May 2023 GLE

May 2023

MICHIGAN

COUNTRY LINES Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

America’s Only

NICKEL MINE IS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA

People Fund Helps Provide Veterans with a Flight of a Lifetime

Nominate a Nonprofit for the 2023 Community Grant Giveaway

Energy Wise Can Help Electrify Your Yard Work

WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30% FEDERAL TAX CREDIT

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YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS

CO-OP INCENTIVES

Allendale Allendale Htg & Clg (800) 327-1937 allendaleheating.com

Indian River M&M Plmb & Htg (231) 238-7201 mm-plumbing.com

Mt Pleasant Walton Htg & Clg (989) 772-4822 waltonheating.com

Bad Axe/Ubly Cutting Edge Htg & Clg (989) 551-0986

Lansing Candor Mechanical (517) 920-0890 candormechanical.com

Muskegon Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheatingcooling.co

Lowell Arctic Inc. Htg. & Clg. (616) 897-4213 heatingcoolingonline.com

Portland ESI Htg & Clg (517) 647-6906 esiheating.com

Mancelona Top Notch Htg, Clg, & Geothermal (231) 350-8052 Topnotchheatandair.com

Sunfield Mark Woodman Plmb & Htg (517) 886-1138 mwphonline.com

Michigan Center Comfort 1/Air Serv of Southern Michigan (517) 764-1500 airserv.com/southernmichigan/

Traverse City D&W Mechanical (231) 941-1251 dwmechanical.com

Berrien Springs Waterfurnace Michiana (269) 473-5667 gogreenmichgeo thermal.com Big Rapids Stratz Htg & Clg, Inc. (231) 796-3717 stratzgeocomfort.com Clifford Orton Refrig & Htg (989) 761-7691 sanduskygeothermal.com Hart Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 adamsheating cooling.com

visit us at waterfurnace.com/mi

Cloverland: up to $4200 Great Lakes: up to $3000 Homeworks/Tri-County: up to $3000 Presque Isle: up to $2700 Cherryland: up to $2500 Thumb Electric: up to $2000 Alger Delta: up to $2000

WaterFurance is a registered trademark of WaterFurance International, Inc. ©2023 *30% through 2032, 26% through 2033 and 22% through 2034

Contents countrylines.com

/michigancountrylines

May 2023 Vol. 43, No. 5 /michigancountrylines

Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Casey Clark EDITOR: Christine Dorr

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Karreen Bird

RECIPE EDITOR: Christin McKamey COPY EDITOR: Yvette Pecha CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Emily Haines Lloyd

PUBLISHER: Michigan Electric Cooperative Association

Michigan Country Lines, USPS-591-710, is published monthly, except August and December, with periodicals postage paid at Lansing, Mich., and additional offices. It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, 201 Townsend St., Suite 900, Lansing, MI 48933.

Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta, Cherryland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy & Communications, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors.

Postmaster: Send all UAA to CFS. Association Officers: Tom Sobeck, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, chairman; Gabe Schneider, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, vice chairman; Chris O’Neill, HomeWorks TriCounty Cooperative, secretary-treasurer; Craig Borr, president and CEO.

CONTACT US/LETTERS TO EDITOR: Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St., Suite 900 Lansing, MI 48933 248-534-7358 editor@countrylines.com CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Please

notify your electric cooperative.

See page 4 for contact information.

The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Michigan Country Lines, Your Communications Partner For more than 40 years, our co-op members have received Michigan Country Lines because it is the most effective and economical way to share information. Michigan Country Lines keeps members up-to-date about everything going on within their electric co-op. Issues contain news about co-op services, director elections, member meetings, and management decisions that members need to know about as owners of the co-op. The magazine also includes legal notices that would otherwise have to be placed in local media at a substantial cost. Sending Michigan Country Lines helps the co-op fulfill one of its essential principles—to educate and communicate openly with its members. The board of directors authorizes the co-op to subscribe to Michigan Country Lines on behalf of each member at an average cost of $4.15 per year, paid as part of members’ electric bills. The current magazine cost is 52 cents per copy. Michigan Country Lines is published, at cost, by the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association in Lansing. As always, we welcome your comments at editor@meca.coop.

#micoopcommunity Instagram contest winner

Weathered and wonderful @lexannrebecca (LexAnn De Weerd)

6 CASTING FOR RECOVERY An unconventional, but life-changing, retreat helps women fish their way toward healing from breast cancer.

10 MY CO-OP KITCHEN

MI Co-op Community

To enter contests, submit reader content & more, visit countrylines.com/community

Instagram Contest

Use #micoopcommunity for a chance to be featured here and on our Instagram account.

Breakfast for Dinner: Change up your routine and delight your taste buds.

Win $100 for photos published!

14 AMERICA'S ONLY

See details on page 10. Chocolate due July 1.

