January / February 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District
January / February 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District
January / February 2009 - 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>January</strong> / <strong>February</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
Volume 2 Issue 1
2<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</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 />
Dennis Rasmussen, Chairman<br />
Larry Linstrom, First Vice Chairman<br />
Ron Larsen, Second Vice Chairman<br />
Mary Harding, Secretary<br />
Wayne Boyd<br />
Jerry Chlopek<br />
Virg Froehlich<br />
Ken Kunze<br />
Darrell Nelson<br />
Ed Schrock<br />
Gary Thompson<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<br />
Photography<br />
Gary Pelster<br />
Contributors<br />
Mark Becker<br />
Mark Miller<br />
Jeanne Schieffer<br />
Graphic Design<br />
Bill Haack<br />
Dan Zastera<br />
Reporters<br />
Marjorie Allen, Chadron<br />
Darla Wait, Chadron<br />
Kathy Fadschild, Columbus<br />
Glenn Troester, Cooper Nuclear Station<br />
Kathy Nelson, Doniphan Control Center<br />
Lynn Phagan, Gerald Gentleman Station<br />
Lisa Willson, Kearney<br />
Bobbie Morford, 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 />
Cindy Klein, York<br />
3 The Silent Killer<br />
You can’t see or smell carbon<br />
monoxide, but at high levels,<br />
it can kill a person in minutes.<br />
Take note of these safety tips;<br />
they might save your life.<br />
4 President’s Message<br />
All employees have a stake in<br />
NPPD’s <strong>2009</strong> business plan.<br />
Read what Ron Asche has to<br />
say about the plan.<br />
6 Chartered Territory<br />
The Senate is debating LB53<br />
which could change NPPD’s<br />
chartered territory to more<br />
closely align with its service<br />
territory.<br />
8 Turning Trash into<br />
Fuel<br />
A methane-mining project at the<br />
David City Landfill is providing<br />
energy to Henningsen Foods of<br />
David City.<br />
10 Brightening Our<br />
House<br />
By replacing aging, inefficient<br />
lighting at three of its power<br />
plants, NPPD realizes energy<br />
and cost savings and “walks<br />
the energy efficiency talk.”<br />
16 News From Around<br />
The State<br />
Read about recent<br />
accomplishments of employees<br />
and their children.<br />
19 Customer News<br />
Tom Rudloff is the new<br />
manager of Elkhorn Rural<br />
PPD; line technician training<br />
schedule.<br />
20 Retiree News<br />
Make plans to attend your<br />
next retiree meeting and other<br />
retiree news.<br />
About the Cover:<br />
brrrrrr -- A couple of cold<br />
days in a row brought record<br />
usage to NPPD’s system. At<br />
7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, the<br />
<strong>District</strong> set a new all-time winter<br />
peak of 2,129 megawatts. The<br />
record was surpassed at 8 a.m.<br />
Monday, Dec. 15 at 2,160 MW.<br />
Prior to that, the last record<br />
peak was 2,061 MW set in<br />
<strong>January</strong> 2008.<br />
1<br />
1 Blocked chimney<br />
2 Portable heater<br />
3 Fireplace<br />
4 Gas refrigerator<br />
5 Kitchen range or cooktop vent<br />
9<br />
3 4 5<br />
Carbon monoxide comes from any fuel-burning appliance<br />
that is malfunctioning or improperly installed.<br />
8<br />
Potential carbon monoxide sources in the home<br />
7<br />
Furnace/laundry<br />
room in basement<br />
Bedroom<br />
6 Grill used indoors<br />
7 Cracked heat exchanger in furnace<br />
8 Disconnected water heater vent<br />
9 Gas clothes dryer<br />
10 Automobile exhaust<br />
2<br />
6<br />
TheSilentKiller<br />
Carbon monoxide<br />
symptoms<br />
Symptoms of carbon monoxide<br />
poisoning are similar to<br />
those of flu: headaches,<br />
fatigue, nausea, dizzy spells,<br />
confusion and irritability.<br />
10<br />
Carbon monoxide<br />
detector locations<br />
At least two are recommended –<br />
one in the furnace room, and one<br />
near sleeping areas.<br />
Garage<br />
SOURCE: The Associated Press<br />
D A V E C R O Y / T H E W O R L D - H E R A L D<br />
You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high<br />
levels it can kill a person in minutes.<br />
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever<br />
any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood<br />
or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel<br />
are maintained and used properly, the amount of<br />
CO produced is usually not hazardous. However,<br />
if appliances are not working properly or are used<br />
incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result.<br />
Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from<br />
CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly<br />
used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO<br />
produced by idling cars.<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> ranked No. 1 in accidental carbon<br />
monoxide deaths per capita, according to a December<br />
2007 federal study. The report, by the federal Centers<br />
for Disease Control and Prevention, speculated that<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong>ns’ use of gas-powered furnaces, portable<br />
generators, alternative heating such as propane stoves,<br />
and fuel-burning machinery caused many of the 45<br />
deaths over the six years studied.<br />
Fetuses, infants, elderly people, and people with<br />
anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease<br />
can be especially susceptible. Be safe. Practice the<br />
DO’s and DON’Ts of carbon monoxide.<br />
Prevention is the Key to Avoiding Carbon<br />
Monoxide Poisoning<br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 3<br />
DON’T idle the car in<br />
a garage -- even if the<br />
garage door to the outside<br />
is open. Fumes can build<br />
up very quickly in the<br />
garage and living area of<br />
your home.<br />
DON’T use a gas oven to<br />
heat your home, even for<br />
a short time.<br />
DON’T ever use a<br />
charcoal grill indoors --<br />
even in a fireplace.<br />
DON’T sleep in any room<br />
with an unvented gas or<br />
kerosene space heater.<br />
DON’T use any gasolinepowered<br />
engines (mowers,<br />
weed trimmers, snow<br />
blowers, chain saws, small<br />
engines or generators) in<br />
enclosed spaces.<br />
DON’T ignore symptoms,<br />
particularly if more than<br />
one person is feeling<br />
them. You could lose<br />
consciousness and die if<br />
you do nothing.<br />
DO have your fuelburning<br />
appliances<br />
-- including oil and gas<br />
furnaces, gas water<br />
heaters, gas ranges<br />
and ovens, gas dryers,<br />
gas or kerosene space<br />
heaters, fireplaces,<br />
and wood stoves --<br />
inspected by a trained<br />
professional at the<br />
beginning of every<br />
heating season. Make<br />
certain that the flues<br />
and chimneys are<br />
connected, in good<br />
condition, and not<br />
blocked.<br />
DO choose appliances<br />
that vent their<br />
fumes to the outside<br />
whenever possible,<br />
have them properly<br />
installed, and maintain<br />
them according<br />
to manufacturers’<br />
instructions.<br />
DO read and follow<br />
all of the instructions<br />
that accompany any<br />
fuel-burning device.<br />
If you cannot avoid<br />
using an unvented<br />
gas or kerosene space<br />
heater, carefully follow<br />
the cautions that come<br />
with the device. Use<br />
the proper fuel and<br />
keep doors to the rest<br />
of the house open.<br />
Crack a window to<br />
ensure enough air for<br />
ventilation and proper<br />
fuel-burning.<br />
DO call the Consumer<br />
Product Safety<br />
Commission (1-800-<br />
638-2772) at www.<br />
cpsc.gov for more<br />
information on how<br />
to reduce your risks<br />
from CO and other<br />
combustion gases and<br />
particles.<br />
Source: U.S.<br />
Environmental<br />
Protection Agency
4 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 5<br />
from the<br />
PRESIDENT & CEO<br />
RON ASCHE<br />
THE <strong>2009</strong> NPPD<br />
BUSINESS PLAN<br />
DEMANDS<br />
SHARED<br />
COMMITMENT<br />
Ingredients<br />
of<br />
Success<br />
School lunches were an adventure for me when I was young.<br />
Some meals were hard to recognize, but my favorite – fresh,<br />
hot pizza – was a treat, especially if layered with my favorite<br />
ingredients. I remember actually looking forward to school<br />
lunch on those days and biting into the slice. When we are<br />
young, our focus is on what is in front of us. As adults, we<br />
recognize the time and commitment it takes to make something<br />
that others enjoy.<br />
Each year, NPPD’s employees<br />
work hard to make electricity.<br />
Our customers may not recognize<br />
the time and commitment<br />
involved. They may not know the<br />
combination of ingredients that<br />
go into producing and delivering<br />
electricity to power their homes<br />
and businesses. They just know<br />
electricity is there when they need<br />
it.<br />
But NPPD’s employees and<br />
wholesale customers know it<br />
