Colorado Country Life April 2021

APRIL 2021

APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

EMPOWERING POSSIBILITIES

PLUS WEATHERING THE COLD SNAP

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COOKING WITH ODDS AND ENDS

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Number 04

Volume 52

April 2021 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, CCC, Production Manager/Designer cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org Kylee Coleman, Editorial/Admin. Assistant kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING Kris Wendtland, Ad Representative advertising@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-902-7276 National Advertising Representative, American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504, Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. ©Copyright 2021, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights.

EDITORIAL Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-455-4111 coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | Instagram.com/cocountrylife Twitter.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/COCountryLife1 Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual.

SUBSCRIBERS Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. Cost of subscription for members of participating electric cooperatives is $4.44 per year (37 cents per month), paid from equity accruing to the member. For nonmembers, a subscription is $9 per year in-state/$15 out-of-state.

APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

EMPOWERING POSSIBILITIES

4 VIEWPOINT

5 LETTERS

6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS

12 RECIPES

14 NEWS CLIPS

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK

16 COVER STORY

20 ENERGY CONNECTIONS

22 GARDENING

FACEBOOK CHATTER

24 OUTDOORS

25 CREATIVE CORNER

26 MARKETPLACE

On the

28 COMMUNITY EVENTS

Cover

29 YOUR STORIES

Danny Combs stands inside the TACT workshop located in Denver.

Photo by Chris Coleman.

Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Great to see Colorado’s own La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) CEO Jessica Matlock facilitating a discussion on mentors among women in the electric co-op industry during the NRECA virtual annual meeting.

30 DISCOVERIES

Monthly Contest Enter for your chance to win a gift basket full of goodies. For official rules and how to enter, visit our Contests page at coloradocountrylife.coop.

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COCountryLife pinned: Start your day off with this delicious breakfast dish: Crispy Breadcrumb Eggs. Get the recipe at www.coloradocountrylife.coop/recipes

EMPOWERING POSSIBILITIES

POSTMASTER Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

APRIL 2021

“Stop! My Stomping Ground” by Jan Busby, an Empire Electric Association consumer-member.

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month colorado_electric_cooperatives posted: CREA’s virtual annual meeting is underway this morning. #75thannualmeeting #membershipmeets #lookbackatlastyear #lookingforwardtowhatscoming COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

3

VIEWPOINT

WEATHERING THE COLD SNAP

Colorado’s electric cooperatives were not lucky, but prepared

BY KENT SINGER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

T

he mid-February power outages in Texas and other states caused widespread human suffering and even loss of life. Millions of Texans were without power, heat or water for several days in one of the worst power outages in U.S. history.

There are many investigations underway and lots of finger-pointing, but the basic problem was that when the demand for electricity spiked during extremely cold weather, there was simply not enough to go around.

Although hearings and investigations regarding the causes of the blackouts are ongoing, it seems apparent that the primary causes of the outages were the result of power supply failures: frozen coal piles, inoperable wind turbines, inadequate natural gas supplies and a nuclear power plant that went off line. The blackouts were not caused by problems with the transmission or distribution systems as sometimes happens in wind or ice storms, but by lack of power supply of all varieties. It wasn’t a failure of renewable or nonrenewable energy, it was a failure of the entire power supply system.

As an association of electric co-ops whose job it is to keep the lights on in rural Colorado, the events in Texas of course bring a sobering question to mind: Could it happen here?

Colorado’s electric co-ops take great pride in maintaining a system of generating plants and transmission and distribution lines that provide incredibly reliable electric service to over 70% of Colorado’s landmass.

The safety and success of rural Colorado communities depend on the availability of reliable and affordable electricity; Colorado’s

4

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

electric co-ops provide that power.

The same cold snap that impacted Texas resulted in a close call in Colorado.

While the grid held up and there were no significant power outages, this was not a matter of luck. Instead, it was a matter of planning, thinking ahead and taking the steps necessary to protect the power delivery system. The power stayed on due to the smart and hard work done by dispatchers, power plant operators, maintenance staff and other electric utility workers from many utilities across the state.

In the co-op family, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, the power supplier to 17 of Colorado’s 22 electric co-ops, was able to use fuel oil instead of natural gas in some of its dual-fuel capable units, thus avoiding the temporary spikes in natural gas prices.

The weather reduced the availability of Tri-State’s wind and solar capacity, but all of its coalfired units remained on line; clearly, as Tri-State retires these coal units in the coming years, it will need to solve the need for capacity with new technology. Even though Tri-State incurred higher costs for the natural gas it did use during the cold snap, it was able to minimize those costs and there will be no increase in Tri-State’s wholesale rates to its members as a result of the weather.

The same cannot be said for Colorado’s electric co-ops that purchase their power from Xcel Energy: Grand Valley Power,

KENT SINGER

Holy Cross Energy, Intermountain REA and Yampa Valley Electric. These co-ops were hit with huge “fuel cost adjustment” charges from Xcel Energy. During the cold snap, the price of natural gas skyrocketed due to the demand across the country and Xcel spent an additional $650 million to keep its gas-fired power plants running. Xcel is now seeking to recover those costs not only from its retail customers, but also from the four electric co-ops in Colorado that purchase their wholesale power supply from Xcel.

The easy answer to the question of “Could it happen here?” is “Of course not.” But that’s not the right answer. The right answer is that while a blackout the scope of the Texas blackout is highly unlikely, more localized interruptions are possible.

The power grid is comprised of mechanical devices that may sometimes fail or be overwhelmed by severe weather.

Colorado’s electric co-ops are doing everything in their power to anticipate all sorts of conditions, be it weather, fire or cyber threats, and if our performance in the latest cold snap is any indication, we’re up to the challenge.