NICKEL MINE IS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA From stainless steel to EVs, Eagle Mine meets the ever-rising demand for nickel—in a sustainable and responsible way.

18 GUEST COLUMN

Reflections on Our Pond: A GLE member recalls how a tiny body of water had a huge impact on her family.

Recipe Contest

Win a $100 bill credit!

Guest Column

Share your fondest memories and stories.

Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/community to submit.

Win $200 for stories published!

Mystery Photo

See details on page 18.

Win a $100 bill credit!

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

3

Safety Is an Everyday Priority

gtlakes.com /greatlakesenergy /jointruestream BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Howard Bowersox, Chairman, District 8 219-670-0977 hbowersox@glenergy.com Mark Carson, Vice Chairman, District 2 231-675-0561 mcarson@glenergy.com Paul Byl, Secretary, District 7 231-861-5911 pbyl@glenergy.com

Dale Farrier, Treasurer, District 5 231-564-0853 dfarrier@glenergy.com

Janet Andersen, Director, District 6 231-690-4622 jandersen@glenergy.com David Coveyou, Director, District 1 231-347-4056 dcoveyou@glenergy.com Richard Evans, Director, District 3 231-883-3146 revans@glenergy.com John LaForge, Director, District 9 269-623-2284 jlaforge@glenergy.com

Shelly Pinkelman, Director, District 4 989-390-6222 spinkelman@glenergy.com PRESIDENT/CEO: Shaun Lamp 888-485-2537 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR/EDITOR: Brett Streby 231-487-1389 • bstreby@glenergy.com BOYNE CITY HEADQUARTERS 1323 Boyne Ave. Boyne City, MI 49712

Call center hours:: 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m. M–F Phone: 888-485-2537 Email: glenergy@glenergy.com TO REPORT AN OUTAGE: Call 888-485-2537 or login to your account at gtlakes.com.

Change of Address: 888-485-2537, ext. 8924 Great Lakes Energy is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

4 MAY 2023

Shaun Lamp, Great Lakes Energy President/CEO

I

t seems like every day, there is another facet of our lives that can be automated. New devices and new technologies are regularly coming online that have the potential to make our lives easier.

The same is true at GLE, where employees and members are reaping the benefits of everything from automated grid management to automatic bill payment.

While many of these technologies allow us to “set it and forget it,” there’s one facet of our increasingly electrified lives that should never be left on autopilot: safety.

May is Electrical Safety Month, but at GLE, safety is something we think about every day. In fact, number one on the list of our company’s seven guiding principles is “safety is paramount in our work.”

While our lineworkers are highly trained and use special equipment to reduce the hazards they face working around energized power lines, electrical safety is something we all must take seriously. Electricity powers nearly every facet of our lives—from our morning coffee to the last light we turn off at night. Even with all the benefits electricity brings us, we still must respect the potential hazards it presents if we don’t take the proper precautions.

Downed power lines are some of the most dangerous situations for our crews and the community. Never go near a downed power line. You should always assume that a downed power line is still live and stay at least 35 feet away from it or anything the line might be touching.

There’s another important safety concern related to power outages: generator safety. If you have a generator that is directly connected to your home’s electrical system, it is very important that your home is equipped with a transfer switch and that you use it whenever your generator is operating. These switches isolate your home from the electrical distribution system, which not only protects lineworkers and others outside your home, but also prevents your home’s electrical systems from potential damage if power from GLE is restored while your generator is still operating.

In addition to power outages, there are everyday electrical hazards to watch out for around the home: • Always call MISS DIG by dialing 8-1-1 to have underground utilities marked before doing any digging in your yard.

• The National Fire Protection Association estimates about 32,000 house fires are started by electrical systems and equipment each year. But there are many steps you can take to reduce these risks. For more electrical safety tips, visit www.gtlakes.com/safety-checklist.

With a bit of care, we can all enjoy the many benefits electricity brings us without convenience turning into a catastrophe.

Community Grant Giveaway Nominations Needed Do you know a nonprofit organization in your area that’s really making a positive difference in the community and could use a financial boost? If so, consider nominating the group to be a potential recipient of a $7,000 grant offered through a partnership between Great Lakes Energy and CoBank.

Completing a nomination and voting only takes a few minutes, and gives GLE members an opportunity to help guide how this program makes a difference in their communities.

T

hrough May 19, GLE members are encouraged to visit gtlakes.com/community-grant-giveaway to nominate a deserving nonprofit 501(c)(3) group in their area. Organizations are not required to receive electric service from GLE to be eligible for a Community Grant Giveaway nomination. After the nominating period closes, GLE staff will review the submission and create a list of finalists for the cooperative’s north, central, and south regions.