takes planning, goals,<br />
objectives, and a shared<br />
commitment to deliver this<br />
essential service that drives the<br />
economy and our lives.<br />
Similar to good pizza,<br />
NPPD’s <strong>2009</strong> Corporate<br />
Business Plan must include<br />
key ingredients or “focus areas”<br />
that will demand our time, if we<br />
are to be successful. While each<br />
initiative in the plan is important,<br />
we know several will receive<br />
considerable attention.<br />
The first is your personal<br />
accountability for the choices you<br />
make to be safe in <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Setting corporate goals and<br />
reporting results alone won’t<br />
make us safer. Individually, we<br />
make decisions—sometimes in<br />
minutes, sometimes in a fraction<br />
of a second—that can result in<br />
a dent, a few stitches, a lengthy<br />
hospital stay, or even death. While<br />
we should always watch out for<br />
our fellow colleagues, I want you<br />
to focus on achieving a goal of<br />
ZERO safety incidences<br />
for yourself. If you are a retiree or<br />
a family member of an employee,<br />
share this goal with us. Choose<br />
to be safe, every minute of every<br />
day.<br />
Secondly, the<br />
improvements and<br />
additions we are making<br />
to our infrastructure and<br />
equipment will increase service<br />
reliability. Projects include<br />
improving the maintenance<br />
practices on two, emergency<br />
diesel generators at Cooper<br />
Nuclear Station; modifying<br />
database and information<br />
systems to support a future<br />
“smart” grid that will<br />
deliver electricity using digital<br />
technology, saving energy and<br />
cost; installing a statewide radio<br />
system and automated meter<br />
reading equipment. And we<br />
can’t forget the construction of<br />
several transmission<br />
line projects, including the<br />
completion of an 80-mile, high<br />
voltage power line between<br />
Columbus and Lincoln. By<br />
maintaining and adding to our<br />
infrastructure, we make a reliable<br />
system even stronger and provide<br />
security for our customers to go<br />
about their business.<br />
NPPD’s renewable<br />
energy and energy<br />
efficiency programs will be<br />
more visible than ever. If we are<br />
to keep rates low for customers,<br />
we need to educate, explore,<br />
and partner with homeowners<br />
and businesses on solutions that<br />
enable them to be more energy<br />
efficient. If we do this well, we<br />
will see more customers installing<br />
Energy Star® refrigerators, highefficient<br />
heat pumps, and energy<br />
saving irrigation equipment. The<br />
<strong>District</strong> will lead the way when<br />
we begin construction of the<br />
Norfolk Operations Center using<br />
highly efficient LEED (Leadership<br />
in Energy and Environmental<br />
Design) standards.<br />
We also need to continue our<br />
focus on undertaking more<br />
renewable energy<br />
projects to further diversify<br />
our energy resource mix. Our goal<br />
is to achieve 10 percent of our<br />
energy requirements from new,<br />
renewable resources by 2020.<br />
For <strong>2009</strong>, we expect to have<br />
about 2 percent or our energy<br />
requirements met from new<br />
renewable resources, or double<br />
what we were in 2008.<br />
Environmental and<br />
regulatory issues, including<br />
various legislative proposals at<br />
both the Federal and State levels,<br />
will require a significant focus<br />
in <strong>2009</strong>. We are monitoring<br />
legislation that could mandate<br />
renewable energy additions<br />
and limit the amount of carbon<br />
emissions at our fossil generation<br />
plants. NPPD will also develop a<br />
preliminary design for additional<br />
pollution control equipment<br />
at Gerald Gentleman Station,<br />
complete an initial loading of<br />
Cooper’s used fuel into dry cask<br />
storage canisters, and continue<br />
work on Sheldon Station’s<br />
improved water discharge system.<br />
New leadership in Washington<br />
and involvement by the State<br />
Energy Office are certain to offer<br />
guidance, but NPPD has a solid<br />
plan for moving forward and<br />
making <strong>2009</strong> a great year. Each<br />
of us has a piece of the pizza pie.<br />
So, eye your slice, and let’s get<br />
started.
6 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 7<br />
Chartered Territory<br />
...understanding the issues in LB53<br />
Sen. Deb Fischer introduced Legislative Bill 53 in the Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 22. The<br />
bill would change state statutes relating to the chartered territory of public power districts. Passage<br />
of the bill would amend state statutes to align NPPD’s chartered territory more closely with its<br />
wholesale and retail service territory, thus affecting areas of the state where citizens currently vote<br />
and run for NPPD’s Board of Directors. The following Q&A with Vice President and General Counsel<br />
John McClure delves deeper into why NPPD supports this bill.<br />
In regard to chartered territory, can<br />
you explain the current state statutes?<br />
From the original establishment of public power<br />
districts in 1933 until 1986, there was one set of<br />
statutes governing chartered territory. In 1986, a<br />
statutory change established two separate sets of<br />
requirements. One set of requirements governs public<br />
power districts operating in 50 counties or fewer, and<br />
the other one governs public power districts operating<br />
in more than 50 counties. NPPD is the only public<br />
power district in the state that operates in more than<br />
50 counties<br />
Why does NPPD<br />
want to see a change<br />
in the state statutes?<br />
LB 53 would eliminate<br />
the “more than 50 counties”<br />
requirements, thus returning<br />
the statutes to one set of<br />
requirements for all public<br />
power districts. It also<br />
adds a provision to require<br />
municipalities and other<br />
wholesale customers to<br />
purchase 50 percent or more<br />
of their firm wholesale annual<br />
energy from a public power<br />
district to be included in the<br />
chartered territory of the<br />
supplying district.<br />
What is NPPD’s current chartered<br />
territory?<br />
NPPD’s current chartered territory is the entire state<br />
except for Douglas and Sarpy counties and five first<br />
class cities which are not electrically interconnected<br />
with NPPD—Alliance, Blair, Fremont, <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
City and Sidney. These exclusions are the only ones<br />
permitted by current law. All other areas of the state<br />
must be included, even if NPPD does not serve<br />
those areas directly at retail or indirectly through a<br />
wholesale customer.<br />
DIRECTOR SUBDIVISIONS OF THE AREA AND TERRITORY OF THE<br />
NEBRASKA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT<br />
How would amending the state statutes<br />
affect NPPD’s Board of Directors?<br />
Currently, NPPD’s chartered territory includes some<br />
areas where the citizens do not receive their electricity<br />
either directly or indirectly from NPPD; however, the<br />
people in these areas still have the authority to vote<br />
and run for NPPD’s Board of Directors. NPPD is<br />
governed today by an 11-member, popularly elected<br />
Board of Directors. Each Director is elected from one<br />
of 11 subdivisions of the chartered territory which<br />
include one or more counties. The population of those<br />
subdivisions—based on the U.S. Census which is<br />
conducted every 10 years—must be approximately the<br />
same.<br />
The issue before us is that customers who rely<br />
exclusively on NPPD for power supply are at risk<br />
of seeing their voices diluted by citizens who have<br />
limited or no direct financial stake in the outcome<br />
of NPPD’s actions. After the 2010 U.S. Census is<br />
released, areas that have limited or no long-term<br />
power supply contracts with NPPD—such as Lincoln,<br />
Grand Island and Hastings—could have an increased<br />
voice in NPPD governance simply because of the shift<br />
in population to larger communities.<br />
As drafted, LB53 would result in the elimination of<br />
the chartered territory where three directors currently<br />
reside (two directors in Lincoln and one in Broken<br />
Bow), thus eliminating their positions on NPPD’s<br />
Board.<br />
Now that the bill has been introduced<br />
and advanced by the Natural Resources<br />
Committee, what happens next?<br />
The bill went to General File, which is the first<br />
time the full Legislature has the opportunity to<br />
debate and vote on bills. On Monday, Feb. 9, LB 53<br />
was advanced from General File to Select File by a<br />
vote of 36-2. Select File is the second debating and<br />
voting stage. This step allows another opportunity<br />
for amendment. Bills on Select File may be killed<br />
or advanced to the next stage, Final Reading. The<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Constitution requires that before final<br />
