May / June 2011 - Nebraska Public Power District
May / June 2011 - Nebraska Public Power District
May / June 2011 - Nebraska Public Power District
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Current news about <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
<strong>May</strong> / <strong>June</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
Volume 4 Issue 3
2<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
Energy Insight is published by<br />
the <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
Corporate Communications Department<br />
as a service for employees, customers<br />
and friends of NPPD. Its purpose<br />
is to communicate NPPD news<br />
and information and to recognize<br />
achievements of employees, retirees<br />
and their families.<br />
Board of Directors<br />
Larry Linstrom, Chairman<br />
Ronald Larsen, First Vice Chairman<br />
Gary Thompson, Second Vice Chairman<br />
Mary Harding, Secretary<br />
Wayne Boyd<br />
Jerry Chlopek<br />
Virgil Froehlich<br />
Ken Kunze<br />
Thomas Hoff<br />
Dennis Rasmussen<br />
Edward Schrock<br />
Senior Manager, Government and<br />
<strong>Public</strong> Relations<br />
Beth Boesch<br />
Executive Editor<br />
Brenda Sanne<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Jill Novicki, jrnovic@nppd.com<br />
Photography<br />
Gary Pelster<br />
Contributors<br />
Mark Becker<br />
Cassie Behle<br />
Graphic Design<br />
Bill Haack<br />
Dan Zastera<br />
Reporters<br />
Marjorie Allen, Chadron<br />
Darla Wait, Chadron<br />
Kathy Fadschild, Columbus<br />
Drew Niehaus, Cooper Nuclear Station<br />
Kathy Nelson, Doniphan Control Center<br />
Lynn Phagan, Gerald Gentleman Station<br />
Lisa Willson, Kearney<br />
Carol Johnson, Lincoln<br />
Kathy Eaton, McCook<br />
Helen Hinz, McCook<br />
Barb Keating, Norfolk<br />
Mindy Leaverton, Norfolk<br />
Connie Knapp, Ogallala<br />
Eileen Osborne, O’Neill<br />
Lottie Kellison, Plattsmouth<br />
Colleen Mathewson, Scottsbluff<br />
Cindy Holsing, Sheldon Station<br />
Kris Cross, South Sioux City<br />
Pam Hoeft, York<br />
3 Pat Pope Named CEO<br />
NPPD’s Board named Pat Pope<br />
as the <strong>District</strong>’s new President<br />
and CEO, effective April 16.<br />
4 Japan Tragedy<br />
Vice President of Governmental<br />
Affairs and General Counsel<br />
John McClure talks about the<br />
nuclear emergency in Japan.<br />
6 It’s In The Design<br />
Learn how U.S. nuclear power<br />
plants prepare for seismic<br />
events.<br />
7 Mission Critical<br />
Tech. Sgt. Don Baily was one<br />
of several airmen who helped<br />
transport boric acid to Japan<br />
following the devastating<br />
natural events that shut down<br />
the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear<br />
power plant.<br />
8 Strategic Planning<br />
Update<br />
Read what four customers have<br />
to say about their involvement<br />
in NPPD’s strategic planning<br />
process.<br />
10 Meet the <strong>2011</strong><br />
Graduates<br />
Congratulations to those<br />
graduating this year.<br />
14 <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong>’s<br />
Progress<br />
Check out current industry<br />
happenings and photos to<br />
learn more about NPPD’s<br />
recent activities.<br />
16 News From Around<br />
the State<br />
Read about activities and<br />
accomplishments of employees<br />
and employees’ children.<br />
20 Calendar of Events<br />
Check out the calendar of<br />
events for upcoming <strong>District</strong><br />
events.<br />
22 We Will Remember<br />
Fondly remembering those<br />
who recently passed away,<br />
including former Board<br />
member Les Taylor.<br />
About the Cover:<br />
April showers bring <strong>May</strong> flowers.<br />
And many times showers bring<br />
severe weather and sometimes<br />
power outages as a result. Stay<br />
informed on outages in NPPD’s<br />
service territory through the<br />
<strong>District</strong>’s Storm Center on www.<br />
nppd.com. There you will also<br />
find information on outage<br />
safety tips on how to report an<br />
outage.
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 3<br />
Pat Pope Named NPPD President and CEO<br />
At its April<br />
meeting, NPPD’s<br />
Board of Directors<br />
named Pat Pope<br />
as the utility’s<br />
President and CEO,<br />
effective April 16.<br />
John McClure,<br />
who was not an<br />
applicant for the<br />
position, had been<br />
serving as interim<br />
President and CEO<br />
since Ron Asche’s<br />
Pat Pope<br />
retirement in early<br />
February. McClure<br />
will return to his previous position as Vice President<br />
of Governmental Affairs and General Counsel.<br />
In December, the Board hired Mycoff, Fry and<br />
Prouse LLC, to conduct a nationwide search for a new<br />
CEO. The firm recruits exclusively for the electric,<br />
natural gas and water industries. However, one<br />
candidate was ready at the helm.<br />
“It became very apparent as we started looking at<br />
the applicants that there was none better suited for the<br />
position than Pat,” said Larry Linstrom, NPPD board<br />
chairman. “The Board is confident he has the vision<br />
and track record to lead NPPD into the future.”<br />
Pope joined NPPD in December 1979 as an<br />
electrical engineer and has also held the positions<br />
of distribution planning engineer, district operations<br />
superintendent, regional operations superintendent,<br />
regional manager, Energy Control Center manager<br />
and vice president of transmission services.<br />
Appointed vice president of energy delivery in<br />
October 2003, Pope became vice president of energy<br />
supply one year later. In January of 2008, he began<br />
serving the <strong>District</strong> as its vice president and chief<br />
operating officer.<br />
Pope is a member of the Southwest <strong>Power</strong> Pool<br />
Members Committee and serves on The Energy<br />
Authority Board of Directors. He also is a member<br />
of the Columbus Habitat for Humanity Board of<br />
Directors.<br />
He graduated from the University of <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in Electrical<br />
Engineering and earned a master's degree in Business<br />
Administration in 1995. Pope and his wife, Jackie,<br />
have three grown children and live in Columbus.<br />
In a note to employees and customers<br />
announcing his appointment as President and<br />
CEO, Pope writes...<br />
“I was honored and humbled this morning to be<br />
selected as NPPD’s next President and CEO. NPPD<br />
is a wonderful place for a <strong>Nebraska</strong> farm boy to have<br />
a career, and being selected to lead this organization<br />
through the coming challenges and successes is an<br />
opportunity I truly appreciate.<br />
The challenges will most likely be numerous and<br />
substantial, and will require as much hard work,<br />
creative thinking and tenacity as we have ever had<br />
to muster in our history. However, I believe we have<br />
the talent and attitudes within our ranks to ensure<br />
our success. Teamwork will be crucial, as we dare<br />
not spend any of our energy on anything but pulling<br />
together in the same direction. If we take care of<br />
and support one another, there are no goals we can’t<br />
accomplish.<br />
My immediate priorities include: 1) continuing to<br />
promote safety throughout the <strong>District</strong> 2) bringing<br />
the Strategic Planning process to a successful<br />
conclusion and starting the implementation of key<br />
action items, and 3) focusing on our financial issues<br />
and the magnitude of our 2012 rate increases to keep<br />
our rates affordable.<br />
Beyond these, I intend to use the Strategic Plan as<br />
a roadmap for our future efforts. There will be many<br />
more action items initiated to support the vision of<br />
the Strategic Plan, a variety of environmental issues<br />
to deal with, and, in light of Japan’s crisis, additional<br />
challenges for nuclear generation. Regardless,<br />
teamwork and a focus on the value the <strong>District</strong> brings<br />
to our customers and <strong>Nebraska</strong> will help us overcome<br />
obstacles and accomplish our goals!<br />
My expectations for all of us at NPPD are pretty simple:<br />
work together and look out for one another,<br />
never forget that the <strong>District</strong> exists for our customers<br />
and <strong>Nebraska</strong>,<br />
be honest, direct & maintain a positive attitude, and,<br />
strive for excellence in everything we do!”