The 2022 Community Grant Giveaway winners were: • North – Grass River Natural Area • Central – Lakeshore Food Club • South – Bass Lakes Area Environmental fellowship To see a full list of the finalists from 2022 and complete rules for the program, visit gtlakes.com/ community-grant-giveaway.

Then, from June 5–16, members may return to the same site to vote on which organizations among the finalists will receive one of the three $7,000 grants. One vote is allowed per member.

Electrical Safety Checklist X

Use a smart plug or power strip to turn off power when devices are not in use.

X

Make sure all outdoor outlets and those in bathrooms, kitchens, and other locations where moisture may be nearby are ground fault circuit interrupter outlets.

X

Surge protectors offer protection from damaging power surges that can damage electrical equipment.

X

Do not overload outlets or power strips.

X

Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets. If you need to use an extension cord for a long period of time, consider having an electrician install a new outlet where needed.

X

Be aware of outlets or switches that feel warm.

If you notice this or you are having recurring problems with blowing fuses, tripped circuit breakers, or flickering lights, call an electrician for help.

X

In households with young children, use safety caps for all unused outlets.

X

Always place lamps on a level surface and away from items that can burn.

X

Never use electrical equipment near water, and unplug small kitchen and bathroom appliances when not in use.

X

Watch out for electrical cords that are damaged, and make sure they aren’t pinched by furniture, windows, or doors.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

5

Casting for Recovery Michigan An unconventional, but life-changing, retreat helps women fish their way toward healing from breast cancer

By Yvette Pecha

I

n late August, 14 women who have been afflicted with breast cancer will gather at the beautiful Barothy Lodge in Walhalla, Michigan, on the Pere Marquette River for a weekend of camaraderie, discussion, medical and psychological guidance, and, surprisingly enough, fly fishing. It’s all part of a Casting for Recovery (CfR) retreat, where participants get a few days to set aside worries about their diagnosis, doctor appointments, and fear of the future, and come away from their respite equipped with powerful tools that enable them to face challenges moving forward.

Casting for Recovery is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1996 in Vermont. It was created by a breast cancer reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher, with the idea to take the healing power of nature and combine it with the casting motions of fly fishing. These motions closely mimic those that are prescribed to breast cancer patients after radiation or surgery to help them increase mobility in the arms and upper body.

Karen O’Briant, the co-coordinator of the CfR Michigan program, and a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member, came upon the organization in an unfortunate manner—she

6 MAY 2023

was diagnosed with breast cancer herself in 2020, right at the beginning of the pandemic. “Normally, when you go through chemo, you can take someone with you for support,” she said. “But I had to go through it by myself.”

O’Briant, who said she was not big on support groups at the time, found herself looking for some comfort. One day in her surgeon’s office, she was discussing her hobby of fly fishing with a nurse, and the nurse told her there was a group that offered a fly fishing retreat for breast cancer patients. After investigating and discovering CfR, O’Briant applied for the 2021 retreat and got in as an alternate. The experience meant so much to her that she jumped at the chance to work for the organization, where she now helps arrange and fundraise for the annual retreat.

CfR retreats run for two and a half days. They are totally free for the women in attendance, who are chosen through a drawing of applicant names, and all of the fishing equipment, food, and lodging is provided. The guided fly fishing excursion occurs on the last day of the retreat. In preparation for that, the women learn about things like tying fishing knots, casting, bugs they’ll find on the water, the flow of the river, etc. When not in educational sessions, the women participate in discussions with each other and

“ We all laughed and cried. I hadn’t really been able to talk to others about it because they didn’t understand. The emotions you go through are healing, and you can find inspiration and hope from the other women. I’ve made lifelong friends.”

the volunteer medical and psychological facilitators. The conversations help in two ways—the women get to talk about their own experiences and feel the catharsis that comes with opening up, while also benefitting from hearing the stories of people who are going through the same thing they are. Reflecting on her own experience, O’Briant said, “We all laughed and cried. I hadn’t really been able to talk to others about it because they didn’t understand.

The emotions you go through are healing, and you can find inspiration and hope from the other women. I’ve made lifelong friends.” After two days of learning, talking, and eating the meals provided by the Pere Marquette Bistro in Reed City—which O’Briant says is amazing—the women are ready to hit the river. Each participant pairs up with one of the volunteer river helpers, who are all experienced anglers, and the groups are assigned to particular stations (with accommodations given to those who need them).

Whether they catch anything or not, the experience is transformative. “It’s so tranquil just being there and listening to the water,” O’Briant said. The day concludes with a lunch and a graduation ceremony, where women take pictures with their helpers, and receive a certificate and a lanyard.

CfR is still accepting applications for this year’s retreat.

O’Briant said she strongly recommends that you apply if you are a woman who has or has had breast cancer. “There is no experience like it,” she said. “It totally changed my outlook on cancer and treatments, and it gave me hope for the future.”