There’s an old saying that “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” While we don’t wish for challenging opportunities, Colorado’s electric co-ops are always preparing to be lucky.

Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives. CREA is the trade association for your electric co-op, the 21 other electric co-ops in Colorado and one power supply co-op.

LETTERS

FROM THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Time to get back on the road

BY MONA NEELEY

Questions About Renewables

EDITOR

I

’ve missed our face-to-face.

A reminder popped up on my social media just a couple weeks ago that it was one year ago that I flew to Durango to visit La Plata Electric. That would turn out to be my last visit to one of Colorado’s local electric co-ops until just a month ago when I got to go to Mountain Parks Electric to help present assistance funds, raised by the co-op family, to those affected by the East Troublesome Fire. That’s too long.

I’ve missed the opportunity to visit electric co-op territory and interact with magazine readers. For the last year, there’s been no meeting readers at Mount Princeton Hot Springs in Nathrop on my way to a nearby Sangre de Cristo Electric annual meeting. No chance to visit with them in the lobby of Grand Lake’s Rocky Mountain

DR® Power Grader

Repertory Theatre MONA NEELEY when I’m taking in a show after a day of meetings.

There’s been no chatting with Mountain View Electric consumer-members in Black Forest during a dinner celebrating a supercharged electric race car or learning more about northwestern Colorado over appetizers in downtown Craig while traveling back from a co-op event.

But as soon as I get my vaccine shots, I plan to be back on the road. I can’t wait to visit all of the electric co-ops and, once again, connect with readers.

Mona Neeley is the statewide editor of Colorado Country Life, which is published in coordination with your local electric cooperative. Its goal is to provide information from your local electric co-op to you, its consumer-members.

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Tri-State Generation and Transmission is in the process of closing three Craig coalfired power plants. You did not mention what the replacement source will be to provide electricity. The wind doesn’t always blow. The sun doesn’t always shine.

Natural gas is cleaner than coal, but the city of Denver doesn’t want new houses that use natural gas.

We have an abundance of carbon-based fuels.

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As we move into renewable energy, can we consider waste from renewables?

Decommissioned solar panels and wind blades are not suitable for landfills. Solar panels contain lead and cadmium. The United States is expected to have 78 million metric tons of solar panel waste by 2050. An estimated 720,000 tons of blades need to be disposed of over the next 20 years.

Pat Morehouse, Mesa County Grand Valley Power consumer-member

EDITOR’S NOTE: Tri-State’s Responsible Energy Plan, which outlines how the electricity from its coal-fired power plants will be replaced, can be viewed online at https://tristate.coop/ responsible-energy-plan.

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A January letter on the urgency of switching to renewable energy mentions wildfires, snowstorms, drought and windstorms creating crises for co-op managers and crews.

I’ve enjoyed the services of Mountain View Electric for the last 42 years. There have been times when the power goes out due to wind and snow dropping trees on power lines. My pastures turned to dust in the 2002 drought.

My house burned in the Black Forest fire. But I’m not sure how renewable energy would have prevented any of those problems.

Carolyn Brown, Black Forest Mountain View Electric consumer-member

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Include name and address. Letters may be edited for length.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

5

ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT

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Using the camera on your smartphone, scan this code to get the download link.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

Three Options for Home Cooling

BY PAT KEEGAN AND BR AD THIESSEN

N

ow’s the time to think about how to stay cool this summer. There are a few low- and no-cost cooling strategies, like using ceiling fans, turning off unused electrical devices and appliances, and blocking direct sunlight with window coverings.

If that’s not enough, you can install air conditioning. Below are three common options for home cooling. Included are approximate costs for each, but please be aware that prices are highly variable.

Ductless mini split heat pumps

Window units and portable cooling

Central cooling

Window AC units or portable AC units are the lowest cost approach. Portable units can be moved from room to room and come equipped with a length of duct to exhaust hot air out a nearby window. Window units are mounted in a window opening and cool one room.

Those living in hot, dry climates could consider an evaporative cooler, sometimes referred to as a swamp cooler. Window units have been around for a while, but now there are portable options available. Evaporative cooling units can be less expensive than traditional AC, but don’t buy one until you do the research to determine how well evaporative cooling works in your local area. Whatever you choose, make sure it is rated for the size of the space you are cooling.

If your home has forced air heating ductwork, it can be used for an AC or heat pump unit.

This is a good option if the ductwork is sized properly and doesn’t leak, and if ducts are in unheated attics or crawl spaces that are insulated.

Cost: $149 to $1,000 per new unit (depending on your climate and how many square feet you’re trying to cool)

A ductless mini split heat pump has a compressor outside the home that’s connected to air handler units in as many as four rooms. Each room’s temperature can be controlled separately. Ductless mini splits are an especially good choice for homes without forced air ducting systems or with leaky or undersized ductwork. Heat pumps can also be a supplemental source of heat in the winter.

Cost: approximately $3,000 to $10,000 (including installation)

Cost: approximately $3,000 to $7,000 (not including repairs to ductwork) As always, you can save energy and money by purchasing Energy Star-rated appliances and collecting a few quotes from licensed contractors.

Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency write on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. For additional energy tips and information on Collaborative Efficiency, visit www.collaborativeefficiency.com/energytips.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Click on Energy Tips under the Energy tab at coloradocountrylife.coop.

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11

RECIPES

COOKING WITH ODDS AND ENDS

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Think twice before discarding food remnants

BY AMY HIGGINS

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Stop, don’t throw away those scraps!