4<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
You can’t pick<br />
up a newspaper<br />
or watch<br />
national news<br />
without seeing<br />
something about<br />
the situation at<br />
the Fukushima<br />
Daiichi Nuclear<br />
<strong>Power</strong> Plant in<br />
Japan, and the<br />
on-going efforts<br />
to stabilize the<br />
site and protect<br />
the public from<br />
the effects<br />
of radiation<br />
releases.<br />
The events in<br />
Japan have led<br />
to worldwide<br />
discussions<br />
about the<br />
commercial<br />
nuclear power<br />
industry<br />
including<br />
whether<br />
plants have<br />
been properly<br />
designed and<br />
have adequate<br />
safety systems<br />
and emergency<br />
plans.
Nuclear power is unique. Once a nuclear<br />
plant has irradiated fuel in the reactor or in the used<br />
fuel pool, there is a continuing need to remove heat<br />
produced by the radioactive decay process. The heat is<br />
removed by cooling the water that circulates through<br />
the reactor and the used fuel pool when the plant is<br />
operating and when it is not operating. In comparison,<br />
when the fuel flow to a coal or<br />
gas-fired power plant is stopped,<br />
the source of heat to produce the<br />
energy ends and the plant shuts<br />
down. Once a nuclear plant begins<br />
to operate, it is never totally<br />
shutdown until all irradiated fuel is<br />
removed from the reactor.<br />
The nuclear power plants<br />
at Fukushima appear to have<br />
withstood the major earthquake<br />
and shut down automatically<br />
as planned. The emergency<br />
diesel generators came on to<br />
maintain cooling for the reactor<br />
and spent fuel pools. It was<br />
when the overwhelming tsunami<br />
hit the plant that the back-up<br />
power and cooling systems were<br />
rendered useless. It is estimated<br />
that the wave that hit the plant<br />
was traveling over 400 mph<br />
and was more than 40 feet high, destroying the fuel<br />
supply tanks for the generators, as well as electrical<br />
equipment associated with the emergency systems. No<br />
one had planned for such an overwhelming force<br />
of nature. Plant workers made heroic efforts under<br />
dire circumstances to address multiple problems and<br />
stabilize conditions at the site. This will be a huge,<br />
long-term challenge.<br />
Going forward<br />
President Obama and the Nuclear Regulatory<br />
Commission have assured Americans that the process<br />
of operating and regulating the 104 commercial<br />
nuclear power plants adequately protects public<br />
health, safety and the environment. Nevertheless,<br />
everyone agrees we need to learn from the tragedy<br />
in Japan. The Administration, Congress, the NRC,<br />
the nuclear plant operators and the nuclear industry’s<br />
associations and vendors are all committed to develop<br />
a thorough understanding of the events in Japan<br />
“It will be many years before<br />
we know the full effect of the<br />
disaster at Fukushima. In the near<br />
term we must remain vigilant in<br />
operating Cooper Nuclear Station<br />
with uncompromising attention<br />
to detail, conservative decisionmaking,<br />
and a constant focus<br />
on protecting the public health<br />
and safety and the environment<br />
as stewards of an incredibly<br />
powerful, but important and<br />
valuable technology.”<br />
JOHN McCLURE<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 5<br />
to determine whether any physical modifications,<br />
equipment additions, or emergency plan changes need<br />
to occur. It is too early to predict everything that may<br />
be required, as certain actions could be implemented<br />
on a near-term basis and other changes, if necessary,<br />
could take much longer to identify and implement.<br />
This is not the first time the industry has faced<br />
a major accident that led to<br />
significant industry changes. Three<br />
- John McClure<br />
Vice President of Governmental Affairs<br />
and General Counsel<br />
from...<br />
VICE PRESIDENT<br />
OF GOVERNMENTAL<br />
AFFAIRS AND<br />
GENERAL<br />
COuNSEL<br />
Mile Island occurred in 1979. It<br />
was a major financial burden<br />
for the utility owning the plant,<br />
but the impact on public health<br />
and the environment was quite<br />
small. That event led to significant<br />
modifications of existing plants<br />
and to delays in the construction<br />
of new plants. The event also led<br />
the U.S. nuclear industry to create<br />
the Institute for Nuclear <strong>Power</strong><br />
Operations (INPO) which has<br />
been instrumental in helping the<br />
industry improve nuclear safety.<br />
The brutal attacks of Sept. 11,<br />
2001, while not directed at the<br />
nuclear power industry, caused the<br />
NRC and the industry to further<br />
evaluate consequences of physical<br />
threats to nuclear power plants. In<br />
addition to substantial security upgrades, nuclear<br />
plants implemented new contingency measures to<br />
address severe accident conditions<br />
where major portions of plants<br />
were assumed to be damaged.<br />
These changes make us better<br />
prepared for severe accident<br />
conditions, regardless of<br />
potential cause.
6<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
Nuclear Plants are Designed<br />
for Seismic Events<br />
With the recent events at the<br />
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant,<br />
you may have questions about<br />
the safety of nuclear power<br />
plants in general. The following<br />
information may help answer<br />
some of those questions.<br />
All nuclear power plants in the U.S. are<br />
designed for seismic events. Nuclear<br />
plants are built with a “defense-indepth”<br />
philosophy that uses multiple safety barriers,<br />
sophisticated earthquake detection systems, and<br />
redundant safety systems to assure public health and<br />
safety. Every U.S. nuclear power plant is designed to<br />
withstand the maximum projected earthquake in the<br />
site location’s geographic area, and reactor operators<br />
are trained to safely shut down the plant under these<br />
respective criteria.<br />
Like all U.S. nuclear plants, Cooper is designed<br />
to withstand earthquakes based on the risk for<br />
the geographic area, as required by the Nuclear<br />
Regulatory Commission. Cooper is designed to a 6.0<br />
(Richter scale) earthquake for safe shutdown of the<br />
reactor. The last earthquake felt at Cooper occurred<br />
Dec. 16, 2009, centered two miles north of Auburn,<br />
Neb., and recorded a 3.5 on the Richter scale. The<br />
strongest earthquakes in the state measured 5.1 on<br />
the Richter scale. The first was on Nov. 15, 1877 and<br />
the second was on March 28, 1964. Cooper also has<br />
a “beyond-design-basis” strategy to mitigate against<br />
events like those taking place in Japan.<br />
Each U.S. nuclear plant’s foundations, structures,<br />
and equipment are designed and constructed to<br />
withstand ground motion in accordance with national<br />
codes and NRC requirements. In the event of an<br />
earthquake that exceeds a predetermined level (which<br />
is below the level the plant’s equipment and structures<br />
are designed to withstand), plant operators shut<br />
down the reactor and perform a comprehensive plant<br />
inspection.<br />
Initial and continuing training programs for plant<br />
operators routinely cover procedures for handling<br />
events similar to those confronting the operators at the<br />
Fukushima Daini and Daiichi stations. Operators are<br />
trained on:<br />
Procedures for handling a loss of offsite power, both<br />
for short and long durations.<br />
Procedures for handling a loss of offsite power<br />
combined with a loss of onsite emergency backup<br />
power supplies (station blackout).<br />
Various methods for maintaining core cooling in the<br />
event of a loss of normal cooling capabilities.<br />
Procedures for maintaining the integrity of our plant<br />
containment structures, even in the event of damage<br />
to the reactor core.<br />
Severe accident management guidelines which are<br />
procedures that cover accidents beyond the normal<br />
design basis of the plant, including complete loss of<br />
normal and emergency cooling water systems.<br />
Procedures for maintaining the plant in a safe<br />
condition even in the event of a loss of control of<br />
(or severe damage to) portions of the plant or site.<br />
Cooper also adheres to an emergency response<br />
plan that includes periodic drills, role-plays of mock<br />
scenarios to practice that emergency response plan.<br />
Natural phenomenon (e.g. earthquakes, floods,<br />
tornados) are included in the emergency classification<br />
levels of the emergency preparedness plan and are<br />
frequently a part of drill scenarios.<br />
These exercises occur multiple times throughout<br />
the year and often involve Missouri and <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
emergency management agencies. More than 300<br />
site employees are members of Cooper’s emergency<br />
preparedness organization. In addition, the NRC<br />
periodically evaluates the effectiveness of Cooper’s<br />
performance during these exercises.
