Currents-September 2020

SEPTEMBER 2020

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS

INSIDE: NEXT GEN POWER SVEC’s energy sources are changing for the future HOME AWAY FROM HOME Explore Florida’s great RV parks AROUND THE COMMUNITY The Cornhole Tournament is back!

CEO’S MESSAGE

Suwannee Valley

CURRENTS September 2020

Michael S. McWaters Executive V.P./CEO

Suwannee Valley Currents is a monthly newsletter published by Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, © 2020. It is distributed without charge to all consumermembers of the cooperative.

We never stop working for you This year, many of us have had to put plans on hold. Maybe you were look-ing forward to a trip you had to cancel at the last minute or a family get-to-gether that had to be reorganized.

But at Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, we know we can’t just put what we do on pause. Our consumer-members depend on the power we pro-vide each and every day. That’s why we are always working and always trying to get better at what we do.

The same is true for Seminole Electric Cooperative, our generation partner. Seminole provides a reliable flow of electricity for SVEC and numerous other cooperatives across the state, playing a crucial role in our mission to bring electric service to our consumer-members. In this newsletter, you can learn more about the new improvements Seminole is making to its generation facil-ities and how those upgrades are preparing our electric infrastructure for the changes coming to our industry.

You can also read more about a new benefit of membership: our standby generator program. While we work hard to eliminate outages before they hap-pen, some service interruptions are inevitable, and a standby generator pur-chased through our relationship with Generac is the perfect backup power source. If you are in the market, I encourage you to look into the savings avail-able through your cooperative.

We are also excited to announce that the Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament will return next month. The tournament has become a local favor-ite in recent years, and we look forward to hosting the third installment. You can find more information about how to register in this newsletter or on our website.

Also, we continue to encourage all of our consumer-members to do what you can to help our lineworkers complete their jobs safely and effectively. One way to do that is to be aware of how close any trees and large plants on your property may be to electrical equipment. If you aren’t sure how close is too close, use the helpful graphic on the next page as a guide.

Another simple step you can take is to avoid posting items on power poles. While it may seem harmless, these obstructions can actually pose a signifi-cant hazard to our lineworkers if they need to climb those poles. The clamped boots lineworkers use can get caught in staples, and protective clothing can be torn, putting them at risk when working with electrical equipment.

These small efforts go a long way to protect our lineworkers as they work hard to improve service for our consumer-members. It is our privilege to serve you each day, and we will continue to be here lighting the way. 

2 | September 2020

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 Instagram.com/sveccoop SVEC is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

On the cover: These units at Seminole’s Midulla Generating Station are being upgraded for improved output and efficiency. See story, Page 8.

Suwannee Valley Currents

MAINTAIN A “SAFE ZONE” WHEN PLANTING TREES

CLEAR ZONE

SMALL ZONE

MEDIUM ZONE

TALL ZONE

No vines, shrubs or trees should be planted within 15’ of the furthest point on a utility pole.

10-20’ or farther from Clear Zone.

Small trees like junipers, fruit trees, Crape Myrtle, Azalea, Viburnum

20-50’ or farther from Clear Zone.

Medium trees like: Holly, Little Gem and Star Magnolia, Dogwood, Ligustrum

50’ or farther from Clear Zone.

Tall trees like: Oaks, Pines, Pecan

Keep power poles clear, keep our lineworkers safe Posted items on power poles are more than just an eyesore; they can be dangerous — even life-threatening — to our lineworkers. SVEC asks everyone to help keep poles clear.

• Lineworker’s clamped safety boots can snag on staples

and nails left in poles long after signs are gone.

• Foreign objects can injure lineworkers or tear protective

clothing, the first line of defense from electric shock.

• Posted materials can distract drivers and degrade the quality and stability of wooden poles.

If you see poles or guy wires that have been damaged or disturbed in some way, please call an SVEC member service representative at 800-447-4905.