passage, all bills must be read aloud in their entirety<br />
by the Clerk of the Legislature, unless three-fifths (30<br />
members) of the Legislature vote not to do so. After<br />
the bill is passed on Final Reading, the Governor has<br />
five days to decide to either approve or veto the bill.<br />
The Legislature can override the bill, but it takes the<br />
vote of 30 senators.<br />
RESOLuTION<br />
Of NEbRaSKa PubLIC POWER DISTRICT<br />
No. 08-151<br />
adopted: December 12, 2008<br />
WHEREAS, it is the mission of <strong>Nebraska</strong> <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong> (NPPD) to safely<br />
generate and deliver low-cost, reliable energy and provide outstanding customer<br />
service; and<br />
WHEREAS, NPPD generally supports legislation that sustains <strong>Nebraska</strong>’s public<br />
power system and protects the interests of electric consumers in <strong>Nebraska</strong>, and<br />
WHEREAS, NPPD generally opposes legislation and regulation that impose broadbased<br />
mandates that do not account for local conditions, experience, evidence, and<br />
performance.<br />
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED with reference to the <strong>2009</strong> sessions of the<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Legislature and the 111th U.S. Congress and related regulatory actions,<br />
that the <strong>District</strong>:<br />
1.<br />
Opposes legislation which would jeopardize public power.<br />
2. Supports water-related legislation and regulation designed to protect both<br />
groundwater and surface water needs of the <strong>District</strong>, and will consider the<br />
surface water and groundwater needs of its customers as it formulates<br />
positions.<br />
3. Supports legislation which provides increased funding for Renewable Energy<br />
Production Incentives (REPI), or for other state and federal incentives<br />
comparable to those afforded investor-owned utilities and other private entities<br />
for renewable energy projects.<br />
4. Opposes legislation mandating a renewable portfolio standard without<br />
guaranteed adequate incentives to carry out the mandate in a cost-effective<br />
manner.<br />
5. Opposes the sale of federally-owned and operated generation and<br />
transmission facilities.<br />
6. Supports continued sale of Western Area <strong>Power</strong> Administration power at costof-service<br />
prices.<br />
7. Supports federal legislative and regulatory actions which advance the<br />
development of a high-level nuclear waste management/disposal facility.<br />
8. Supports economy-wide solutions to address greenhouse gases based on<br />
proven science, which for the electric industry, focuses on early commercially<br />
viable technology development, expansion of energy efficiency and renewable<br />
technologies, and a diverse generating mix to reduce CO2 emissions.<br />
9. Opposes expanding the applicability of taxes/fees on public power districts.<br />
10. Supports state environmental legislation and regulation that is equivalent to<br />
federal requirements unless it can be demonstrated that federal regulations do<br />
not adequately protect public health and the environment.<br />
11. Supports a modification of the public power district procurement statutes to<br />
increase the sealed bid threshold from $100,000 to $500,000 for public power<br />
districts with annual revenues in excess of $500,000,000.<br />
12. Supports legislation which reduces statutory barriers to receive <strong>Power</strong> Review<br />
Board approval for renewable energy projects.<br />
13. Supports legislation which requires that wholesale customers of a public power<br />
district receive at least 50 percent of their annual power and energy under a<br />
firm power contract in order to be included within the chartered territory of the<br />
supplying district.<br />
14. Supports legislation allowing officer salaries to be approved by the board with<br />
a majority vote.<br />
* An original motion was made to approve the <strong>2009</strong> Legislative Policy Resolution, to<br />
include Item Nos. 1-12, and Item No. 14; this motion carried by a vote of 11-0.<br />
A second motion was made for the approval of the <strong>2009</strong> Legislative Policy<br />
Resolution, Item No. 13, which passed by a vote of 8-3, and 1 abstention.
8 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 9<br />
Butler County<br />
methane project turns<br />
trash into energy<br />
If “one man’s trash is another<br />
man’s treasure,” then that adage<br />
rings true for the 64-acre Butler<br />
County Landfill near David City.<br />
MINING<br />
Timberline Energy of Denver, Colo.,<br />
constructed and is operating a methane<br />
recovery and processing project at the landfill.<br />
Methane gas – produced from decomposing garbage<br />
– is sent through a buried pipeline to Henningsen<br />
Foods, an egg-processing plant in David City. The<br />
clean methane provides a renewable and sustainable<br />
fuel source, displacing natural gas to the plant’s main<br />
steam boiler.<br />
While carbon dioxide is the main gas responsible<br />
for global warming, methane is also a contributor. The<br />
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that<br />
landfills account for 25 percent of all methane releases<br />
linked to human activity.<br />
“Given that all landfills generate gas, it makes<br />
sense to use this gas for the beneficial purpose of<br />
energy generation rather than emitting it into the<br />
atmosphere,” said Jay Hopper with Timberline<br />
Energy.<br />
Henningsen Foods is pleased with the results it is<br />
seeing from using methane gas. “Not only is methane<br />
a renewable fuel source, it is also more cost-effective<br />
than natural gas,” said Darrell Kahler, assistant plant<br />
manager. “We’ve seen several thousand dollars of<br />
savings each month since we began taking advantage<br />
of methane. It’s a win-win situation for our plant and<br />
the environment.”<br />
Timberline built a facility near the landfill to house a<br />
compressor and small office. There, Facility Manager<br />
Ryan Nelson spends his days. On a normal day,<br />
Nelson does routine preventive maintenance. Because<br />
the compressor runs 24 hours a day, when Nelson<br />
is not in the office, he is on call. The plant has a<br />
sophisticated electronic system which monitors every<br />
aspect of its operation and actually calls Nelson’s cell<br />
phone to report any concerns.<br />
Butler <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong> built a new electric<br />
service line—about 1/8 of a mile—to power the<br />
compressor building. Timberline reimbursed the<br />
power district for the line construction. “From the<br />
time we were approached by Timberline, the planning<br />
and construction for the line took about a year,”<br />
explained Mike Hiatt, operations manager at the<br />
utility. “The line was up by October, 2008.”<br />
The compressor pumps methane from a system<br />
of 16 wells that were drilled into the oldest part of<br />
the landfill. The wells are 30 to 90 feet deep. The<br />
compressor takes the moisture and other particles out<br />
of the gas. Then, the gas travels through a six-inch<br />
line approximately six miles to the Henningsen Food<br />
plant. The system has an estimated lifespan of 40<br />
years.<br />
The city of David City provides electric service to<br />
Henningsen Foods. The methane-mining operation<br />
currently provides more fuel than Henningsen can use;<br />
The compressor at right pumps methane from a system of 16 wells at the<br />
David City Landfill. Below from L to R: Grey Tilden, Timberline president; Jay<br />
Hopper, Timberline CEO; Gov. Dave Heineman; Willow Holoubek, Butler<br />
County Development; Mary Plettner, NPPD; Dana Trowbridge, David City<br />
mayor; Joe Johnson, David City city administrator; Kelly Danielson, Butler<br />
County Landfill/Waste Connections, Inc.; Darrell Kahler, Henningsen Foods.<br />
however, City Administrator Joe Johnson reported that<br />
David City is looking for ways to use the excess fuel.<br />
“Because the city owns the pipeline and leases<br />
it back to Timberline Energy, others could benefit<br />
from the pipeline as well,” explained Johnson. “The<br />
availability of methane in the area is attractive to<br />
economic development prospects. We hope to help<br />
David City grow with this alternative energy option.”<br />
A ribbon-cutting was held for the Timberline facility<br />
in November. Gov. Dave Heineman joined local<br />
officials to mark the occasion. Heineman said at the<br />
ceremony that <strong>Nebraska</strong> is one of the states committed<br />
to the 25-by-25 goal of getting 25 percent of its<br />
energy from renewable resources by the year 2025.<br />
“And here you are doing your part,” he said.<br />
Both the city of David City and Butler <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong><br />
<strong>District</strong> are NPPD wholesale customers.