FAST FACTS • Retreats are appropriate for women in all stages of treatment and recovery, and are open to women of all ages.

• There are 40+ retreats nationwide, and CfR has inspired similar programs in six countries outside the U.S. • To date, CfR has helped over 10,000 women with breast cancer.

CfR relies on the support of more than 1,800 volunteers nationwide, including medical and psychosocial professionals, fly fishing instructors, and alumnae. It also relies heavily on fundraising.

If you would like to donate money or your time, visit castingforrecovery.org and click on “Ways to Help.”

Support the Michigan program by directing your donation to the secure online form at castingforrecovery.org/program/ and choose Michigan or use this QR code.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

7

Access To Rules And Rates

Fuel Mix Report The fuel mix characteristics of Great Lakes Energy Cooperative as required by Public Act 141 of 2000 for the 12-month period ending 12/31/22.

Please be advised that the following information is available to Great Lakes Energy members:

Comparison Of Fuel Sources Used Fuel source

Your co-op’s fuel mix

Regional average fuel mix

Coal

20.215%

33.472%

Oil

0.248%

0.476%

Gas

18.407%

29.441%

1. Complete rate schedules;

3. Assistance from the cooperative in determining the most appropriate rate for a member when the member is eligible to receive service under more than one rate; 4. Clear and concise explanation of the member’s actual energy use for each billing period during the last 12 months.

The information can be obtained by visiting gtlakes.com or contacting Great Lakes Energy at 1-888-485-2537.

Hydroelectric

0.518%

0.873%

Nuclear

40.632%

25.901%

Renewable Fuels

19.980%

9.837%

Biofuel

0.316%

0.662%

Biomass

0.181%

0.417%

Solar

Regional Average Fuel Mix

Emissions And Waste Comparison lbs/MWh

Type of emission/waste

Your co-op

Regional average*

0.856%

0.766%

Sulfur Dioxide

0.50

0.92

Solid Waste Incineration

0.080%

0.011%

Carbon Dioxide

634.8

1,061.3

Wind

18.341%

7.567%

Oxides of Nitrogen

0.43

0.84

Wood

0.206%

0.414%

High-Level Nuclear Waste

0.009

0.006

NOTE: Biomass excludes wood; solid waste incineration includes landfill gas; and wind includes a long-term renewable purchase power contract in Wolverine’s mix.

NO BARRIERS

2023

2. Clear and concise explanation of all rates that the member may be eligible to receive;

Your Co-op’s Fuel Mix

ADVENTURES FOR RURAL VETERANS—APPLY BY MAY 13 IN-PERSON EXPEDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN JULY AND AUGUST

* Regional average information was obtained from the MPSC website and is for the 12-month period ending 12/31/22. Great Lakes Energy purchases 100% of its electricity from Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc., which provided this fuel mix and environmental data.

Michigan electric cooperatives believe there should be “No Barriers” for veterans with disabilities. That’s the name and idea behind CoBank’s No Barriers initiative. Michigan cooperatives are looking for qualified veterans* from our local community to participate.

No Barriers is a five-day, allexpenses-paid expedition in Colorado, designed to help veterans with disabilities transform their lives through curriculumbased experiences in challenging environments (climbing, rafting, and hiking).

If you are a disabled veteran, or you know of a disabled veteran in our community who would like to participate in the No Barriers program, please complete the form on our website:

countrylines.com/nobarriers 8 MAY 2023

*Must have VA disability rating to be eligible.

GLE PHOTO CONTEST

Bikes

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3

4

5

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Enter to win a $200 energy bill credit!

Submit Your “Camping” photos By May 20

Each month, members can submit photos on our website for our photo contest.

The photo with the most votes is published here, along with other selections.

Our May theme is Camping. Photos can be submitted by May 20 to be featured in the July/August issue.

How To Enter

Enter the contest at gtlakes.com/photocontest/. Make sure to vote and encourage others to vote for you, too. The photo receiving the most votes will be printed in an issue of Michigan Country Lines along with other favorites. All photos printed in the magazine in 2023 will be entered into a drawing to win a $200 bill credit in December 2023.

MOST VOTES! 1. Bike ride in the fall, Claudia Holdampf, Irons 2. Water break, Michael DeVries, Newaygo

3. Fright biker with moonlight, Molly Noland, Bellaire 4. All-American boy, Savanna Anastasiades, Hesperia 5. Everybody ready for Mardi Gras?

Larry Mayse, Irons 6. Silly bikes! Iris Pyne, Pierson

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

9

MI CO-OP Recipes

Photos by Robert Bruce Photography || Recipes submitted by MCL readers and tested by recipe editor Christin McKamey

BREAKFAST FOR DINNER Fun to eat morning and night.