Suwannee Valley Currents

September 2020 | 3

Once completed, the new Seminole Combined Cycle Facility will be home to one of the most efficient units in the country.

The next generation

How Seminole Electric is preparing for the future Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative’s consumer-members know what it means to be part of an electric cooperative. But they may not know SVEC is itself a cooperative member.

Generating safe, affordable and reliable electricity can be both complicated and expensive. Because building our own generation facilities wouldn’t be cost-effective, SVEC and other electric cooperatives across the state of Florida created Seminole Electric Cooperative, a wholesale energy provider that generates and purchases electricity from a variety of resources.

Just like our consumer-members pay SVEC for their electricity, we are a member of Seminole and pay for the share of electricity our system uses. And just like SVEC, Seminole is a not-for-profit organization, meaning it is always looking for new ways to provide reliable electric service at a lower cost to its member cooperatives.

Recently, Seminole has been busy making upgrades and improvements that will improve the reliability, increase the efficiency and lower the cost of the electric service it provides to SVEC. Projects include construction of a natural gas-fired unit at the Seminole Combined Cycle Facility in Putnam County and the installation of upgraded turbines at the Midulla Generating Station in Hardee County.

“Seminole, just like SVEC, is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative, and we’re committed every day to providing safe, affordable, reliable electricity,” says Ryan Hart, Seminole’s director of communications and energy policy. “Part of that is making sure our fuel portfolio is as efficient as possible for our membership, and we think this provides us with valuable diversity.”

“We looked at all the different options, including solar and natural gas,” says Hart. “We did studies to determine which options were the most affordable and reliable. Ultimately, our board made the decision to build the Seminole Combined Cycle Facility.”

The new facility will be one of the most efficient combined-cycle generation units in the country, replacing one of the Seminole Generating Station’s coal units. The result will be a 40% reduction in air emissions, a 34% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, and a 27% increase in power generated at the site.

Crews began clearing trees from the facility site and laying underground piping earlier this year. The project has continued with underground foundations and conduits currently being laid in preparation for above-ground construction, although some structural steel for the administration control building and maintenance shop are already in place.

“Once that’s done, we can start receiving equipment and putting that up,” says Tom Reed, project director for the SCCF project. “Overall, the project’s going very well. It’s still on budget and on schedule.”

THE CUTTING EDGE

About five years ago, Seminole’s leadership gathered with its board of trustees to consider options for maintaining an affordable and reliable fuel mix. Several purchased-power agreements, which allow Seminole to buy additional electricity from other generators, were about to expire.

4 | September 2020

Suwannee Valley Currents

BETTER, STRONGER, FASTER

Meanwhile, the Midulla Generating Station has received its own upgrade in the form of two improved combustion turbines. The new turbines will produce 25 more megawatts of electricity, yet will use no more fuel than before. That’s a 2.9% increase in efficiency.

“These turbines are like big jet engines, and eventually you have to refurbish and replace those combustion components,” says James Woodall, plant manager at the Midulla Generating Station. “Through advances in the metals and coatings, they’ve come up with better materials to replace those with.”

In addition to improved output and efficiency, the new turbines will also save on maintenance costs.

While the previous turbines could operate 12,500 hours before requiring major maintenance, the new turbines will be able to run for 36,000 hours, nearly three times as long. That also means fewer outages for repairs, leading to improved reliability for SVEC consumer-members.

These improvements will keep Seminole competitive in a rapidly changing electric industry, ensuring that its member cooperatives have reliable and affordable power. Seminole is also working on purchased-power agreements it hopes will add 300 megawatts of solar power to the mix.

“We’re going to see a big change in our fuel portfolio and across our whole industry in the next three to four years,” Hart says. “Seminole is working to ensure these changes benefit our Membership.” 

The new turbines at Seminole’s Midulla Generating

Station will produce more energy at a lower cost with less

maintenance — leaving more time to generate the electricity SVEC consumer-members use every day.

1.

Combustion Turbine 1 is removed for de-blading and installation of upgraded blades.

