Rural Electric Nebraskan - 06/15

June 2015

Before you switch on the lights, we’ve already put up the poles, connected miles of wire and flipped more than a few switches of our own. All to make sure your life is always “on.” Learn more about the power of your co-op membership at TogetherWeSave.com.

YOUR ELECTRICITY ISN’T SOMETHING WE TAKE LIGHTLY.

Volume 69, Number 6, June 2015

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier Published by the

Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp President Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District Vice President/Secretary Ron Jensen, Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District

Contents Features

The Smartphone Road Trip Travel writer Russell A. Graves explains how smartphones make road trips much easier and more spontaneous. Not only has the smartphone replaced alarm clocks, cameras and wristwatches, it also has taken the place of common travel accessories, like the GPS locator. Smartphones are an indispensable tool for today’s traveler.

Pioneering Public Power’s Path

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan does not imply endorsement for products by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price, Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Quad Graphics, 2300 Brown Ave., Waseca, MN 56093.

Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

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Pat Pope, President and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District, reports on how Sheldon Station, located near Hallam, Neb., is preparing to become the first utility-scale power plant in the U.S. to generate 125 megawatts of electricty from hydrogen.

Treasurer David Keener, Niobrara Electric Association, Inc. Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

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Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

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SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

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CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley

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RECIPES

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MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

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Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.

On the cover

Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN 0193-4937.

Sunset brings a beauty of its own to the Nebraska sandhills. Photograph

by Sandhills Images photographer Bob Rooney.

Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

June 2015

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EDITOR’S PAGE

We’re investing in our future leaders hat happens when 1,500 of America’s best and brightest students come together for one week in our nation’s capital? The tour of a lifetime! In June, public power districts and electric cooperatives across the U.S. send groups of high school students to Washington, D.C. for the 2015 Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Nebraska is sending 20 students, representing 14 public power districts and electric cooperatives.

The all-expense-paid trip is a nod to youth leading the way in their local communities.

While in D.C., Nebraska’s Youth Tour delegation visit many of the major monuments and memorials, including the Washington, Lincoln, F.D.R and Jefferson Memorials. They also spend time on Capitol Hill, meeting with members of Nebraska’s congressional delegation.

The students are able to view the extraordinary exhibits found in the Smithsonian Museums, including the StarSpangled Banner, the flag that inspired our National Anthem; the Hope Diamond; and the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer.

The Youth Tour experience provides students with a chance to see history come to life; the Tour also gives them an opportunity to connect with other student leaders just like them from across the country.

During the Tour, student groups from each state – about 1,500 total – come together for Youth Day. The Youth Day program features speakers who motivate and honor that spirit of public power’s commitment to community and the important role of being politically aware and politically active. There are countless examples of greatness and achievement gained by those who saw a need, took a stand, and did what was right — whether it was for their neighbors, their town, their state or their country.

Student participants in Youth Tour may apply to be Nebraska’s representative to the

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by Wayne Price

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National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Youth Leadership Council (YLC).

The YLC is composed of one representative from each of the 41 states that participate in the Youth Tour. YLC members have the opportunity for additional free travel and leadership training.

Youth Tour is just one of the ways we’re investing in our future leaders.

“Youth Tour is our way of saying ‘thank you for choosing to be a leader.’ We know in today’s world, it’s difficult to stand up for the right things, and these students do that every day,” said James Dukesherer, NREA Youth Tour coordinator.

“We’re delighted to give them this amazing opportunity.”

Nebraska’s public power districts and electric co-ops do so much more than provide safe, reliable and affordable power—we are dedicated to improving the futures of students in our community because we know they are next in line to lead the way.

To be eligible to attend Youth Tour, students must attend the NREA Youth Energy Leadership Camp held each summer in July. The five-day camp is set up to give high school students a better understanding of electric safety, electric power generation and the rural electric program. During camp three students are selected by their peers to serve as Nebraska ambassadors on Youth Tour.

The Ambassador Competition involves submitting an application at Youth Energy Leadership Camp, presenting a selfintroduction speech, and delivering a five-minute speech on an assigned topic.

Each camper votes for three candidates following the speech with the top male, top female and person with the next highest vote total becoming next year’s ambassadors.

To learn more about the NREA Youth Energy Leadership Camp and Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour, visit www.nrea.org/content/nrea-youth-programs.

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by Russell A. Graves

Smartphone road trip or the past two decades, I’ve made a living as a professional writer and photographer, traveling back roads in search of great stories to tell.

Planning each trip demands time and effort, so I’m always searching for the latest technology that will make me more productive and efficient. Even though the Internet has streamlined trip planning, on-the-fly changes to trips were not easy. Once plans were in place, it took more work to change them.

Smartphones make road trips much easier and more spontaneous. The paradigm has shifted: Instead of simply carrying a phone, I—like all road trippers now—carry a powerful handheld computer that just happens to make phone calls.

Just as the smartphone has replaced alarm clocks, cameras and wristwatches, it also has taken the place of common travel accessories, like the GPS locator.

Before the smartphone, I used a dedicated GPS unit that I switched from vehicle to vehicle when I traveled. With my iPhone, I have a built-in GPS mapping program that I use to plan trips.

Once on the road, the same device gives me turn-by-turn directions until I reach my destination. It not only provides the quickest route to my destination, it also recommends other routes that take me off the beaten path—perfect for the times I want to take the road less traveled.