WINNING RECIPE! FLAVORFUL COMFORT QUICHE Ann Utter, Presque Isle

1 pound mild pork sausage (or substitute w/ small cubes of cooked ham) 12 eggs 2 cups (16 ounces) small curd cottage cheese 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or pepper jack cheese) 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese ½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten free) ½ cup butter or margarine, melted 1 teaspoon baking powder 2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms, optional ¾ cup onion, finely chopped 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained • grated Parmesan cheese

Recipe Contest Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Chocolate recipes due July 1 Submit your favorite recipe for a chance to win a $100 bill credit and have your recipe featured in Country Lines with a photo and a video. Submit your recipe at micoopkitchen.com, or send it via email (include your full name and co-op) to recipes@countrylines.com.

10 MAY 2023

Preheat oven to 375 F. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage (if using) until no longer pink; drain. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, cheeses, flour, butter, and baking powder.

Stir in mushrooms, onion, chilies, and sausage (or ham). Transfer to two greased 9-inch round baking dishes (dishes will be quite full). Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake for 35–40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Makes two quiches (6–8 servings each). Divide recipe ingredients in half to make one quiche.

Watch a video of this month’s winning recipe at micoopkitchen.com/videos

BACON BREAKFAST PIZZA Deanne Quain, Great Lakes Energy

1 (13.8-ounce) tube refrigerated pizza crust 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 6 large eggs 2 tablespoons water 6–8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 400 F. Unroll and press dough onto the bottom and ½ inch up

the sides of a 15x10x1-inch pan. Prick thoroughly with a fork, then brush with 1 tablespoon oil. Bake until lightly browned, 7–8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk egg and water. In a nonstick skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add eggs and scramble over medium heat until thickened, slowly moving the eggs around until softly scrambled and fluffy. Spoon over crust and sprinkle with bacon and cheese. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5–7 minutes.

MEXICAN EGG SAUSAGE ENCHILADAS FOR DINNER Janet Cather, Midwest Energy

1 pound ground pork, browned (I use chorizo, but you can use plain/ Italian too) 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheddar cheese, divided 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles, drained 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas (I use whole wheat) 6 large eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup unsweetened milk of choice (I use unsweetened soy milk) 1 tablespoon flour • favorite jarred salsa • diced green onions, for topping, optional Optional Serving Sides: • sour cream • hash browns/tater tots • Mexican street corn • additional salsa Spray 9x13 metal pan with cooking spray (if using glass, cooking time may vary).

Combine browned sausage with 1 cup cheese and diced green chiles. Place ¹⁄ 8

(around ½ cup+) of the mixture down the center of each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in the baking dish. In another large bowl, whisk/beat the eggs, heavy cream, milk, and flour (note: it’s best to first shake the flour with a portion of the milk in a small lidded container, around 4 ounces, to ensure the flour is blended in). Pour egg mixture evenly over the tortillas in the pan. Cover the dish and place in fridge for 6+ hours (this allows the tortillas time to absorb the egg mixture and prevent it from being too runny). Preheat the oven to 350 F when ready to bake. Remove cover from the dish and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheese over the tortillas. Bake covered with foil for 40–45 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10–15 minutes. Remove dish from oven and spread as much salsa as you want on top of the tortillas. You can add the diced green onions at this point too.

Serve with remaining salsa along with any other chosen sides. Enjoy! Note: I prep this recipe around 10 a.m. for a 7 p.m. dinner.

Or, you can prep the night before for a hearty breakfast.

BACON AND SAUSAGE GRAVY BREAKFAST CASSEROLE Jack Schonert, Great Lakes Energy

1 pound bacon, divided 1 pound ground sausage, divided 1 (8-count) can biscuits 1 cup finely chopped onion 2 cups grated cheese, divided 6 eggs 3¹⁄ ³ cups milk, divided ¹⁄ 8 teaspoon nutmeg ½ cup flour ¹⁄ 8 -¼ teaspoon salt ¹⁄ 8 -¼ teaspoon black pepper • Optional: mushrooms, diced red or green bell pepper, red pepper flakes Preheat oven to 350 F. Fry the bacon and sausage; drain grease. Cut or crumble the

bacon into pieces and place both together back into a big frying pan or saucepan.

Grease sides and bottom of 9x13 pan. Cut biscuits into quarters and place in bottom of the pan. Layer a quarter of both the bacon and sausage over the biscuits; sprinkle with onion and 1 cup cheese. Whisk eggs in a bowl; stir in ¹⁄ ³ cup milk and nutmeg. Pour evenly over the biscuits. To the remaining ¾ of sausage and bacon, add flour, salt, and pepper (and optional ingredients), and remaining 3 cups milk. Cook over medium heat until bubbly and thickened. Pour over biscuits and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake for 45 minutes.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

11

A Flight of a Lifetime

I

magine if you knew you received an award recognizing and thanking you for your hard work, dedication, bravery, and selflessness, but you never had the chance to see it.

