BALLOTS have arrived!

You should have received your Board of Trustee election ballot. When you open the envelope make sure you read the bios and VOTE for ONE trustee in EVERY district. In addition to the board elections, there is a code of regulations change up for a vote. It’s an all or nothing change. So either vote FOR or AGAINST.

ELECTION LINK: USE THIS LINK TO VOTE ONLINE! you will need your member number and passcode on your ballot!

The ballot contains your Member number and Passcode which you will need to be able to vote online. Simple instructions are included. Whether you wish to vote ONLINE or by MAIL. Please follow the instructions and make sure your vote is cast by MAY 16, 2012 by 5:00pm.

Election results will be announced at the MAY 19th Annual Meeting of Members. Registration is 8:30am. Meeting will begin at 9:00am. At the URE office building 15461 US Rt 36 Marysville in the Multi-purpose Room.

Members are invited to hear about the state of the cooperative and learn about its future at this business meeting.

But unlike Solyndra’s high-profile and costly flameout, this time the news came with a twist that tripped up wire services, talking heads and members of Congress.

The company, Solar Trust, never took the money.

The misunderstanding underscores the complexities of DOE’s loan guarantee program, the uncertainty of the global solar market and the eagerness of many in the media to discover the next Solyndra.

Right-leaning blogs and websites seized on the news with headlines blaring about $2 billion of taxpayers’ money lost — even if the accompanying story correctly noted that Solar Trust never got a dime.

“One year ago this outfit got $2.1 billion in taxpayer loans,” Rush Limbaugh said on his radio program Tuesday. “So down the tubes. Solyndra was solar panels, and now Solar Trust of America has filed bankruptcy.”

Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) took to Twitter on Tuesday to lament the failure: “This costs us $2.1 bill. Equal to all ‘Big Oil’ tax breaks last yr.”

Even The Associated Press and Reuters got it wrong.

The AP had to correct a Tuesday story in which it said the project had ultimately received the DOE guarantee. The AP issued a correction on Wednesday.

Reuters’s original story Monday did not make it clear Solar Trust never got the money. It put out an updated story on Wednesday specifying that fact.

Solar Trust’s project in Blythe, Calif.— which would have been one of the largest solar farms in the world — received a conditional commitment for a $2.1 billion loan guarantee from DOE in April 2011.

The deal, almost four times as large as Solyndra’s, got star treatment from administration officials. Energy Secretary Steven Chu lauded it in a White House blog post, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar attended the project’s groundbreaking ceremony in June. (It’s located on federally controlled land).

But in August, Solar Trust essentially walked away from the deal.

The company wanted to use photovoltaic panels, a cheaper and older technology than the concentrating solar power technology that DOE’s support required.

“Whereas the electricity from solar-thermal power plants was more economic only less than two years ago, this relation has changed completely due to the sharp drop in PV module prices, particularly from Asia,” Cristoph Wolff, then the CEO of Solar Trust’s parent company, Germany-based Solar Millennium, said at the time.

That assessment is close to what happened to Solyndra, which received a $535 million loan guarantee but went out of business partly because its unique, cylindrical solar panels couldn’t compete with traditional photovoltaics’ pricing.

The terms of Solar Trust’s conditional loan guarantee required the project to use a newer, more expensive technology, and the company decided it would rather find private financing.

The guarantee was never finalized. DOE confirmed to POLITICO on Monday that no money went out on the deal.

Solar Trust’s conditional commitment, which was not a binding contract, was far more widely reported than the company’s quiet withdrawal from the deal.

And the details surrounding the company’s insolvency — a parent company in the red — only complicated matters.

The future of the Blythe project is not yet certain. Solar Trust’s court filing noted that NextEra Energy Resources, a subsidiary of the Florida-based energy company NextEra, was interested in purchasing some of its projects, although it didn’t specify which ones.

NextEra declined to comment on Wednesday.

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), speaking to POLITICO on Wednesday, cited Solar Trust alongside Solyndra as examples of the loan program’s failures.

Griffith, a member of the Energy and Commerce’s oversight committee, which is looking into Solyndra, noted that he stood corrected when told the money was never spent.