In addition to mapping, I also prepare for my trip by storing an automobile insurance card on my phone, along with a gas-tracking app that helps me identify the cheapest fuel stops, and a playlist customized to play my favorite traveling songs while I’m on the open road.

Along the way (while I’m stopped, of course), I check out Wikipedia on my phone’s browser. The Wikipedia mobile site is GPS-enabled and will suggest articles about nearby points of interest. You can immerse yourself in local culture by learning more about the people and places nearby.

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Smartphones, Smart Cameras One of the ways smartphones excel is as both a still and video camera. You no longer require a dedicated camera to capture your travel memories. Sales figures indicate consumers have figured this out. In 2013, camera-enabled smartphone sales topped 1 billion—a 38 percent increase over the previous year, according to a report in PCWorld.

During the same time, digital camera sales dropped 36 percent, mostly in the mid- and low-priced models. The trend is clear.

For photography, the in-phone camera app is the best place to start. The phone I use has settings for standard images in the 4:3 format and square format, and it includes a panorama setting. I use the panorama mode to take wideangle shots from the road and to capture the broad vistas that smaller formats can’t.

While the standard camera settings are fine for most uses, I often use apps that utilize the camera and the processing power of the phone’s computer to give pictures a vintage feel. Even though Hipstamatic is my favorite app, there are several others available in the Apple, Android or Google formats that add effects like filters, filmstrip borders, frames, light leaks and other creative embellishments.

For the traveler, one of the greatest tricks that a smartphone camera performs is embedding GPS information in each picture. Now, instead of guessing where pictures were taken once you’re back home, you can rely on any one of several low-cost photo-management software solutions to extract the GPS location from the photo and pinpoint the location on a software-generated map. These maps save the key points of a trip and help you relive and share the memories later.

In addition to shooting still photos, smartphones also are equipped with high-definition video cameras. I use my Please turn to page 8

Rural Electric Nebraskan

June 2015

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Smartphone Road Trip From page 6

book layout or any other presentation method of your choosing.

I’ve found that I often speak to my phone and take notes on topics of interest that I’ve seen, story ideas, great restaurants or various musings that come to mind. The ability to take notes without physically writing something down has really increased my efficiency.

HD phone camera sparingly because I own dedicated high-definition video cameras that I prefer. However, the smartphone can produce impressive video. The smartphone offers the ability to shoot slow motion, use apps to record video with a vintage 8mm look and do on-the-fly editing along with seamless posting to social sites like YouTube or Facebook.

Stay Connected Speaking of sharing, wouldn’t it be nice if you could take a picture on Integra and cross-post to other social platforms so you can keep in touch with all of your family, friends and followers? You can. All it takes is a single touch of the screen.

Most social apps have the ability to cross-post to a variety of networks. If you post to one site, you can post to many other social accounts on the go, all at once. It is a real time-saver.

Staying connected has advantages beyond social interactions. When you are away on your travels, you can completely monitor your home from the road. Most security companies offer ways to monitor your home alarm and watch home-security cameras using your smartphone. You can also check to see whether doors are locked, close or open garage doors and activate or adjust the thermostat from the phone.

I use a Nest thermostat system that I can turn off when I leave. Half an hour or so before I arrive home, I can log in from my phone and turn on the heat or air conditioning so the house is comfortable when I walk in the front door after a trip.

Television providers also have technology that allows customers to set and manage recordings from a smart device. Gone are the days of missing your favorite show or the big game because you are driving in the countryside. From anywhere I have cellphone or Wi-Fi service, I can log in to my Dish Network account, set

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The SmartPhone weather app allows travelers to check current weather conditions in their destination or follow up on forecasts. my home DVR to record a show and either enjoy it from my phone while I am away or watch it when I get home.

Extending your trip longer than you’d initially planned? Use your smartphone to connect to your bank account and transfer money from one account to another or pay your bills remotely.

Make a Note of That While it goes without saying that you should not divert your attention from the road by looking at your phone, you easily can use the notes or audio memo app on your phone to speak and record your thoughts. Recording an audio memo is just like it sounds: You talk to the phone and it records your voice.

The notes or other speechrecognition apps such as Dragon make trip journaling easy. Using voice-recognition capability built into your phone, you can speak to the phone, and the software transcribes speech to text on the screen. When you get home and you are ready to put your notes with photos or videos, it’s easy to email your notes, edit them in word-processing software and then copy and past them into a

Eating and Sleeping on the Go If you’re like many travelers, the most important questions you face are, “Where am I going to stay?” and “What am I going to eat?” Not too long ago, staying in a hotel or eating at a restaurant with which you were unfamiliar was a hit-or-miss proposition. Even if you are choosing among locations of a national food or lodging chain, local management can make a significant difference in your experience. That’s where the crowd can help.

Many downloadable apps double as a social network that offers input on lodging and eating establishments.

The hotels.com app finds available lodging in a given area, publishes the price and provides user-generated feedback about the quality of the hotel’s amenities. Once you’ve found a place you like, you can book it from your phone in a matter of seconds.

The Yelp app works in much the same way that hotel apps work.

Except with Yelp, the mainstay is providing crowd-sourced reviews of restaurants by giving patrons an opportunity to rate the establishment and provide feedback about the quality of food and service.

Take the time to read the reviews and gather as much information as possible. I’ve found some great local eateries this way, and you can, too.