I

t’s habit, it seems, to toss out the scraps when prepping in the kitchen, but a 2018 cookbook asserts the opposite. Cooking With Scraps by Lindsay-Jean Hard demonstrates how to use the parts and parcels we tend to toss out to create culinary dishes you’ll savor. Just imagine using banana peels to bake a heavenly cake, carrot tops to cook tantalizing tartlets or coffee grounds to whip up a creamy butter. Or give this recipe a try to see how you enjoy cooking with scraps.

Dill Pickle Brine Potato Salad

Serves 6 to 8

3 pounds baby potatoes, any large ones halved 1/3 cup chopped scallions 1/4 cup dill pickle brine 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill Fine-grain sea salt Freshly ground black pepper Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with salted water to a depth of 1 inch. Bring to a boil. The potatoes are ready when a knife slides in easily, but the very center should still feel just a touch firm. This could take between 8 and 15 minutes depending on the size of the potatoes. If your potatoes vary in size or type, fish the individual pieces out of the water to let cool as soon as they’re ready.

Peppy Potatoes “I spent far too many of my childhood years convinced that mayonnaise was gross, in part due to soggy, overdressed potato salads. And, as a result, I was skeptical of potato salad, too. Luckily, I finally learned the error of my ways — on both accounts — and have made up for lost time with a newfound love of lightly dressed potato salads like this one, which is an amalgamation of many beloved recipes. I like this best with small, waxier potatoes, but if you want to go wild, you could try a mix of potato varieties — even sweet ones.”

— Lindsay-Jean Hard

Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a medium-size bowl.

Add the scallions, then immediately drizzle the pickle brine over them. Let the potatoes cool slightly. As they cool, toss them in the bowl a couple times to help distribute the pickle brine and encourage it to soak in.

Place the mayonnaise, mustard, horseradish and dill in a small bowl along with a healthy pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Whisk to combine. Once the potatoes have cooled, drizzle them with the dressing, toss to coat and adjust the seasonings to taste. Serve immediately or place the potato salad in the refrigerator overnight, covered, to let the flavors meld even more. Will keep for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

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A scene as it might be viewed by a person with age-related macular degeneration

For many patients with macular degeneration and other visionrelated conditions, the loss of central visual detail also signals the end to one of the last bastions of independence driving. Colorado optometrist, Dr. Robert Stamm is using miniaturized telescopes which are mounted in glasses to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration and other eye conditions.

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APRIL 2021

NEWS CLIPS

Geothermal Tax Credit Extended The federal tax credit for geothermal installations was extended for two more years at the end of 2020.

The extension keeps the tax credit at 26% for residential geothermal for 2021 and 2022. The credit then steps down to 22% in 2023 and expires January 1, 2024. Commercial credits remain at 10% through 2023.

President Jeff Hauck

Vice President Ginny Buzcek

The four officers for the CREA Board of Directors were reelected at the board’s February 26 virtual board meeting. The officers serve on their respective electric cooperative boards and represent those individual co-ops on the statewide board, which represents all 22 of the state’s electric co-ops and power supplier Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.

For the second year, CREA’s board will be led by President Jeff Hauck, president of Mountain Parks Electric Board of Directors. Mountain Parks Electric serves Grand, Jackson, Summit, Routt and Larimer counties.

Reelected as vice president, Ginny Buzcek of Firestone represents United Power, which serves Adams, Broomfield, Weld, Jefferson, Boulder and Gilpin counties.

Secretary Joe Redetzke of Buena Vista represents Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, which serves all or parts of Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake and Saguache counties.

Treasurer Rod Martinez represents Grand Valley Power in Grand Junction, which serves Mesa County and parts of Delta and Garfield counties.

The mission of CREA is to enhance and advance the interests of its member electric cooperatives through a united effort.

On any given day or night, in all kinds of weather conditions, lineworkers install and maintain overhead and underground electrical systems.

We entrust our lineworkers with your safety, so they hold a very important job.

We also rely on their expertise to power our world.

Safety comes first Lineworkers must commit to safety above all else for the benefit of those they serve (you!), fellow crew members and themselves. They spend thousands of hours in safety trainings each year and must learn and apply numerous safety regulations.

They are specially trained to: Climb poles to service power lines in areas inaccessible by trucks.

Stand in an elevated bucket to assess and repair overhead lines.

Install poles, overhead lines and other equipment.

Work on both energized and deenergized lines.

Install and service underground lines.

Saluting Colorado’s Lineworkers during Lineworker Appreciation Month

14

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

Treasurer Rod Martinez

Officers Reelected to Lead CREA

what does a LINEWORKER do?

• • • • •

Secretary Joe Redetzke

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Readers Help Wildfire Victims Donations from Colorado Country Life readers were part of the nearly $125,000 raised to assist some of those affected by last year’s wildfires.

With so much devastation suffered in electric co-op territory, CREA, the trade association for Colorado’s electric cooperatives, established a wildfire relief fund last November. In February, representatives of CREA’s nonprofit philanthropic organization, the Colorado Electric Educational Institute, distributed the money raised.

Six fire departments that fought the Cameron Peak Fire in Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association’s Larimer County territory each received $6,000 to help restore equipment used in fighting the wildfire.

A donation of $2,500, matched by funds from Holy Cross Energy in Glenwood Springs, was given to the Eagle County Paramedic Service, which was affected by the Grizzly Creek Fire.

The remaining funds were presented to victims and organizations affected by the East Troublesome Fire in Grand County.

Checks were presented to two Mountain Parks Electric employees who lost their homes, three MPE employees whose homes were significantly damaged and nine first responders whose homes were either destroyed or damaged by the fire. Checks for $4,125 each were given to the Mountain Family Center and the Grand Foundation

to be distributed to other victims. Another $8,000 was given to the Grand Lake Fire Protection District.