That’s what it’s like for thousands of U.S. military veterans who have never had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., and the many memorials and other locations there that honor their military service.

However, since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has been working hard to bridge the gap between veterans and their chance at receiving an in-person “thank-you” from their country.

In the spring of 2022, Great Lakes Energy’s People Fund awarded $2,500 in grants to the Mid-Michigan Honor Flight—one of three Michigan-based hubs affiliated with the Honor Flight Network. The People Fund grants helped pay for two flights in 2022.

First flights Two Ohio men formed the Honor Flight Network about a year after the World War II memorial was dedicated when they realized many still-living veterans of that war would never be able to visit the memorial because of age, physical limitations, travel distance, and limited financial means. The men rented small planes 12 MAY 2023

to fly local World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day. Since then, the national organization has grown to 124 hubs that have transported more than 260,000 veterans from 44 states on Honor Flights to Washington, D.C. Jim Swoboda, who has volunteered on 40 Honor Flights since 2014, said for many of the participating veterans— and in some cases, their family members—the visit is nothing short of life-changing.

A day of honor Jim said an Honor Flight usually includes about 85–90 veterans aboard a commercial airliner. Each veteran is assigned a guardian who assists the veteran throughout the trip. Jim said guardians are often family members or close friends, but the organization also has a list of volunteer community guardians.

In most years, Mid-Michigan Honor Flight offers two flights per year—one out of Grand Rapids and the other out of Traverse City. In 2023, a third flight will be added, departing from Flint.

While in Washington, D.C., veterans typically make about seven to eight stops, which usually include the war memorials for the veterans on the flight, the military branch memorials, and Arlington National Cemetery, among others.

A race against time Jim said the Honor Flight Network’s first priority is to provide trips for as many surviving World War II veterans as possible. Following them on the priority list are Korean War veterans and then Vietnam War veterans. Terminally ill veterans also get top priority.

Jim said while the trips are meaningful to all veterans, he said some of the most moving moments he’s witnessed have involved Vietnam War veterans, many of whom weren’t treated well when they returned home.

“It’s absolutely a day of healing for them,” Jim said. “We’ve had many of them tell us that years and years of anger just melted away.”

He shared another story about three 100-year-old veterans on a flight in 2022. Two of them were D-Day survivors, and one of the men wanted to go to the Eisenhower memorial, saying, “I need to salute my general.”

Lower costs mean more flights Jim said in recent years, each flight has cost about $150,000, paid for through various fundraising efforts and grants.

About 40% of that cost is paid for through the $500 each guardian pays toward their flights. Veterans pay nothing. However, Jim said some recent cost-saving measures will not only allow for three to four flights per year in the future, but also will allow veterans to fly to the D.C. area the day before their visit to the memorials, further streamlining the trips.

Much more information, including how to donate, volunteer, nominate a veteran for an Honor Flight, or become an Honor Flight guardian, is available online at midmichiganhonorflight.org.

To learn more about the national organization, visit honorflight.org.

To learn more about the People Fund, visit gtlakes.com/people-fund.

More Veterans' Adventures Await Great Lakes Energy and the rest of Michigan’s electric cooperatives want to make sure there are no barriers between disabled veterans and an opportunity for adventure.

That’s why we are looking for nominees to participate in CoBank’s 2023 No Barriers program. No Barriers is a five-day, all-expenses-paid expedition in Colorado, designed to help veterans with disabilities transform their lives through curriculum-based experiences such as climbing, rafting, and hiking. The program is designed to shift mindsets, create belonging, and foster self-discovery to elevate individuals and their communities.

If you are a disabled veteran who would like to participate, or you know of a disabled veteran who you’d like to nominate to participate in the No Barriers program through Great Lakes Energy, complete the brief nomination form at countrylines.com/nobarriers.

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13

America’s Only

NICKEL MINE IS IN THE UPPER PENINSULA

By Emily Haines Lloyd

N

ot many business models begin with an ending in mind. But that’s how Eagle Mine in western Marquette County started its business activity.

“With the last 10 years or so, that’s what sustainable mining means,” said External Communications Manager Matt Johnson of Lundin Mining Co., which owns Eagle Mine.

“You design a mine for closure. Before you even open, you have to prepare to close it responsibly.”

Eagle Mine is the only active nickel mine in the United States right now, with a concentration on unearthing an ore body that hopes to produce enough nickel to meet the ever-rising global demand.

Nickel doesn’t have the same cachet as gold and silver, but it is an absolute necessity in the production of things like stainless steel products. Consider your favorite kitchen upgrade with a stainless refrigerator, stove, and dishwasher. Each of those appliances benefits from the antimicrobial, anti-rust, and anti-corrosion attributes of stainless steel, but the nickel makes them even stronger and more resistant to wear and tear.