Mission Critical: A Crucial Delivery<br />
Tech. Sgt. Don Baily was one of several<br />
Vandenberg Air Force Base airmen who helped<br />
transport boric acid to Japan following the devastating<br />
natural events that shut down the Fukushima Daiichi<br />
nuclear plant on March 11.<br />
Boric acid mixed with water slows down the<br />
nuclear fission process and helps cool the nuclear<br />
reactor. The mission to send the acid to Japan was<br />
done with less than 24 hours notice. The boric acid<br />
was trucked to Vandenberg from Pacific Gas and<br />
Electric’s Diablo Canyon Nuclear <strong>Power</strong> Plant on<br />
the California Coast. In all, some<br />
34,000 pounds or 17 tons were<br />
placed on the plane headed for<br />
Japan.<br />
The C-17 Globemaster plane,<br />
which boasts a wingspan of nearly<br />
170 feet, can carry up to 170,900<br />
pounds of cargo, the Air Force<br />
said. While being used as troop<br />
transport, the craft can cart 102<br />
people.<br />
For the Vandenberg<br />
airmen involved, the<br />
mission was the same<br />
despite the destination or<br />
cargo.<br />
After the plane landed,<br />
crews efficiently loaded the<br />
stacks of bags holding the<br />
chemical, using a Tunner<br />
60K Loader — named<br />
for Lt. Gen. William H.<br />
Tunner, former commander<br />
of U.S. Air Forces in<br />
Europe and considered the<br />
outstanding authority on<br />
military airlift missions.<br />
The long and low<br />
carrier holds up to six<br />
pallets or 60,000 pounds, and<br />
can drive on and off the various<br />
military cargo planes, according to a<br />
military fact sheet.<br />
Once the plane came to a stop, fuel trucks<br />
and the pallet-carrying vehicle moved near<br />
Tech. Sgt. Don Baily<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 7<br />
the aircraft, which came from Joint Base Lewis-<br />
McChord, Wash.<br />
While the pallets sat on rollers, it still took some<br />
human strength — three airmen for some of the stacks<br />
— to push them inside the cargo plane.<br />
Asked what it took to ready for the plane’s arrival,<br />
Baily, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of airfield<br />
management operations at Vandenberg, answered<br />
simply, “A lot of phone calls.”<br />
The mission kicked off with one phone calling<br />
warning of the upcoming arrival of boric acid.<br />
“That started the ball rolling,”<br />
Baily said.<br />
Being the military, short-notice<br />
missions aren’t unusual.<br />
“It really all depends on the<br />
mission. Being a contingency<br />
mission anything can happen.<br />
We’ve just got to be ready for<br />
anything that happens,” Baily said.<br />
At some bases, preparations can<br />
involve hunting down a parking<br />
space for the huge plane. For<br />
Vandenberg, which<br />
doesn’t have any aircraft<br />
regularly assigned there,<br />
room to park is seldom a<br />
problem, he noted.<br />
Those working at the<br />
space base were thrilled to<br />
see the aircraft sitting at the<br />
airfield, but the mission<br />
had special meaning for<br />
Baily.<br />
“I love it. It’s really<br />
cool for me. ...,” he<br />
said, adding he was<br />
stationed in Japan from<br />
2000 to 2004, and<br />
called news of the tragedy<br />
the country faces heartbreaking.<br />
“I’ve got a real soft spot for Japan.<br />
Anything I can do to help.”<br />
Baily is the son of Scottsbluff Customer<br />
Services Leader Melody and Don L. Baily.<br />
Source: SantaMariaTimes.com
8 ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
More than 30 representatives from NPPD’s<br />
retail and wholesale customer utilities served<br />
as members of eight issue teams charged<br />
with researching and debating eight primary topics<br />
central to NPPD’s future. These issues were business<br />
model options; changes to NPPD’s customer base and<br />
power contracts; legislative and regulatory demands;<br />
energy efficiency, smart grid, and emerging end-use<br />
innovations; future generation technologies; energy<br />
markets and transmission requirements; as well as<br />
the corporation’s needs from liquidity and capital and<br />
workforce perspectives.<br />
And it is the collective customer<br />
perspective which has benefited<br />
NPPD the most.<br />
“As it has been said on several<br />
occasions, ‘we are all in this<br />
together,’” said Jamey Pankoke,<br />
general manager for Perennial<br />
<strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong>. Pankoke<br />
was a member of the Business and Governance Model<br />
Team. “Working together on the key issues identified<br />
in the process will better position all of us to meet the<br />
challenges that lie ahead.”<br />
Bruce Pontow, general manager<br />
of the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Electric G & T<br />
Coop., Inc. and member of the<br />
Generation Technologies team<br />
agreed.<br />
“The process used by NPPD<br />
is unique, but was one that<br />
needed to happen,” he said. “The<br />
An invitation,<br />
a lot of<br />
discussion,<br />
and the<br />
promise of<br />
common<br />
purpose<br />
There are many quotes in the business world about serving customers better to achieve<br />
customer satisfaction, but there are few that say, “Show your customers what you are<br />
up against. Involve them in your strategic planning process.” Yet, that is exactly what the<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong> has done over the last seven months.<br />
Jamey Pankoke<br />
- PERENNIAL POWER<br />
Bruce Pontow<br />
- NE ELECTRIC G&T COOP, INC.<br />
active involvement of those who pay the bills – the<br />
customers – was imperative, if we truly view our<br />
industry as ‘public power.’”<br />
York City Administrator Jack Vavra, who was a<br />
member of the Liquidity and Capital Needs team, had<br />
a different take. “I’m sure the results of this strategic<br />
planning process would have been the same and<br />
would have taken less time if customers had not been<br />
included,” he said. “However, including customers
Jack Vavra<br />
- CITY OF YORK<br />
gave us some ownership of the<br />
results and a renewed confidence<br />
in the abilities and decision<br />
making skills of NPPD’s Board of<br />
Directors and the administrative<br />
staff.”<br />
Beatrice City Administrator<br />
Neal Niedfeldt echoed this<br />
opinion. “I was very impressed<br />
with the [staff members and<br />
executive team’s] understanding of<br />
the issues and their concern for the<br />
wholesale customers.” Like Vavra,<br />
Niedfeldt was a member of the<br />
Liquidity and Capital Needs team.<br />
All of the customers providing<br />
comment gave kudos to the<br />
<strong>District</strong>’s operational excellence.<br />
“In nearly all respects,” said Pontow, “NPPD<br />
has an excellent staff to address the day-to-day<br />
operations of the generation and transmission<br />
services. These are areas that can be taken for<br />
Neal Niedfeldt<br />
- CITY OF BEATRICE<br />
granted, and, if allowed to deteriorate, would negate<br />
all of the work in addressing the issues identified in<br />
the strategic plan.”<br />
The customers identified one particular issue that<br />
will be challenging.<br />
“REGULATION, the cost of REGULATION,<br />
the certainty of REGULATION, the uncertainty of<br />
REGULATION, the timing of REGULATION,” said<br />
Vavra.<br />
Niedfeldt agreed, but took the issue further.<br />
“Assessing and complying with future regulations<br />
are only part of NPPD’s challenge,” he said.<br />
“Communicating those impacts to the public and<br />
wholesale customers to ensure our understanding of<br />
their impacts will be extremely important.”<br />
And the key impact of regulation for customers<br />
is cost.<br />
“The magnitude of investment that NPPD may<br />
be required to make in the future for environmental<br />