The bottom line is that the technology in your hand lets you focus less on planning and more on traveling. Smartphones are an indispensable tool for road trippers.

The best tip? When you get to that cool destination, be sure to turn off your phone for a while and enjoy the trip.

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Grid operator says regional approach to Clean Power Plan possible, yet costly

by Edward Klump

he Southwest Power Pool (SPP) said recently it could use a regional approach to comply with U.S. EPA’s proposed Clean Power Plan, although the cost would be an estimated $2.9 billion a year.

The grid operator, which covers much of the Great Plains, detailed the findings in its second analysis of the plan, known as CPP, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The annual compliance figure cited by SPP stems from energy production costs and capital investments related to generation resources.

SPP’s report also highlighted potential retirement risks for as much as 13,900 megawatts of coal-fired generation beyond current assumptions in transmission planning.

Regional compliance would be

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possible by 2030 and probably would be less expensive than state-by-state attempts, Lanny Nickell, vice president of engineering at SPP, said in a statement. He said a carbon-cost adder was seen as effective, while some changes to resource plans would be needed.

The adder could act as a tax on carbon emissions at each fossil fuel unit, according to SPP. The operator's report found an adder of $30 to $45 a ton to be perhaps the most costeffective avenue for a regional approach.

SPP released another analysis and comments to EPA last year, when it said the CPP might lead to transmission overloads and even cascading outages. It also called for more time for states to comply. The report from SPP looked at the effects on existing generation and publicly available resource plans.

“This second analysis does not alter our earlier conclusion that additional infrastructure -- and time -- is needed to meet the CPP’s proposed CO2

The Steele Flats Wind Farm is capable of generating 75 megawatts of electricity from the 44, 1.7- megawatt turbines that have been constructed near Highway 8 in Jefferson and Gage counties.

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emission goals,” SPP's Nickell said. “It takes time to develop a stable, secure, efficient and effective bulk electric power system necessary to support changes of the magnitude being proposed by the CPP.” A carbon emissions chart provided

by SPP showed that by 2030, it could be at 1,285 pounds per megawatthour in a regional compliance plan, compared with 1,577 pounds per MWh in a business-as-usual case. The regional plan would be below an estimated goal for SPP of 1,309 pounds per MWh. A third report is being undertaken and is expected to examine potential state-by-state compliance, SPP said.

EPA’s Clean Power Plan, which has yet to be finalized, seeks a 30 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from U.S. power plants by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. Targets vary by state, and a period with interim goals is set to begin in 2020.

Questioning assumptions John Moore, a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Sustainable FERC Project, said SPP’s latest report fails some basic standards for good modeling, as it used implausible and unreasonable assumptions. He said the study assumed substantial work from coal plants, which drove up the cost.

“If SPP had done a model which allowed states to economically and fully use wind, solar, natural gas and energy efficiency, the compliance costs for the Clean Power Plan would have unquestionably been far lower,” he said.

Moore also referred to the nearly 14,000 MW of additional coal retirements cited by SPP as very speculative. He called for SPP to work to develop a reasonable set of modeling assumptions, including with other regional transmission organizations. Moore did agree that there are benefits of regional compliance.

A blog post from an American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) website took issue with SPP’s analysis, as well. For example, it said SPP used a

Rural Electric Nebraskan

high cost for wind, which the association argued inflated the cost of compliance by almost $1 billion a year. AWEA said wind costs may fall further in future years.

While SPP mentioned 13.9 gigawatts of coal generation shown as at risk of retiring, the wind association said SPP’s report showed that just 2.2 GW would be likely to retire because of the CPP. The lower calculation by AWEA resulted from changing how capacity factors are considered.

EPA also defended its carbon proposal in an emailed statement, saying the plan would “maintain an affordable, reliable energy system, while cutting pollution and protecting our health and environment now and for future generations.” It added that the proposal would provide “enough time for utilities to make changes without affecting reliability.”

SPP said its analysis didn’t evaluate certain infrastructure that could be needed to help support a regional compliance plan. The operator said more planning with stakeholders and new tools would be needed to pinpoint possible generation and transmission needs.

SPP mentioned the possibility of system overloads and cascading outages if needed infrastructure didn’t go in place.

SPP, which is based in Little Rock, Ark., offers services to members in at least some of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. It also is planning to expand services to members with at least some presence in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.

SPP ended its assessment with a continued emphasis on timing.

“Implementation of an approved regional compliance plan will take time, as will potential mitigation measures to address unacceptable system conditions to accommodate retirements and/or retrofits to existing plants,” SPP said.

Copyright 2015, Environment and Energy Publishing LLC. Reprinted with permission.

June 2015

Congress preserves large water heater production ublic power districts and electric cooperatives across the country were relieved after Congress passed legislation April 21 that will enable them to continue using large capacity gridenabled water heaters for energy and money-saving programs.

By a voice vote, the House sent S. 535 to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law. The bill, authored by Senators Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., cleared the Senate March 27.

“Electric co-ops and public power districts across the country appreciate the incredible perseverance of Senators Portman, Shaheen and many others for their leadership in passing S. 535,” NRECA CEO Jo Ann Emerson said.

“The bill helps save consumers money, promotes reliability of the grid and helps integrate renewable energy—truly a win-win-win piece of legislation.”

