Washington, here we come
Documentaries on television or on YouTube might be informative, but it can’t compare to a hands-on experience.
Six students at schools in the Mohave Electric Cooperative service territory were selected as representatives for the 2020 Washington Youth Tour. The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will bring history and knowledge to their fingertips.
Funding for the trip is through Assigned Capital Credits at no cost to members.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for the kids,” said Terry Puryear, public affairs coordinator at MEC and a chaperone for the 2019 tour. “This trip has the potential to change the lives of these students. It’s fun, entertaining, educational, thoughtful, and emotional.
“I watched students become emotional as the group toured the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. It was a somber experience.”
The 2020 winners will now have the same opportunity to explore history.
MEC received a record 22 applications from students at five high schools. Judges reviewed student essays and 14
finalists were selected to advance. The final stage involved presentations ranging from 4-5-minutes before a panel of four judges. Their scores were tabulated and winners were announced afterward.
The winners are: Madelynn Mac Donald, Mohave High School, Ibrahim Ramadan, Montessori Preparatory Academy, Alex Cotter, MHS, Zainab Ramadan, MHS, Alexmi Gallardo, River Valley High School, Ashley Lively, RVHS, and alternate Tiana Williams, Montessori.
“All of the students did a wonderful job with their essays and presentations,” Puryear said. “There’s joy and sorrow involved with the competition. The joy comes from naming the winners and the sorrow from telling others they won’t be making the trip. Unfortunately, we can only take six.
“They made the job of the judges quite difficult.”
Students will have an opportunity to visit historic sites, spend time at Smithsonian museums, tour memorials, hear about the importance of the cooperative model, and meet their member of Congress.
Any high school junior whose parents or guardians are MEC members is eligible to apply.
This marks the 28th year MEC has selected area students to participate in the Washington Youth Tour.
“Mohave Electric is proud to sponsor this competition,” Puryear said. “Today’s students will be tomorrow’s leaders and this is a chance for six youths to take that first step.”
Left to right, Alex Cotter, Mohave High School, Madelynn Mac Donald, MHS, Ashley Lively, River Valley High School, Alexmi Gallardo, RVHS, Ibrahim Ramadan, Montessori Preparatory Academy, alternate Tianna Williams, Montessori, and Zainab Ramadan, MHS.
Cool Shade benefits extend beyond savings
Mohave Electric Cooperative has extolled the benefits of planting shade trees for many years and supports the idea through the Operation Cool Shade program.
Shade trees reduce home cooling costs by up to 20 percent, saving members money and reducing demand for electricity.
The benefits, however, extend well beyond a member’s bank account. The practice of planting low-maintenance, desert-adapted trees can affect the overall well-being of MEC members, wildlife, and the environment.
Consider that over the course of 50 years, a tree can produce $32,000 worth of oxygen, according to the Urban Forestry Network (UFN), which makes the reduced cool shade price of just $9 per tree sound like an even bigger bargain.
The cost/benefit ratio doesn’t end with enriching the air we all breath, it purifies it as well.
That same tree can also provide nearly $62,000 worth of air quality improvements by reducing greenhouse gases.
Trees absorb and store CO2 from the atmosphere and release oxygen. It’s a wonderful relationship for all oxygenbreathing life on the planet. They also absorb, at varying levels, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and a variety of particulates.
that through Operation Cool Shade, MEC members have purchased approximately 36,000 trees. Early on, each of those trees can absorb about 13 pounds of CO2 each year and about 48 pounds yearly as it nears maturity.
Using the prices above, MEC members – by taking advantage of the program’s reduced cost shade trees – have produced nearly $1.2 billion worth of oxygen and reduced $2.2 billion worth of greenhouse gases.
“By producing shade and reducing demand, our members help improve air quality,” said Rick Campos, COO of MEC. “Planting trees helps offset emissions
from the use of fossil fuels such as gas/ diesel motors, agriculture, industry, and natural gas and coal power generation, as well as natural occurrences like forest fires.”
“Trees save our members money, help restore the environment, beautify the landscape, and help prevent soil erosion.”
It’s true. That same tree producing oxygen and storing carbon dioxide can also prevent $31,000 in soil erosion and improve water quality, according to UFN. The root structure helps bind the soil, which helps reduce erosion during heavy monsoonal rains.
During those same rains, trees help reduce the rate at which rain hits the ground, allowing more of it to be absorbed. What the tree drops to the ground, such as leaves or needles, works as a natural filtration system.
“Trees are an important part to the wellbeing of many living things,” Campos said. “While planting is a beneficial practice for humans, there’s also a wildlife aspect.”
Birds and other wildlife are highly dependent on building homes high to avoid predatory animals, such as coyotes. The seeds that fall serve as a food source to others.
While the program began as a costsaving measure for MEC members, it’s clear the benefits are plentiful.
Consider
Top - Omar Becerra, meter reader for Mohave Electric Cooperative, loads two desert willows into a member’s pickup. Above, school clubs and the Junior ROTC volunteered their time to help unload two semi-trucks filled with the four types of trees that were available for 2019 Operation Cool Shade. Left, MEC board member Michael Bartelt carries one of 400 willow acacia trees. Sales took place in September and pickup was Nov. 9. Members purchased all of the 1,800 available discounted trees.
Celebrating veterans
MEC programs continue to support communities
The Arizona Corporation Commission has approved nine programs to be included in the Mohave Electric Cooperative Energy Efficiency/Demand Side Management Plan.
The programs, some of which will sound familiar to MEC members, include: Residential Lighting, High-Efficiency Heat Pump Rebate, Operation Cool Shade, LED Giveaway, Residential Low-Income Weatherization, Residential Energy Review and Audit, Commercial Lighting Discount LED, Commercial Lighting Rebate, and Education and Outreach Support.
Some new changes will provide a greater benefit to members. Changes seen below went into effect on Dec. 1, 2019.
Surcharge Rate Reduced
A decrease in the surcharge rate is going to help MEC members save. Using the service territory average of 945 kWh usage, members will save 61 cents per month. The current average for the ACC required Demand Side Management tariff averaged 75 cents per month, so average energy use members will see a decrease in the charge each month. The Demand Side Management tariff surcharge supports all the MEC EE/DSM programs.
Heat Pump Rebate
Members will see a substantial increase in the rebate for high-efficiency heat pumps. For those with a 14 and 15 SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rate, the rebate remains $150 per unit. However, the rebate for a 16 SEER unit increases from $200 to $300 and a 17-plus SEER goes from $250 to $500.
“This is an incentive for people ready to make a change,” said Rick Campos, COO of MEC. “Energy-efficient cooling or heating units reduce the demand for electricity and will help members save throughout the year.”
Commercial Lighting Rebate
The savings continue for businesses throughout the MEC service territory with an increased rebate for those that switch from traditional incandescent lighting to LED. The previous incentive was 4 cents per watt saved. It was increased to 10 cents per watt saved. In addition, the maximum rebate for making the switch to LED was raised from $2,500 to $5,000.
“We’re happy we have the ability to continue programs that benefit our members and to offer increased incentives to reduce overall demand,” Campos said. “Mohave Electric is committed to doing what is best for the communities we serve.”
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