controls was certainly an eye-opener and will<br />
challenge NPPD’s credit position,” said Niedfeldt.<br />
“I believe the strength of NPPD’s low-cost structure<br />
and broad customer base should help offset the<br />
risks associated with an expected, large capital<br />
improvements program.”<br />
“From my perspective,” NPPD’s greatest<br />
challenge in the future will be to determine<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 9<br />
how much investment to make in the existing<br />
generation resources to comply with environmental<br />
regulations,” said Pankoke. “These costs, as well as<br />
the impact they would have on rates, is staggering.<br />
And although [current power plants] are still<br />
excellent resources, it will be difficult to know how<br />
much to invest in this regard, unless NPPD has longterm<br />
contracts with customers and/or a potential for<br />
significant load growth.”<br />
In regards to what is certain, the customers are<br />
generally confident in NPPD’s ability to tackle what<br />
lies ahead.<br />
“I am confident NPPD will be able to continue<br />
to provide a very reliable source of power supply,”<br />
Pankoke added. “NPPD’s capabilities in the area<br />
of power production and transmission have been<br />
excellent.”<br />
“NPPD has identified transmission access<br />
as imperative to selling excess energy into the<br />
wholesale markets,” said Niedfeldt. “With the<br />
transmission projects currently being planned, NPPD<br />
will be well positioned to sell excess power into<br />
those markets.”<br />
Vavra’s assurance was more encompassing.<br />
“NPPD is equipped to handle all issues,” he said.<br />
“The hard part will be where to start and which<br />
issues to address first.”<br />
Regardless of where NPPD starts, the utility met<br />
its goal to keep customers informed and participative<br />
in the process.<br />
“I think there was a new-found respect between<br />
NPPD’s Board and the customers participating in<br />
the various committees,” said Pontow. “The final<br />
product has yet to be seen, but there is promise that<br />
this is the beginning of a process that could bring<br />
various groups with diverse opinions to the table<br />
with a common purpose.”<br />
At the end of March, each of the eight issue<br />
teams had finalized a white paper NPPD’s Board<br />
of Directors will use to develop the utility’s new<br />
strategic plan. The white papers cover NPPD’s<br />
current state, the drivers of change affecting NPPD’s<br />
future, as well as the strategic options the teams<br />
evaluated. In addition, the teams determined there<br />
are four scenarios the <strong>District</strong> could face. It will be<br />
up to the Board to determine on which of all the<br />
strategic options NPPD should focus over the next<br />
five, 10 and 20 years.
10<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
Millie Anderson<br />
Elmwood-Murdock H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Nuclear Support<br />
Julie Anderson<br />
Shandi Bricker<br />
Paxton Consol. H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Material Controller<br />
Scott Bricker<br />
Dutch DeBuhr<br />
Rock Port H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Computer Tech.<br />
Kim DeBuhr<br />
Jacob Furnas<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Utility Service Tech.<br />
David Furnas<br />
Malia Arlt<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
GIS Tech.<br />
John Arlt<br />
Haley Brummer<br />
Norfolk Catholic H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk Sr. Planner/<br />
Scheduler<br />
Jim Brummer<br />
Dennis Becker<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Media Spec.<br />
Mark Becker<br />
Heidi Caufield<br />
Kearney H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Kearney<br />
Engineer<br />
Jack Caufield<br />
Kelsey Dixon Christopher Donoghue<br />
Auburn H.S. Columbus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Son of<br />
CNS Material Planner Columbus<br />
Michelle<br />
Custodian<br />
& Outage Supv.<br />
Joe Dixon<br />
Susan Donoghue<br />
Drew Gay<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Architect<br />
Barb Gay<br />
Brant George<br />
Hastings H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Tech. Analyst<br />
Tammi George<br />
Josie Beckner<br />
Falls City H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Field Supv. (LT)<br />
Art Dean<br />
Treven Cerveny<br />
Wilber-Clatonia H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Sheldon Station/BPS<br />
Plant Mgr.<br />
Chris Cerveny<br />
Brittany Driskell<br />
Rock Port H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
AA/FFD Analyst<br />
Scott Driskell<br />
Rachel Henry<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS Nuclear Support<br />
Shawna &<br />
Mech. Spec.<br />
Todd Henry<br />
Ben Billesbach<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Work Week Dir.<br />
Doug Billesbach<br />
Kaleb Clifton<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Buyer<br />
Margaret Clifton<br />
Kristin Drog<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Insurance Asst.<br />
Lori Muhle<br />
Megan Herron<br />
Seward H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
YOC<br />
Fleet Tech.<br />
Bob Herron<br />
Michael Bolan<br />
Grand Island H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Trainer<br />
Shannon Bolan<br />
Dyllan Coop<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Pilot<br />
Chris Coop<br />
Daniel Dykstra<br />
Farragut, IA, H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Sr. Engineer<br />
Jim Dykstra<br />
Landon Holmes<br />
Sutherland H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
GGS<br />
Electrical Tech.<br />
Brian Holmes<br />
Jordan Boruch<br />
Shelby H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
HR Manager<br />
Meshelle Ferguson<br />
Lance Cross<br />
So. Sioux City H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
So. Sioux City<br />
Dist. Support Spec.<br />
Kris Cross<br />
Amber Ewers<br />
Scotus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Sr. Systems Analyst<br />
Gary Ewers<br />
Tim Jackson<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Pricing & Rates Supv.<br />
Scott Jackson<br />
Kristen Boyle<br />
Norfolk Catholic H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Sr. Line Tech.<br />
Rick Boyle<br />
Spencer Dagerman<br />
Norfolk H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Norfolk<br />
T&D Asset Mgr.<br />
Joel Dagerman<br />
Aaron Francis<br />
Holdrege H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Electrical Drafter<br />
Arlen Francis<br />
Marina Karel<br />
Scotus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Environmental Spec.<br />
Keith Karel
Ben Keller<br />
Maxell H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
North Platte<br />
Engineering Spec.<br />
Bob Keller<br />
Jake Martin<br />
Fillmore Central H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
YOC<br />
Fleet Service Tech.<br />
Phil Martin<br />
Kaitlin Pearson<br />
Gretna H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Sr. Systems Analyst<br />
Kevin Pearson<br />
Kelsey Schuettler<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus Tech.<br />
Analyst Lisa & Safety<br />
Team Leader<br />
Kip Schuettler<br />
Logan Killion<br />
York H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
YOC<br />
Contract Spec. &<br />
Analysis<br />
Lori Richter<br />
Jessica Marvin<br />
O’Neill H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
O’Neill<br />
Dist. Supv.<br />
Mike Marvin<br />
Kaylee Reimers<br />
Battle Creek H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Lead HVAC Tech.<br />
Darrin Daly<br />
Garrett Schwindt<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Nuclear Instructor<br />
Warren Schwindt<br />
Kaitlyn Kinney<br />
Park Avenue<br />
