Monthly Archive for July, 2011

Poudre Valley REA rescues hawk in power line

Published on July 29, 2011 in General. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Earlier this month, a call came in to the Poudre Valley REA (Fort Collins, Colo.) operations department asking for help rescuing a young red-tailed hawk that had become caught in a power line. A bucket truck was dispatched and lineman Kelly Streeb arrived in time to save the raptor.

Streeb was able to detach the bird from the wire that had impaled its wing and lower it to the ground for rescue. The hawk was then taken to the Rocky Mountain Raptor center for emergency care. “Thanks to the Poudre Valley REA crews’ help, the bird is still alive and has been given a chance,” said Gail Kratz, medical director of the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.

Poudre Valley REA has its own long-standing raptor program that seeks to protect birds of prey from harm. This spring, the co-op assisted with the placement of a hand-woven osprey nest on a platform near the Poudre River in LaPorte, Colo. (pictured above).  Several students from Cache La Poudre Middle School wove the nest with willow and dogwood branches in hopes that local fish-eating ospreys would occupy it.

A look back, 1996: HQ construction, power outage and co-op anniversaries top Tri-State headlines

Published on July 28, 2011 in General. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Fifteen years ago this month, Hotmail began offering its free Internet email service, the U.S. Senate approved a 90 cent increase to the $4.25 minimum wage and the XXVI Olympic Games opened in Atlanta. A bit closer to home, Tri-State and its members were experiencing a few milestones of their own.

In 1996, construction of Tri-State's corporate offices (current headquarters location) was in full swing

“Front page” Tri-State news in July 1996 included a massive power outage on July 2  that affected nearly two million people across 15 western states and parts of Canada and Mexico. Five Tri-State member co-ops were impacted by the outage, leaving about 100,000 Colorado consumers without power for nearly four hours. The outage also tripped Nucla Station and Laramie River Station’s Unit 2 and caused a number of line faults.

Training manager, the late Dan Peck, watches Jim Pottberg operate the new simulator at Nucla Station in the summer of 1996.

Other July 1996 Tri-State headlines included:

  • Member system Delta-Montrose Electric Association was celebrating the groundbreaking of its new headquarters building in Montrose, Colo.
  • A number of linemen from Tri-State member La Plata Electric Association (Durango, Colo.) had recently taken home top honors in the Utah Power and Light Lineman’s Rodeo, competing against fellow linemen from surrounding rural, public and independent utilities in the sixth annual event.
  • A new, hands-on simulator program at Nucla Station was helping to alleviate stress for control room operators.
  • Colorado Tri-State member co-ops Mountain Parks Electric (Granby, Colo.) and K.C. Electric (Hugo) were celebrating 50 years of service to their respective memberships.
  • Construction was well underway on Tri-State’s new headquarters building in Westminster, as nearly 75 percent of the precast concrete construction had been completed.
  • Tri-State’s communications department was honored with four awards from the International Association of Business Communicators’ Colorado chapter banquet.

Eastern Colo. transmission project would soften outages, support future generation

Published on July 26, 2011 in General, Resource Planning and Transmission. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

A planned transmission project in eastern Colorado would resolve existing reliability concerns in Tri-State’s largest load area – a region that also has the largest forecasted load growth – and meet the individual needs of its partners in one coordinated undertaking.

Click for a larger version of the Lamar-Front Range Tranmission Project study area.

The Lamar-Front Range Transmission Project, a joint effort of Tri-State and Xcel Energy, is estimated to include more than 400 miles of predominantly 345-kilovolt, double-circuit line, with one segment planned at 230-kV.

The project stemmed from a number of joint planning forums, including the Colorado Coordinated Planning Group and WestConnect, during which Tri-State and Xcel identified complementary transmission needs in southern and eastern Colorado.

Recognizing the common interests, the two electric utilities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2008 to pursue transmission projects in the southern portion of the state on a joint basis. The projects identified in the MOU would strengthen the region’s power delivery infrastructure, serve growing electricity needs and provide for the interconnection of new energy sources.

Lamar-Front Range will also encourage future development of new generation resources and facilitate the delivery of that power to the utilities’ load centers. The region has been identified as housing some of the best wind generation prospects in Colorado, but this generation is impractical without adequate transmission capacity.

The project area includes the counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo and Washington.

