February - BENCO Electric Cooperative

PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Mankato, MN 56001
Permit No. 47
Spiritwood Activity Strengthens Local Economy
It’s a common sight to see semi trucks hauling grain near the farming community
of Spiritwood, N.D. That area became busier last summer when farmers started
delivering corn to the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy ethanol biorefinery which began
operations.
The area has always been rich in corn production. In fact, Stutsman County
produced about 18.6 million bushels of corn in 2014, the latest year for which figures
are available.
“Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has created a market for virtually every bushel of corn
produced in the county,” said Terry Wanzek, farmer and state senator for District 29,
which includes Jamestown, N.D.
That benefits farmers, but also local cities, counties, the state and region.
“These kinds of projects help everyone because Dakota Spirit AgEnergy takes a
local commodity, corn, and they add value to it to produce the end products of ethanol,
distillers grains and corn oil that are transported locally and out of state,” said Wanzek.
Dakota Spirit AgEnergy is owned by Midwest AgEnergy Group, an Upper Midwest
biofuels enterprise owned by BENCO Electric’s wholesale power provider, Great River
Energy, and other accredited investors.
Dakota Spirit AgEnergy
According to farmer and North Dakota State Senator Terry
The 65 million gallons of high-octane ethanol Dakota Spirit AgEnergy produces
Wanzek,
Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has boosted an already strong
each year is blended with gasoline. The distillers grains are used for cattle feed. Corn oil
market
for
corn in eastern North Dakota. Photo: Terry Wanzek
is essential in the production of biodiesel.
The primary input to make those products is corn—23 million bushels per year,
grown locally. This results in a strong, year-round market for local farmers.
Dakota Spirit AgEnergy is operated by 38 employees who live near the plant and operate it in an efficient manner.
“Our highly skilled employees work very hard to efficiently produce high-quality renewable products from about 70,000 bushels of corn per day,”
said Jeff Zueger, chief operating officer of Midwest AgEnergy Group.
The ethanol biorefinery has a much larger impact beyond its plant site as the business generates about 2,000 indirect jobs through farming,
transportation and other businesses that support the plant and employees.
Spiritwood Station
The ethanol biorefinery would not exist without Great River Energy’s Spiritwood Station at center of it all. The 99-megawatt combined heat and
power plant, which was commercialized on Nov. 1, 2014, generates electricity for the regional market and process steam for Dakota Spirit AgEnergy
and an adjacent malt plant.
Spiritwood Station is the only major power plant in eastern North Dakota, and it is operated by 30 people who primarily live within 30 miles of the
site. “The employees enjoy living in this area and working at the plant. They exhibit a great team effort when operating the plant because they realize
the significant impact that it has on the region,” said Jeff Krumwiede, leader, plant engineering, Spiritwood Station.
Local impacts
Dakota Spirit AgEnergy provides a strong economic impact at the local level, especially the farming community. “Farmers need every advantage
that they can get in the current farm economy, and with Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, they are able to market their corn locally and with low transportation
costs,” said Connie Ova, president of the Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation.
High tech plants
Spiritwood Station is one of the cleanest coal-based plants in the world. In fact, it is compliant with the requirements of EPA’s Clean Power Plan to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions. “We receive a lot of positive feedback from people who visit the plant,” said Krumwiede. “Visitors are impressed with
how the plant operates and how it generates electricity and steam in a highly efficient manner.” Dakota Spirit AgEnergy also has low carbon intensity,
because the biorefinery uses steam from Spiritwood Station instead of owning and operating its own boiler. Ethanol produced in Spiritwood is shipped
to markets in the United States and internationally that require lower carbon fuels.
Future growth
Mark Klose, chairman of the Stutsman County Commission, said a major benefit of the new facilities in the Spiritwood area are the high quality,
good paying jobs, which benefit all of Jamestown and Stutsman County. The success of the projects is due in large part to strong public/private
partnerships. “All groups worked together to make possible a strong value-added ag processing plant that is benefitting farmers and businesses that
serve those farmers,” said Klose.
Those partnerships will be essential for continued growth through the Spiritwood Energy Park Association, an industrial park developed by
Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation and Great River Energy. The 551-acre, multi-tenant industrial park provides energy and transportation
infrastructure well suited for industrial operations.
“The key to growing an agriculture-based community is diversification, and that includes finding ways to add value to local commodities,” said Ova.
“Diversification is important if we are to add good quality jobs in the Jamestown and Stutsman County area.”
February 2016
www.BENCO.coop
Page 5
BENCO Electric Cooperative Link
February 2016
P.O. Box 8
Mankato, MN 56002-0008
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
District Meetings Held in January
District meetings were held in Districts 2, 6 and 8 with directors up for election in 2016.
Members heard reports from General Manager Wade Hensel, and Board President Duane Ehrich.
Member Services Manager Dave Sunderman, Office Manager Sandy Sowieja and Operations/
Engineering Manager Mike Heidemann was on hand to answer questions.