More than 250 rural electric utilities in 35 states use largecapacity electric resistance water heaters to reduce demand by an estimated 500 megawatts and save consumers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

Calling it an efficiency measure, the Department of Energy

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implemented regulations April 16 to ban the manufacture of water heaters of more than 55 gallons that can be controlled by smart meter technology.

Once enacted into law, the water heater provision in S. 535 will sustain access to these water heaters while manufacturers also produce appliances called for in the new efficiency regulations.

Emerson praised lawmakers who pushed legislation to ensure that large grid-enabled water heaters remained a tool for rural electric utilities to use to save members money.

Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Amy Klobuchar, DMinn., sponsored a bill, S. 259, solely to keep large electric resistance water heaters available for demand-response programs. On the House side, Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., and Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., sponsored H.R. 906, which attracted 15 cosponsors from both parties.

“We are grateful that members of the House and Senate recognized the importance of keeping these water heaters in our toolbox,” Emerson said.

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Improve your home’s energy efficiency

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ublic power district and electric cooperative consumers who are looking to save a little energy and money on their monthly electric bills can do so by changing a few things at home.

“Saving energy does not have to cost a lot of money,” said Brian Sloboda, senior program manager at National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Cooperative Research Network. “There are a lot of simple things you can do that will begin to pay off in savings right away.”

LIGHTING Install efficient lighting, such as light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, that runs cooler. Take advantage of daylight instead of artificial lighting, but avoid direct sunlight.

HOME ENTERTAINMENT Ask your cable or satellite television provider to replace older control boxes with newer Energy Star models. They may offer them free of charge to keep your business.

SEAL LEAKS Adults can use a lighted stick of incense to detect drafts around doors and window frames. Any drafts will cause the smoke to blow, indicating there are leaks that need to be sealed with caulk or insulation.

KEY THE NUMBERS Programmable thermostats should be set according to household activity. Allow temperatures to fall seven or eight degrees when the family is away, and adjust the timing so the furnace comes on a few minutes before they return.

PHANTOM LOADS Unplug cellular phone chargers and video game consoles when they are not in use. Many devices with transformers consume energy whenever they are plugged in.

USE NATURAL LIGHT During the summer, keep curtains or blinds closed. In winter, open them during the day for more light and the warmth from the sun to save on both lighting and heating.

CLEANING Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes. If the option is available, consider air drying both dishes and clothing.

Take short showers instead of baths. Water heating can account for 10 percent or more of the energy consumed in your home. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120°F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid scalding your hands.

RATIONAL REFRIGERATION Allow a single refrigerator to handle your needs. Keeping older ones connected in the basement or garage adds to your energy use.

TREE PLANTING Add a deciduous tree on the sunny side of your home and be patient. Within a few years, it will provide summer shade to help cool your home and shed its leaves in autumn, so you can reap the benefits of warm sunlight in winter.

COOKING On hot days, avoid using the oven; cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or grill outside. Minimize kitchen exhaust fan usage to reduce the amount of conditioned air removed from inside.

“Each of these ideas will reduce your energy use,” said Sloboda. “That’s savings you can count on throughout the year.”

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C.C. C. Sheldon was a fellow braskan who sha arred ed my passion ppublic power p r.. He H saw what it had ad the potential to do for the state and its people. He was devoted to development pment of Consumers Public Power District, now Nebraska Public Power District. And, he was a leader in the crusade for envirronme onmental conservation.

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I was pleased to KHDU 0RQROLWK &R Founder and Chief &RPPHUFLDO 2I¿FHU Rob Hanson report Monolith strongly felt Nebraska was the best location to set up shop for MONOLITH / NPPD / NORRIS PPD WKHLU ZRUOG VFDOH announcement on April 17 at Sheldon facility. Not only Station in Hallam, Nebraska did he express satisfaction that the state had close access to the natural gas needed for his company to create carbon black, but most importantly y,, he felt he had found a group of people he could trust, people who truly shared Monolith’s values

for the environment, as well as a strong work ethic. +DQVRQ FRPPHQWHG WKDW 133'œV ORZ FRVW HOHFWULFLW\ ¹ D result of its economic development rate – was second to none. And so, the values of public power touted by C.C. Sheldon, along with continued development of our diverse generation mix, continue to live on. I couldn’t be happier that our partnership with Monolith has resulted in Hanson DQG KLV JURXS ¿QGLQJ D SODFH WR FDOO KRPH LQ 133'

)LUVW WKLQJV ÀUVW 1H[W VWHSV LQFOXGH ¿QDOL]LQJ RXU DJUHHPHQW ZLWK 0RQROLWK :H KDYH UHFHQWO\ LGHQWL¿HG DQ RXWVLGH engineering consultant to help build our new Sheldon Station unit, of which we hope to begin placing footings this fall. In turn, Monolith will soon start construction of a warehouse to store building materials. Perhaps most exciting is that our research continues as we determine KRZ WR EHVW XWLOL]H WKH VWHDP E\ SURGXFW IURP JHQHUDWLQJ K\GURJHQ IXHOHG HOHFWULFLW\ We expect Monolith to begin producing carbon black from its new facility by late 2016. Their plant will fully expand by late 2018.

I believe this project sets NPPD, Norris Public Power derr,, and the state District, Monolith’s retail electric provider of Nebraska years ahead of the curve. No doubt there is a long road ahead of us. But, we are ready and willing.