Funds raised included $50,000 from the CREA board, which was matched by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Additional funds were donated by individual electric co-ops, their directors and employees, as well as readers of Colorado Country Life.

“My travels [while presenting checks] took me through parts of the Cameron Peak wildfire and the East Troublesome Fire areas. It was shocking to drive through miles of burned forest. Even the snow did not soften the blow of what these record-setting wildfires did to the landscape. Needless to say, the burned homes and outbuildings were even more devastating and stark to see. The generous support provided through CEEI will help people recover faster.”

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15

EMPOWERING POSSIBILITIES

APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

Colorado-based organization teaches trade skills to the autism community

BY JOANNE PALMER

I

t started with an orange 1975 Jeep Cherokee that had been sitting in a field for decades with a burned-out engine. To most people it would look like an eyesore destined for the junkyard. But Danny Combs saw it as treasure — the very thing he needed for his new nonprofit, TACT (Teaching the Autism Community Trades).

Danny was inspired to start TACT in 2016 by his son Dylan who was then 8 and had been diagnosed with autism at age 3.

Danny had grown tired of going to therapists’ offices and listening to what was wrong with Dylan. Delayed speech. Issues with fine and gross motor skills. Toe walking. Dylan was defined by what he couldn’t do, but his dad saw more possibilities than problems in his son. He saw a bright, imaginative child.

“I never heard what he could do. I only heard what he needed to be doing,” he says.

“For my own sanity, I had to do something.”

Danny didn’t just do something; he did

everything. At the time, Danny, 35, was living his dream. He’d succeeded in the competitive music industry in Nashville.

His day-to-day was working alongside Grammy- and Oscar-winning artists. It was heady stuff. He’d won a Grammy Signature Schools Enterprise Award for the music education program he developed. His future was bright. Assured. But for Dylan the exact opposite was true.

According to a 2020 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 out of 54 children are diagnosed each year on the autism spectrum. The report also showed that people with autism have the highest unemployment rate in the country; 90% of them can’t find or hold a job in the best of times.

The odds were Dylan would grow up and never get a job. There was no road map for his son, no future. That was unacceptable

AUTISM IN THE UNITED STATES The autism community is the highest unemployment sector in the United States, currently at 90%. TACT’s programs lead to employable jobs and lasting careers that are personally fulfilling and suited to each individual’s strengths.

16

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

COVER STORY

Student Chris “Scoop” Cooper takes a measurement while working on a carpentry project at TACT.

to Danny. He was determined to map out a different future, not just for his son but also for others with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He decided to move from Nashville back home to Colorado to be closer to family and an environment more supportive for Dylan.

Danny refused to let the statistics stop him. As he read and researched, the numbers showed something else. Hope. Individuals with autism were ideal employees. Once they got jobs, they were incredibly loyal.

They never left. They never called in sick.

Perhaps the most startling statistic of all was this: The average U.S. worker is on task 48% of the time; an individual with ASD, 98%.

People with autism were twice as productive, always on task, most likely not distracted by their cellphones and co-workers. Then Danny asked himself, why were people with ASD unable to get jobs?

As he continued to read and do research he discovered the answer: The issue was a slow learning curve. Individuals on the spectrum took longer to learn a job — an issue that was a deterrent for employers.

Again, rather than seeing a problem, Danny

saw possibility. What if he could offer the missing piece? What if he could train students on the front end to give students the tools they needed to be a success and to hit the ground running?

Danny decided to teach what he knew: skilled trades. He knew there was a demand and knew that, due to budget cuts, many schools had cut shop classes that taught essential skills like welding and carpentry. Associated jobs were lucrative and in demand. Danny grew up working on cars and building things. His father and grandfather taught him to work hard and problem solve. Together they worked on building houses, cars and furniture. He can still remember the satisfaction he got from keeping his own car running — a 1979 Volkswagen Beetle convertible.

Danny had no background in starting or running a nonprofit — no background in starting or running a hands-on vocational training center. Plus, there was no template to follow — if his idea worked, it would be the first program of its kind. What Danny did have was a can-do attitude, a master’s degree in education, a background as a

fourth-generation tradesman and a relentless desire to help his son.

TACT was founded in Denver with the mission statement: “To encourage and empower the full spectrum of individuals with autism through education and employment in skilled trades.”

In the beginning, the dream was big but the budget was small — $25,000 from a GoFundMe campaign. There was no staff, no headquarters or office space, just Danny and his dream. He and his then-wife, Claire, “rolled up our sleeves and went to work.

We read a lot, talked to consultants and nonprofit experts, and asked people who were smarter than us,” he says.

The first project was fun: a ukulele building class in partnership with Stapleton Music Lab. Then came the infamous orange Jeep Cherokee. A friend graciously allowed Danny to turn his driveway into a classroom and conduct his first class there.

For Paul and Cindy, the parents of another boy with ASD who asked that we not use their last name, that Jeep Cherokee was a lifeline for their car-loving, mechanically-inclined son, Noah.

As Paul recalls, “One day an email popped into my inbox with the words auto, autism and class and I thought, ‘We have to be there.’”

Noah didn’t just love cars; he was obsessed with them and had an encyclopedic knowledge of them. He could identify COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

17

COVER STORY

Mason Ferrick and Geoffrey Simpson discuss a project with teacher Emiley Logan (center).

a Mini Cooper or Hummer from his car seat at age 2. As he grew older, he could look at a car and tell his parents the factory it was made in and what issues caused a recall of a part. Prior to TACT, Noah’s parents had spent countless hours attending car shows and visiting Denver’s Forney Museum of Transportation to indulge his passion.