The following candidates will go before the membership at the annual meeting on Saturday, April 9,
2016: District 2 - Harlan Lanz, Incumbent and District 6 - Blake Meshke, Incumbent and District 8 Duane Ehrich, Incumbent and David Lein.
Thanks to all the members that attended their District Meeting.
Harlan Lanz, Incumbent
Nominee District 2
What’s Cookin’ in your Kitchen
What’s Cookin’: Wild Rice Soup
From the Kitchen of: Darcy Roll
Office Hours: Mon -Fri - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
3/4 lb bacon, cooked
1 onion
1-1/2 c celery
1 c raw wild rice, cooked
2 can mushrooms
3 cans cream of potato soup
1 pint half and half
1 c water
1-1/2 c American cheese/Velveeta
Mix all together in a large pot and simmer on stove top until hot.
You can receive a $10 credit on your electric bill, if your recipe gets printed in the newsletter.
Send your favorite recipes to:
Kathy, BENCO Electric, PO Box 8, Mankato, MN 56002
February 2016
District 8 Meeting
This newsletter is published monthly by
BENCO Electric Cooperative, PO Box 8,
Mankato, MN 56002-0008.
www.BENCO.coop
Phone: 387-7963 or 1-888-792-3626
Outages/After Hours: 387-7964 or
1-888-792-3626
Dave Sunderman - Member Services Manager
Kathy Gerber - Editor
Board of Directors:
Duane Ehrich - President - District 8
Scott Johnson - Vice President - District 9
Harvey Hesse - Secretary - District 5
Harlan Lanz - Treasurer - District 2, Coop Network Dir
Garfield Eckberg - District 1
Brad Leiding - District 3 - GRE Director
John Wells - District 4
Blake Meshke - District 6
Gary Stenzel - District 7
Wade Hensel - General Manager
John C. (Chuck) Peterson - Attorney
Board Meetings: The last Thursday of each month
- members are welcome to contact directors with
items of interest or concerns in advance of the
meetings.
District 6 Meeting
Blake Meshke, Incumbent
Nominee District 6
District 2 Meeting
Page 6
David Lein
Nominee District 8
Duane Ehrich, Incumbent
Nominee District 8
From the Board
2015 Outage Report
The 2015 report summarizes the number of outages by category
as required by the Rural Utility Services (RUS) and compares the
averages over the last five years.
BENCO Electric Cooperative is committed to reducing the
number of hours you are without electricity. Some of the programs
which help accomplish this include: tree trimming, vegetation
management, replacement of failing underground cable, and
replacement of old and deteriorated poles and wires.
Average Outage Hours Per Consumer
Year
Power
Supplier
Storms
Prearranged
All Other
Causes
Totals
2011
0.168
0.096
0.023
1.259
1.547
2012
0.004
0.00
0.032
1.12
1.156
2013
0.000
0.109
0.013
0.829
0.952
2014
1.145
0.429
0.037
0.829
2.94
2015
0.076
0.46
0.025
1.90
2.461
5 Year Avg
0.279
0.219
0.026
1.187
1.711
PCA Update
Actual PCA for January
$0.0260
Estimated PCA for February
$0.0267
Estimated PCA for March
$0.0210
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Duane Ehrich Presided
The board reviewed and approved:
• The minutes of the November 24
board meeting.
• Capital Credits to estates totaling
$3,471.68.
The 2016 budget and work plan was
reviewed and approved.
Sandy presented write-offs and they
were approved.
Wade reviewed a conference
call with Minnesota Rural Electric
Association (MREA) on the net
metering cost recovery.
Wade updated the board on SMEC
activities including the CFC/RUS buy
down and allocation of transaction
costs.
Chuck reviewed recent legal work
for the cooperative.
Directors’ reports were as follows:
Brad reported on the December
GRE Board meeting.
CTV directors reviewed the recent
CTV board meeting including the sale
of the Welcome Tower.
Harlan reported on Cooperative
Network.
John reported on MREA.
Harlan reported on a director
training he attended.
The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) is due to changes in the monthly
wholesale rate from our power supplier, Great River Energy (GRE).
Mark your Calendar!
BENCO Electric Annual Meeting
April 9, 2016
Verizon Wireless Civic Center, Mankato
February 2016
www.BENCO.coop
Air Source Heat Pumps:
The Best of Both Worlds
Air Source Heat Pumps: The Best of Both Worlds
A smarter solution is available for members seeking a way
to more efficiently heat and cool their home year-round: Air
source heat pumps (ASHPs) let the outside air heat and cool
your home.
conditioning units. And by moving heat, the ASHP is able to transfer a greater amount of energy than it consumes,
which means that an ASHP can have effective heating efficiencies of 300 percent or more.
ASHPs provide a safe, environmentally friendly solution for home comfort conditioning as well. They don’t use an
open flame or create products of combustion – such as carbon monoxide and other emissions – so there is no need
for venting , and their extended equipment life means less pollution associated with discarding old units or parts and
manufacturing their replacements.
