G&T’s EEP program helps bring savings to Colorado dairy

Published on January 27, 2012 in General and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

New lighting installed with the help of Tri-State's EEP program has helped this Colorado dairy operation save big dollars on energy costs.

With the support of Tri-State and member system Morgan County REA (Fort Morgan, Colo.), a family-owned dairy producer, Empire Dairy, near Wiggins, Colo., is now able to cut more than $1,000 per month in electric utility expenses from its bottom line production costs with the installation of some new high-efficiency lighting.

A very similar retrofit of induction type lighting at Tri-State and several other member co-ops was provided by the same firm, Sustainable Building Experts of Denver. The Tri-State installation was for new lighting in the Westminster operations center parking lot in 2011.

Induction lighting is essentially high performance fluorescent illumination that can be retrofitted in existing fixtures at considerably less expense than the increasingly popular LED (light emitting diode) applications.

These installations are a part of a series of pilot projects funded through the association’s Energy Efficiency Products (EEP) program. Tri-State’s EEP pilot projects are aimed at testing and demonstrating the viability of emerging technologies in lighting and other energy efficiency products, according to Jon Beyer, Tri-State’s member services manager.

Left to right: Riley McLaughlin of Sustainable Building Experts, Bill Annan and Geoff Baumgartner, both with Morgan County REA, were key in the successful implementation of the energy-saving project at Empire Dairy.

Installed in Empire’s main dairy barn, the 97 new induction lights are designed to last up to 100,000 hours before replacement and save the eastern Colorado milking operation more than 9,000 kilowatt-hours per month in energy consumption. Payback for the retrofitted lights is estimated at a little more than a year from the installation date.

Empire Dairy has been a member-consumer of Morgan County REA since 1989. This large operation employs 85 people, who oversee a herd of 5,000 cows that must be milked three times a day. Most of the six loads each of 440,000 pounds of milk that is produced daily at Empire are transported to Leprino Foods in Fort Morgan for the production of cheese.

In addition to Tri-State and Morgan County REA’s support of the project, additional funding was provided through iCast, a Denver-area nonprofit organization that secures funding mainly to electric utilities and local government entities for sustainable technology projects throughout Colorado.

Tri-State safety record beats national averages

Published on January 26, 2012 in General. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

The results for Tri-State’s 2011 safety record were presented to the board during its January meeting and revealed that the association’s Total Case Incident (TCIR) and Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) rates are much better than the utility industry averages. This is impressive, considering the association’s diverse operations and the wide range of hazards that employees are exposed to regularly.

In 2011, Tri-State’s TCIR was 2.1 OSHA recordable incidents per 200,000 hours worked versus the national utility average of 2.9. Tri-State is 31 percent below the national average.

The association’s DART rate, which measures how often lost time cases occur, is approximately 42 percent better than the national utility industry average. The national average is 1.8 lost time cases per 200,000 hours worked. Tri-State experienced 2.01 cases where employees were off work, received work restrictions or were transferred to other jobs per 200,000 hours worked in 2011.

These results point to a strong alignment with the Tri-State business plan, which outlines safety as a foundational value of the association. “We believe that all work can and should be done safely,” said Mike McInnes, Tri-State’s senior vice president of production.

Tri-State employees across all of the association’s departments, locations and functions are to be commended for contributing to the overall safety record results of 2011. “This positive record is the result of a lot people paying attention to their daily work and many experienced employees putting a lot of effort into safety,” said Kent Mahanna, Tri-State’s senior manager of corporate safety.

2012 National Western wraps up with high numbers

Published on January 25, 2012 in General and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

The 2012 National Western Stock Show and Rodeo completed its 16-day run Sunday, Jan. 22. This year’s event, sponsored in part by Tri-State and the region’s Touchstone Energy co-ops, saw a total attendance of about 636,000. That ranks it among the top 10 for the number of visitors over the past 106 years, according to Stock Show officials.

Many Stock Show visitors saw the Touchstone Energy-sponsored six-horse draft hitch perform at all pro rodeo performances and other scheduled events.  This year’s hitch was provided by Black Hollow Percherons from Plum City, Wisconsin.

The National Western junior livestock auction was also notable and broke several records this year. Nearly 100 animals were sold for a highest-ever total of $611,000 – that’s about $20,000 more than the previous record. The money helps fund a college education for young people who intend to pursue a living in livestock and agriculture.