10 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 11<br />
By replacing aging, inefficient lighting at a trio of our power plants, NPPD realizes energy<br />
and cost savings and “walks the energy efficiency talk.” If NPPD implements all of the<br />
recommended lighting upgrades at Gerald Gentleman Station, Sheldon Station and Canaday<br />
Station, an estimated savings of 3.3 million kilowatt-hours a year could be realized.<br />
To Mike Teetor, energy efficiency consultant<br />
at York, it was practically a slam dunk. Teetor<br />
parlayed experience working at a power plant earlier<br />
in his electric utility career into a belief there were<br />
efficiency gains to be made at the places power is<br />
generated. “I could see a lot of potential for energy<br />
savings, especially in plant lighting systems,” he<br />
explained, “since all power plants are lit year-round,<br />
24 hours, seven-days-a-week.”<br />
In a rare case of serendipity, Teetor’s insight, a<br />
national (and NPPD) push for energy efficiency<br />
and conservation, and NPPD’s implementation<br />
of its Domestic Energy Research and<br />
Application Initiative experienced convergence<br />
and resulted in the <strong>District</strong>’s Fossil Generation<br />
Stations Relamping Project.<br />
What really brought about updating the fossil power<br />
plants, Teetor remembers, was a general feeling by<br />
NPPD’s Energy Efficiency team, led by Ken Curry,<br />
that NPPD needed to position itself as a leader in<br />
energy efficiency. “We were performing energy audits<br />
at NPPD’s Customer Services and Delivery buildings,<br />
when someone brought up the idea that we, as energy<br />
consultants, need to look at all of NPPD’s facilities –<br />
including the power plants. We thought, ‘Let’s find out<br />
what we can do to make those stations more efficient.’<br />
“In October 2007, we could see there would be a<br />
lot of savings changing-out inefficient lighting at our<br />
four Fossil Energy Supply generating stations,” Teetor<br />
continued. The four power plants he identified are<br />
Gerald Gentleman Station, Sheldon Station, Canaday<br />
Station and Beatrice <strong>Power</strong> Station. “In a couple<br />
of our older stations, Sheldon and Canaday, they<br />
had a lot of incandescent and old fluorescent lamps<br />
throughout the facilities, as well as some mercury<br />
vapor lamps,” he commented.<br />
“(The project) was a team effort,” Teetor continued.<br />
The team included, among others, Energy Efficiency<br />
Consultant Josh Rich, Sheldon Project Engineer<br />
Dave Darnell, electricians and plant managers at<br />
the individual power stations, and lighting consultants<br />
from Graybar, Holophane and General Electric.<br />
“Really, the project came about because of the<br />
belief we have at NPPD that if we are going to ask our<br />
customers to be energy efficient, then NPPD facilities<br />
should be, too,” Teetor said. “The fact that we save<br />
money and ultimately have additional energy to sell in<br />
by the Domestic Energy Research and Application<br />
Initiative. The Initiative began in 2005. Its mission is<br />
to “learn how to use domestic energy resources in a<br />
clean, low-cost way to maintain our standard of living<br />
for our children and grandchildren.” The Initiative is<br />
funded by NPPD’s customers. “The relamping project<br />
is a great opportunity for the <strong>District</strong> to demonstrate<br />
efficient lighting technologies in our own facilities,”<br />
said Corporate Nuclear Business Manager Alan<br />
Dostal. “We need to provide leadership in this<br />
area to show the value of installing these types of<br />
technologies to our customers.”<br />
Work has begun changing-out incandescent light<br />
bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs and generally<br />
replacing various old, inefficient light fixtures with<br />
more modern and efficient fixtures at Sheldon Station,<br />
Canaday Station and GGS. At Sheldon Station,<br />
the incandescent-to-CFL conversion is 95 percent<br />
complete, with the fluorescent lighting conversion<br />
from T12 to T8 nearing the 50 percent completion<br />
level. An upgrade of lighting at Beatrice <strong>Power</strong><br />
We need to provide leadership in this area to show the<br />
value of installing these types of technologies to our<br />
customers. - Alan Dostal<br />
the open market or to our native load just makes it all<br />
that more of a positive for us,” he said.<br />
Thus far, the project team has conducted an audit<br />
of all four power stations. The potential savings<br />
that were discovered by the audit are impressive.<br />
In the case of Sheldon and Canaday stations, the<br />
payback on investment by NPPD is less than a year,<br />
if all recommendations are implemented. At Gerald<br />
Gentleman Station, the payback is longer, but still<br />
only slightly greater than three years.<br />
The dollar outlays for the improvements are<br />
$45,000 for Sheldon Station, $25,000 for Canaday<br />
Station and $30,000 for GGS. Funding is provided<br />
Station is not expected immediately, given the relative<br />
youth of the plant. “Beatrice was audited, but changes<br />
would be minimal,” Teetor said.<br />
All-in-all, a savings of 3.3 million kilowatt-hours<br />
a year could be realized at the other three power<br />
plants if all the recommended lighting upgrades were<br />
implemented. Additional improvements will be made<br />
over time to capture the remainder of these savings.<br />
“With today’s environment, any energy savings we<br />
can make to help hold costs down is worth the effort,”<br />
said Chuck Troia, Canaday/water/renewable<br />
energy manager.
