Issuu

MAY 2022

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE:

INSIDE FARMING SVEC supports indoor agriculture research with Smart Garden AROUND THE COMMUNITY Local students enjoy the annual egg drop

CURRENTS May 2022

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Planting seeds for a better future

Lots of businesses offer support for their communities. They provide jobs for the people who live there or give back through charitable donations and fundraisers. Maybe the work they do even has a positive impact on the places where they do business. For an electric cooperative, all of the above are true. But, our connection with our community goes deeper than that. Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative was created by the people who live here and their desire to build their own electric system. If we ever start to forget that, the cooperative principles are there to remind us. And right there in the seven pillars that guide our mission is concern for community. That concern can take a lot of forms. It might be raising money for United Way to help people in our area who are struggling, or opening doors for students with programs like the annual Youth Tour. It could even be something as basic as reinforcing our electric system to keep our community powered where there may have been outages before. As a rural cooperative, farming also plays a big role in the life of everyone we serve. That’s why SVEC is excited to have the opportunity to work with researchers on a project that explores new indoor agriculture techniques. The research project, performed in partnership with the University of Florida and Seminole Electric Cooperative, could shed light on new approaches to farming that would make

2 | May 2022

it possible to produce crops in any environment while making more efficient use of water and electricity. You can learn more about how it works and how the project came to be in this newsletter. You can also see some photos of one of our favorite student events, Suwannee Pineview Elementary’s egg drop. The event started with SVEC lineman Jay Chambliss and has become a highlight each spring as kids find creative ways to keep their egg from cracking when it is dropped from a bucket truck. If you missed this year’s annual meeting, you can also read about the important business members took part in. More than 1,000 members joined in the voting, reelecting two trustees and welcoming a new one. As for the health of your cooperative, suffice to say, we are still in a strong financial position and prepared to continue finding new and better ways to bring our members the power they need. It all goes back to the people and the community we serve. We are built, run and owned by people who call the Suwannee Valley home, so we will never take it for granted. This is our community, and it is a privilege to serve it each and every day. 

WE BELONG TO THOSE WE SERVE Business Office: 800-447-4509 11340 100th St. Live Oak, FL 32060 Lobby Hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday Drive-thru Kiosk Open 24 Hours 24/7 Power Outage Reporting 800-752-0025 svec-coop.com facebook.com/sveccoop @SVEC_COOP_FL ©Murina Natalia, cheremuha/Adobe Stock

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

Instagram.com/sveccoop SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. On the cover: The Smart Garden initiative is helping researchers unlock the future of sustainable indoor agriculture.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Don’t get left in the dark Register medical necessities with SVEC SVEC recognizes that many of our members have unique needs. In some cases, they may be immobile or reliant on medical equipment or oxygen. It is important for members with medical needs who are dependent on electricity to register with SVEC so we can

notify you of planned or extended outages. You should also keep the information SVEC has on file for you current. To update your information, please visit our office or download the Medical Necessity Form at svec-coop.com/ member-services/forms.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management allows citizens with special needs to register with their county emergency management agency. Information submitted to the register will only be used for planning and, if necessary, to provide emergency or disaster services. Residents of all Florida counties can register using the online Florida Special Needs Registry: snr.flhealthresponse.com Residents of Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee counties can also request a special needs registration form by visiting or calling their county’s emergency management office.

Annual meeting election results

COLUMBIA COUNTY: 263 NW Lake City Ave. Lake City. FL 32055 386-758-1383

LAFAYETTE COUNTY: 194 SW Virginia Circle Mayo, FL 32066 386-294-1950

HAMILTON COUNTY 1133 U.S. Highway 41 NW, Suite 1 Jasper, FL 32052 386-792-6647

SUWANNEE COUNTY: 617 Ontario Ave. SW Live Oak, FL 32064 386-364-3405

SVEC held a virtual annual meeting for members on Saturday, April 23, via Facebook and web. The 1,028 members who registered for the meeting and voted by proxy reelected trustees Hugh Hunter (District 7) and Cynthia Folsom Boyette (District 8) to serve threeyear terms on the board. Francene Hart Folsom won her first term as trustee for District 9. Members also voted to approve changes to the bylaws regarding various aspects of joint memberships.

Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins The 2022 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins on Saturday, May 28, and extends through Friday, June 10. During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax.