“Of course, aren’t we glad they turned it down, from a taxpayer’s standpoint … because then we’d be out $2.1 billion,” he added.

This article first appeared on POLITICO Pro at 5:19 p.m. on April 4, 2012. ]]> http://ure.com/archives/2112/feed 0 http://ure.com/archives/2110 http://ure.com/archives/2110#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:48:31 +0000 sgibson http://ure.com/?p=2110 Check out Ohio’s Energy Hive: http://www.buckeyepower.com/news/2012/03/26/ohios-energy-hive

To help protect you from storm-related electrical hazards, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) and [co-op name] are providing answers to common storm safety questions about:

• Lightning
• Power Lines
• Flooded Areas
• Wet Electrical Equipment
• Portable Generators
• Post-Evacuation Procedures

Lightning

What should I do if I am caught outside during a lightning storm?

• Move to a low point. Lightning hits the tallest available object, so get down low in a crouched position if you are in an exposed area.
• Stay away from trees.
• Avoid metal. Don’t hold onto metal items like bats, golf clubs, fishing rods, tennis rackets, or tools. Stay away from metal sheds, clotheslines, poles, and fences.
• Stay away from water, including pools, lakes, puddles, and anything damp—like grass.
• Don’t stand close to other people. Spread out.

Is there any sort of warning before lightning strikes?

Not necessarily, but sometimes. If you feel a tingling sensation or your hair stands on end, lightning may be about to strike. Do not lie down. Instead, crouch down, tuck your head, and cover your ears.

What should I do if I encounter a lightning storm while driving in my car?

Slow down and use extra caution. If possible, pull off the road into a safe area.

Am I safer in or out of my car?

Do not leave your vehicle during a thunderstorm. A vehicle is considered safe during a thunderstorm if it is fully enclosed with a metal top such as a hard-topped car, minivan, bus, truck, etc. While inside a safe vehicle do not use electronic devices, such as radio communications.

The storm is still raging outside. Are we safe from lightning if we stay inside the house?

Follow these indoor lightning safety tips to help keep your family safe inside while it’s storming outside:

• To avoid lightning strikes, stay away from windows and doors.
• If possible, unplug electronic equipment before the storm arrives. Avoid contact with electrical equipment and cords during storms.
• Avoid contact with water and plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.

Can I talk on the telephone during an electrical storm?

Use corded telephones only for emergencies. You can use cordless or cellular phones.

I have an outside dog. Is it okay to leave him out there during a lightning storm?

Doghouses are not lightning-safe, and chained animals can easily become victims of lightning strikes. You should bring your pets inside to protect them.

Power Lines

What should I do if I encounter a downed power line?

If you see a downed power line, move at least 10 feet away from the line and anything touching it. The human body is a ready conductor of electricity.

The proper way to move away from the line is to shuffle away with small steps, keeping your feet together and on the ground at all times. This will minimize the potential for a strong electric shock. Electricity wants to move from a high voltage zone to a low voltage zone—and it could do that through your body.

What can I do to help someone who has come in contact with a downed power line?

If you see someone who is in direct or indirect contact with the downed line, do not touch the person. You could become the next victim. Call 911 instead.

Can I use something that is not metal to try to move a downed power line myself?

Do not attempt to move a downed power line or anything in contact with the line by using another object such as a broom or stick. Even non-conductive materials like wood or cloth, if slightly wet, can conduct electricity and then electrocute you.

What should I do if I see a downed power line in the street while I am driving my car?

Do not drive over downed power lines.

What if a power line comes down onto my car or I didn’t see it until I’ve driven into it?

If you are in your car and it is in contact with the downed line, stay in your car. Tell others to stay away from your vehicle.

If you must leave your car because it’s on fire, jump out of the vehicle with both feet together and avoid contact with the live car and the ground at the same time. This way you avoid being the path of electricity from the car to the earth. Shuffle away from the car.

Is a downed power line still dangerous if it has come down in water, like a pool or pond?

Water is a good conductor of electricity. Any amount of water—even a puddle—could become energized. Be careful not to touch water—or anything in contact with the water—near where there is a downed power line.