12 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 13<br />
Water discharge project to begin in february<br />
The most visible portion of NPPD’s Sheldon<br />
Station Water Discharge Project is scheduled<br />
to begin in <strong>February</strong>, according to Scott Estvold,<br />
project manager. The 10-mile long water discharge<br />
line construction is expected to be<br />
complete in July, with the entire<br />
project slated to be finished in 2010.<br />
The pipeline is just one<br />
portion of the project, on-site<br />
modifications is another. On-site<br />
modifications involve the plant’s<br />
drain piping systems and developing<br />
pond treatment facilities that<br />
will condition the water before<br />
discharging through the new pipeline<br />
from Sheldon Station into the Big<br />
Blue River.<br />
This project was necessitated<br />
when the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Department<br />
of Environmental Quality issued NPPD a revised<br />
water discharge permit that included more stringent<br />
standards than previously required. In order to<br />
meet the new permit requirements, modifications to<br />
Sheldon Station’s entire water treatment and discharge<br />
system must be made. The new system will provide<br />
control of water discharge from the facility, according<br />
to Joe Citta, NPPD environmental manager.<br />
NEW PERMIT<br />
REQuIRES<br />
MODIfICaTIONS<br />
TO SHELDON<br />
STaTION’S<br />
ENTIRE WaTER<br />
TREaTMENT<br />
aND DISCHaRGE<br />
SYSTEM.<br />
“What will happen is that we will have a new<br />
system with lined ponds that will treat runoff water<br />
individually from coal piles and several plant<br />
processes before being discharged,” Citta explained.<br />
“Water that comes from the discharge<br />
pipeline to the Big Blue River will meet<br />
all discharge standards that have been<br />
established.” Design of the on-site process<br />
and the pipeline has been approved by the<br />
NDEQ and construction permits have been<br />
issued.<br />
Estvold explained that the schedule is<br />
subject to change based on weather or other<br />
uncontrollable factors. He also noted that<br />
two public events have been held regarding<br />
the project, one an informational meeting<br />
in March 2007 and the second was a formal<br />
public hearing on the line selection route,<br />
held in October 2007.<br />
Construction work on the pipeline will be handled<br />
by Kissick Construction Company of Kansas City,<br />
Mo.<br />
Sheldon Station is an important facility in NPPD’s<br />
energy supply fleet. Two units collectively generate<br />
225 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to meet<br />
the needs of nearly 105,500 residents each year. The<br />
facility has been in commercial operation since 1961.<br />
Gerald Gentleman Station sets generation records<br />
Records are made to be broken. And that is<br />
exactly what happened in 2008 for Gerald<br />
Gentleman Station.<br />
On Dec. 30, 2008, at approximately 11 p.m., the<br />
station broke its five-year old electric generation<br />
record and completed the year<br />
generating a total of 9,830,577<br />
megawatt-hours. This mark<br />
exceeded the previous record of<br />
9,782,517 MWh recorded in 2003.<br />
Reasons for the increase in<br />
generation include electrical<br />
load growth and customer usage<br />
during one of the coldest winters<br />
in recent years. The result is a<br />
generation record for the station<br />
itself, as well as the highest annual<br />
generation record for all NPPD<br />
facilities in the state.<br />
GGS is one of three<br />
“baseload” generation facilities NPPD relies<br />
upon to provide power for its retail and wholesale<br />
customers throughout <strong>Nebraska</strong>. The station serves<br />
approximately half of NPPD’s customer base and is<br />
the utility’s largest generating facility.<br />
IN DECEMbER, GGS<br />
SuRPaSSED ITS fIVE-<br />
YEaR OLD ELECTRIC<br />
GENERaTION<br />
RECORD. THE<br />
STaTION GENERaTED<br />
9,830,577 MEGaWaTT-<br />
HOuRS IN 2008.<br />
“The station personnel have a done a great job<br />
over the years, in operating the units conservatively<br />
and keeping the facility well maintained; this put us<br />
in a good position to set a new generation mark,” said<br />
Mick Spencer, GGS manager. “While our goal is to<br />
keep the GGS units performing<br />
well in the long term, the record is<br />
a nice bonus, and it speaks to the<br />
importance of maintaining the value<br />
of a key asset to NPPD’s generation<br />
system.”<br />
GGS has two operating<br />
units, each is able to generate<br />
approximately 650 megawatts of<br />
electricity. Unit 2 exceeded its<br />
previous generation record for the<br />
year recording 5,399,171 MWh in<br />
2008, topping the previous best of<br />
5,062,981 MWh recorded in 2006.<br />
Located near Sutherland, GGS<br />
has consistently been recognized as one of the lowest<br />
cost, coal-fired generating stations in the nation. Unit 1<br />
began operation in 1979 and Unit 2 in 1982.
14 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 15<br />
B A L A N C I N G<br />
STRESS<br />
in financial<br />
turbulence.<br />
Market Cycles are No<br />
Cause for Panic.<br />
It is no secret that the U.S.<br />
financial markets experienced<br />
increased volatility in 2008, but<br />
that’s the natural cycle of the stock<br />
market. While this can cause any<br />
investor to feel uncertainty and<br />
anxiety, as a long-term retirement<br />
plan investor, your best bet may<br />
be to stay calm, stay invested and<br />
continue contributing to your plan.<br />
NPPD’s Employee Assistance<br />
Program, Best Care, provides<br />
these tips for dealing with the<br />
effects of an economic downturn<br />
and the stress that accompany it.<br />
Keep cool. Today’s 24/7 news<br />
cycle is packed with negative<br />
stories and commentary about<br />
the state of the economy. Pay<br />
attention to what’s happening, but<br />
don’t let the doomsday hype drive<br />
you to either overreact or become<br />
passive. Both can lead to bad<br />
decisions. Stay calm and focused.<br />
Identify the sources of<br />
your personal financial<br />
stress and make a plan.<br />
Getting your financial concerns<br />
out of your head and onto paper<br />
can be stressful in the short term,<br />
but it pays big dividends both<br />
financially and emotionally in the<br />
long run. Review your current<br />
financial situation and, using the<br />
information and advice readily<br />
available online, at your local<br />
library, or through nonprofit<br />
credit counseling services, make<br />
a plan for reducing your expenses<br />
and managing your money more<br />
efficiently.<br />
Use positive stress<br />
management techniques<br />
for dealing with financial<br />
uncertainty. The American<br />
Psychological Association says<br />
that during uncertain economic<br />
times people are tempted to<br />
relieve stress by smoking,<br />
drinking, gambling or emotional<br />
eating. The additional strains<br />
these indulgences inflict on us<br />
often make matters worse. When<br />
it comes to busting stress, stick to<br />
the tried and true: breath, exercise,<br />
laugh, and reach out to those you<br />
care about.<br />
Turn these challenging<br />
times into opportunities<br />
for real growth and<br />
change. Economists call<br />
situations like these “corrections”<br />
for a reason. As a nation, our<br />
collective greed and fear caused<br />
us to lose sight of what’s truly<br />
important. Now’s the time for<br />
Wall Street and Main Street to<br />
take stock and change both the<br />
way they manage money and the<br />
stress that accompanies it.<br />
For more information on how<br />
to manage financial stress, call<br />
Best Care EAP at 402-354-<br />
8000 or 800-666-8606. Or, visit<br />
the Best Care website at www.<br />
BestCareEAP.org for more<br />
information and resources.<br />
Alan Able, instrument and control engineering<br />
supervisor (TA), Cooper Nuclear Station, to<br />
instrument and control engineering supervisor.<br />
Bill Belgum, joint procurement process support<br />
leader, Sheldon Station, to inventory control manager,<br />
Lincoln.<br />
Kevin Block, operator, Kearney, to coordinator.<br />
Nick Bockerman, systems analyst, Kearney, to<br />
coordinator.<br />
Nicholas Brichacek, temporary project management<br />
intern, Columbus, to temporary construction<br />
coordinator.<br />
Shaun Brott, station operator, Gerald Gentleman<br />
Station, to mechanical technician.<br />
Alan Carpenter, planner, CNS, to lead planner.<br />
Tim Chapin, senior quality assurance auditor, CNS,<br />
to quality assurance internal team leader.<br />
Thomas Crumrine, mechanical maintenance<br />
supervisor, CNS, to refuel floor project manager.<br />
Scott Driskell, security shift field supervisor, CNS, to<br />
access authorization/fitness for duty analyst.<br />
Nancy Fisher, lead custodian (TA), CGO, to lead<br />
custodian.<br />
Scott Freborg, valves engineering programs<br />
supervisor, CNS, to mechanical engineering programs<br />
supervisor.<br />
Gabriel Gardner, civil engineering supervisor,<br />
CNS, to nuclear steam supply system engineering<br />
supervisor.<br />
Monty Hergenrader, water quality technician, GGS,<br />
to engineering specialist.<br />
Todd Hottovy, equipment reliability manager, CNS,<br />
to engineering support manager.<br />
David Huff, security officer, CNS, to station operator,<br />
GGS.<br />
Bradly Johnson, planning supervisor, CNS, to<br />
planning superintendent.<br />
Julie Johnson, land management assistant, CGO, to<br />
land management specialist.<br />
Rory Mason, planner, CNS, to lead planner.<br />
Robert McCarthy, engineering specialist, GGS, to<br />
water systems engineering specialist, North Platte.<br />
Todd Mertes, planner, CNS, to lead planner.<br />
Jeremy Murrish, station operator, GGS, to<br />
mechanical technician.<br />
Cody Raml, coop engineer, CGO, to temporary<br />
engineering intern, Lincoln.<br />
Ron Rosenberry, inventory manager, CGO, to<br />
contract negotiation manager.<br />
Jeanne Schieffer, public relations/advertising<br />
specialist, CGO, to corporate communications and<br />
public relations manager.<br />
Rocky Schultz, engineering support engineer, CNS,<br />
to quality assurance engineer.<br />
Bob Thacker, preventive maintenance/predictive<br />
maintenance supervisor, CNS, to valves engineering<br />
programs supervisor.<br />
Mark Uhri, environmental chemist, CNS, to plant<br />
chemist.<br />
Joe Vetick, lead surveyor, CGO, to survey supervisor.<br />
Josh Whisler, planner, CNS, to lead planner.<br />
Fred Zacarola, plant chemist, CNS, to environmental<br />
chemist.