The sales tax holiday does not apply to: • Rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. • Sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

Examples of qualifying items: • Flashlights and lanterns costing $40 or less • Radios costing $50 or less Suwannee Valley Currents

• • • •

May 28

Tarps costing $100 or less Coolers costing $60 or less Batteries costing $50 or less Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors costing $70 or less • Generators costing $1,000 or less • A number of items related to the safe evacuation of household pets

May 2022 | 3

©Murina Natalia, cheremuha, /Adobe Stock

The FUTURE of SVEC supports study of the bene Agriculture has long played an essential role, not only as part of the culture in the Suwannee Valley, but also in the local economy. It generates about $123 million annually in the four counties SVEC serves, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Now, research at a new indoor facility is exploring the potential to grow large-scale crops throughout the year and how that could shape food production as well as the use of valuable resources. In fact, compared to traditional farming, indoor agri-

culture can use significantly less water while growing more produce per square foot. The heart of the local effort is happening at the University of Florida North Florida Research & Education Center-Suwannee Valley, where a 40-foot-long temperature-controlled shipping container is equipped with plumbing and energy-efficient lighting. The goal of the effort is to test farming methods like hydroponics — where plants are grown in a mix of nutrient solutions rather than in soil — and the use of artificial light to grow plants efficiently indoors. The produce grown will be donated to the Florida Gateway Food Bank in Lake City. The project is supported by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, Seminole Electric Cooperative, the Electric Power Research Institute

and the University of Florida North Florida Research & Education CenterSuwannee Valley. “Because of the importance of agriculture in our area, we were grateful for the chance to play a role in bringing this project here,” says Mike McWaters, CEO of Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative. “While it’s true that indoor agriculture will never take the place of traditional farming methods, it may prove to be a way to raise crops that ordinarily could not be grown here, certainly not on a year-round basis. That could prove to be a boon to local farming families, many of whom are members of our cooperative.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

One goal of the project is to further the understanding of the operational, technological, economic, sustainability

The 15,500 pound Smart Garden container is set in place by a crane.

SVEC crews install electric service for the Smart Garden.

4 | May 2022

Suwannee Valley Currents

©Nataliaza Kharova /Adobe Stock

FARMING fits of indoor agriculture and environmental characteristics of this type of farming. Also, the research will evaluate indoor agriculture’s potential impact on the electric grid. For example, the project will study the use of LED lights in shipping containers to grow food and how that correlates to energy efficiency.

RESEARCH PARTNERS

Indoor farming can offer healthy, locally grown produce year-round in any community, including disadvantaged neighborhoods, while increasing yield, decreasing the amount of energy required for transportation and using water more efficiently, says Rob Chapman, senior vice president of Energy Delivery and Customer Solutions for the Electric Power Research Institute. “We’re proud to participate in this

The ribbon cutting for the Smart Garden was held in April.

Suwannee Valley Currents

project, working with collaborators, the local community and the next generation of farmers to improve sustainability efforts,” he says. Bob Hochmuth, assistant director at the Research and Education Center and regional extension agent for the University of Florida, says the new indoor agriculture facility is the southernmost of 15 scattered across the country. Hochmuth grew up on a farm in Maryland. He began his extension career 40 years ago, and has spent 34 of those years working in the South. When the opportunity to work with commercial vegetable crops arose, he jumped at the opportunity and relocated to Florida. This new project allows him to continue his efforts to benefit the region’s agricultural community. “I’m able to work directly with farmers

to help them implement practices to improve their operations,” he says. The research project is funded by Seminole Electric Cooperative and a grant from the Electric Power Research Institute. The life of the grant is 18 months, after which the University of Florida will be able to find other uses for the facility. “We may change things up and experiment with light, temperature and other kinds of produce,” Hochmuth says. The initial crop will be kale, which was selected because it’s relatively simple to grow and more resistant to disease than other crops. “We have a much better chance to grow the product without any other horticultural problems,” he says. “We are excited to host the facility here and SVEC has been an excellent partner to work with.” 

Kale is grown in vertical hydroponic trays under red and blue LED lights.

May 2022 | 5

CHERRY COLA glazed pork ribs 2 4

racks of ribs (12-ounce) cans cherry cola 2 cups cherry jam 2/3 cup Dijon mustard

1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce

Remove silver skin from underside of ribs, if desired. Salt and pepper ribs. Boil cherry cola in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced to 1 ½ cups, about 45 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Makes about 2 cups of glaze.

bright ideas

When you save energy, you save money. Check back here each month for new ways to make your home or business more energy efficient.