The warmth provided by ASHP technology is superior in quality compared to conventional furnaces. The heat
distributed by ASHP is distributed more evenly and holds its moisture better, resulting in more natural, comfortable
warmth.
Conservation a state priority
In 2007, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Next Generation Energy Act which established energy savings goals
and conservation spending requirements for all of the state’s utilities. Great River Energy and our all-requirements
member cooperatives have reached the goals and requirements each year since the law took effect.
Since 2010, Great River Energy’s members have realized more than half a billion kilowatt-hours in energy savings.
In addition, we have realized significant savings at our generation and transmission facilities. The annual savings
associated with these programs exceed the total annual sales of several of our smaller member cooperatives. Great River
Energy’s members surpass their energy savings goals by engaging consumers and working to identify cost-effective
energy efficiency investments. Excess energy savings are applied to the energy savings goals for subsequent years, as the
legislation allows.
continued from page 3
A smarter solution is available for members seeking a way to more
efficiently heat and cool their home year-round: air source heat pumps
(ASHPs).
Able to deliver hyper-efficient home heating and air conditioning,
ASHPs help members realize savings in energy consumption as well as
cost. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an ASHP can reduce
electricity use associated with home heating and cooling by up to 72 percent.
Since heating and cooling account for more than half the total energy
consumed in a typical household, members can realize tremendous savings
by making the switch.
While earlier generations of ASHPs were primarily used in the southern
part of the U.S., new generation ASHPs can be used in nearly all parts of the
country. They are an especially viable option for Midwestern homes during
the spring and autumn months when outdoor temperatures are milder.
How it works
ASHPs use the same technologies that are found in refrigerators and air
conditioners, and deliver cooling and heating by moving heat to and from
the outdoor air. During the summer when cooling your home, the ASHP
works just like a central air conditioner, moving heat from inside your home
and transferring it outside. An ASHP has the ability to reverse this process
for heating: the ASHP harvests heat from outside air – some systems
can provide heating in temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit – and
transfers it into your home. The result is that homeowners are able to run
their furnaces less and get extremely efficient heating.
Both of these options can be controlled from a thermostat while the
home heating function is also able to work in tandem with conventional
gas furnaces. The product will automatically select the most ideal balance
between the two sources to maintain the most efficient heating combination
based on a homeowner’s desired indoor temperature.
ASHPs contain two sets of coils, a compressor and a fan that circulates
cooled or warmed air. The key to its ability to heat or cool is a special
reversing valve that changes the refrigerant flow’s direction, allowing the unit
to seamlessly switch between air conditioning and heating.
Benefits to members
Members can realize savings of up to 30 percent on home cooling
expenses by installing an ASHP instead of other conventional air
Where, Oh Where?
The following is a list of former
BENCO Members whose capital
credit checks were returned by the
post office as undeliverable. Any
information you can give us to help
locate them would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Lori at 387-7963
or 1-888-792-3626.
H
Dorethea Hadlick, Blue Earth
Todd Hall, Mankato
Thomas W. Hallifax, Plymouth
Joe Halpern, Mankato
Linette Hamer, N. Mankato
Marisol Hernandez, Mankato
Jenalle S. Hatch, Lake Crystal
Don E. Haubrich, Las Vegas NV
Virgil D. Helton, Blue Earth
Daniel Holman, N. Mankato
Ching-Chieh Hsiao, Minneapolis
I
Patti Indre, Colonge
continued on page 4
Page 2
February 2016
www.BENCO.coop
Page 3
February 2016
J
Karen Jacobson, Tarpon Springs FL
Jesse E. Jenkins, Mankato
Randy G. Johnson, Mankato
Joyce A. Juliar, Pemberton
K
Kenneth Kain, N. Mankato
Brian Ketel, Chaska
Ordean Klingbeil, Wells
David Knutson, Eagle Lake
Paul A. Koffman, Spencer IA
Bruce Korth, Ladson SC
Marlen Koschnick, Good Thunder
Jeff Kowitz, Fergus Falls
Gordon Kragness, Bricelyn
Joyleen Kranz, Mankato
L
Jackie B. Lageson, Mankato
Anna Langevin, Mankato
Gerald B. Lawton, Mankato
Douglas M. Legg, Quincy FL
www.BENCO.coop
Tamara Lent, Longmont CO
Jennifer Levine, Mankato
Zane E. Levine, Wells
Tammy M Liebl, Mankato
Pennie Lottman, Mankato
Dawn Lowe, Mankato
Dorothy Luhring, Good Thunder
M
Brendan T. Maher, Mankato
James Marlquist, Scandia
Howard Mann, N. Mankato
Myron J. Marshall, Wyoming
Masaharu Marsuura, Eden Prairie
Michele McCabe, Mankato
Paul McLean, Denver CO
Dennis R. Mensing, Mankato
Michael W. Merkel, Franklin TN
Sheila M. Michels, St. Peter
Ellen Mills, Mankato
William Muldoon, Madison Lake
Roger B. Murphy, Lake Crystal
Page 4