A route has not been chosen for the project as Tri-State and Xcel are awaiting approval from the Colorado PUC regarding the need for the project. If all goes as planned, the line would be in service by 2018.

Employment leaders visit Craig Station

Published on July 21, 2011 in General and Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , .
Present for the Craig Station tour were (left to right): Jim Nicoletto, Tri–State, Jay Fetcher, U.S. Senator Mark Udall’s office, Marv Weible, Tri-State, Janiene Mattern, Tri-State, Colorado Senator Jean White, Ellen Golombek, executive director of Colorado Department of Labor, Kelly Pierce, Craig Workforce Center, Morgan Foster, Craig Workforce Center, Stephanie Steffens, Colorado Workforce Development Council, and Shawn Bolton, Rio Blanco County Commissioner.

A number of Colorado employment leaders were in Craig earlier this week learning about the area’s economy, including the businesses that are significant in supporting the infrastructure of the northwest corner of the state.

It was only fitting the group made time to tour Craig Station, as the operation of the 1,304-megawatt coal-based power plant provides substantial economic and fiscal benefits to the city of Craig, Moffat County and the surrounding region.

“We wanted to introduce Ellen and Stephanie to northwest Colorado and the primary industry sectors present, with an emphasis on the key industries,” said Owens-Trask. “In Moffat County, those are coal mining and coal-based power plants. These are the cornerstone to the economies in the region.”

She added that both industries have made a powerful impact on the community of Craig and the surrounding area.

“Tri-State has been a great partner in terms of workforce,” said Owens-Trask. “The plant provides great jobs for the area and employees, Janiene Mattern and Jim Nicoletto have been important participants in community programs such as ‘Work and Life Skills’ and ‘Skills for Success.’”

Continue reading ‘Employment leaders visit Craig Station’

Three-year aerial survey of Tri-State transmission system underway

Published on July 21, 2011 in Transmission. 0 Comments Tags: , .

This high performance helicopter owned by Merrick Co. will be collecting geo-spatial data on Tri-State’s transmission system.

A scheduled three-year aerial survey of Tri-State’s entire four-state transmission system (100-kV and greater) began this week in Colorado, starting with over-flights along some of the association’s high priority transmission lines that must be accessed during the summer months when there is no snowpack along the rights-of-way.

Tri-State has contracted with Merrick Co. to collect survey data and geo-spatial information using an airborne laser mapping system called LIDAR, which stands for light detection and ranging.

“The LIDAR equipment – mounted on the belly of a helicopter – will provide us with precision mapping of Tri-State’s entire transmission system,” said Tom Chinn, transmission project manager.  In addition to the high resolution LIDAR survey, the contractor will also provide Tri-State with ortho-photography, oblique photography and infrared imaging of the association’s system.

“The bottom line is that when the survey is completed, we will have a very comprehensive picture of all of the lines and substations that we operate, maintain and have ownership in throughout our system,” said Chinn.

The aerial survey is expected to further enhance the data that Tri-State’s GIS group has been collecting over the past several years, while providing better vertical and horizontal accuracy of the transmission system.

All of Tri-State’s transmission tower structures will be surveyed over the next three years.

Landowners have requested that Tri-State complete aerial surveys as soon as possible in areas that are used by hunters during the late summer and fall. As a result, the first flyovers are scheduled to be completed on the Craig to Rifle, the Meeker to Rangely and the Gore Pass to Hayden lines in northwest Colorado by Aug. 1.

The survey is being conducted as part of a North American Electric Reliability Corporation recommendation that all electric transmission providers to conduct similar assessments of their systems. “In addition, this comprehensive field survey will help us ensure that the design of our transmission facilities match our construction and that we don’t have any encumbrances or clearance issues
along our rights-of-way,” Chinn added.

San Luis Valley REC brings new hydro project on line

Published on July 20, 2011 in Clean Energy and Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .
Humphreys hydropower facility. Photo courtesy of Ruth Carapella, Pen Craft Design Co.

Tri-State member system San Luis Valley REC helped flip the switch on its newest hydropower production facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, bringing the new Humphreys small hydro plant on line.  The 310-kilowatt facility is located on the Wagon Wheel Ranch, about 50 miles west of Monte Vista, Colo.

Ranch owner and project leader Ruth Brown thanked many in attendance who were involved in the project, including Terryl Jensen, manager of system operations for San Luis Valley REC.  “Building the project took about two years from start to finish.  It’s been really rewarding — it’s the right thing to be doing,” Jensen said.