So, with regard to the class, “I can still picture that orange Jeep Cherokee in the driveway of a beautiful home in Cherry Hills,” Paul says. “It was TACT’s first auto class. There were about six kids there. Danny had this presence about him. He was calm.

He just seemed to understand what our kids needed. Noah is a little uneasy in new social situations. Danny came up, talked to him and put him at ease. Each child could participate in a way that was best for them. The class bent to the kids instead of the other way around.”

TACT moved into a warehouse near Brighton Boulevard in north Denver and Noah continued to participate two Saturdays a month. Like many people, “Noah has a hesitancy to do something that he might fail at,” Paul says. “While working

Students Ellie Combs and Cora Hansen concentrate on their project.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

Welding student Rollin Pearson is adding new skills through programs at TACT.

on a Jeep, Danny asked Noah to get the jack.

Noah said, ‘I’ve got this.’ That encapsulates the whole experience. There was a confidence that continues to this day through being a part of TACT.” Another TACT parent, Jennifer Alabiso, agrees. Her 10-year-old son has been attending TACT for three years — on school breaks, during summer and on weekends. “In school he is behind grade level in reading, but at TACT he can read blueprints and instructions,” she says. “Give that kid a power tool and something to build and he’s fine. TACT warms my heart and sometimes makes me tear up. It gives us a lot of hope.”

Paul agrees. “TACT has always instilled hope for Noah’s future.”

COVER STORY Noah graduated from high school in August 2020 and is now enrolled in the auto mechanic career program through TACT. “It meets a huge need in setting up Noah for success in the world of cars and mechanics,” Paul says. “It combines the technical skills of working on cars plus the social skills of interacting with others to keep a job and be a valued employee. There is nothing else like it in Colorado or the country. TACT works with a student until they are ready for success with a combination of technical and social skills to find a work location that appreciates what Noah can bring.”

Danny agrees. “A lot of organizations who work with individuals who have intellectual or developmental disabilities are deficit based,” he says. “In other words, they are trying to fill a quota. They try to get someone hired because of their disability.

To us, that seems backward. Their talent gets them their job, not their disability. We showcase what our students can do, develop a portfolio and train them to do the job.”

In addition to teaching auto mechanics, TACT offers career tracks in carpentry, welding, computer science and electronics.

TACT offers workshops and summer camps for students of all ages with classes in everything from photography to fiber arts, musical instrument building, auto mechanics, carpentry and more. While students have fun building an electric guitar or a box drum, they also learn math, problem solving and how to safely operate power tools. Best of all, they can take their projects home.

TACT can also go on the road. Literally.

TACT will partner with schools, church groups and other community organizations to bring classes to other communities in a green 1958 Chevrolet.

TACT founder Danny Combs works with student Jason Stowbridge.

The program is so unique that Peter Machnik, 20, moved from Chicago to Denver to participate. “I like the program and working with my hands,” he says. “I hope to find a job in carpentry.”

Not only does Danny offer these one-ofa-kind programs and opportunities to students with ASD, he makes it affordable.

As Paul puts it, “As if this program can’t get any better, they help with the financial piece as well. They are aware of the financial burden of raising a kid on the spectrum.”

“We want it to be attainable for everyone.

We work hard to find sponsors, fund raise and write grants to make it affordable for families,” Danny says.

Today, TACT is headquartered near the Broncos football stadium in Denver, has 12 staff members and has trained 750 students with an impressive 83% job placement rate.

Graduates are working on the new Amazon. com headquarters in Colorado Springs and the Interstate 70 lighting project in Denver.

According to Paul, “Danny is on the forefront of a huge movement. He is a visionary.

He looks at ASD as highly prized employees, not charity work. Our world needs these young people and their amazing skills and knowledge.” The program is so successful that employers like Blue Star Recyclers are now calling Danny to hire his students, not the other way around.

Danny hopes one day he can expand TACT across the country to empower more individuals on the spectrum.

What ever happened to that Jeep Cherokee? TACT students rebuilt the engine, rewired it, redid the suspension and brakes and entered it in the Castle Rock Car Club annual show where it won first place in the 4x4 category. As Paul remembers, “Noah got to accept the award and was beaming. It was a great day.”

Joanne Palmer is an award-winning freelance writer from Colorado’s Western Slope.

SPRING CLASSES STARTING SOON “We want it to be attainable for everyone. We work hard to find sponsors, fund raise and write grants to make it affordable for families.”

— Danny Combs

For more information about TACT’s upcoming workshops, visit buildwithtact.org/workshops.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

19

ENERGY CONNECTIONS

IS CONNECTING TRANSMISSION GRIDS THE WAY TO SHARE THE WEALTH ON RENEWABLES?

BY REED KAR AIM

H

oly Cross Energy has an ambitious goal: 100% renewable energy sources by 2030. It’s a tall order, complicated by the central Colorado co-op’s mountainous service territory, which isn’t well-suited to wind or solar power generation.

But just 100 miles or so to the east of the co-op’s Glenwood Springs headquarters, the Front Range and eastern plains offer ample wind resources. And the states to its south are among the nation’s solar power leaders.

It’s the lack of transmission that keeps the region’s renewable power from reaching the Western Slope, says Bryan Hannegan, Holy Cross Energy president and CEO. “Our transmission access is our biggest worry” for meeting the 100% goal, he says.

Hannegan, who served as associate director at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory before joining Holy Cross, sees a solution in the creation of a “super grid.”

The concept, also known as the macro grid, entails uniting the nation’s regional

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

transmission systems with high-voltage, direct current (DC) interties. In particular, it would bridge the seam that runs along the eastern borders of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico between the western and eastern grids and would also tie ERCOT, the wind-rich Texas grid, into a national system.