16 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 17<br />
from around the state<br />
York / Cindy Klein, Customer Services & Delivery Representative /<br />
ceklein@nppd.com<br />
In October, Journey Substation<br />
Technician Jeff Bjorklund<br />
was a big winner at the<br />
Guthrie Shootouts at the Lazy<br />
E Arena in Guthrie, Okla.<br />
There were 4,792 teams<br />
present and the event paid out<br />
$591,235 in cash and prizes.<br />
Jeff Bjorklund Jeff explained that all ropers<br />
have a handicap number, similar<br />
to golf. The numbers range from beginner (#1) to<br />
professional roper (#10). Jeff is a #5 roper. If he wants<br />
to rope in a #10 roping, he needs to have a partner<br />
with no greater handicap than 5. Jeff and his various<br />
partners placed in several events including first place<br />
out of 208 teams in a #9 event, first place out of 366<br />
teams in a #9 event, third place out of 234 teams in<br />
a #10 event, and sixth place out of 188 teams in a #9<br />
event. Jeff went on to the National Finals of Team<br />
Roping in Oklahoma City where he and his partner<br />
earned 8th place in a #9 shootout. Jeff brought home<br />
cash and prizes such as a Trophy Martin saddle, Gist<br />
spurs and Gist belt buckles.<br />
Jeff Bjorklund (right) pictured with his Trophy Martin Saddle.<br />
Jeff placed in several events at the 2008 Guthrie Shootouts<br />
in Oklahoma, bringing home several thousand dollars in<br />
cash and prizes.<br />
Community Relations/Education Specialist Chad<br />
Johnson gave electric power presentations to students<br />
in grades K-5 at St. Joseph Catholic School in York.<br />
Chad showed safety equipment and taught electrical<br />
safety to the K-2nd grade students. The 3rd-5th<br />
graders learned about different forms of energy<br />
through hands-on experiments. Chad’s presentations<br />
were part of a build-up to the upcoming All City<br />
Science Expo in March.<br />
Chad Johnson helps 3rd-5th grade students with<br />
an energy transformation experiment. Pictured<br />
in blue is Brynley Klein, daughter of CS&D<br />
Representative Cindy Klein.<br />
Ogallala / Connie Knapp, Customer Services & Delivery<br />
Representative / csknapp@nppd.com<br />
Customer Services and Delivery personnel<br />
represented NPPD in the annual Christmas Parade<br />
of Lights Dec. 4. “All I want for Christmas” was the<br />
theme for the evening light show. NPPD employees<br />
and family members that handed out treats along the<br />
parade route were CS&D Representative Judie and<br />
John Sauer, Meter Reader Joe Peters, Economic<br />
Development Consultant Brian Vasa and Distribution<br />
Superintendent Brian Buhr. CS&D Representative<br />
Connie Knapp filled buckets with candy.<br />
Sutherland’s first annual Parade of Lights was held on<br />
the evening of Dec. 12. Journey Line Technician Ray<br />
Diaz drove the NPPD truck decorated with Christmas<br />
lights. Handing out candy along the parade route were<br />
Sutherland Local Manager Steve Derr, Apprentice<br />
Line Technician Randy Jakubowski, CS&D<br />
Representative Judie Sauer and son, Drake.<br />
Cooper Nuclear Station / Glenn Troester,<br />
Communications Coordinator / grtroes@nppd.com<br />
Retired Lt. Gen. Roger Lempke, former <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
National Guard Adjutant General, presents Capt. Bob<br />
Beilke with the Admiral in the <strong>Nebraska</strong> Navy certificate.<br />
A retirement dinner honoring more than 31 years of<br />
United States Navy service was held Dec. 12, 2008,<br />
for Capt. Bob Beilke at the Pasta Amore restaurant<br />
in Omaha. Retired Lt. Gen. Roger Lempke, former<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> National Guard Adjutant General, presented<br />
several awards to Capt. Beilke, including recognition<br />
by Gov. Dave Heineman as an Admiral in the Great<br />
Navy of the State of <strong>Nebraska</strong>.<br />
Capt. Beilke enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 11, 1977<br />
and started his career in the Nuclear Submarine<br />
Program. During the last 13 years he served in the<br />
Navy’s Defense Support of Civil Authorities Program.<br />
The highlight of his career occurred in 2006 when<br />
he became the first reservist of any military service<br />
branch to serve as a full-time active duty Defense<br />
Coordinating Officer in the continental United States.<br />
During his career, Capt. Beilke was awarded the<br />
State of <strong>Nebraska</strong> Meritorious Service Medal,<br />
Navy Meritorious Service Medal, three Army<br />
Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal,<br />
National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian<br />
Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism<br />
Service Medal.<br />
Bob is the chemistry manager at Cooper Nuclear<br />
Station. He and his wife, Vicki, live in Stella.<br />
McCook / Helen Hinz, Customer Services & Delivery<br />
Representative / hahinz@nppd.com<br />
In late November, employees at the McCook<br />
and Ogallala offices participated in a Safety Day.<br />
Employees from Transmission, Operations and<br />
Customer Services had a full day of valuable<br />
safety information and tips. Customer Services<br />
and Delivery Representative Debra Shields and<br />
Sutherland Local Manager Steve Derr coordinated<br />
the day’s activities. McCook / Ogallala Distribution<br />
Superintendent Brian Buhr welcomed everyone<br />
and read the System Status Report.Transmission<br />
and Distribution Manager Tom Kent updated the<br />
group on issues facing NPPD and other utilities.<br />
Kim Feeling of the Union Pacific Railroad gave<br />
a presentation on hazardous materials. <strong>District</strong><br />
Engineering Manager Jay Dring gave a presentation<br />
emphasizing the awareness and importance of fault<br />
currents. The day ended with the group taking part<br />
in a human performance training exercise dealing<br />
with communication led by Safety, Technical<br />
Training and Human Performance Manager Chris<br />
Overman, Safety Lead Al Woolson, CS&D Team<br />
Leader Kip Schuettler, and CS&D Technical<br />
Training Team Leader Pat Budler.<br />
Sheldon Station / Cindy Holsing, Administrative<br />
Assistant / clholsi@nppd.com<br />
Material Handler David<br />
Hanau won two tickets to<br />
the ACDC concert at the<br />
Qwest Center in Omaha<br />
through a promotion at<br />
Lincoln’s classic rock radio<br />
station, The Eagle. Inspired<br />
by ACDC’s popular early-<br />
1980s album, Dirty Deeds<br />
David Hanau<br />
Done Dirt Cheap, the radio<br />
station asked listeners to submit a description of<br />
their dirty job. Scott Kay from the radio station<br />
interviewed David at the plant. During the interview,<br />
David admitted that while he does have a dirty job,<br />
he “wouldn’t want to work any place else.”
