes 100 cookies

9,000people tour the Mrs. Hanes’ Kitchens each year*

“I’m so proud of our Moravian traditions we can share with others through ourfamily.

Travis and Evva Hanes

30 fulltime employees many of whom are family members, plus an additional 18 seasonal employees

100,000 cookie fans on the company’s mailing list is part of the tradition still honored today in Moravian communities.

Over the years, she expanded the flavors to include Sugar Crisps, Ginger Crisps, Butterscotch Crisps, Black Walnut Crisps, Lemon Crisps and Chocolate Crisps.

“Today, my children and grandchildren are running the business,” says Evva, who will celebrate her 88th birthday this November. “But Travis and I are very much involved in many ways. I’m so proud of our Moravian traditions we can share with others through our family.”

Their daughter, Mona Hanes Templin, who is president of the company, and her son, Jedidiah Templin, are the most actively involved, but others including cousins, nieces and nephews also work there.

Looking back over her memories of growing up on the farm where she and Travis live and where her family’s cookies are still baked, she smiles.

“Never in my wildest dreams as a young girl, did I imagine that I would be baking Moravian cookies and have such a wonderful husband, children and grandchildren,” she says. “I have been blessed beyond measure.”

Pamela A. Keene is a freelance journalist who writes for magazines and newspapers across the Southeast and nationally.

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Bringing Smiles to Others Katie Haynes is remarkable in more ways than one

p Picking up toys from owner Sue Lucey at a drive drop-off point at Page 158 Books in Wake Forest.

By Donna Campbell Smith | Photos courtesy of Tara and Jody Haynes

In addition to having Asperger syndrome, 20-year-old Katie Haynes has a long list of medical conditions, some very rare and serious — but that isn’t what is remarkable about Katie.

A talented, award-winning photographer, Katie also helps with the family business of rabbitry, raising and showing both pedigreed and pet rabbit varieties. Still not the most remarkable thing about Katie Haynes.

What may be most remarkable about Katie, a Wake Electric member in Wake Forest, is her attitude and her desire to lessen the physical and emotional pain of others like her.

“I was blessed to be given a condition called Asperger syndrome, which is like a mild form of autism,” she writes on her Facebook page. “It means I don’t interact properly in certain social situations. I may have been bullied a lot, but I see beauty in my Asperger’s.”

Five years ago, Katie launched an organization named Smiling While Sending Hope (facebook. com/SmilingWhileSendingHope). Her mission is to bring smiles to others who have Asperger’s or other big health challenges in their lives. Through the program, Katie organizes toy drives, distributes care packages for hospitalized children, and plans holiday parties and back-toschool bashes for them. Katie wants to provide hope and happiness to those she encounters and share her story, to show these children they are not alone.

Katie also uses social media to share articles and stories about scientific breakthroughs, businesses that make accommodations for those with autism and other cognitive disorders, and even articles about dealing with bullying, something Katie has experienced. In addition, she brings awareness to Asperger’s and other chronic children’s illnesses through workshops and presentations.

Katie shares her own medical story on her Facebook page, “Katie’s Brave Medical Journey.” She posts about going for tests and treatments for her many chronic illnesses that include postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The long list is mind-boggling to read. With an upbeat voice, she writes about her experiences as she deals with her medical conditions, shares her triumphs, and frankly educates her readers about her challenges.

Katie, through her programs, gives away hundreds of care packets including Vogmasks®, reusable face masks that come in fashionable colors and patterns. She has organized a prom dress donation drive for Joy Prom (a full-scale prom night for special needs individuals). In addition, Katie visits young patients in hospitals and in their homes to let them know, “there is someone else out there who cares.”

A patient ambassador for Duke Children’s Hospital, Katie is featured in its fundraising campaigns. You may have even seen the life-sized cardboard cutouts of Katie in your local Walmart store. There are 15 of the cutouts across the state used in Walmart’s campaign to help raise money for Duke Children’s Hospital.

In 2019, Katie was named a “Hero for Life” by the Me Fine Foundation in recognition of her volunteer work. This organization helps families with medical finances whose children are patients at Duke Children’s Medical Center, UNC Children’s Hospital, and WakeMed Children’s Hospital.

What does Katie see for her future? She hopes to make Smiling While Sending Hope a nonprofit and continue to grow that organization. While attending college, Katie is studying photography and after graduation, hopes to fulfill a dream of becoming a photographer for Disney or NASCAR.

Donna Campbell Smith is a Carolina Country contributing writer who lives in Franklin County.

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ConneCtion

PIEDMONT ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION MEMBER NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2020

Thankful for the value of electricity

In a year like no other, we’ve all been spending more time inside our homes than we ever thought possible. If your additional energy use has you worried about the impact on your wallet, you’ll be happy to know that staying home can actually help you save money through the value of electricity. IMPORTANT DATES

November 11 Veterans Day November 26-27 Thanksgiving Piedmont Electric offices will be closed and employees will be on call.