While at NREL, Hannegan oversaw a study that found a super grid could help reduce costs for consumers by allowing a “balancing of power supply over much larger regions,” he says, “allowing us to harness the resource diversity we have in this country.”

In particular, it would enable greater use of wind and solar power, says Tracy Warren, director of the Macro Grid Initiative at the American Council on Renewable Energy.

“Much of our vast renewable resources are located in remote regions far away from where the power is needed in populationdense areas,” she says.

Being able to move solar and wind power to those areas could increase the

utility of renewable generation. One scenario outlined in a study showed a hypothetical heat wave in August causing air conditioners to drive up demand. As the sun moved across the United States, solar plants in the West sent power eastward, limiting the need for expensive peak-load, fossil fuel generation. As the sun moved west and began to set, midwestern wind farms — today in the eastern grid — sent power westward to relieve pressure on the coast’s coal- and gas-fired generation.

Worth the cost?

The price tag for building the DC transmission necessary to create a coast-tocoast super grid would be eye-popping: The NREL study estimated it could cost at least $80 billion, but it could return economic benefits of twice that amount.

“By every measure, a more interconnected grid delivered better outcomes — lower carbon emissions, lower cost to consumers, better reliability,” says Hannegan, along with job creation and other economic benefits

ENERGY CONNECTIONS in the parts of the country where more renewable energy generation would be built.

But a super grid would also face significant challenges.

“Any transmission beyond a local, minimal addition to an existing line is going to be met with huge amounts of opposition,” says National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Chief Engineer Paul McCurley.

“Not just technical, geographic, economic and environmental challenges but many not-in-my-backyard battles.”

Patti Metro, senior grid operations and reliability director at NRECA, says DC interties and converter stations for the three alternating current (AC) grids, which are not synchronous, would be complicated and expensive but would not require new technology.

Much of the recent focus in the industry has been on reducing, not expanding, the distance power travels, turning to more localized, distributed generation that integrates renewables sources like solar and tends to reduce the need for new transmission facilities, Metro says.

Another issue is the allocation of costs. Basin Electric Power Cooperative, a co-op power supplier based in North Dakota, operates coal, gas and wind generation to serve 140 member systems,

including Colorado’s Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which serves 17 of the state’s 22 electric co-ops.

As the demand for power grows, “new transmission development is probably going to be essential, and if there’s a transition to more renewable energy, that’s only going to add to the demand,” says Tom Christensen, Basin’s senior vice president for transmission.

But, he adds, the construction cost of a super grid raises concerns, even if it eventually saves money.

“Regardless of who funds it — banks, utilities, whoever — the point would be that, ultimately, some set of retail customers will have to pay. It will show up in customer bills,” he says.

Rural, sparsely populated areas like the Great Plains, where wind generation is expanding, should not be asked to bear costs that exceed the benefits to their region if the transmission is largely carrying the power elsewhere, Christensen says.

He notes the super grid would require unprecedented coordination on a national scale to make sure the connections were cost effective, a task that’s generally handled by regional transmission organizations (RTOs).

“In general, when it’s transmission planned by an RTO, you really get a

cost-effective solution, and you hopefully get an equitable distribution of cost to consumers,” he says, but a macro grid would cross RTOs, complicating planning.

He could see starting a buildout of regional grid interties on a smaller scale: “a more measured approach, going through the RTOs, trying to be very careful determining what’s economically justified.”

Warren acknowledges the macro grid will require large-scale planning but reiterates that transmission investments will pay dividends. She points to a study that shows increased transmission development at the “seams” between regions could save consumers up to $47 billion annually and return more than $2.50 for every dollar invested.

She sees the macro grid working in concert with more localized generation to help the country reach the ambitious clean energy goals states are setting and the Biden administration has promised at the national level.

To meet goals like those, “it’s all hands on deck,” Warren says. “It’s a large-scale challenge that demands a large-scale solution.”

This article was reprinted with permission from the April issue of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s RE Magazine.

“It’s a large-scale challenge that demands a large-scale solution.”

— Tracy Warren, director of the Macro Grid Initiative at the American Council on Renewable Energy

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

21

GARDENING

LIGHT UP YOUR GARDEN WITH LILIES

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

E

very Easter our church was adorned with hundreds of lilies and, every once in a while, their subtle fragrance would float gently through the air. It created an indelible memory and an enduring love of lilies.

Lilies, with their grand blossoms, add elegance to indoor bouquets and outdoor gardens alike. I used to think when I received a lily plant that I would have to wait until fall to plant it outdoors. This was because we typically plant bulbs in the autumn so they can establish roots before spring. But container lilies, which have roots, can be planted anytime during early summer. Since they are a perennial, they will continue to bloom year after year with the proper care.

Lilies are a great option for variety in perennial gardens to add a splash of color.

When purchasing lily bulbs, the Farmers’ Almanac advises planting them soon afterward. This is because they tend to deteriorate over time. If you live in an area with harsh winters, it’s best to order and plant the bulbs in the spring after the threat

22

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

of frost has passed.

Lilies typically bloom from late spring to fall, depending on the type and where you live. By carefully blending early, mid-season and late varieties in your garden, you will enjoy magnificent blooms for months.

Asiatic lilies are the first to bloom in May or June and their blossoms last about five weeks. They come in many colors and usually stand 2 to 3 feet tall with upwardfacing flowers. Although not fragrant, they are easy to care for and make perfect cutting flowers. While there are many varieties to choose from, you might try Yellow Carpet Border Lily™ or the new Regent’s Park Asiatic Lily from Breck’s® for a brilliant splash of color. Other popular Asiatic varieties include the brilliant orange Brunello, tricolored Starlette, dark-red Black Out and maroon Dimension.