18 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 19<br />
Columbus / Kathy Fadschild, Administrative Assistant /<br />
klfadsc@nppd.com<br />
Katie Beiermann, Sami Spenner and Laura Zach<br />
The Scotus Central Catholic High School volleyball<br />
team captured its 13th state championship last fall to<br />
end a successful 27-2 season. Members of the class<br />
C-1 2008 <strong>Nebraska</strong> State Volleyball Championship<br />
team included: Katie Beiermann, daughter of Land<br />
Management Manager Alan and Energy Efficiency<br />
Coordinator Kelly Beiermann; Sami Spenner,<br />
daughter of Senior Systems Analyst Allan and<br />
Planner/Scheduler Lori Spenner; and Laura Zach,<br />
daughter of Energy Efficiency Consultant Steve Zach<br />
and his wife, Marie. Katie and Sami were both named<br />
to the volleyball first team All-State and first team All-<br />
Conference.<br />
Mary Young, wife of Resource<br />
Planning Coordinator Joel<br />
Young, was recognized as the<br />
American Volleyball Coaches<br />
Association (AVCA) Two-Year<br />
College West Region Volleyball<br />
Coach of the year. She led her<br />
Central Community College<br />
team to a 29-20 record, the<br />
National Junior College Athletic<br />
Association Division II Region Mary Young<br />
IX and <strong>District</strong> G Championships,<br />
and a 10th place finish nationally in 2008. In 14<br />
years at Central, Mary has compiled a 414-237 (.636)<br />
record. This is Mary’s second AVCA Coach of the<br />
Year honor, with the other coming in 2002.<br />
Nathan Hotovy, son of<br />
HR Information Systems<br />
Specialist Terri and<br />
Transmission Services<br />
Consultant Jim Hotovy,<br />
was a member of the Scotus<br />
Central Catholic High<br />
School mock trial team<br />
that competed in the State<br />
Mock Trail competition<br />
in December. The team<br />
Nathan Hotovy<br />
qualified for state after<br />
winning the <strong>District</strong> championship in Columbus.<br />
Amber Mazankowski, back row center; Nicole Wieberdink,<br />
back row right; Dave Mazankowski, back row right end;<br />
Hannah Awtry, front row right end<br />
The Columbus Flames 6th grade girls basketball<br />
team won the Mid-<strong>Nebraska</strong> League Tournament<br />
in Fullerton. Team members include Amber<br />
Mazankowski, daughter of Financial Controlling<br />
Process Lead Dave and Amy Mazankowski,<br />
Hannah Awtry, daughter of Business Analyst Phil<br />
and Tammie Awtry, and Nicole Wieberdink,<br />
daughter of Sr. Systems Analyst Darrel and Jan<br />
Wieberdink. Dave coaches the team.<br />
Tom Rudloff was<br />
named general<br />
manager at Elkhorn Rural<br />
<strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>District</strong><br />
effective Jan. 2, <strong>2009</strong>. He<br />
succeeds Terry Carson who<br />
retired after serving 16<br />
years in that position.<br />
Rudloff, 45, began his<br />
utility career at North<br />
Central <strong>Public</strong> <strong>Power</strong><br />
Tom Rudloff<br />
<strong>District</strong> in Creighton working<br />
with load control, then successively becoming an<br />
apprentice lineman, lineman, line foreman, general<br />
C u S T O M E R N E W S<br />
Tom Rudloff named general manager at Elkhorn Rural PPD<br />
Line Technician Training<br />
Customers interested in enrolling staff in<br />
any of the following training sessions should<br />
contact Joe Sunday at 402.362.7355 or Nick<br />
Ayers at 308.236.2220.<br />
APRIL<br />
Transformer Theory at York<br />
April 7-9, 8:30 a.m. – noon<br />
Cost - $350.00<br />
MAY<br />
Meter Theory at York<br />
May 5-6, 8:30 a.m. – noon<br />
Cost - $250.00<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
Personnel Protective Grounding School<br />
at York<br />
Sept. 9, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.<br />
Cost - $199.00<br />
foreman, supervisor of engineering services and<br />
purchasing, and finally operations manager.<br />
He holds a masters in business administration and<br />
also completed the Robert I. Kubat Management<br />
Internship Program (MIP) through the National<br />
Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The MIP is<br />
an extensive training program designed to develop<br />
managerial skills and test administrative decisionmaking<br />
actions specifically tailored to the consumerowned<br />
electric utility industry.<br />
Rudloff and his wife, Be, have two sons, Josh, who<br />
is currently enrolled in the Utility Line Program at<br />
Northeast Community College in Norfolk and Aaron,<br />
who is in the fifth grade.<br />
OCTOBER<br />
Switchman Training at Doniphan<br />
Oct. 20-21, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.<br />
No charge<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
Transformer Theory and Application at<br />
York<br />
Nov. 3-5, 8:30 a.m. – noon<br />
Cost - $350.00<br />
DECEMBER<br />
Meter Theory and Application at York<br />
Dec. 16-17, 8:30 a.m. – noon<br />
Cost - $250.00<br />
NOTE: Dates, times and locations are subject to<br />
change due to number of attendees.
20 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong> 21<br />
Kermit Wright of<br />
Rapid City, S.D.,<br />
formerly of Scottsbluff,<br />
retired Dec. 22, 2008 after<br />
31 years of employment<br />
with NPPD. Kermit began<br />
his career on Nov. 1, 1977<br />
as a utility maintenance<br />
trainee in Scottsbluff. On<br />
July 16, 1979, he was<br />
Kermit Wright<br />
promoted to auxiliary operator<br />
at the Scottsbluff <strong>Power</strong> Plant. After advancements<br />
to assistant storekeeper in April of 1980; meter and<br />
R E T I R E E N E W S<br />
Kermit Wright plans to travel during retirement<br />
Columbus Energizers<br />
will meet Feb. 19 and March 19<br />
at 8:30 a.m. at Stack ‘N Steak<br />
in Columbus. All meetings are<br />
scheduled for the third Thursday<br />
of the month at Stack ‘N Steak.<br />
Paul Badje, (402) 564-8863,<br />
tailor@neb.rr.com<br />
Klassy Kilowatts will meet<br />
March 16 at 12:30 p.m. MST at<br />
Ole’s in Paxton. Guest speaker<br />
will be Ogallala Economic<br />
Development Consultant Brian<br />
Vasa. Meetings are scheduled for<br />
the third Monday of every month.<br />
Tom Pendelton, (308) 532-5040<br />
tmpen@hamilton.net<br />
RETIREES<br />
Kramer Station Livewires<br />
will meet Feb. 17 and March 17 at<br />
11 a.m. at Lum’s in Bellevue.<br />
Art Nelson, (402) 293-1006<br />
Low Voltage Panhandlers<br />
will meet Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. at<br />
the Farm and Ranch Museum in<br />
Gering. No meeting scheduled for<br />
March.<br />
Don Koralewski, (308) 783-1851<br />
dkoralewski@embarqmail.com<br />
Northern Lights will meet<br />
April 13 at noon at TJ’s Sports Bar<br />
in Norfolk.<br />
Jim Decker, (402) 357-3788<br />
relay technician in October of 1984; subtransmission<br />
dispatcher in August of 1991; and regional system<br />
control operator in <strong>January</strong> of 1999; he transferred<br />
from Scottsbluff to Kearney to take a position as<br />
a meter and relay technician. He worked in that<br />
capacity from April 1, 1999 until November of 2000.<br />
Kermit and his wife, Shirley, purchased a fifthwheel<br />
camper and plan on returning to <strong>Nebraska</strong><br />
to visit and travel the state in the summer. As the<br />
weather turns colder, they plan to join old friends<br />
and meet new ones in the warmer states of Texas,<br />
Arizona and Florida.<br />
NPPD antiques will meet<br />
March 2 and April 6 at 8:30 a.m.<br />
at Country Cooking in Beatrice.<br />
All meetings are scheduled for the<br />
first Monday of the month unless<br />
that date is a holiday.<br />
Dot Cornelius, (402) 228-0494<br />
Retired & Rewired will<br />
meet March 12 at 12:30 p.m. at<br />
the Country Kitchen in Chadron.<br />
Lois McCoy, (308) 665-1625,<br />
lmccoy919@gmail.com<br />
York Electrifiers have no<br />
meetings scheduled. Jeanette<br />
Richardson, (402) 362-5985,<br />
jfrichardson@neb.rr.com<br />