Flooded Areas

My basement has flooded and there is standing water. Is it safe to go down there?

Use extreme care when stepping into flooded areas. Submerged outlets or electrical cords can energize water, posing a lethal trap.

My washer, dryer, and a few other appliances got really wet during the flood. Can I start using them again after they dry out?

Do not use electrical appliances that have been wet until they have been examined by a qualified service repair dealer. Electrical equipment exposed to water can be extremely dangerous if re-energized without proper reconditioning or replacement.

Does a flood affect my home’s electrical system, too, or just the appliances?

Electrical items, such as circuit breakers, fuses, ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), receptacles, plugs, and switches, can malfunction when water and silt get inside. Discard them if they have been submerged. Have a licensed, qualified professional replace them.

Does it make a difference if the flood was caused by storm water or by a leaky water pipe?

Ocean water and salt spray can be particularly damaging to electrical equipment due to the corrosive and conductive nature of the salt water residue. Damage to electrical equipment can also result from exposure to flood waters contaminated with chemicals, sewage, oil, and other debris.

No matter what caused the flood, electrical appliances should be examined by a qualified service repair dealer before being re-energized, and electrical items that were submerged should be discarded and replaced by a licensed, qualified professional.

Can flooded outside areas be dangerous too?

Yes—downed power lines or submerged outlets from adjacent homes could energize the water. Use extreme caution when entering any flooded area.

Wet Electrical Equipment

My home wasn’t flooded, but some electrical appliances have gotten wet. Do the same safety rules listed above apply to my situation?

Yes—they still apply.  Do not use electrical appliances that have been wet until they have been examined by a qualified service repair dealer. Water can damage the motors in electrical appliances, such as furnaces, freezers, refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers.

Where can I find out more about what should be done with water damaged electrical equipment?

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has produced a brochure, Guidelines for Handling Water Damaged Electrical Equipment, for use by suppliers, installers, inspectors, and users of electrical products to provide advice on the safe handling of electrical equipment that has been exposed to water. The NEMA brochure may be downloaded free of charge at: www.nema.org/stds/water-damaged.cfm.

Portable Generators

I bought a new generator so that I’d be prepared for the next power outage. Is there anything special I should know about installing it?

ESFI strongly recommends that a licensed electrician install home generators to ensure they meet all local electrical codes.

Also, make sure your generator is properly grounded in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Can’t I just plug my generator directly into one of my home’s outlets?

Do not connect generators directly to the household wiring unless an appropriate transfer switch has been installed by a licensed, qualified electrician.

What could happen if I don’t have a transfer switch installed?

Without the proper transfer switch, power provided by the generator can “backfeed” along the power lines, creating a significant electrocution hazard for anyone coming in contact with the lines, including lineworkers making necessary repairs.

I’ve heard that generators should be kept dry. Can I run it in my garage to protect it from the rain?

Never operate a generator inside your home or in any other enclosed—or even partially enclosed—area. Generators very quickly produce carbon monoxide, which can easily enter your home.

Place the generator on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure. Do not operate the generator in wet conditions or where there is standing water.

Can’t I just open the garage door to provide ventilation for the carbon monoxide?

Opening windows or doors or using fans does not provide adequate ventilation to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide. Generators must be located outside a safe distance away from your home’s windows, doors, and vents, through which carbon monoxide can enter your home.

How far away from the house is a safe distance?

Preliminary research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) indicates that even 15 feet from the home is too close to operate a generator safely.

Remember your neighbors, too. Keep your generator a safe distance away from their homes as well.

What exactly is carbon monoxide?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas that is created when common fuels such as natural gas, oil, wood, or coal burn incompletely. This odorless, colorless, tasteless gas is often called the “silent killer” because it is virtually undetectable without the use of detection technology like a CO alarm. Extremely high levels of carbon monoxide can be fatal within minutes.

How big a problem is carbon monoxide associated with the use of generators?