As Asiatics begin to fade around August, Orientals burst onto the scene. They grow much larger at 3 to 6 feet and are incredibly fragrant. This spring, Burpee® is offering Garden Party, whose flowers provide a “carnival of color” in deep yellow and red.

Other Orientals include Josephine with deep pink petals and the white Stargazer hybrid typically found in floral bouquets.

Orientals prefer lots of sunshine and cannot tolerate soggy soil, which makes them perfect for Colorado’s drier climate.

Other lily types include trumpet lilies and tiger lilies. Trumpet lilies tend to have

smaller flowers than other lilies but produce a nice scent. Tiger lilies provide a brilliant display admired by all but can spread out of control if not managed. They can grow above 5 feet tall, so it’s best to plant them toward the back of your garden.

You can plant lilies practically anywhere you choose, since their tall stems with narrow lance-shaped leaves take little space.

You can insert lilies into almost any area since their tall, erect stems with narrow, lance-shaped leaves take little space. They provide variety to perennial gardens, add a splash of color in front of bushes or brighten patios with container arrangements. Since they are easy to grow, you can enjoy them almost anywhere as long as there is ample sunlight and drainage.

Gardener Vicki Spencer has an eclectic background in conservation, water, natural resources and more.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening under Living in Colorado.

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OUTDOORS MISS AN ISSUE? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop.

Click on Outdoors under Living in Colorado.

Gone Yet Not Forgotten Cottonwoods The ups and downs of removing two towering trees

BY DENNIS SMITH

| OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

T

he two big cottonwood trees next to our house were taken down a few years ago and we miss them dearly. They were giants: The trunk of one was thicker through the middle than a circus elephant and the other had multiple trunks clustered around a circular base more than 6 feet in diameter. They must have reached 60 feet into the sky, and the massive veil of leaves shaded two entire homesteads from the searing rays of summer sun. Together they created what amounted to a small urban oasis.

The arborists who took them down told us they probably cooled our homes by more than 10 degrees during the summer. We definitely miss that.

Robins nested in their lower branches each spring and mourning doves cooed from their spiky snags on summer evenings.

Chickadees, flickers, yellow warblers, blue jays, white-crowned sparrows and finches flitted through their branches for as long as I can remember. Red-winged blackbirds and grackles staged migration flights from them every autumn and, in winter, flocks of starlings screeched and whistled from their naked branches. A great horned owl roosted in the taller of the two, and I once watched a Cooper’s hawk snatch a dove from our bird feeders and take it back into the cottonwoods for dinner. The neighborhood squirrels probably miss them too. They were as vital a link in their overhead roadway as Interstate 25 is to motorists on the Front Range.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

Unfortunately, these were not “cottonless” cottonwoods, and each spring they would rain down truckloads of fluffy white catkins in numbers so great that, on a windy day, you’d swear it was snowing. Their seedpods plugged our gutters, clogged our little frog pond, covered the lawns with a layer of dingy fluff and collected in corners of the garage like monstrous, swirling dust bunnies. They got into everything.

Annoying as this could be, there was some good to be found in it too. You knew, for instance, that when those seeds began to fall, it usually meant ice-off on high mountain lakes and the beginning of dry fly fishing for still water trout. Coincidentally, it also marked the beginning of the smallmouth bass and bluegill spawn, which is generally considered the best time of year to fish for both.

Carp feed on the seed heads when they land on the surface of lakes and ponds, and fly fishermen can catch them on dry flies tied to mimic the pods. By the time the cottonwoods have finished dropping their seeds, damselfly nymphs are stirring on the sagebrush lakes and about to trigger one of the most productive still water insect hatches of summer and some of the season’s best fishing.

Our trees grew old, weak and dangerous, but while they were healthy, they cooled our homes, sheltered the birds, gave the squirrels a place to play and told us when to go fishing. We miss them.

Dennis Smith is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears nationally. He lives in Loveland.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Since some Community Events are being canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19, please be sure to check with the event host before traveling to on-site events. Included in our list of events are some virtual activities you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. We hope you enjoy these SANITY SAVERS! (We are doing our best to keep the online calendar up to date at coloradocountrylife.coop/community-events.)

“Alice in Wonderland,” Fort Collins and Online

Get out or stay at home for an afternoon with Alice, the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts and more at Canyon Concert Ballet’s production of “Alice in Wonderland.” April 24-25 at The Lincoln Center and online. For more information, call 970-4724156 or visit ccballet.org.

Arts and Crafts Spring Show and Sale, Black Forest

Come see why this Black Forest tradition is a local favorite. Here, guild members sell fine art, decorative arts and crafts and many culinary delights. Find unique Mother’s Day gifts and lots of new things to brighten up your home for spring. April 29-May 2 at the Black Forest Community Center. For more information, visit bfacg.org or facebook.com/BFACG.

Bear Nature Center Programs, Colorado Springs

From the Chocolate Bunny Egg Hunt to the History Stroll and the Earth Day Recycling Workshop, this nature center has all kinds of activities your whole family will enjoy this month. For more information, visit communityservices.elpasoco.com/ nature-centers/nature-center-programs.

CSU’s Gregory Allicar Museum of Art Exhibitions, Fort Collins and Virtual

Art at CSU” exhibition, featuring artworks by Hatton, a pioneer at the Colorado State University Department of Art. See it in person or virtually through June 20. For more information, visit artmuseum.colostate.edu.

Great American Cleanup, 20 Sites in Pikes Peak Region

Now in its 23rd year, the GAC resumes its endeavor to make an impact on the overall health of our waterways with events throughout the country. On April 24, El Paso County is hosting 20 sites for volunteers to help the cause. For more information, visit gacppp.com.