Christian Academy<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Dispatch Analyst<br />
Mike Kinney<br />
Jacob Matteson<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Accounting Analyst<br />
Michele Matteson<br />
Andrew Robinson<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> City H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Engineer<br />
Thomas Robinson<br />
Erin Seidl<br />
Statesboro H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Engineer<br />
Bryan Seidl<br />
Amanda Kirkland<br />
Kearney H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Kearney<br />
Lineman<br />
Russell Kirkland<br />
Jessica McCann<br />
Falls City H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Security Officer<br />
Diane McCann<br />
MiKayla Ruhl<br />
Exeter-Milligan H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
YOC Building<br />
Services Supv.<br />
Rusty Ruhl<br />
Jordan Shea<br />
Sterling H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Sheldon Station<br />
Unit Operator<br />
Jeff Shea<br />
Kendra Lammers Nicholas Lee<br />
Cedar Catholic H.S. Doniphan-Trumbull<br />
Dau. of<br />
H.S.<br />
Hartington<br />
Son of<br />
Lead Line Tech. Doniphan<br />
Ron Lammers Contr. & Analysis Supv.<br />
Joel Lee<br />
Tyler Mundhenke<br />
O’Neill H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
O’Neill<br />
Sr. Line Tech.<br />
Kevin Mundhenke<br />
Dru Sauer<br />
Ogallala H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Ogallala Sub.<br />
Support Spec.<br />
Judie Sauer<br />
Jacob Swanson<br />
Hastings<br />
St. Cecilia’s H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Gen. Strategies Mgr.<br />
John Swanson<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 11<br />
Patrick Murphy<br />
Rock Port H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS Eng. Spec.<br />
Marie & Sr. Reactor<br />
Operator<br />
Chuck Murphy<br />
Emily Schieffer<br />
Scotus H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Corporate Comm.<br />
& PR Mgr.<br />
Jeanne Schieffer<br />
Jordan Thomas<br />
Rock Port H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Security Officer<br />
Billy Thomas<br />
Kyle Ligenza<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Custodian<br />
Sue Ligenza<br />
Wade Oelsligle<br />
Elkhorn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Distr. Support Spec.<br />
Jeanne Oelsligle<br />
Ryan Schnell<br />
Lakeview H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Aviation Mgr.<br />
Randy Schnell<br />
Lyndsee Thompson<br />
Aurora H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Energy Mgr.<br />
Ronald Thompson, Jr.<br />
Ashley Martin<br />
Sutherland H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
I&C Tech.<br />
Aaron Martin<br />
Zack Packard<br />
York H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
YOC<br />
Planner/Scheduler<br />
Linnea Packard<br />
Emily Schoening<br />
York H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
YOC<br />
Substation Supv.<br />
Dale Schoening<br />
Michael Tremel<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Procurement Mgr.<br />
Karla Tremel
12<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
Patrick Tremel<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Procurement Mgr.<br />
Karla Tremel<br />
Bryce Buhr<br />
NECC-Norfolk<br />
Son of<br />
McCook/Ogallala<br />
Operations & Maint.<br />
Supt.<br />
Brian Buhr<br />
Austin Kuta<br />
Wayne State College<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Legal Secretary<br />
Elaine Kuta<br />
Preston Wendt<br />
Leigh H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Accountant<br />
Lori Wendt<br />
Arlen Francis<br />
Concordia U.<br />
Columbus<br />
Drafter<br />
Cody Larsen<br />
NECC-Norfolk<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Records Analyst<br />
Stephanie Larsen<br />
Jonathan Wenzl<br />
Johnson-Brock H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
BPS<br />
Plant Tech.<br />
Gary Wenzl<br />
Alexandra Bartels<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Wesleyan<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Process Coordinator<br />
Jeanne Bartels<br />
Ryan Hier<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
Sheldon Station<br />
Condition Based<br />
Maint. Tech. Owner<br />
Gregory Hier<br />
Austin Lentfer<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Adm. Asst.<br />
Marlene Lentfer<br />
Aaron Wiese<br />
Lincoln Southwest<br />
H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Lincoln<br />
Corporate Proj. Mgr.<br />
Art Wiese<br />
Jessica Bender<br />
CCC-Grand Island<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Sr. Systems Analyst<br />
Ron Bender<br />
Jon Hongsermeier<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
GGS<br />
Water Quality Tech.<br />
Randy Hongsermeier<br />
Bobbie Meints<br />
Peru State College<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Lead Planner<br />
Josh Whisler<br />
Adam Willson<br />
Kearney H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Kearney<br />
Admin. Asst.<br />
Lisa Willson<br />
Kendra Bender<br />
Doane College<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Sr. Systems Analyst<br />
Ron Bender<br />
Natasha Horn<br />
Wayne State College<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Design Eng. Mech.<br />
Supv.<br />
Gerald Horn<br />
Tyler Micek<br />
UN-Omaha<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Records Analyst<br />
Gina Micek<br />
Brooke Wissler<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Nuclear Support<br />
Jennifer Wissler<br />
Courtney Billesbach<br />
UN-Omaha<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Work Week Dir.<br />
Doug Billesbach<br />
Mikayla Karel<br />
CCC-Columbus<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Environmental Spec.<br />
Keith Karel<br />
Katie Michaelsen<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
HR Services Asst.<br />
Kathy Michaelsen<br />
Jason Wright<br />
Auburn H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Engineering Spec.<br />
Keith Wright<br />
Logan Brei<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
North Platte<br />
M&E Tech.<br />
Mike Brei<br />
Betsy Klahn<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Dau. of<br />
Doniphan<br />
Trans. System. Coord.<br />
Chris Sullivan<br />
Keven Neujahr<br />
Peru State College<br />
Kearney<br />
Fleet Tech.<br />
Blayne Wurdinger<br />
Columbus H.S.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
HR Assistant<br />
Kathleen Bonk<br />
Samantha Brennan<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Dau. of<br />
GGS<br />
Scheduler<br />
Phil Pearson<br />
Kendra Kratz<br />
Peru State College<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Security Officer<br />
David Kratz<br />
Kelli Oelsligle<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Dist. Support Spec.<br />
Jeanne Oelsligle
Justin Petska<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
GGS<br />
Material Handler<br />
Gary Petska<br />
David Waddell<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Simulator Support<br />
Brian Waddell<br />
Tony Michaelsen<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
M-Arts<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
HR Assistant<br />
Kathy Michaelsen<br />
Alyssa Rogge<br />
Doane College<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Nuclear Support<br />
Jana Rogge<br />
Colin Ward<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
CNS<br />
Scheduler<br />
Mark Ward<br />
Ashley Molacek<br />
Bellevue U.<br />
M-BA<br />
Columbus<br />
PT Environmental<br />
Clerk<br />
Katie Schoening<br />
CCC-Hastings<br />
Dau. of<br />
YOC<br />
Substation Supv.<br />
Dale Schoening<br />
Amy Jo Wenzl<br />
Stephen’s College<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Sr. Project Mgr.<br />
Russ Wenzl<br />
Ashley Arlt-Bloebaum<br />
Concordia U.<br />