In fact, there is an even greater demand for nickel these days as we see energy-efficient electric vehicles hitting the scene. Nickel is a mineral that helps increase energy storage in lithium-ion batteries, boosting the range electric cars can drive on a single charge.

14 MAY 2023

“At this point in our country’s production history, we need minerals, and those minerals need to be mined. But we’re going to make sure it’s done sustainably, responsibly, and transparently.”

—Matt Johnson, External Communications Manager

“There is no electric vehicle battery without nickel,” notes Johnson. “In 2017, about 3% of nickel went into the EV industry. In the next 10 years, we’re looking at closer to 40%.”

“We are leaders in mining best practices,” said Johnson.

“We need to balance meeting the demand with making sure our impact is as limited as possible.”

It’s a complex cycle of electric vehicles helping to reduce emissions and the impact on the climate, and encouraging additional production of environmentally friendly cars.

However, mining is at the heart of that production stream.

While nickel could be mined and purchased from other countries, many of them have much looser rules and guidelines regulating them. There are big benefits to having a U.S.-based mine that holds itself to the highest environmental and social standards.

While Eagle Mine is identifying the environmental impacts, they also concern themselves with community impact. They hold local forums every six months to engage in folks’ questions and concerns and ensure they are responding in kind.

“Part of our company’s mission is to fund and partner with groups to delve deeper into the research, create bestpractice critical material development, and create a new stream for critical minerals for batteries,” said Johnson.

“The increased demand for nickel is nearly 100 times what it was just a decade ago. So, we need to increase our level of responsibility to make sure we are helping to solve problems, not create more.”

Eagle Mine has developed many relationships to help create better systems for solving those problems. They’ve partnered with Michigan Technological University to develop new research technologies that create sustainable processes in order to supply critical minerals for battery manufacturing, as well as to make a concentrated effort to improve battery recycling. These efforts are necessary, but are also just the beginning to meet the ever-increasing demand for metal in new products and technologies.

“Constructive dialogue is critical to what we do. We don’t have all the answers, because we can’t know all the questions.

We listen and respond seriously to the community,” said Johnson. “We don’t just have a responsibility to the community while the mine is open, we need to make sure we don’t have a negative impact once it closes as well.”

Right now it looks like the mine could close sometime in the next four years, unless bigger ore stores are discovered.

For now, Eagle Mine is keeping the nickel coming with the help of their nearly 400 employees to meet the needs of the electric vehicle industry and cleaner transportation.

“At this point in our country’s production history, we need minerals, and those minerals need to be mined,” said Johnson. “But we’re going to make sure it’s done sustainably, responsibly, and transparently.”

For more information: eaglemine.com

/lundineaglemine

MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES

15

Searching high and low for convenience?

From AutoPay and Budget Billing to outage reporting and enrollment in the People Fund, your GLE online account is a convenient resource available to all Great Lakes Energy members. By utilizing your online account to better monitor energy consumption, you can adjust usage in real time and ensure there are no surprises when your monthly electric bill arrives. Perhaps one of the best options for “staying in the know” is setting up high- and low-usage alerts. In just a few simple steps, you can secure a little peace of mind and take greater control of your energy usage today.

Set up your usage alert in seven simple steps

1. Register for, or log in to, your GLE online account at gtlakes.com.

4. F rom the Manage Notifications menu, select the Usage dropdown and click the Options button.

2. Review your energy consumption history by clicking the My Usage tab and selecting the Average usage option.

5. Select the appropriate Account Number and Meter ID from the dropdowns.

6. Enter the daily and hourly usage thresholds you wish to set to trigger an email alert.

7. C lick the Save Subscription button.

Bonus tip! To add multiple email and SMS 3. With your high- and low-usage averages noted, click the Notifications tab.

16 MAY 2023

accounts for your alerts, visit Manage Contacts from the Notifications tab.

Charge Up Your Yard Work with Energy Wise

T

here was a time when lawn mowing and tree trimming almost always involved gasoline and oil, and sometimes countless pulls on a starting cord.

There’s also all that loud, smelly exhaust, and the maintenance associated with gas-powered yard equipment.

Today, however, there is a growing selection of electric lawn and garden equipment that eliminates much of the hassle associated with gaspowered tools.

If you’d like to say “goodbye” to all the hassles of gas-powered engines with a move to electric yard equipment, GLE’s Energy Wise program is here to help.

For 2023, the list of rebates available for electric outdoor maintenance equipment purchases has grown. The rebates available now include:

• Up to $40 each on the purchase of an electric string trimmer, electric leaf blower, and electric chainsaw.

Both corded and battery-powered cordless models qualify.

• Up to $50 on the purchase of an electric walk-behind push or self-propelled lawn mower. Both battery-powered cordless and corded models qualify. (Limited to one per member.)