One thing I’ve never been afraid of is exploring new technology. NPPD has been researching innovative ways to store and generate electricity for more than seven years, and our research has prepared us for this moment. We PRYH DKHDG FRQ¿GHQWO\ ZLWK WKH LGHDOV RI SXEOLF SRZHU and a dedication to our customers fully intact.

Watch thee prress ess conferrence ence and learn n morree about NPPD’ss collaboration coll with Monolith Materials at www.nppd.com/sheldonannouncement.

) )XQ )DFW XQ )DFW The name “Monolith� originated from two primary words: “mono,� meaning “one,� and “lith,� meaning “stone.�

The symbol for carbon LV VLJQLÂżHG ZLWK D VLQJOH “C,â€? and so the term “Monolithâ€? brings to life the very essence of what the company produces, which is carbon black – a Ă€RXU ÂżQH SURGXFW UHGXFHG IURP URFN OLNH FOXPSV RI pure carbon.

NREA members take part in NRECA Legislative Conference hirty-five employees and directors representing 13 rural electric providers in Nebraska made the trip to Washington D.C. the first week of May as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Legislative Conference. In all, more than 2,000 rural electric employees and board members from across the United States converged on Capitol Hill to visit with legislators and members of their staff to share information regarding legislative issues that affect the rural electric industry.

Nebraska Rural Electric Association (NREA) members held meetings with both U.S. Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse. The House was not in session while the NREA delegation was back in Washington, D.C., but meetings with key staffers in each of the three House offices were an important part of the event.

“Developing relationships with Congressional staff is an important part of the process when working on federal legislative issues,” said Kristen Gottschalk, NREA director of government relations.

NREA members had four “asks” of the Congressional members. Two of those focused on regulatory overreach by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

NREA members were looking for support for legislation (S.1140 and HR.1732) to direct the EPA to rewrite its controversial Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule with input from stakeholders.

“WOTUS has the potential to significantly increase costs to utilities when it comes to siting and building new transmission and distribution lines,” said NREA General Manager Troy Bredenkamp.

Senator Fischer is an original cosponsor of S.1140 and Congressman Ashford has signed on to HR.1732.

NREA members also want Congress to enact a measure to provide a “stay” from the Clean

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Power Plan (CPP), EPA’s proposed carbon rule for power plants, while the rule is being litigated through the courts. The Ratepayer Protection Act also provides an opportunity for states to opt-out if it’s determined the CPP would result in extreme economic hardship or threaten the reliability of electric service.

“Regulatory certainty is important to rural electric suppliers,” commented Randy Papenhausen, NREA board president. “Providing the stay while court action is in progress will ensure utilities do not waste their efforts complying with something that may be thrown out.”

NREA members support EPA’s designation of Coal Combustion Residuals (Coal Ash) as nonhazardous, and we are asking Congress to make that designation permanent through the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015. Coal ash is what is left over after coal is burned to generate electricity and it is an important resource for the manufacture of gypsum board and concrete among other things.

Melissa Garcia, Custer Public Power District executive assistant, emphasized the value of coal ash as an additive in concrete to lower cost and to increase strength and durability to Nebraska’s roads.

“If coal ash is not available in the future because of a change in the EPA designation, road construction costs will increase,” she said.

The electric generation and distribution industry is a capital intensive business and public power districts in Nebraska have used taxexempt bonds (municipal bonds) as a low-cost financing tool for long-term infrastructure development. NREA members asked our Congressional members to preserve the current federal tax exclusion for interest on municipal bonds.

Gottschalk commented on the efforts of the NREA members in Washington, D.C.

Top: Senator Deb Fischer sits down with the NREA delegation to discuss federal issues facing the electric industry.

Above: Cuming County Public Power District director Leroy Mostek, left, and Cedar-Knox Public Power District director Randy Papenhausen, center, were part of the NREA delegation to meet with Senator Ben Sasse.

“I am grateful that NREA members understand the importance of working with our members of Congress,” she said. “Everything we do here will help our members provide low cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electric service in rural Nebraska.”

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Machines don’t milk the cows.

Power does.

Like a great worker, power gets it done. Power enables agriculture and industry to prosper. So electric cooperatives across the West are working hard to make sure that power is reliable, affordable and responsible. With their power supplier, Tri-State, co-ops are innovating to help homeowners, farmers and ranchers, and businesses use power wisely. In doing so, members of electric co-ops save money and make better use of resources. Learn more at PowerWorksForYou.coop.

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association • P.O. Box 33695 • Denver, CO 80233 Wholesale power supplier to 44 electric cooperatives in Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska and Wyoming.

Helping Ospreys and avoiding power outages

by Joel Jorgensen

lectric utilities and wildlife agencies are entities that you may not immediately think of as cooperators in conservation, particularly if you’ve closely followed the news as of late. Even though both types of entities have their different roles and objectives, there are opportunities to work together. Most electric utilities, such as those of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, work proactively to avoid and reduce the risk of collision and electrocution posed to birds by power lines and other electrical infrastructure. These efforts are done in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC). This brings me to a recent example of cooperation between Wheat Belt Public Power District and NGPC to help Ospreys and avoid electrical power outages in western Nebraska.

Ospreys are piscivorous (fish-eating) raptors that migrate through Nebraska in spring and fall. For much of recent history, this species nested west, north and east of Nebraska.