Overall, the 2012 National Western and Tri-State’s involvement with it can be considered a huge success. “We couldn’t be happier,” said Paul Andrews, the National Western’s president and chief executive

Empire Electric helps support MLK Day of Service

Published on January 23, 2012 in Energy Efficiency and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , .
Crystal Curtsinger and her daughter receive an energy efficiency kit donated by Empire Electric.

Tri-State member co-op Empire Electric Association (Cortez, Colo.) teamed with the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency, Southwest Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps to enhance energy efficiency at the Por Dia daycare facility in Cortez on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day last week.

The organizations participated in a well-attended day of service in honor of the holiday, providing free weatherization services to increase safety and comfort for school children, while decreasing energy bills at the daycare facility.

Empire Electric donated 35 energy efficiency kits that were given out to the parents of the preschoolers for use in their homes. “This is a wonderful project coordinated by 4CORE to install energy saving measures at Por Dia Preschool and provide some energy education for parents and preschoolers,” said Bobbe Jones, Empire’s assistant member services manager. “EEA is pleased to be part of it.”

Many energy efficient updates were made at Por Dia Daycare facility on MLK Day.

4CORE administers the Weatherization Assistance Program, which is a 34-year-old Department of Energy program that strives to increase the quality, safety and energy efficiency of residential, low-income housing through improving energy performance.

“This is a great opportunity for our school,” said Amy Long, owner of Por Dia Preschool. “With rising utility costs and several heating sources in our preschool, I think weatherization will really make a difference in keeping our children warm, safe and comfortable, at an affordable rate for us.”

G&T’s largest aerial platform truck delivered

Published on January 19, 2012 in General and Transmission. 0 Comments Tags: .

 

Tri-State’s largest aerial platform truck to date was delivered at the NCMC on Jan. 19.

It has been said that you need the proper tools to get the job done and this particular piece of equipment – a Bronto aerial platform truck delivered yesterday at the Northern Colorado Maintenance Center – certainly qualifies as an important tool in helping Tri-State’s maintenance personnel efficiently service the association’s transmission network.

This new unit replaces an aerial platform truck that encountered a main cylinder failure and several other serious reliability problems in 2010. The Bronto is the largest platform truck in Tri-State’s maintenance fleet, with a working aerial reach of nearly 170 feet, according to Greg Britton, transmission maintenance manager for Tri-State’s east side group.  “The new truck will be utilized throughout the four-state service territory.  Its higher reach will allow us to access some areas of the system that were previously serviced using helicopters or other equipment that required more time to get the job done,” he said.

The new addition to the maintenance fleet will be initially pressed into service in Tri-State’s east side region during the next several weeks. During that period the truck will be stored at the Cheyenne field office. After that, it will be sited at the Montrose field office.

The truck is powered by a turbo-charged diesel engine. It is equipped with dual front and dual rear steering axles, which allow it to turn in a 32-foot radius.  The Bronto’s overall length is 44 feet and with a transport width of just 8 and-a-half feet this rig can essentially be driven to any work site in Tri-State’s service territory.

Tri-State’s board of directors authorized the purchase of the line maintenance vehicle in February 2011.

Latest edition of Network magazine hot off the presses

Published on January 19, 2012 in General and Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The winter 2012 issue of Network magazine is hot off the presses. The latest edition includes coverage of an open house at Southwestern Electric, which showcased the co-op’s recent energy efficient makeover of a former movie theatre and bowling alley into its new headquarters building.

Also featured is a unique project by Tri-State member United Power that is helping turn the Front Range’s trash into energy. Readers will also learn how Tri-State is helping to spread the word about electricity to elementary and middle schools through a partnership with the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture.

Finally, find out what the spring 2012 issue of Network magazine has in store in the “In our next issue” section. Network magazine is Tri-State’s quarterly publication that tells the stories of the people and communities of the G&T and its 44 member rural electric cooperatives. The current issue of Network magazine, as well as past issues, can also be found on Tri-State’s Internet site under News Center.

 

 

2012 National Western Stock Show in full swing

Published on January 13, 2012 in General and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , .

The Rocky Mountain region’s electric cooperatives are once again serving as one of the main sponsors of National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, which officially takes place Jan. 7-22 at the National Western Complex in Denver.

For the 14th consecutive year, Tri-State and the region’s Touchstone Energy co-ops are presenting the popular and powerful six-horse draft hitch.  This year’s hitch is being provided by Black Hollow Percherons from Wisconsin.  It’s one of the National Western’s top entertainment attractions and will be featured at all pro rodeo (PRCA) performances and other scheduled events.