For more information on these and all rebates offered through GLE’s Energy Wise program, visit gtlakes.com/energy-wise. Rebate redemption forms may also be downloaded from and submitted through the same webpage.

• Up to $300 on the purchase of an electric battery-powered riding lawn mower. (Limited to one per member.)

Digging into an Outdoor Project?

Before you dig, dial 811 or visit www.call811.com to protect underground utilities. Careless digging poses a threat to people, pipelines, and underground facilities. Contact 811 first and help keep our community safe.

MI CO-OP Guest Column

Reflections On Our Pond

By Kathy Fila, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member

ur 24-year-old son came over today with youthful enthusiasm and energy, claiming he would get the pond ready to skate on. Last year, to my delight, he and his girlfriend (now his wife) did the same thing.

O

Why is this a moment? It blesses me to my core. For over 20 years, my husband and I spent many winter afternoons using shovels to clear the pond so the kids could skate after school. It became my aerobic exercise for the day. What a treat it was to have our little sanctuary of winter fun, and now as we approach our senior years, our youngest son is taking it over and continuing the tradition—albeit in a different manner. Rather than shoveling, he tows the snowblower, mounted on the snow scoop, and pulls them both behind the snowmobile to take down to the pond.

After removing the snow, he cuts a hole in the pond and spreads a fresh sheen of ice over its entirety with fivegallon buckets.

That pond has such precious memories. The children and I have had picnics on its shore in the spring before the mosquitoes hatch. One Father’s Day, we spent the day crafting a log raft. We have “fished” for leaves in the surrounding swamp. There have been turtle-catching days, especially for the elusive old man snapper. There was even a campout that my husband had with the two older boys in a tent on the pond’s shore while spring peepers and bullfrogs hammered in their ears. He didn’t get any sleep that night.

Many children have shared the joys of our little slice of nature as the kids have brought friends to share in the fun. My oldest son had the “best night of his life” and the “worst night of his life” on that pond within a span of 20 minutes. What started as an exciting night of potential hockey with brooms and a block of wood for a puck was quickly terminated shortly after we stepped onto the ice.

Not only were we going to skate by the light of the moon, but stepping onto the ice made the loudest crack I’d ever heard. Images of being swallowed up in the dark, murky water took over my mind and ended our adventure—Ahh— the disappointments of youth.

There have even been a few magical winters when the swamp froze along with the pond. My daughter and youngest son would skate with me throughout the woods, circling trees and bushes in what felt like a magical fairyland. My husband and I bought this 12-acre parcel 25 years ago. That pond and its surrounding swamp have been our little escape from the world’s hubbub. It has felt like our own special ecosystem that has welcomed various birds and wildlife and given us a peaceful reminder of the beauty of God’s creation. The kids have all grown and have homes of their own now, but the memories remain. And now it’s time for me to go as my youngest has returned with the announcement, “The pond’s ready to skate on, Ma.” Let me grab my skates and head on down!

About The Author: Kathy is a retired physical therapist. She enjoys many outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, camping, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing with her husband and friends. She and her husband are beginning the grandparent stage of their lives with two beautiful granddaughters.

Mystery Photo

Win a $100 energy bill credit!

Where In Michigan Is This?

Identify the correct location of the photo to the left by May 24 and be entered into a drawing to win a $100 electric bill credit. Enter your guess at countrylines.com/community.

Guest Column

Win $200 for stories published!

Share your fondest memories and stories. Win $200 for stories published. Visit countrylines.com/ community to submit.

March 2023 Winner!

Our Mystery Photo winner is Brian Soop, a Cherryland Electric Cooperative member, who correctly identified the photo as the Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit.

Winners are announced in the following issues of Country Lines: January, March, May, July/ August, September, and November/December.

Geothermal Made Affordable

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gtlakes.com facebook.com/greatlakesenergy

NOMINATE A NONPROFIT FOR A GRANT Is there a nonprofit organization in your region that truly shines? A group that seeks to improve the area or make a positive impact through its efforts? Nominate them for consideration of a $7,000 grant.

Great Lakes Energy has teamed up with CoBank, one of its lenders, to create a positive impact in your community by awarding three $7,000 grants to local nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations.

Through May 19, GLE members are asked to submit the names of nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations to be considered in their region. Once the nomination period is over, GLE members will once again be called upon to place their votes and ultimately determine each recipient of the north, central and south region grants.

ONLINE NOMINATIONS Now–May 19

NONPROFITS SELECTED May 26

ONLINE VOTING June 5–June 16

GRANTS AWARDED

All nominations and voting will take place on the Great Lakes Energy website. In just a few brief minutes, your input can help steer this program to benefit your friends, neighbors, and community.

Visit gtlakes.com/community-grant-giveaway for program rules and to take part in the process and help make a positive impact in your community.