However, Ospreys are increasing in the United States and in 2008 a pair attempted to nest near Winter’s Creek

E

Lake, Scotts Bluff County. Other Osprey pairs have attempted to nest in the Panhandle since 2008, including near Lewellen, Garden County. It is nice to see Ospreys increasing and nesting in Nebraska, but this species also presents challenges since they like to nest on utility structures (e.g., power line pole crossbars). This causes problems for electric utilities and their customers because Ospreys pile sticks on utility structures. A pile of sticks and other materials (e.g., bailing twine) on power lines can result in power outages and even fires once electrical lines connect and arc. This is bad for people who lose service and utility lineman that have to keep going out to do repairs. It is also not good for Ospreys and their young. Ospreys and their nests are protected by state and federal law, which presents legal hurdles for simply removing a problem nest.

Ospreys attempting to nest near Lewellen have caused problems to power lines managed by Wheat Belt Public Power District. Even though Wheat Belt PPD has taken a number of steps to make their structures unattractive to birds, Ospreys persist.

Once a bird, any bird, has selected a nest site they are stubborn to abandon it. In February, personnel from Wheat Belt PPD, Nebraska Public Power District, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

An Osprey nest platform being moved into place at Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area by personnel from Wheat Belt Public Power. Photographs provided by Earl Reilly, Wheat Belt Public Power District.

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Service and NGPC met in the Lewellen area to review the situation and identify actions that could avoid future challenges.

The group determined if Ospreys nest platforms, which these birds commonly use, were placed in locations more desirable than the location of power lines the birds have used in past years, the Ospreys may decide to use the platforms and leave the power lines alone once they arrive in spring. A potential win-win for the utility, their customers and the Ospreys. Wheat Belt PPD volunteered to build and erect the nest platforms.

The one obstacle that remained was acquiring permission from the landowner who owned the desirable location for Osprey nest platforms.

Fortunately, the desirable location happened to be Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area, which is owned by NGPC, and our Wildlife Division Management Section staff was receptive to the idea.

In early April Wheat Belt PPD erected the Osprey nest platforms following a brief site visit with NGPC staff to select optimal sites. With the platforms ready to use, it is all up to the Ospreys who should be arriving anytime. Hopefully the birds find the nest platform suitable and use them.

If not, it may be back to the drawing board. Even if birds do not cooperate, it is nice to have good partners in the power industry who work proactively and cooperatively with us to help protect Nebraska’s birds and wildlife.

Joel Jorgensen is a Nebraska native and has been Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Nongame Bird Program Manager for eight years.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

No More Excuses for a Restless Night’s Sleep We’ve all had nights when we just can’t lie down in bed and sleep, whether it’s from heartburn, cardiac problems or hip and back aches. Those are the nights we’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in, one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises feet and legs to precisely the desired level, supports the head and shoulders properly, and sends a hopeful sleeper right off to dreamland.

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Know what’s below. Call before you dig igging without locating underground utilities, even the smallest digging projects, could leave neighborhoods in the dark, cause thousands of dollars in damages, or cause severe electrical shock. To help stay safe, make use of the national underground utility locating service for free by calling 811.

The 811 “Call Before You Dig” number will route you to your local utility locating service. Make sure to tell the operator where and when you plan to dig and what type of work you will be doing. From there, it takes a few business days for a professional to come mark your public utilities with flags or spray paint. So make sure to plan ahead and call in advance.

There are different colors of paint and flags that mark the underground utilities, and each color is universal to what utility is buried.

Even if you previously had utilities located by calling 811, it is best to call before every digging project.

Underground utilities can shift, and it is important to be certain of where they are before ever putting a shovel in the ground.

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It is important to understand that 811 locators do not locate privately installed facilities. If you have any private utilities, you will need to hire a private utility locator. Some examples of private utilities include: underground sprinkler system, invisible fences, data communication systems, private water systems, or gas piping to a garage.

Once all of your underground

utilities have been located, it is time to start digging, but be sure to wear all of the proper protective gear before putting the shovel into the earth.

Call Nebraska811 at 800-331-5666 if you damage any underground facilities during your excavation.

For more information about 811 and digging safety, visit Call811.com and SafeElectricity.org.

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Rural Electric Nebraskan

A few facts about ceiling fans eiling fans have been helping Americans beat the heat for more than 100 years. Philip Diehl, a contemporary of Thomas Edison, is credited with being the inventor of the electrically powered ceiling fan in 1882. Diehl used the electric motor he engineered for the Singer sewing machine, added two paddle-blades and the rest is history. The fans caught on fast, and Diehl didn’t stop there.

He improved his design by adding a light kit. By World War I, most ceiling fans were revving up with four paddle-blades rather than two.

An important reminder about ceiling fans is they do not provide refrigerated cooling like an air conditioner. Instead, they simply move air in proximity to the fan. This movement of air from the electromechanical device is called convective cooling. The movement of air is no different than folding a piece of paper and fanning your face. A few months ago, Mother Nature was dishing out lots of convective cooling.

You may recall the weathermen cautioning us about frigid wind-chill factors. Whether produced by wind, ceiling fans or a piece of paper, air moving across our skin will evaporate the moisture produced by our bodies, which makes us feel cooler.

Research shows that more than 75 percent of all homes in the U.S. have ceiling fans. When used correctly, they can help lower summer cooling costs and make the air near the fan feel cooler than it actually is. Using ceiling fans in conjunction with your air conditioner creates a wind-chill effect inside your home. The energy saving idea is to run your ceiling fan at the speed of your liking and simply raise the set point of the thermostat 3 to 5 degrees. Do keep in mind, your comfort is a personal choice, so the recommended fan

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June 2015

speed and thermostat settings are not set in stone.