“Hot Fudge Sunday” Theater Performance, Pueblo

Enjoy a smashing performance by the Sangre de Cristo Dancerz.

Afterward, guests are invited to enjoy some Cold Stone Creamery ice cream with the performers. April 28, 2-3 pm, at the Sangre de Cristo Art Center’s Buell Children’s Museum. For more information, visit sdc-arts.org/museum/hot-fudge-sunday.

runBlossom, Canon City

The Gregory Allicar Museum recently reopened to the public with three new exhibits, including the “Clara Hatton: A Vision for

From April 16 to May 3, you can walk, jog, hike or run in the beautiful springtime weather and help raise funds for Fremont County Search and Rescue as well as the Fremont Adventure Recreation program. At the Riverwalk Trail at Centennial Park. For more information, visit runblossom.org.

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12/16/20 11:55 AM

YOUR STORIES

READERS’ PHOTOS

FUNNY STORIES

Jeff and d’Layne Kerr-Layton’s daughter mimics the curious owl on the cover of CCL’s March issue. The Kerr-Laytons are consumer-members of Mountain Parks Electric and they enjoy reading the magazine at their home on Columbine Lake.

Fun in the sun! Jean and Steve Nance bring CCL along on a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. These two Sangre de Cristo Electric consumer-members call Buena Vista home.

Take Your Photo with Your Magazine and Win!

WINNER: Terrance Beasley, recently retired from the Army, enjoys Colorado Country Life at home in Monument, where he is a consumer-member of Mountain View Electric Association. Thank you for your service, Terrance!

READER POETRY The Puzzle

Mother sits just where I left her before the visits stopped — at the jigsaw table. She puzzles over small shapes scattered like shards before her. The big picture, propped, offers clues — color, pattern, the comfort of familiar objects, a connection to the past. She’s trying to piece it all together. That’s the game.

That’s always been the game and at 96, her game is persistence, not dwelling on how it all comes apart.

Harriet Stratton, Larkspur Intermountain Rural Electric consumer-member

It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) with the magazine and email the photo and your name and address to info@ coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win $25 each month.

The next deadline is Thursday, April 15. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. This month’s winner is Terrance Beasley of Monument. See all of the submitted photos on Facebook at facebook.com/COCountryLife.

Untitled

What kind of world will we leave behind what kind of world will my great grandchild find the way it is going now it is not looking great there is too much violence there is too much hate I miss the days of peace and good will but we as Americans can achieve that still. it will take everyone come one and come all for “united we stand and divided we fall” so what kind of world will it be what kind of world will she see.

William Lee, Clifton Grand Valley Power consumer-member

Coming home from the playground where “so cute” accolades were bestowed on playful toddlers, my 7-year-old grandson asked if I thought he was still cute.

“Yes, of course, and witty too!” I said.

He responded, “Is that why you have so many lines (meaning my wrinkles) because I always crack you up, Grammy?”

“That’s why!”

Janie Trimmer, Windsor I was on vacation with my young daughter when we passed a man on the street. “G’day ma’am,” he said in his Aussie accent. My daughter was horrified and said, “Mom, that man told you to ‘go die’!”

Marion Mantz, Boulder When I asked my 5-year-old daughter why she loses her mind after school each day, she replied, “I have anger issues. I have been trying to work on my anger issues since I was a baby.”

Paul Vollbehr, Pueblo West It was a sunny, comparatively warm winter day after several days of gray skies and cold, snowy weather. And it was the weekend, so we asked our kids what they wanted to do. Our son, age 3 at the time, piped up and said, “Let’s go outside and play summer!”

Anonymous

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine.

At the end of the year we will draw one name from those submitting funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2021 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address, so we can send you a check.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

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DISCOVERIES

A SPOTLIGHT ON SMALL BUSINESSES Colorado companies take CCL’s center stage Genius Jewelry Inconspicuous in design, no one will know you’re breathing in your favorite fragrances with a piece of Lucky Tree Studio jewelry. Your most beloved essential oils can go wherever you do when your jewelry has a built-in diffuser. This small business recently opened Mosaic, a brick-and-mortar DIY studio in Montrose, to get its products — and those of dozens of other Colorado-based makers and artists — to the public when go-to shows were canceled due to COVID-19. For more information, visit luckytree.studio or mosaicmontrose.com.

Canine Comfort

Add Luster to Your Life

Formerly in Cotopaxi, Happy Dogs CBD is now a Cañon City-based small business that helps dogs and humans feel relief from pain, anxiety, allergies and more with full spectrum CBD tinctures, treats, creams and gummies. With zero THC, you can rest assured Happy Dogs CBD is safe to use with no toxic reaction from THC ingestion.

Check out Happy Dogs CBD’s lab reports, get more information and order online at pbjdogs.com.

When a Morgan County REA consumer-member praised Bennett-based Huberd’s Shoe Grease — a 100-year-old small business — we had to bring it to our readers’ attention. “We put it on our boots first,” the member said. “Then we shared it with our co-workers. They loved it so much that they began to use it on their saddles and tack as well. One old rancher even used it on his antique gate straps and loved it.” With kudos like this, Huberd’s seems like a no-brainer. For more information, call 800-366-5723 or visit huberds.com.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2021

We’re reducing our carbon emissions 80% by 2030 Our members have asked for cleaner, more affordable and more flexible electricity – and we’re delivering. As part of our commitment, we’re adding even more renewable energy, supporting our goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80% for wholesale electricity sales in Colorado by 2030.

Built by and for our members, we power what matters to you. That’s the value of our cooperative family. To learn how we’re delivering on our mission, visit www.tristate.coop

Tri-State is a not-for-profit power supplier to cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.