Place ribs onto smoker rack. Do not stack directly on top of each other. Fill the smoker pan with wood chips and bring to 270 F. Smoke for one hour. Brush the ribs with the glaze and continue doing so every 30 to 45 minutes until the meat is no longer pink and begins to shrink back from the bones, 3 to 4 hours. Brush the sauce on the ribs for the last time 30 minutes before the ribs are ready to be taken off the smoker. Once the ribs are done, wrap them in aluminum foil and allow to rest 10 to 15 minutes to allow juices to reabsorb into the meat and make the ribs moist.

Ease the window pains

Text Power If you’d like to be able to notify us of an outage via text message, text “svec” to 800-752-0025. After that, you’ll be able to report an outage by texting “out” to the same number.

6 | May 2022

Even if you aren’t looking to replace your windows, there are several easy steps you can take to improve the efficiency of your current windows: • Check existing windows for air leaks • Caulk and weatherstrip • Add energy-efficient window coverings • Add storm windows or panels • Add exterior shading, such as awnings, exterior blinds, overhangs and landscaping. • Add solar control film  For more energy-saving tips, the latest cooperative news and more, follow SVEC at: facebook.com/sveccoop twitter.com/SVEC_COOP instagram.com/sveccoop Suwannee Valley Currents

Energy-efficient windows can make more of a difference on your electric bill than you might think. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heat gain and loss through windows accounts for 25-30% of residential heating and cooling costs.

natural springs

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

to explore in North and Central Florida By Kevin Mims, Visit Florida

Freshwater springs are the ultimate year-round Florida attraction and we’ve got more of these crystal-clear natural wonders than any other place in the country. The highest concentration of natural springs in Florida is in the north and central regions, making it super simple to create your own personalized trip, depending on your schedule and how much you’ve previously traveled in the area: 1. WAKULLA SPRINGS STATE PARK

8 or 80. While there, hang out at headsprings and take the half-mile trail to Blue Hole Spring, another outstanding gem located in the park. 3. FANNING SPRINGS STATE PARK

Located just 15 minutes south of Tallahassee, Wakulla Springs State Park is the perfect northern anchor for a road trip exploring springs in North Florida. History, nature and film buffs, if the scenery looks like something from a Tarzan movie, that’s because it is. Wakulla Springs is the location of many Hollywood classics, including “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” Be sure to take the famous river cruise while you’re there, too. 2. ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS STATE PARK

Make a stop at Fanning Springs State Park for a relaxing afternoon of swimming and picnicking. If you have a kayak, make sure to bring it along — Fanning Springs feeds the legendary Suwannee River, so you’ll definitely want to spend some time paddling while you’re there. Alternatively, Manatee Springs State Park is located just a few miles north of Fanning Springs in Chiefland, so you have a couple of great options in this area. 4. HOMOSASSA SPRINGS STATE PARK, THREE SISTERS SPRINGS

While there are several places around the state where you can take a tube trip, the Ichetucknee River rules them all. It’s a no-frills, easygoing adventure that can be enjoyed by all, no matter if you’re Suwannee Valley Currents

Folks, this is manatee country. While you’ll be out of the water at Homosassa Springs, you will be

entertained by plenty of wildlife exhibits and attractions. Make sure to visit with Lu the Hippo, one of Homosassa’s most famous residents. Just 7 miles away is Crystal River’s Three Sisters Springs, one of the most magnificent jewels in the state. Most visitors access the spring by tour boat, kayak or paddleboard, but you can also walk the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk. 5. WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS STATE PARK

Make a visit to the world-famous mermaids, who have made Weeki Wachee Springs State Park loved by visitors from around the globe. In the summer months, hang out at the park’s Buccaneer Bay attraction, with waterslides and a white sandy beach. Round out the whole experience with a kayak trip on the Weeki Wachee River, one of the most scenic paddling trips found anywhere.  May 2022 | 7

Creative Eggsploits

SVEC was excited to join in for Suwannee Pineview Elementary’s annual egg drop last month. The drop is a favorite event for the students and tasks them with creating a protective carrier that can keep a raw egg from cracking when dropped about 55 feet from a raised bucket truck. Children draw on science and creativity to come up with a wide variety of protective materials, such as popcorn packaging, Jell-O cushions and grocery bag parachutes. The tradition started 27 years ago with SVEC lineworker Jay Chambliss and continues to be a beloved event at the school.

8 | May 2022

Suwannee Valley Currents