From 1999-2009, 542 carbon monoxide deaths associated with portable generators were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

More than 80 percent of carbon monoxide deaths related to portable generators occurred in the home, often resulting from operation of a portable generator within the living space of the home, including the basement, closets, and doorways.

What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning may include fatigue, shortness of breath, drowsiness, headache, and nausea. Get to fresh air right away if you feel dizzy or weak while running your generator.

Is there anything else I should do to protect my family from carbon monoxide produced by my generator?

Make sure that there is at least one battery-operated or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarm in your home. Test it before using your generator.

Is it safe for my children to play in the area around the generator?

No. Keep children away from portable generators at all times. Also be sure to store generator fuel out of reach of children.

How many appliances can I plug into my generator at one time? Can I use it for my window air conditioner and my refrigerator at the same time?

The capacity of generators varies. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction carefully. Do not overload the generator.

My generator is powering my sump pump, but it is going to need more fuel soon. Can I refuel it while it’s running so I don’t have to turn off the sump pump?

Unplug all appliances from the generator before shutting it down. Turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. Refueling the generator while it is running is a significant fire hazard.

Post-Evacuation

The storm is finally over. Can I go home now?

First and foremost, do NOT return home until instructed by the appropriate local authorities. Once they give the go-ahead:

• Return home during daylight hours, especially if power has not been restored.
• If you smell gas, leave the premises and notify emergency authorities immediately. Do not turn on lights, light matches, or engage in any activity that could create a spark.

I’ve been told by my local authorities that I can return home now, but could there still be electrical dangers in and around my home?

Yes. Even if you have been authorized to return home, you should still take precautions to protect yourself from electrical hazards posed by downed power lines, flooded areas, and water-damaged appliances and electrical equipment.

Every year URE sponsors ONE local high school sophomore or junior on the trip to Washington DC. This year the trip is from June 15 to June 21. Meet hundreds of students just like you from across the country, coming together in Washington D.C. to see all the sights. Meet your congressional representative (you’ll be blown away by how serious they are about listening to you!) You could be our representative on the Youth Tour to Washington D.C.

APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 30th.

After repeatedly being a victim of copper theft, a Florida electric cooperative successfully fought for tough new ordinances in two counties it serves, and is now taking the battle to a third.

The arrow points to the missing 4/0 ground wires that copper thieves stole from this Georgia Transmission substation. (Photo By: Georgia Transmission)

“We contacted the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and worked with them in conjunction with the county commission and got the law passed,” said David Lambert, manager, member relations, at Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative.

The Dade City-based co-op has seen the number of copper theft cases—and the resulting bills—pile up. In 2007, Withlacoochee suffered $6,861 in theft and vandalism. Two years later the total reached $108,809. By last year the figure jumped to $266,780.

Florida is just one front in the copper theft war, where battles are also being fought in Georgia and Illinois. But in the Sunshine State, time is of the essence in getting county bills approved.

“There is a bill moving through the state legislature. But if the local bill gets in first, and it’s tougher, the local provision stays in,” Lambert explained.

The Pasco County measure was passed Feb. 7, with Hernando County following a week later. Both require scrap dealers to use the same software program as pawn brokers. The recyclers will have to record all metal purchases and email the list to the sheriff’s office by 10 a.m. the following day.

Lambert said “good, legal recyclers don’t have a problem with” the new law.

Withlacoochee supports similar legislation in Citrus County. “We’re going to hit every county that we can,” Lambert told ECT.coop.

In neighboring Georgia, a handful of copper theft bills are pending in the state legislature.

“We support the legislation,” said Tom Parker, vice president, external affairs and member relations, at Georgia Transmission Corp., which serves 39 distribution co-ops.

“We continue to have a problem with metal theft here. We’re terribly concerned about the safety implications for our employees and our contractors when they go into a substation. It’s the same with the EMC employees and contractors.”

Georgia co-ops have long been at the forefront of the state’s fight against copper theft, helping to get a law passed in 2009. But Parker said thieves are branching out—hitting cemeteries and churches, among other places, and attracting media attention.

“It’s got a lot of legislators energized,” Parker said.