2.

The new exhaust cylinder is ready for installation.

3.

Seminole is adding 300 megawatts of solar power to its fuel mix through purchased power agreements.

The lower casing and all stationary blades and seals have been removed from the combustion turbine.

4.

The new blades have been attached, and the combustion turbine has been put back into the casing for final fitting in preparation for operation.

Suwannee Valley Currents

September 2020 | 5

5

fundamentals of safe hunting

By Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Do you know someone who wants to learn how to hunt or target shoot?

Whether a friend or family member has become more interested in hunting or just wants to feel more confident at the range, you can share the tips below or review them yourself before heading afield.

1 Thinking S.A.F.E.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s hunter safety program uses the S.A.F.E. acronym to remind hunters to focus on four major rules of preventing hunting accidents: S. Safe direction — Always point the gun in a safe direction.

A. Always be sure of your target and what lies beyond.

F. Finger is outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.

E. Every firearm must be treated as if it is loaded.

2 Loading or unloading a firearm safely

When loading and unloading firearms, always point the muzzle in a safe direction. If it is possible to keep on the safety of the gun while loading and unloading a round, it is best to do so. When unloading, remove the magazine, if it has one. Open the action and eject all rounds. Physically and visually check the chamber and magazine to be sure the gun is not loaded.

3 Safe firearm carries

There are several safe ways hunters can carry a firearm, and the carries most appropriate may depend on the circumstance. The elbow or side carry is good to use when no one is in front of you. The sling carry is useful for long walks. And the two-handed or ready carry provides the best control and most safety. Be mindful of the safest way to carry your gun in different circumstances.

4 Zone of fire

When hunting in a group for species such as quail or rabbit, hunters should first talk about and agree upon the zone of fire each person will cover. A zone of fire is the area in which a hunter can shoot safely. Zones of fire depend on many factors, including the hunter’s shooting ability, the animal being hunted, the lay of the land and the hunting strategy.

Hunters should never swing their gun or shoot outside of their zone of fire.

If a bird turns and flies back across the line of hunters, they should not swing on the bird and should hold their fire.

5

Tree stand safety

Carefully inspect your tree stand to make sure it’s safe and has not been damaged. Don’t hang your stand any higher than necessary, and always wear a full-body fall arrest system. When climbing up and down a ladder, always maintain three points of contact with your hands and feet.

Always inspect your FAS. Discard it and get a new one if it shows any signs of wear and tear.  6 | September 2020

Speedy Spaghetti Squash 1 Spaghetti squash Butter Parmesan cheese

Wash the squash and place it on a cutting board. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds.

Place the squash halves cut-side down on a plate with a little water in the bottom and microwave on high 5-8 minutes or until tender. Fluff the insides of the squash with a fork and it will begin to resemble spaghetti. Place the “noodles” on a plate and top them with butter and parmesan cheese to taste.

NOTE: Meat sauce also goes well over the squash noodles, and the noodles go well in a mock pasta salad with the addition of zesty Italian dressing and your favorite pasta salad ingredients: onions, green peppers, hard salami, capers, etc. 

Do you have a great recipe?

Email a copy of a recipe you’d like to share to communications@svec-coop.com.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Eight of Florida’s Great RV Parks

By Kevin Mims, Visit Florida

It’s no secret that Florida is one of the most popular destinations for RVers, especially in the winter months. RV parks in Florida, which are readily available, range from rustic retreats all the way up to high-end private resorts.

1. Florida Caverns State Park, Marianna We’ve got more than our fair share of natural wonders, but one of the most interesting has to be Florida Caverns State Park. See colorful stalagmites, stalactites and other formations on the cave tour. Hiking, biking, equestrian camping and kayaking on the Chipola River can be done right at the park, plus there is a nine-hole golf course.

2. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Santa Rosa Beach Hook up at one of 156 big-rig friendly sites at Gregory E. Moore RV Resort and take a tram down to one of the most unbelievable beaches in the state. Hiking trails showcase Morris and Campbell lakes, two ultra-rare coastal dune lakes that can only be found in a handful of places in the entire world.