M-Education<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Desktop Support Spec.<br />
Kay Arlt<br />
Deniece Petersen<br />
UNMC<br />
Dr. of Physical<br />
Therapy<br />
Dau. of<br />
Norfolk<br />
Distr. Support Spec.<br />
Jeanne Oelsligle<br />
Lindsey Shannon<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Dau. of<br />
Columbus<br />
Sr. Systems Analyst<br />
Mark Shannon<br />
Danny Zach<br />
Briar Cliff U.<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus<br />
Energy Eff. Consult.<br />
Steve Zach<br />
Joseph Cass<br />
Bellevue U.<br />
M-Inst. & Design &<br />
Development<br />
CNS<br />
Sr. Engineer<br />
Morgan Pillen<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
M-Science, Speech<br />
Pathology<br />
Dau. of Columbus<br />
Sr. Project Coord.<br />
Tom Pillen<br />
Anthony Sjuts<br />
UN-Omaha<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus ITT Contr.<br />
Admin. Spec. Lynn &<br />
Oper. Contract Coord.<br />
Robert Sjuts<br />
Ryan Zinnel<br />
UN-Kearney<br />
Son of<br />
Kearney<br />
Journey Line Tech.<br />
Dan Zinnel<br />
Kristine Gehring-<br />
Ohrablo<br />
Oregon State U.<br />
M-Radiation Health<br />
Physics<br />
CNS<br />
Chemistry Tech.<br />
Scott Vincent<br />
UNMC<br />
Dr. of Medicine<br />
Son of<br />
YOC Account<br />
Manager<br />
Craig Vincent<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 13<br />
Michael Snell<br />
UN-Lincoln<br />
Son of<br />
Plattsmouth<br />
Journey Line Tech.<br />
Mick Snell<br />
Jacob Zlatkovsky<br />
Doane College<br />
Son of<br />
Cozad<br />
Irrigation Tech.<br />
David Zlatkovsky<br />
Nicole Horn<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Wesleyan<br />
M-Forensic Science<br />
Dau. of<br />
CNS<br />
Design Eng. Mech. Supv.<br />
Gerald Horn<br />
Nit Tut Wang<br />
Doane College<br />
M-Arts, Mangement-<br />
Leadership Spec.<br />
Doniphan<br />
System Control<br />
Engineer<br />
Russ Snyder<br />
Bellevue U.<br />
Beatrice <strong>Power</strong><br />
Station<br />
Plant Operator<br />
John Humphrey<br />
Bellevue U.<br />
M-Arts<br />
Columbus<br />
Operations Program<br />
Manager<br />
Molly Strom<br />
NECC-Norfolk<br />
Dau. of<br />
Oakland<br />
Meter Reader<br />
Vanessa Strom<br />
Ryan Kunhart<br />
Creighton U. School<br />
of Law<br />
Son of<br />
Columbus Office<br />
Services Supv.<br />
Mark Kunhart<br />
Congratulations<br />
to the<br />
Class of <strong>2011</strong>
14<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
BILLS ON WHEELS<br />
Seventy-Seven employees opt for early retirement<br />
Seventy-seven NPPD employees signed on<br />
the dotted line by the deadline of March 31,<br />
choosing to take the <strong>District</strong>’s voluntary retirement<br />
incentive program. Those employees taking the<br />
incentive retired on or before April 30, <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
“NPPD has been working on reducing staff<br />
levels through attrition,” said interim President and<br />
CEO John McClure in a note to employees on<br />
April 1. “This incentive program has accelerated<br />
our attrition efforts so we can meet anticipated 2012<br />
budgets.”<br />
Recycle your inefficient refrigerator<br />
Three years ago, NPPD and its wholesale<br />
customers began removing old, inefficient<br />
refrigerators and freezers. Since then, more than 3,000<br />
of these kilowatt-grabbing units have been disposed<br />
of and recycled in an environmentally friendly manner<br />
through a Refrigerator Recycling Program.<br />
The program is back in operation for its third<br />
year and the process for removing those units is very<br />
simple: electric customers of any participating utility<br />
can take advantage of the program by calling 866-<br />
444-9160 or visiting www.jacoinc.net to schedule a<br />
free pick up. A list of participating utilities can also<br />
be found at www.nppd.com/Energywise/refrigerator_<br />
utilitylisting.pdf. Customers should have their utility<br />
bill in hand when scheduling. Refrigerators or freezers<br />
must be between 10 and 30 cubic feet in size and be<br />
operational at the time of pick-up. NPPD has a limit<br />
of two units per residential unit that can be picked up<br />
and removed.<br />
For each unit removed, the owner receives a<br />
$35 incentive check plus the eventual reduction of<br />
electrical use and lowering of the home’s electric bill.<br />
Kenneth Young, who manages NPPD’s<br />
Management is reviewing the vacated positions<br />
to determine which positions will be refilled, and<br />
looking for opportunities to modify how work is done.<br />
The program was available to approximately<br />
360 non-nuclear employees. Employees who report<br />
up through the vice president and chief nuclear<br />
officer at Cooper Nuclear Station were not included<br />
in the program, because NPPD was not seeking to<br />
reduce staff at the nuclear plant. Instead, the nuclear<br />
business unit will look for savings through contractor<br />
reductions.<br />
refrigerator recycling program, says<br />
retiring a second refrigerator or<br />
freezer can result in savings of up to<br />
$100 a year on energy bills. “Today’s<br />
units are much more energy efficient,<br />
while refrigerators manufactured before<br />
1990 can use as much as 1,500 kilowatt hours of<br />
electricity a year, almost three times as much as new<br />
models today,” he explained.<br />
NPPD uses the services of JACO Environmental,<br />
a leading, national provider of appliance recycling<br />
service, to pick up and recycle the old units. Nearly<br />
95 percent of each refrigerator – the metals, plastic,<br />
oils, and foam insulation is recycled. In fact, the foam<br />
removed is incinerated and the heat generated is then<br />
used to create new energy.<br />
The refrigerator recycling program is funded<br />
by the Waste Reduction and Recycling Incentive<br />
Grant Program of the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Department of<br />
Environmental Quality and NPPD. The program is<br />
available to residential customers of NPPD and its<br />
wholesale utility customers on a first-come, first-serve<br />
basis.
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 15<br />
Another successful Lineworker Rodeo<br />
Three hundred utility lineworkers from all<br />
over the United States competed in the 11th<br />
annual <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> Lineworker’s Rodeo March<br />
18 in Nashville, Tenn. A total of 55 journey lineman<br />
teams and 77 apprentice line technicians competed<br />
in the event, sponsored by the American <strong>Public</strong><br />
<strong>Power</strong> Association. The events are graded on safety,<br />
workmanship, teamwork and speed.<br />
The journey lineman team finished with an overall<br />
score of 496/500, while the apprentice line technicians<br />
were scored as individuals. Humboldt Apprentice Line<br />
Technician Michael McLaughlin brought home two<br />
trophies, placing second in the Written Test with a<br />
score of 98/100 and second in the All-Around Event.<br />
He finished with an overall score of 498/500. Also<br />
of note is York Apprentice Line Technician Jared<br />
Rojewski, who finished with an overall score of<br />
486/500.<br />
This is the third straight year that NPPD has had an<br />
Apprentice Line Technician bring home at least one<br />
trophy.<br />
Snapshots of the<br />
lineworker’s rodeo.<br />
Attending this year’s lineworker’s rodeo were (standing) York Distribution<br />
Superintendent Mike Damon, Plattsmouth Distribution Supervisor Trevor Roth,<br />
Humboldt Local Manager Mike McLaughlin, York Apprentice Line Construction<br />
Technician In-Training Jared Rojewski, South Sioux City Journey Line Technician<br />
Brent Bennett, (kneeling) York Journey Line Technician Ray Boston, Plattsmouth<br />
Journey Line Technician Michael Snell, and Bassett Local Manager Todd Keller.