SLVREC will receive bill credits and renewable energy credit payments for the project’s output under Tri-State Board Policies 115 and 117.  “Our members like the idea of renewables but they are concerned with keeping their rates affordable, so it’s been a win-win for us,” Jensen said.

DMEA expands community solar project

Published on July 19, 2011 in Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, General and Renewable Energy. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Consumers of Tri-State member co-op Delta-Montrose Electric Association (Montrose, Colo.) will soon be able to “plug into the sun” using solar photovoltaic panels without having to install them on their own property.  Under contract to DMEA, Atlasta Solar recently installed two additional 10-kilowatt community solar arrays – one at DMEA’s Montrose headquarters, the other at its Read service center in Delta County. The expansion doubles the capacity of the two sites to 20 kilowatts each. DMEA members were able to start leasing portions of the new arrays beginning July 14.

“Our first two arrays were fully leased in under two months,” noted Jim Heneghan, DMEA’s renewable energy engineer. “There were some members who wanted to lease part of the first solar arrays, but were unable to do so until now. We’re pleased to have this additional capacity to provide more members with the opportunity to receive the benefits of solar power through our local power partnership.”

Through DMEA’s solar tariff approved by the co-op’s board of directors in March, members can lease part of the community solar array for as a little as $10, making the DMEA solar lease program very affordable.

Connect with Tri-State and its affordability campaign online

Published on July 19, 2011 in Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

With the launching of the KeepElectricityAffordable Web site, new opportunities exist to get the latest news and participate in the conversation about the importance of affordable electricity on Facebook and Twitter.  We encourage you to “like” the Keep Electricity Affordable Facebook fan page and to follow the campaign on Twitter. You can also sign up for email updates here.

A variety of social media applications also provide lots of ways to keep up with all the latest Tri-State news and happenings.  Photo galleries can be viewed on Flickr, videos can be seen on our YouTube channel and news and events are posted here on the Powering the West blog.  You can also sign up for Tri-State’s RSS feed, follow us on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

Wyoming 4-Hers showcase talents

Published on July 8, 2011 in Public Outreach. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

After attending a wind energy workshop, 4-H Showcase Showdown participants had the opportunity to build their own wind turbines.

Wyoming 4-Hers gathered in Laramie last week to participate in contests, learn new skills and tour area attractions as part of the annual University of Wyoming 4-H Showcase Showdown. Tri-State provided judges and workshop presenters and also sponsored the event, along with Encana, Murdoch’s and the Wyoming Pork Producers Council.

Barry Ingold, senior manager of production assets, and Colin Stanley, rotational engineer, judged the rocketing launch and robotics contest competitions, respectively. Nicole Carlson, communications specialist, presented a workshop on careers in electricity.

Differing from traditional 4-H competitions such as county and state fairs, the University of Wyoming 4-H Showcase Showdown provides an opportunity for 4-Hers to participate in hands-on activities and learn new skills or build upon existing ones.

The robotics competition was a large draw for 4-Hers in attendance.

In addition to those mentioned previously, other contests and workshops at the event included horse judging, livestock skill-a-thon, youth business ventures, food cook-off and table setting. Interviews were also held for youth interested in representing Wyoming at the National 4-H Congress, taking place in Atlanta later this year.

  • View additional photos of the event on Tri-State’s flickr page.

Tri-State sponsors training for teachers from co-op area schools

Published on July 1, 2011 in General and Public Meetings. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

Keystone instructor Carol Carroll assists Lori Britton, a high school science teacher from Wheatland, Wyo. with a lab project

School might be out for summer, but in their never-ending quest for knowledge and drive to provide high-quality education to students in their co-op communities, more than 25 middle and high school teachers were drawn to Tri-State’s Westminster headquarters to attend a two-and-a-half day training event presented by Tri-State and the Keystone Center for Education. The nonprofit center provides teachers and students with original opportunities to gain skills to help them excel in their professional and civic endeavors and provide innovative and practical benefits to society.

Tri-State’s member managers helped identify and recruit interested teachers, and every state in the association’s service territory was represented at the conference. Teachers traveled from as far away as High Plains Power in northern Wyoming and Otero County Electric in southern New Mexico. Continue reading ‘Tri-State sponsors training for teachers from co-op area schools’