3. Fort Pickens Campground, Pensacola The farther you drive back on Fort Pickens Road in the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the further back in time it feels. Two hundred sites are nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Pensacola Bay, offering a great location for hiking, beach activities or exploring Fort Pickens and other nearby military gun batteries.

4. St. George Island State Park It’s located in a section of Florida known as the Forgotten Coast, but camping here is anything but forgettable. St. George Island always gets great reviews acknowledging it as one of the best RV parks in Florida.

Suwannee Valley Currents

Bring boats, swim trunks and plenty of sunscreen for this one.

St. George Island State Park

Juniper Springs National Recreation Area

Bahia Honda State Park

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Florida Caverns State Park

5. Juniper Springs National Recreation Area, Ocala Set up camp at Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest, and you’ll learn what the fuss is all about. Don’t miss a kayak or canoe trip down 7-mile Juniper Run, one of the most breathtaking and popular paddling trips in the country.

6. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Orlando Disney, you say? Yep, RV camping at Fort Wilderness is pretty darn nice. Of course, it’s about as family friendly as it gets — pet friendly, too — and is an affordable lodging choice if you are planning to visit the theme parks. You’ll have easy access to the Magic Kingdom and the ability to see fireworks right from the campground. Give it a shot; you’ll definitely be surprised.

7. Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg This mega county park has it all — great beaches, excellent wildlife viewing and tons of history, making it one of the best something-for-everyone RV destinations. See the park by bike, by kayak or by foot on one of several nature trails. Of course, you’ll want to set aside plenty of time for relaxing on the beach or in camp.

8. Bahia Honda State Park, Florida Keys Located at Mile Marker 36.8 on Big Pine Key, Bahia Honda State Park is one of the most sought-after camping locations in the country. It can be a little tricky to get a reservation — this goes for everywhere in the Keys — so make sure to do some advance planning if you are looking to get a spot in paradise.

There’s only one problem: You can’t stay forever. 

September 2020 | 7

The Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament is back!

SVEC is proud to host the third annual Suwannee Valley Cornhole Tournament next month. Players of any skill level are welcome to participate, whether playing for fun or playing to win. All proceeds from the event will go to United Way of Suwannee Valley.

Last year’s event raised over $3,000, and we hope to make an even bigger contribution this year.

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 24 Check-in/registration from 9:30 to 10 a.m.

Games start at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative 11340 100th St., Live Oak, FL 32060 REGISTRATION: Two-person teams — $40 in advance/$50 day of Individual participants — $20 in advance/$25 day of Individual players will be paired with a partner.

There will be awards and prizes for the winning teams. Food and soft drinks will be on sale, with proceeds going to United Way of Suwannee Valley.

Last year’s tournament participants raised over $3,000 for the United Way.

For more information on how to register or become a sponsor, visit sveccornhole.com.

DEAL ALERT:

Save on a new standby generator SVEC has teamed up with Generac to bring our consumer-members savings and peace of mind. As a Generac Energy Alliance Partner, we can now provide you access to the nation’s top-selling standby generators at a special discounted price.

Purchase a 22 kW unit — the most popular size — and get an enhanced warranty valued at $695!

TALK TO A CERTIFIED SALES PARTNER TODAY These qualified dealers and installers can set up the backup power you need: » Felknor Electric Inc., Live Oak, 386-362-1441 » Holly Electric Inc., Lake City, 386-755-5944

FOR MORE INFORMATION

FINANCING IS AVAILABLE THROUGH FIRST FEDERAL BANK » Loan term — Up to 60 months » Interest rate — 5.5% fixed (6.252% APR) » Minimum credit score — 680 » Billing: Borrower billed directly by First Federal Bank

Visit svec-coop.com and choose “Whole-house Standby Generators” from the “Member Services” drop-down menu.