Make working from home work for you If you’ve turned part of your house into a home office this year to accommodate your new working from home schedule, you might be worried about the increase in energy you’re using as a result. The good news is that while you are likely using more electricity, you’re saving on other costs by not driving into the office each day. That’s because, generally speaking, the cost of electricity is more affordable than typical commuting costs. So when you turn on your computer and start working from your home office, think how much money you’re saving (and how you’re reducing carbon emissions as well!).

One tank of gas = 4,166 hours of running your computer.*

Save while streaming The days of taking the whole family out to the movie theater are paused for now, but you can still have fun by hosting an at-home family movie night complete with microwave popcorn and your favorite candy. Plus, you’ll save money while you do it. All you need is your favorite movie to bring the fun experience of going to the theater right into your living room.

One trip to the movies = 6,250 hours of watching television.*

Become a home chef Going out to dinner at a restaurant is fun and relaxing, but staying in for dinner can be just as enjoyable and it’s much more budget-friendly. Break out an old cookbook to try a new recipe the whole family will enjoy or get your kids in the kitchen and let them be part of the cooking process. This experience can be a great time to bond with your family and save money while you do it.

One dinner at a restaurant = 321 hours of using your oven.*

Eventually, we’ll all be able to go out as much as we’d like. Until then, enjoy the money-saving benefits that come with staying home!

*Calculations are based on 10¢ per kWh, a $25 tank of gas, a computer that uses 60 watts/hr, a $50 trip to the movies, a 42 inch LED TV that uses 80 watts/ hr, a $75 meal, and an oven that uses 2400 watts/hr. 18

20 The host with the most (energy savings) Official notice

November right-of-way maintenance

CASWELL COUNTY

Cherry Grove Road Brintle Road Pagetown Road Shaw Road Egypt Road John Oakley Road Roxboro Lake Road

Be the host with the most (energy savings)

This year, many of us aren’t able to travel to spend Thanksgiving with our extended families. As a result, we’re faced with hosting smaller holiday gatherings in our own homes with our immediate family members. While it won’t make up for missing out on a feast at grandma’s house this year, we have a few tips to make hosting your own gathering more energy efficient.

Energy-efficient Thanksgiving tips

Create a plan. Dice up your veggies and trim your meats before you turn on the oven. Having all your ingredients prepared and ready to cook will ensure you’re only running your appliances as long as necessary.

Take advantage of small appliances. If you’re cooking a turkey, your oven will be full for the majority of the day. Use small appliances like a slow cooker, toaster oven or air fryer to handle the side dishes, as they are typically more energy efficient than your oven.

No peeking. Once you put something delicious in the oven, it can be tempting to open the door to check on it. However, this lets hot air out and causes your oven to work harder to bring the temperature back up. Instead, check on your food by using the oven light and looking through the glass.

Let leftovers cool. After the meal is over, leave out any leftovers on the counter to cool down before storing them in the refrigerator. If you put food in while it’s still hot, your fridge must use more energy to remain cold.

Make your dishwasher do the work. Did you know that the dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand? Avoid rinsing the dishes with warm water before loading them into the dishwasher to save by reducing hot water usage.

Energy-saving programs

Saving money on Thanksgiving is great, but what about the rest of the year? Piedmont Electric offers a number of energy-saving programs that help you save money year-round.

Time-of-day rates. With a time-of-day rate, you pay a lower rate for any energy used during off-peak hours. In the winter, that means avoiding excess energy use on weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. The average time-of-day member saved more than $20 per month last year. Try for a whole year risk free! Visitpemc.coop/timeofdayfor additional information.

Smart thermostat savings program. Lower your monthly bill by allowing Piedmont Electric to make small adjustments to your Nest smart thermostat through in-home WiFi. Of course, you can change your thermostat back at any time if you choose. In addition to bill credits in the summer and reduced energy use, you’ll get a $50 rebate just for signing up for the program! Learn more at pemc.coop/thermostat.

Load Management. Our air conditioning and water heater load management programs help you save money by cycling off and on your air conditioner or electric water heater during extreme temperatures. You’ll receive credits on your bill for participating and get an additional $25 credit when you sign up for either program. Start saving by visiting pemc.coop/load-management.

Bundle and save from the comfort of your couch!

The best deal this Black Friday is bundling your Piedmont Electric programs and rebates to maximize your savings. Wonder just how much you can save? Visit pemc.coop/bundle-and-save to find out and sign up today!

SAVE

For more savings tips, visit pemc.coop/101-energy-saving-tips for 101 easy ways to save energy and money.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEETS DECEMBER 5, 2020 Three seats on the Piedmont Electric board of directors are up for election in 2021. These seats are currently held by Cy Vernon (District 3), Bill Barber (District 7) and Andy Oakley (District 8). As a reminder, there will be no voting at the annual meeting next year. All voting will be conducted online or by mail-in ballot.