Attendance over the course of the 16-day event typically exceeds 640,000 visitors.

Colorado delegation signs letter of support for state regional haze plan

Published on January 12, 2012 in Clean Energy and General. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

In a rare show of unity, all nine members of Colorado’s congressional delegation submitted a joint letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lisa Jackson recently, urging her approval of a state plan regarding the reduction of regional haze.

Coal-based plants like Tri-State’s Craig Station are targeted in EPA’s regional haze rulemaking process.

In 2011, the State Implementation Plan (SIP) to reduce regional haze in existing Class I areas in Colorado was approved by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission and submitted to the EPA by Governor John Hickenlooper.

The SIP is intended to meet the requirements of the EPA’s Regional Haze Rule and the Clean Air Act. Under the rule, states are required to set periodic goals for improving visibility in 156 federal Class I areas, 12 of which are in Colorado, and include certain national parks and wilderness areas.

As they work to reach these goals, states must develop implementation plans that contain enforceable measures and strategies for reducing visibility-impairing pollution.

As required by the Clean Air Act, all states must submit SIP revisions to the EPA for approval. If the EPA finds that a state has failed to make a required SIP submittal or if the agency disapproves the submittal, the EPA must issue a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) within two years to fill the regulatory gap.

For Tri-State and other utilities, a FIP carries the potential of significantly higher costs as compared to the proposed SIP.

In developing the SIP, Colorado followed an “exemplary and inclusive stakeholder approach” resulting in bipartisan support that “. . . speaks to its balanced and thoughtful approach to reducing harmful pollution,” according to the letter.

Paul Griffin, Tri-State senior federal government relations advisor, played a large role in acquiring the support from Colorado’s two senators and seven representatives.

“It’s very unusual to have such broad, bipartisan support on an issue, especially environmental,” said Griffin. “It just reinforces the fact that this is a state process and Colorado doesn’t need federal intervention.”

Additional endorsements of the SIP include a number of conservation organizations and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Under a consent decree, the EPA is required to make a decision regarding Colorado’s SIP by March 2012.

Parade kicks off 2012 National Western Stock Show

Published on January 6, 2012 in General and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

The Westernaires are a perennial favorite at the National Western Stock Show.

The one-of-a-kind National Western Stock Show Parade, featuring a longhorn cattle drive, marching bands, floats, rodeo clowns, cowgirls, cowboys and more meandered along 14 blocks of Denver’s downtown business district yesterday to celebrate the opening of the 106th annual show.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock also declared parade day to be “Dress Western Day” in the city, encouraging downtown workers, visitors and others to show their western spirit.  The parade’s grand marshal was former Denver Mayor Federico Peña.

The Rocky Mountain region’s electric cooperatives are once again serving as one of the main sponsors of National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, which officially opens tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the National Western Complex and runs through Jan. 22. Continue reading ‘Parade kicks off 2012 National Western Stock Show’

Chevy Volt debuts at Tri-State

Published on January 4, 2012 in Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency and General. 0 Comments Tags: .

After many months on a General Motors waiting list, Tri-State’s fleet department finally took delivery on Dec. 30, 2011, of the highly touted Chevy Volt, the first American production hybrid vehicle designed to travel extended distances in the electric vehicle mode. “After it is showcased and demonstrated at some of our member annual meetings and other events, the Volt will be deployed in the Westminster-based motor pool fleet,” said Rick Dell, senior manager of supply services.

The Volt is part of Tri-State’s continuing efforts to test and promote new electric technologies in its vehicle fleet.  This new four-passenger auto has been available for some time on the nation’s East and West Coasts, but has only recently become available in the Rocky Mountain region.

At Tri-State, the Volt is joined by four other hybrid vehicles that are currently used in its fleet, as well as a half-dozen plug-in hybrid electric Chrysler pickup trucks that are being demonstrated as part of a three-year research and development partnership program sponsored by Tri-State, Chrysler and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Volt is a full-performance and full-speed electric vehicle with extended range. In its simplest form, the Volt operates two ways – in EV mode (battery power) and extended-range (gasoline powered) mode. With a fully charged battery this vehicle offers an initial electric range of 35 miles totally emissions free. After that, the gas engine works with the electric motors to keep you going for up to 375 miles of extended range until you can plug it in or fill it up again.