Make plans to attend your local retiree meeting.<br />
Graduation<br />
PHOTOS NEEDED<br />
R E T I R E E N E W S<br />
Paul Wawrzynkiewicz and Bernie Krakowski at their 80th birthday party. The<br />
cake featured a photo of Kramer <strong>Power</strong> Station.<br />
A surprise 80th birthday party honoring Bernie Krakowski<br />
and Paul Wawrzynkiewicz was held at the DAV in Omaha<br />
on Nov. 2. The joint celebration was hosted by Bernie’s three<br />
children and Paul’s five children. The party included a polka<br />
dance and dinner with nearly 250 family and friends attending.<br />
Bernie’s wife, Sophie, and their six grandchildren and Paul’s<br />
wife, Joan, and their 10 grandchildren also participated in the<br />
festivities. Paul retired from Kramer <strong>Power</strong> Station in 1987 as<br />
a mechanical foreman, while Bernie retired from the station in<br />
1992 as a demolition inspector.<br />
Photos are now being accepted for the June<br />
graduation issue. If you are an NPPD employee<br />
and you or your child will earn a degree or<br />
diploma this year, please send a photo to<br />
your local reporter or to Kathy Fadschild in<br />
Columbus by May 8.<br />
Please include the following<br />
information on the back of the photo:<br />
● Student’s Name<br />
● School Graduating from<br />
● Son/Daughter of<br />
● Parent name<br />
● Parent title<br />
Digital photos must be in “jpg” or “tif”<br />
format.<br />
Due to space limitations, photos will not be accepted<br />
of spouses, grandchildren, or graduates of junior<br />
high school or grade school.<br />
Tim Thalken<br />
recently<br />
became a<br />
shareholder<br />
and director<br />
of Fraser<br />
Stryker<br />
PC LLO.<br />
Thalken<br />
received<br />
his law<br />
Tim Thalken<br />
degree from<br />
the University of <strong>Nebraska</strong>-<br />
Lincoln with distinction and<br />
his undergraduate degree from<br />
Creighton University, summa<br />
cum laude, with honors. His areas<br />
of practice include insurance<br />
defense and self-insured litigation,<br />
commercial litigation, appellate<br />
practice, energy and natural<br />
resources. Tim and his wife, Daena,<br />
live in Omaha. Tim is the son of<br />
retired Columbus Senior General<br />
Accountant Jim Thalken and his<br />
wife, Diana.<br />
NEFCU Awarding<br />
$15,000 in Scholarships<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Energy Federal<br />
Credit Union will award 15, $1,000<br />
scholarships for the <strong>2009</strong>/2010 academic<br />
year. These scholarships are available<br />
to members who plan to attend an<br />
accredited University, College,<br />
Junior College, VoTech or Business<br />
School. Applications are available<br />
to high school graduates as well as<br />
continuing education students. Forms<br />
are available at the credit union and<br />
online at www.ne-fcu.org. All applications<br />
must be received by the credit union NO<br />
LATER THAN March 13, <strong>2009</strong>.
22 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY <strong>2009</strong><br />
23<br />
We will<br />
remember<br />
Jeff Durr, GGS material handler, on the death of his<br />
mother, Geraldine<br />
Rita Trofholz, CGO economic development process<br />
coordinator, on the death of her mother, Helen<br />
Abegglen<br />
Jeremy Allen, CNS security shift field supervisor, on<br />
the death of his father, Fred<br />
GGS Engineering Specialist Kathy Wenz and Energy<br />
Supply Safety Lead Doug Wenz on the death of her<br />
father and his father-in-law, Rolan Brouillette<br />
former board Director<br />
Warren Cook passes away<br />
Former NPPD<br />
Board Director<br />
Warren Cook,<br />
92, passed away<br />
Dec. 19. A former<br />
Norfolk mayor,<br />
Warren served on<br />
the NPPD Board<br />
from 1987-2005.<br />
During his 18 years<br />
of service to the<br />
Warren Cook<br />
<strong>District</strong>, he held the<br />
offices of Chairman of the Board, First Vice-<br />
Chairman, Secretary, and served on various<br />
Board Committees.<br />
Warren is survived by his wife, Beth; daughter,<br />
Dr. Susan Cook; son, Robert Cook; four<br />
stepchildren; five grandchildren and seven step<br />
grandchildren.<br />
He was preceded in death by his first wife,<br />
Johnnie, and one sister.<br />
our sympathies go out to the following families of events<br />
Bill Allen, Aurora local manager, on the death of his<br />
father, James<br />
Troy Bumann, Norfolk telecommunications<br />
technician, on the death of his father-in-law, Walter<br />
“Dean” Kallhoff<br />
Marlene Lentfer, Kearney subtransmission and<br />
distribution control operator, on the death of her<br />
brother, Don Pavlish<br />
Gina Torczon, CGO cash and billing analyst, on the<br />
death of her father, Dan Kobza<br />
Retired Kearney Customer Service Representative<br />
Helen Blanton, 81, who passed away Jan. 2. Helen<br />
began her NPPD career in 1960 and retired in 1998.<br />
She is survived by her sons, Dan, Ron and Rick;<br />
stepson, Gary Johnson; brother, Gene Bergt; sister,<br />
Esther Abels; and seven grandchildren.<br />
Retired Hartington Line Foreman<br />
Dwight Philbrick, 82, who passed<br />
away Jan. 7. He joined the utility in<br />
1966 and retired in 1987. Dwight is<br />
survived by his wife, Ardeen; son,<br />
Gary; daughters, Sandra Osborne<br />
and Patsy Kremer; sister, June Dwight Philbrick<br />
Parkison; twin brother, Dwayne; 13<br />
grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.<br />
Retired Dodge Local Manager<br />
Darwin “Jake” Hamel, 81, who<br />
passed away Jan. 23. Jake joined<br />
the <strong>District</strong> in 1952 and retired<br />
in 1989. He is survived by his<br />
wife, Lorraine; sons, Tim, Chris<br />
and Bruce; daughters, Becky<br />
Stecher, Denise Eikmeier and<br />
Kimberly Lenhart; brother, Millard;<br />
16 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.<br />
Jake Hamel<br />
f E b R u a R Y<br />
17-18 NPA Annual Meeting<br />
Lincoln<br />
a P R I L<br />
8-9 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
16 Customer Meeting<br />
Kearney Holiday Inn<br />
The <strong>Power</strong>Drive Program is an educational effort<br />
that challenges high school students to design<br />
and build one-person electric vehicles during the<br />
school year. In the spring, these teams of students<br />
compete with one another at organized rallies in<br />
areas such as vehicle braking, maneuverability<br />
and endurance.<br />
M a R C H<br />
12-13 NPPD Board Meeting<br />
Columbus<br />
12 Economic Development Services Briefing<br />
Videoconference sites<br />
18 Customer Meeting<br />
Grand Island Interstate Holiday Inn<br />
VOLuNTEERS NEEDED fOR POWERDRIVE EVENTS<br />
<strong>2009</strong><br />
If you would like to help with a <strong>Power</strong>Drive event,<br />
please contact Diana Luscher at 308-236-2230 or<br />
308-627-6738.<br />
March 28 .......Hastings Time Trials, Motorsports<br />
Park - Hastings<br />
March 29 .......Big Red Invitational, University of<br />
<strong>Nebraska</strong> Tractor Testing Lab - Lincoln<br />
April 3 ...........Alternate Fuels Odyssey, Central<br />
Community College - Columbus<br />
April 4 ...........Cuming County Open, Cuming<br />
County Fairgrounds - West Point<br />
April 18 .........Bulldog Classic, Memorial Park -<br />
North Platte<br />
April 18 .........Wayne State College Spring Rally,<br />
First National Center - Wayne<br />
April 25 .........Kearney <strong>Power</strong>Drive, Kearney<br />
Raceway Park - Kearney<br />
May 2 ............<strong>Power</strong>Drive Championships, Mid-<br />
America Motorplex - Pacific Junction,<br />
Iowa
Rick<br />
Renewable Energy<br />
Technician<br />
Ainsworth<br />
P.O. Box 499<br />
Columbus, NE 68602-0499<br />
Address Service Requested<br />
I am where I want to be!<br />
WHERE DOES YOUR CAREER TAKE YOU?<br />
For employment opportunities, visit www.nppd.com.<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
COLUMBUS NE<br />
PERMIT NO. 3