16<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
from around the state<br />
Ogallala / Connie Knapp, Customer Services Support<br />
Specialist / csknapp@nppd.com<br />
NPPD colleagues demonstrate electric safety to<br />
approximately 50 employees of the Hi-Line Co-op<br />
in Elsie for the co-op’s annual safety day. Colleagues<br />
participating in the demonstration were Sutherland<br />
Local Manager Steve Derr; Senior Line Technician<br />
Ron Harrison, Journey Line Technician Ray Diaz,<br />
and Apprentice Line Technician Cory Boyle, all of<br />
Ogallala.<br />
NPPD colleagues discuss electric safety with Hi-Line Co-op<br />
employees during the co-op’s annual safety day.<br />
“Our NPPD colleagues once again showed the<br />
professionalism and expertise in the electrical<br />
industry and explained the dangers of working around<br />
power-lines,” stated Ogallala/McCook Distribution<br />
Superintendent Brian Buhr. “Hi-Line Co-op<br />
employees cover a large area in the Ogallala/Elsie/<br />
Brule areas and are always exposed to the dangers<br />
of working near overhead lines. It is a fact that in<br />
today’s agricultural world, boom sprayers and other<br />
ag equipment tend to be much bigger and taller. It<br />
is important that they know and understand their<br />
limitations when working around power lines. This<br />
demo is a very good tool to show our customers the<br />
importance of safety around energized power lines.”<br />
Brian ended with comments pertaining to NPPD’s<br />
commitment to safety.<br />
Kearney / Lisa Willson, Administrative Assistant /<br />
lmwills@nppd.com<br />
Cole Brodine and Corey McIntosh<br />
Raising money for the Ft. Kearney Area Red Cross,<br />
Engineers Cole Brodine and Corey McIntosh served<br />
up some NPPD All Electric/No Gas Chili at the<br />
University of <strong>Nebraska</strong>-Kearney Health and Sports<br />
Center. Cooks not pictured: Account Manager Stan<br />
Clouse, Desktop Support Specialist Lisa Gleason,<br />
and Administrative Assistant Lisa Willson.<br />
Columbus / Kathy Fadschild, Administrative Assistant /<br />
klfadsc@nppd.com<br />
Amber Ewers signed<br />
a National Letter of<br />
Intent to continue<br />
her track and cross<br />
country success at the<br />
University of South<br />
Dakota. The Scotus<br />
Central Catholic High<br />
School senior is the<br />
daughter of Senior<br />
Systems Analyst Gary<br />
and Kathy Ewers.<br />
Amber Ewers
Columbus<br />
Morning<br />
Rotary<br />
Club<br />
presented<br />
its Service<br />
Above<br />
Self Award<br />
to the<br />
youngest<br />
recipient<br />
to receive<br />
it in the<br />
11 years<br />
since the<br />
recognition<br />
was started.<br />
Chelsea<br />
Haack,<br />
Chelsea Haack<br />
17, was<br />
presented with the volunteer award, which is given to<br />
non-Rotarians who give to their communities through<br />
volunteerism. Rotarian Mark Becker nominated<br />
Chelsea. She initiated Project 5:16, in which she<br />
organized a city-wide community service project for<br />
youth. She was able to organize more than a dozen<br />
city projects into a single day with more than 60<br />
volunteers. Chelsea is the daughter of Art Services<br />
Supervisor Bill Haack and his wife, Jody.<br />
on the<br />
Mark Baker, safety lead, Gerald Gentleman Station,<br />
to human performance and safety coordinator, Cooper<br />
Nuclear Station.<br />
Roger Engler, senior line technician, McCook, to<br />
planner/scheduler.<br />
Marie Kapels, resource planning coordinator,<br />
Columbus, to retail business manager.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 17<br />
Kendra Wiese, Faith Przymus and Shania Borchers<br />
The Scotus Central Catholic fifth-grade girls<br />
basketball team, the Saints, finished its season with<br />
a record of 14 wins and 8 losses, earning second<br />
place in the Fullerton tournament. Team members<br />
include Kendra Wiese, daughter of Wholesale<br />
Billing Specialist Christi and Gerry Wiese, Faith<br />
Przymus, daughter of Communications Technology<br />
Supervisor Clint and Beth Przymus, and Shania<br />
Borchers, daughter of Systems Analyst Lisa and<br />
Clete Borchers.<br />
Andrew Vaughn, control room supervisor, CNS, to<br />
scheduler.<br />
Brook Vincent, safety and technical training clerk,<br />
Doniphan, to technical training support specialist.<br />
Randy Weitzenkamp, network servers and desktop<br />
support supervisor (temporary assignment), CNS, to<br />
network servers and desktop support supervisor.
18<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
Norfolk / Mindy Leaverton, Customer Services Support<br />
Specialist / maleave@nppd.com<br />
Journey Substation Technician<br />
Delbert Morse is a member of<br />
the Iron Butt Association (IBA).<br />
The IBA is comprised of more<br />
than 50,000 members dedicated<br />
to safe, long-distance motorcycle<br />
riding. Although the IBA is<br />
based in the United States, there<br />
are several thousand members<br />
throughout the globe. One of the<br />
IBA’s popular slogans is, “The<br />
World Is Our Playground.”<br />
On March 3, Delbert set out for<br />
an adventure which would prove<br />
the world is his playground.<br />
Delbert left Norfolk in torrential<br />
weather to make the 34-hour trek<br />
across the United States to Key West, Fla. He was on<br />
his way to conquer 2 IBA recognized endurance rides,<br />
the Bun Burner Gold (1,500 miles in 24 hours) and<br />
the Saddle Sore 2K Gold. Traveling through Kansas<br />
City, St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta and Jacksonville,<br />
Delbert arrived in Key West only to find out he was 15<br />
miles short of his 2,000 mile goal forcing him to head<br />
back toward the mainland of Big Pine Key.<br />
Delbert Morse<br />
All IBA rides need to be verified through signatures<br />
and receipts. Once Delbert’s rides are verified, he will<br />
be one of 2,459 riders to complete the Bun Burner<br />
Gold and only the second person to complete the<br />
Saddle Sore 2K Gold. During Delbert’s travels he<br />
was able to do some site-seeing, visit with family<br />
members, and visit retired NPPD employees Dave<br />
Blankenbaker and Sid Churchill, who reside in<br />
Florida and Arkansas, respectively.<br />
Journey Line Technician Gary and Dawn Nelson<br />
are partnering with the Northeast <strong>Nebraska</strong> Humane<br />
Society, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in<br />
building a new facility for unwanted/misfortunate<br />
pets in Northeast <strong>Nebraska</strong>. More than a year ago,<br />
the couple’s young son, Stevie, was heartbroken<br />
after his two charcoal Labrador Retrievers, Bo and<br />
Luke, disappeared. The family posted reward signs<br />
throughout Northeast <strong>Nebraska</strong> and spread the word<br />
through radio and social media. It is believed the dogs<br />
separated and were picked up miles down the road,<br />
near a highway that crosses northern <strong>Nebraska</strong>. Now,<br />
six-year-old Stevie is committed to doing everything<br />
he can to raise money and supplies for “lost” pets. At<br />
left, Stevie is pictured with his dog, Gage.
South Sioux City / Kris Cross, Distribution Support<br />
Specialist / kccross@nppd.com<br />
Makayla Murphy<br />
The Homer Lady Knights basketball team captured<br />
the Class C2 title at the <strong>Nebraska</strong> state basketball<br />
tournament at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in<br />
Lincoln. Homer downed Crofton 49-45 in the state<br />
finals for the championship despite being the wildcard<br />
entry in the class. This is the first time in school<br />
history the Lady Knights made it to state. Makayla<br />
Murphy, a freshman, was a member of the team. She<br />
is the daughter of Homer Local Manager Tim and<br />
Penny Murphy.<br />
Send Around the State<br />
items to your local<br />
reporter, found on the<br />
inside cover of Energy<br />
Insight, or to Managing<br />
Editor Jill Novicki.<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 19<br />
NPPD has energy experts with<br />
insights on topics such as...<br />
...<strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong>, Wind, Renewables,<br />
Energy Careers, Rates, Strategic Planning<br />
& Energy Efficiency to name just a few.<br />
And now, with a click of a button<br />
you can arrange through our speakers bureau<br />
to have our experts speak to community<br />
organizations, civic groups and schools within<br />
our service area.<br />
www.nppd.com
20<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
M A Y<br />
j u L Y<br />
of events<br />
6 Annual Spring NPPD Auction<br />
York County Fairgrounds<br />
York<br />
12-13 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
24 Rate Review Committee /<br />
<strong>Power</strong> Resources Advisory Board /<br />
Customer Meeting<br />
York Holiday Inn<br />
30 Memorial Day Holiday<br />
j u N E<br />
9-10 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
28 Rate Review Committee /<br />
<strong>Power</strong> Resources Advisory Board /<br />
Customer Meeting<br />
4 NPPD Holiday<br />
14-15 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
22 Rate Review Committee /<br />
Customer Meeting<br />
Line Technician Training<br />
If you are interested in any of the following<br />
training sessions, please contact Joe Sunday at<br />
402.362.7355 or Nick Ayers at 308.236.2220.<br />
Registration will be handled on a first come, first<br />
serve basis.<br />
AUGUST<br />
Underground Residential Distribution<br />
Aug. 30-Sept. 1 at York<br />
8:30 a.m. – Noon<br />
Cost - $445<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
Personal Protective Grounding School<br />
Sept. 7 at Kearney<br />
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.<br />
Cost - $199<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
Meter Theory<br />
Nov. 1-2 at York<br />
8:30 a.m. - Noon<br />
Cost - $250<br />
DECEMBER<br />
Transformer Theory<br />
Dec. 6-8 at York<br />
8:30 a.m. - Noon<br />
Cost - $350<br />
Note: Dates, times and locations<br />
are subject to change due to<br />
number of attendees.