The primary bill, which has already passed a state Senate committee, would create an electronic database of metal sellers and purchasers, and require payments be made by check or electronic transfer, not cash.

Parker called 2011 the “roughest year” Tucker-based Georgia Transmission has had with metal theft, recording 143 incidents, with each incident costing between $3,000 and $5,000.

Illinois is also moving closer to getting a new copper theft law. The House Judiciary Committee approved a bill which, among other things, would require recyclers to keep records of all metal purchases, not just those greater than $100. It would also include property damage amounts when tallying the value of the theft for the purpose of determining penalties.

Larry Downing | ReutersCopies of President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget are seen stacked inside the House Budget Committee room on Capitol Hill in Washington.

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama included $150 million for research and development at a proposed uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, Ohio in his fiscal year 2013 budget today.

The move would keep the increasingly controversial project alive and, presumably, a political football heading into the 2012 elections.

Overall, the president’s budget, considered a blueprint of administration priorities, included congressionally mandated cuts of $1 trillion in federal dollars over the next decade. But Obama also injected more than $350 billion in measures aimed at jump-starting the economy, including extending the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance benefits for the rest of 2012; spending $50 billion on highways, rails and runways; and $30 billion to help local communities keep and hire teachers and first responders.

Ohio lawmakers praised the inclusion of money for the long-struggling and controversial American Centrifuge Project. USEC, the Maryland-based company that wants to launch the project in Ohio, has tried for more than three years to get a $2 billion federal loan guarantee to commercialize the project to no avail. Supporters hope the $150 million will kick-start technological developments at the plant.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, applauded the inclusion of the money, saying it “takes us one step closer” to the plant becoming a reality.

News wasn’t all great for the Portsmouth region, however: The budget also included a 25 percent reduction in federal funds for cleanup to the adjacent Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The cleanup is being handled by two companies – Babcock & Wilcox and Fluor Corp. – and is not directly affiliated with the uranium enrichment project’s fate.

Part of the cutbacks required in a spending deal with Congress include $487 billion chopped from the defense budget over the next decade. Under Obama’s plan, the federal government would spend $613.9 billion on defense programs in fiscal 2013. Of that, $88.5 billion was in support of overseas operations, primarily in Afghanistan. The rest – $525.4 billion – would be cut by $5.2 billion from this year.

Defense decisions in particular would have an acute impact on Ohio. Obama’s plan would eliminate funding for the C-27J aircraft, the twin-engine aircraft flown at the Air National Guard Base in Mansfieldo. The move would essentially remove the flying mission from that base. It would also reduce the fleet of KC-135s at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base from 18 to 12.

The budget would cancel the Global Hawk’s Block 30, the most common version of the unmanned surveillance plane, and replace it with the U-2, a spy plane that dates to the 1950s that has been upgraded.

The Global Hawk is among many aircraft and weapons programs managed by the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton. Personnel assigned to that program could be transferred to other management teams, base officials have said.

Even research, development, testing and evaluation – all programs that benefit Wright-Patterson – saw cuts. In fiscal 2011, those programs received $27.4 billion. Under Obama’s budget, they would decrease to $25.4 billion. However, Wright-Patterson saw fewer cuts than many defense installations nationwide.

The planned reductions may only be the beginning of impending cuts to defense spending. The Budget Control Act passed by Congress last year required a specially appointed congressional committee to cut $1.2 trillion from the budget or face massive mandatory cuts, including an additional $500 billion from the defense budget.

It’s unclear if Congress will reverse those mandatory cuts. Some, including Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, have indicated a willingness to stop those cuts before they go into effect.

Obama’s plan is only a plan, and must be passed by Congress before becoming a reality. While the House passed a budget last year, the Senate did not.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-West Chester, called Obama’s budget “a gloomy reflection of his failed policies of the past, not a bold plan for America’s future.”

“Our nation needs Washington to demonstrate some courage with a budget that honestly addresses the near- and long-term challenges we face,” he said. “Instead, the president offered a collection of rehashes, gimmicks, and tax increases that will make our economy worse.”

John Nolan of the Dayton Daily News contributed to this story.

jwehrman@dispatch.com