A frequent question asked about ceiling fans is: “Which direction should the paddle-blades spin during

the summer months?� The answer is that your fan needs to spin counterclockwise in order to push the airflow downward. The opposite, or clockwise, applies for the winter.

However, some people do not enjoy air movement from a ceiling fan during the heating season.

There is a downside to using ceiling fans. They can rack up unnecessary additional kilowatt-hours when no one is around to enjoy the breeze.

Many homeowners have the idea they are somehow helping to cool the interior even while they are away from the home. Left on and unattended, ceiling fans are just spinning up your electric bill.

Furthermore, an invisible culprit emitted from ceiling fans is unwanted heat gain generated from the spinning motor. Remember, the last thing we want in our homes during the summer is additional heat.

Unnecessary heat gain makes our air conditioner work harder to keep our homes cool. Ceiling fan motors generate temperatures that can reach near 130 degrees. While this operating temperature is normal and safe, it does add heat to your dwelling. A simple flip of the switch or pulling the chain into the off position when you are away or not occupying the room is a cool summer energy tip.

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Efficient, strong home construction methods

by James Dulley

We are empty nesters and have Q :decided to build our dream home. What are some of the most efficient home construction methods?

Severe weather is a concern in our town, so options that offer strength and ruggedness would be best.

is efficient and strengthens the home.

The insulation forms, which hold the wet concrete, are not removed, and they provide the insulation and substrate surface for installing the interior and exterior wall coverings.

Wall insulation values are as high as R-40 when this method is used.

There are several relatively new A :home construction methods that are much stronger and efficient than typical insulated, wood framing built to code. Some of these methods use more than double the insulation value of typical framed walls and can even withstand hurricane- and tornadoforce winds.

If you decide on a wood-framed house, use staggered, double-stud walls on 24-inch centers. This construction method not only provides double the insulation value, but by staggering the wall studs, it minimizes thermal bridges (direct non-insulated heat flow paths from indoors to outdoors through the wood studs).

For a wood-framed home, install rigid foam wall sheathing on the exterior so that all of the lumber's thermal mass is inside of the insulation envelop. This can be covered with any type of exterior finish, such as siding, brick or stucco.

Use a relatively square or circular shape to minimize the exterior wall and roof area. With similar insulation levels, a wall that is twice as big as another will lose about twice as much heat. Generally, square and circular shaped homes resist the forces of storm winds best. This is why animals typically build round nests and dens, which can withstand major storms.

The “stay-in-place� home construction method uses concrete and rigid foam insulation; this method

22

A straw bale home under construction. These walls use a selfsupporting design with no other exterior support framing. Photograph

by Carolyn Roberts A similar method uses hollow foam blocks made to fit your home’s plans.

The blocks are designed so there is an open cavity throughout the inside.

Concrete is pumped into the openings at the top of the walls and flows throughout the blocks, which creates a strong, efficient structure.

SIP (structural insulated panel) systems are a subset of standard foam insulated panels, which have a thick foam core sandwiched between two rigid sheets of various materials. The standard panels are often used for the exterior walls to enclose post and beam-framed and steel-framed homes for some of the highest insulation levels possible.

The rigid sheets in SIP panels are unique because they are made of OSB (oriented strand board), which creates

a strong, highly insulated panel. The panel is self-supporting and does not require additional basic wall framing.

Once the panels are attached to the foundation and are connected, the SIP panels support themselves, the floors, ceiling and roof.

Steel-framed construction is an excellent construction method if strength is the goal. Steel is strong. It does not burn or change shape over time as lumber does, and each steel piece is nearly identical. Also, much of the steel used today in home construction is recycled from scrap materials.

From an efficiency standpoint, steel is superior to most other framing materials. Although steel is not a good insulator, its strength allows for thinner studs and wider spacing. This leaves much more room for additional insulation inside the walls and fewer thermal bridges.

Efficient straw bale homes date back more than a century in the United States. When placed on its side, each three-string bale is about 23 inches wide. When packed to a normal density, it produces an insulation value greater than R-50. The bales are stacked and bolted to a concrete foundation with vertical threaded rods. Properly compressed straw bales are fire resistant when the exterior is covered with materials such as concrete or stucco. Soft plaster and gypsum interior finishes are attractive and durable. The plaster has a comfortable feel and is easy to work with. When completed, other than thick openings at windows and doors, they look like any conventional framed house.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we have great news for you. There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you in mind.

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Down Home Recipes

Weeknight meals just got easier on’t let the stress of a hectic schedule interfere with your desire to prepare a wholesome, satisfying meal for your family. A pantry stocked with canned foods is all you need to ensure mealtime success, any day of the week.

“With a well-stocked pantry full of canned ingredients, I know I always have the makings of a nutritious and flavorful meal,” said Kelsey Nixon, host of “Kelsey’s Essentials” on Cooking Channel and Food Network.

Bring to life your family’s favorite recipes with pantry staples such as canned chicken, tomatoes, green beans and broth. Like the home canning process, cans seal in foods’ nutrition, freshness and flavor, making naturally delicious, homemade dishes achievable and easy.