RETIREES<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong> 21<br />
The Annual Spring NPPD Auction will<br />
be held Friday, <strong>May</strong> 6th at 10 a.m.<br />
at the York County Fairgrounds<br />
in York, <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
Listings will be available online six weeks before the auction at...<br />
Can’t make it to the<br />
auction? Go online and<br />
bid from your computer on the<br />
larger items!<br />
Columbus Energizers<br />
will meet <strong>May</strong> 18 and <strong>June</strong> 16 at<br />
8:30 a.m. at Stack ‘N Steak.<br />
Paul Badje, (402) 564-8863<br />
tailor@neb.rr.com<br />
Klassy Kilowatts will meet<br />
<strong>May</strong> 16, <strong>June</strong> 20 and July 18<br />
at 12:30 p.m. CST at the North<br />
Platte Airport.<br />
Tom Pendelton, (308) 532-5040<br />
tmpen@hamilton.net<br />
stockauctionco.com<br />
Low Voltage Panhandlers<br />
will meet <strong>June</strong> 21 at the Farm and<br />
Ranch Museum for a 6 p.m. carry<br />
in dinner.<br />
Don Koralewski, (308) 783-1851<br />
donaldkoralewski340@gmail.com<br />
Northern Lights have no<br />
meetings currently scheduled.<br />
Bob Anderson, (402) 494-6843<br />
sweetrusty5961@yahoo.com<br />
NPPD Antiques will meet<br />
<strong>May</strong> 2, <strong>June</strong> 6 and July 5 at 8:30<br />
a.m. at Country Cooking in<br />
Beatrice.<br />
Dot Cornelius, (402) 228-0494<br />
Retired & Rewired have no<br />
meetings currently scheduled.<br />
Make plans to attend your local retiree meeting.
22<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
We will<br />
remember<br />
CNS Electrical Superintendent Roger Alexander and<br />
CNS System Engineer Eric Fulton on the death of<br />
their mother and grandmother, respectively, Janice<br />
Alexander<br />
Mort Hough, York account manager, on the death of<br />
his mother, Vera<br />
Retired CNS Operating Experience Specialist David<br />
Shrader, CNS Energy Supply Fire/Safety Lead<br />
John Shrader, and CNS Maintenance Mechanic Ty<br />
Shrader, on the death of David and John’s father and<br />
Ty’s grandfather, Charles<br />
Tom Zimmerman, Columbus procurement specialist,<br />
on the death of his father, Vernon<br />
Glenn Keizer, Kearney planner/scheduler, on the<br />
death of his brother, Leon<br />
Mike Jorgensen, Kearney area storekeeper, on the<br />
death of his father-in-law, Lynn Youngquist<br />
Eric Fulton, CNS system engineer, on the death of<br />
his grandmother, Joan Fulton<br />
Retired Sheldon Station Shift Leader Dave Ellison<br />
and Sheldon Station Engineering Specialist Mat<br />
Ellison, on the death of Dave’s father and Mat’s<br />
grandfather, Marvin<br />
Helen Rosendahl, retired Columbus accounts payable<br />
specialist, on the death of her husband, Gerald<br />
Mike Siedlik, YOC construction services engineer, on<br />
the death of his mother-in-law, Rita Dworak<br />
our sympathies go out to the following families<br />
Kevin O’Brien, Bloomfield local manager, on the<br />
death of his father, Larry<br />
Jeanne Schieffer, Columbus corporate<br />
communications and public relations manager, on the<br />
death of her mother, Ann Christensen<br />
Ron Bender, Doniphan senior systems analyst, on the<br />
death of his father-in-law, Ben Czaplewski<br />
Dan Buman, CNS director of engineering, on the<br />
death of his mother, Irene<br />
Jim Webster, CNS nuclear projects manager, on the<br />
death of his father,<br />
Mark Baker, CNS human performance and safety<br />
coordinator, on the death of his mother, Letty Fought<br />
Randy Carlock, Canaday Station plant technician,<br />
on the death of his father-in-law, Lucas “Caddy”<br />
Memmelaar<br />
Bob Slama, CNS maintenance shop specialist, on the<br />
death of his father, Albert<br />
Deborah Dunn, CNS senior engineering scheduler,<br />
on the death of her mother, Doris Ziska<br />
Bill Kosch, Lincoln assistant fossil fuels manager, on<br />
the death of his mother-in-law, LaVina Voboril<br />
E. Lee Sauter, Sheldon Station operations training<br />
specialist, on the death of his father-in-law, Kenneth<br />
Fees
ENERGY INSIGHT • MAY / juNE <strong>2011</strong><br />
Former Board Member Les Taylor Passes Away<br />
Les Taylor<br />
Retired Columbus<br />
Transmission and<br />
Distribution Standards<br />
Supervisor Bill Wrenn,<br />
92, of Columbus, passed<br />
away Feb. 7. Bill joined<br />
the <strong>District</strong> in 1975 and<br />
retired in 1990. He is<br />
survived by daughters,<br />
Susan (William) Haney<br />
and Anne (Frederick<br />
Smalley) Wrenn; two<br />
Bill Wrenn<br />
grandchildren and four<br />
great-grandchildren; and a brother, Albert (Shirley)<br />
Wartchow.<br />
Retired Aurora Meter Reader Carl Procter, 75, of<br />
Aurora, passed away Feb. 17. Carl began his NPPD<br />
career in 1963 and retired in 1993. He is survived<br />
by wife, Alice; sons, Richard and Casey Procter, and<br />
Mike (Ann) Vettel; three grandchildren; mother,<br />
Ophelia Neal; brother, Charles Neal; and sister-in-law,<br />
Jerilyn Daughtery.<br />
Former Board member Les Taylor, 79, of York, died Feb. 26 in Phoenix, Ariz.<br />
Taylor was a member of NPPD’s Board of Directors from 1979 through 2002,<br />
serving as Chairman in 1984 and 1993.<br />
Les is survived by his wife, Jan; daughters, Lesley Langner and Sandra Goodman;<br />
eight grandchildren; and a sister, Lois Bradley.<br />
Retired Kearney Customer Care Supervisor Raymond<br />
Gembala, 88, of Kearney, passed away Feb. 27. Ray<br />
began his utility career in 1957 and retired in 1987. He<br />
is survived by his wife, Rita; son, Ray Jr. (Marilyn);<br />
daughters, Mary Ellen (Craig) Burchess, Kathy (Bill)<br />
Mizner, and Cindy (Bobby) Hugg; 10 grandchildren<br />
and six great-grandchildren; sister, Irene Klausen; and<br />
brother, Jim.<br />
Retired York Project<br />
Inspector Lee Hamling, 74,<br />
of York, passed away<br />
March 17. Lee began his<br />
NPPD career in 1961<br />
and retired in 1999. He<br />
is survived by wife,<br />
Joyce; sons, Dave (Lori),<br />
Dean (Sherry), John, and<br />
Lee Hamling<br />
Brian (Reneé); daughter,<br />
Nancy (Dave) Dickey; 12 grandchildren, two stepgrandchildren,<br />
one great-grandson, and two stepgreat-grandchildren;<br />
mother and step-father, Clara and<br />
Bob Schmitz; and brother, LeRoy.<br />
23
P.O. Box 499<br />
Columbus, NE 68602-0499<br />
Address Service Requested<br />
This spring,<br />
LOOK BEFOrE<br />
YOU LEAF.<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
COLUMBUS NE<br />
PERMIT NO. 3<br />
You can help minimize power outages by simply taking care to select and plant the right sized trees<br />
near overhead power lines and padmount transformers. Your wise decision now will support growth<br />
of easily maintained, healthy trees, and prevent future removal of mature trees.<br />
Download a FREE Energy Landscaping guide<br />
at nppd.com/treeprogram<br />
Together with your local public power utility.