The members serving on the nominating committee are:

KAY FERGUSON Hillsborough, At Large GREG MARTIN Mebane, District 2 DIANNE MURPHY Mebane, District 4

JOE CURRIN Chapel Hill, District 1 GREGORY RUDD Yanceyville, District 3 ADAM SARVER Roxboro, District 5 CORY MELTON Roxboro, District 6

MARTIN A. DAVIS Timberlake, District 7 RON BRIGGS Rougemont, District 8

SUSAN GRAY Timberlake, District 9

The cooperative’s bylaws provide an alternative to the nominating committee. Any fifty (50) or more members of the cooperative, acting together, may make additional nominations in writing over their signatures, in like manner listing the nominees separately with respect to the directorate districts from which they are nominated, on or before Jan. 14, preceding the next election of directors. Any member nominated by petition as a candidate for any Directorate must meet the qualifications to serve as a director set forth in section 4.02 before the nominee will be considered for election.

Piedmont Electric's bylaws can be found at pemc.coop/bylaws

READY TO SAVE ON YOUR POWER BILL? TRY OUR TIME-OF-DAY RATE RISK FREE FOR A YEAR!

If you’re spending more time at home this holiday season, you might notice an increase in your power bill. However, we’re here to help combat higher bills with our risk-free time-of-day rate. Once you’ve signed up for this special rate, shift your energy use during winter mornings away from 6-10 a.m. to an earlier or later time and enjoy your power at a lower rate! Our members saved an average of $20 a month last year when they switched to a time-of-day rate. Try this rate for a year and if you don’t save compared to our regular rate, we’ll refund you the difference, no questions asked. As your local cooperative we are here to help you manage your energy use. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us for advice at info@pemc.coop or 800.222.3107.

PIEDMONT ELECTRIC CONNECTION Published monthly for the members of Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation Piedmont Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Hillsborough and Roxboro Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Caswell Office Hours: Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Report outages, make payments and access account information by phone 24-hours-a-day by calling 800.222.3107. Voice instructions will direct you through the system. 2500 NC Highway 86 South PO Drawer 1179 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Stephen B. Hamlin President and CEO

DIRECTORS

Bill R. Barber, Chairman Randy Kinley, Vice Chairman Sam T. Woods, Secretary Richal Vanhook, Treasurer Steven P. Bailey, Stephen C. Long, Andrew M. Oakley, David Poythress, Elizabeth Townsend & Cyrus Vernon

IF YOUR POWER GOES OUT, CALL OR TEXT 800.222.3107

Opt in for text alerts by texting “pemc” to 800.222.3107. Once you’ve opted in, report an outage by texting “#out” to 800.222.3107 or "#status" for an update on your outage. Our automated outage reporting system uses your phone number to determine your service location. Update the number connected to your account online through SmartHub, by completing the form on your monthly bill or by calling 800.222.3107. Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for our system to recognize new cell phone numbers in the text outage alert program.

More Cooking, More Convenience (and Savings) Finding efficiencies in the kitchen

By Jonathan Susser Q:Like many others, I got caught in a bit of a baking binge during the Safer at Home order. And now with the holidays coming up, how can I avoid higher energy bills if I’m using my oven so much?

A:Cooking and baking have certainly had their moments in the spotlight this year, and that should only continue as the weather gets colder and holidays approach. Fortunately, there is a menu of options to help you save time and money while in the kitchen.

Do you have a convection setting on your oven? Unlike a conventional oven, convection ovens/settings use a fan and an exhaust system to move hot air around the interior of the appliance. This feature helps heat food more evenly and evaporate moisture more quickly. Not all foods benefit from convection, but it can be useful for roasting, toasting or dehydrating, baking pies or pastries and making trays of your family’s favorite cookies (yum).

Convection ovens are less energy intensive than conventional ovens and can produce energy savings for two reasons: 1) your food will cook faster (about 25 percent faster) and 2) you’ll be able to set the oven to a lower temperature (typically, you’ll want to subtract 25 degrees Fahrenheit from a recipe that calls for a conventional oven; your oven may even do this for you).

If you don’t have a convection setting and aren’t in the market for a new oven, do not fear. There are other steps you can take. One is to cook multiple meals/items in your oven at the same time, which will reduce how much it runs overall. While it may take 10 to 15 percent longer to bake several dishes at once, it will be far less time and hassle than baking them separately.

If using this technique with a convection oven, make sure there is enough space for the hot air to circulate and that the fan isn’t blocked. Trays and pans with lower sides are a safer bet for those browned and crispy finishes.

Smaller cooking appliances, such as toaster ovens, can also be swapped in to lend support where feasible. Nowadays these can do much more than just make toast; they can roast vegetables or meat, cook pizza, reheat leftovers and more. They also use less energy and may be easier on your back than your standard oven, and some have convection capabilities.

That reminds me: As tempting as it may be to open the oven door to heat your home or kitchen, let your wholehouse heating system do that job and minimize injuries, hazards and possible poor air quality.

And here’s one final thing to keep in mind, particularly for the holidays: food waste. We waste a lot of food over Thanksgiving — as a country, on the order of 170 million pounds of turkey, 30 million pounds of stuffing and 40 million pounds of mashed potatoes. All this waste hurts our wallets and the environment.

This year, aim to stay on top of your portions by gauging how much food you’ll need based on your guest count. And compost, share or freeze any extras when you can!

Jonathan Susser is a writer and editor for Advanced Energy in Raleigh.