For more information about the canning process, delicious recipes and to learn how you can get cooking with canned foods, visit www.CansGetYouCooking.com.

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Pasta e Fagioli Soup 2 4 1 3 2 1/2 1/2 2

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tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ounces chopped pancetta (about 1/2 cup) medium yellow onion, finely chopped cloves garlic, minced teaspoons fresh thyme leaves teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon cracked black pepper (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

1

(14.5-ounce) can diced fireroasted tomatoes 3 (14.5-ounce) cans chicken broth 1 1/2 cups ditalini pasta (short tubular pasta) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish In large heavybottomed pot, heat olive oil over mediumhigh heat. Brown pancetta bits just until they start to crisp, then add onion, garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper, and saute until fragrant and golden brown.

Add canned beans, tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring soup to rapid boil before adding pasta. Reduce to simmer and cook soup covered, stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente.

Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread.

Note: You can substitute bacon for pancetta, if desired.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Reader Submitted Recipes

Rhubarb-Apple Cake 2 1/2 1/2 2 1/2 1/2 1/4 1 1/2 2 2 2

Almond Crusted Tilapia with Parmesan Peas 1/3 cup dry unseasoned bread crumbs 1/3 cup finely chopped almonds 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 tilapia fillets (6 ounces each), or any white-fleshed fish such as cod, haddock or sole 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 egg, beaten 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 package (12 ounces) Alexia Parmesan Peas Lemon wedges

cups white sugar teaspoon nutmeg cups sifted flour cup nuts cup shortening teaspoon allspice teaspoon cinnamon teaspoon salt cups apples, peeled & chopped cups diced rhubarb eggs (no other liquid)

Cream shortening and sugar in large mixing bowl. Add eggs and beat well. Stir dry ingredients, and add to creamed mixture. Add apples, rhubarb, and nuts. Mix well. Batter will be stiff. Bake 45 to 50 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Freezes well.

Good topped with whipped cream.

Bernie Prochaska, Abie, Nebraska Pecan Pie Muffins 3/4 2/3 1 4-5 2

cup packed brown sugar cup self-rising flour cup chopped pecans tablespoons melted butter eggs

In a bowl combine the sugar, flour, and pecans. Set aside. In a separate bowl, combine the butter and eggs. Stir into flour mixture until just combined. Spoon batter into greased and floured muffin cups, 2/3 full. (I use paper baking cups.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Remove muffins from tin immediately. Let cool on wire rack. They can be frozen.

Makes 12.

Karen Carlson, Gurley, Nebraska Fresh Asparagus Frittata

Combine bread crumbs, almonds and cheese in shallow dish.

Sprinkle salt and pepper on fish.

Coat fish with flour; shake off excess.

Dip in egg until coated well. Place in bread crumb mixture and turn to coat completely.

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add fish; cook 3– 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with fork and is golden brown (145°F internal temperature).

Meanwhile, prepare peas according to package directions. Serve peas and lemon wedges with fish.

Source: Alexia Foods

June 2015

1/2 1 8 1/2 1/4 4 1 1/2

lb asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 1 1/2 cups) Tablespoon olive oil eggs cup milk teaspoon salt oz. shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese (about 1 cup) teaspoons dried basil leaves (optional)

In large ovenproof skillet, cook asparagus in olive oil medium heat until tender, about 3-4 minutes. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, basil and salt. Pour into skillet over asparagus; cook until edges begin to set. Cook for about 4-5 minutes, gently lifting egg mixture from bottom of skillet with spatula so uncooked egg mixture flows to bottom of skillet. When eggs are still very moist, sprinkle cheese over top. Broil until cheese is slightly brown, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately. This makes 6 servings.

Lois Schaaf, Stuart, Nebraska 25

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Additional Requirements: Installation/Equipment Requirements: Leased equipment must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Non-standard installations may result in additional charge. Service Restrictions: Speeds and data allowances vary based on geographic location and plan selected. All plans subject to availability. Service is not available in Puerto Rico and is limited in areas of Alaska. In some areas, dishNET is only available through DISH Authorized Retailers. Miscellaneous: Taxes and monthly service fees apply. Taxes or reimbursement charges for state gross earnings taxes may apply. All prices, fees, charges, packages and offers subject to change without notice. Use of dishNET High-Speed Internet service is subject to Fair Access Policies, Acceptable Use Policies and Network Management Policies.

DISH TV Service: Important Terms and Conditions: Promotional Offers: Require activation of new qualifying DISH service. All prices, fees, charges, packages, programming, features, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. After 12-month promotional period, then-current monthly price applies and is subject to change. ETF: If you cancel service during first 24 months, early termination fee of $20 for each month remaining applies.

Additional Requirements: Hopper: Monthly fees: Hopper, $12; Joey, $7; Super Joey, $10. HD Free for Life: Additional $10/mo HD fee waived for life of current account; requires continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. Premium Channels: Premium offer value is $171; after 3 months, then-current monthly prices apply and are subject to change unless you call or go online to cancel prior to the end of 3 months. Installation/Equipment Requirements: Free Standard Professional Installation only. Leased equipment must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Upfront and additional monthly fees may apply. Miscellaneous: Offers available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. Taxes or reimbursement charges for state gross earnings taxes may apply. Additional restrictions and taxes may apply. Offers end 10/30/15. © 2015 DISH Network L.L.C. All rights reserved. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC.