8/2003 Currents

www.washingtonelectric.coop

Vol. 64, No. 5 The newsletter of Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc., East Montpelier, Vermont. August 2003 WEC To Generate Power From Methane Co-op, Casella Announce Joint Project To Produce Renewable Energy

By Barry Bernstein and Avram Patt Washington Electric Cooperative’s waste-to-energy station will be constructed at the state’s largest landfill, in Coventry. At right is the landfill’s he Board of Directors and entrance, near Vermont Route 5. Below, a new section of the lined landfill. management of Washington T Electric Cooperative are pleased to announce to our members that we have begun the process of developing an electric-generation project that will be a major source of affordable renewable energy for many years to come. The project will generate electricity from methane gas produced at the state’s largest landfill in Coventry, Vermont. The power produced will be used by WEC solely to serve our own members’ future developing our own landfill-gas energy needs. generating facility could offer us many Although we are just beginning the benefits compared to other options. formal approval process for this project The Coventry landfill is owned and (which ultimately culminates with a operated by New England Waste membership vote), we wanted you to be Services of Vermont, a wholly owned the first to know. subsidiary of Casella Waste Systems, As members and readers of Co-op Inc. The landfill is currently in the Currents are aware, the Co-op has been process of obtaining permits for an looking to meet our future long-term expansion that is projected to extend its energy needs from renewable sources to life at least through 2030. the greatest extent possible. After much will be local should enable WEC to avoid Some Background We first entered into discussions with analysis, we determined that renewable “congestion charges,” a cost that may There are presently an estimated 230 Casella more than a year ago, and sources were likely to be economical, soon be imposed upon utilities for long- landfill gas-to-electricity projects operating reached a preliminary agreement in late and that the costs would be much more distance power transmission. And the in the United States. Landfill gas has December 2002. This summer, we stable and predictable over longer economic benefits (construction and been a significant source of WEC’s finalized our agreements. periods of time than other alternatives operation of the facility) will stay within existing power supply since early 2002. (oil, natural gas, etc.). The fact that the Vermont. When we stopped taking nuclear power Benefits for WEC, its fuel source and power-generation facility from Vermont Yankee we replaced most of it by purchasing low-cost power from a members, and the Inside landfill generator in Connecticut. That environment contract will expire at the end of 2004. Over the coming months, we will be However, we recognized then that providing Co-op members with detailed WEC is hosting regional dinner meetings in Moretown and continued on page 8 Corinth for Co-op members, to share information and to listen and learn. Consider attending these September Washington Electric Cooperative meetings. See page 2. East Montpelier, VT 05651 Outages in East Montpelier and Filmmaker John O’Brien (with friend nearby areas have inconve- Mel, above) finds inspiration and life- nienced many members. Read lessons in his native Tunbridge. about the reasons and WEC’s efforts O’Brien, and his new movie ‘Nosey to remedy them on page 2. Parker,’ are profiled on page 4.

GREEN POWER! Co-ops and munic- Work starts on new South ipal utilities all over America are getting Walden substation. See photos, serious about it. Page 3. page 7. Page 2, Co-op Currents, August 2003 www.washingtonelectric.coop

Outages, And An Avian Tragedy

ost Vermonters are familiar with make repairs and have the system The crack in the great blue heron. A long- running again in about 40 minutes – this insulator M legged wading bird with a which included drive time to the reveals the curved neck, pointed beak and large substation. problems WEC wingspan, herons arouse a sense of Approximately 1,500 Co-op members is having with wonder and respect among most people, receive their power through the East certain equip- no matter how often they see them. Montpelier substation. ment installed But unfortunately, it was a heron that just a decade caused an outage during the evening of Tougher problem ago. The only August 7 that affected everyone who Accidents and mishaps are bound to solution is receives power through Washington happen when you impose an electric replacing all the Electric’s East Montpelier substation. At system on the natural environment. But faulty insulators some time around 8:45 p.m., the bird flew Co-op members in that same general and cutouts. into the high-voltage lines leading from area and elsewhere also have a the substation’s transformers, killing the legitimate gripe this summer about heron and triggering an electrical outage. repeated power losses (blinking and “We were getting calls from people momentary interruptions) and outages on who live on every one of the feeders WEC’s lines. company was a reputable manufacturer patience while we work toward replacing (power line circuits) in that area,” said They are the result of moisture, during and sold its cutouts and insulators (which these malfunctioning devices.” WEC Engineering and Operations this unusually rainy summer, shorting out are also proving faulty) to many utilities. It is a labor-intensive, step-by-step Director Dan Weston, “so we knew the electrical devices that are faulty to begin But the porcelain housing has proved process. In July WEC’s crews shut down problem was at the substation.” with. susceptible to cracking in Vermont’s the Horn of the Moon feeder for an hour Linemen Bob Fair, Tim Pudvah, Readers of Co-op Currents know that extreme weather, which allows moisture while they worked their way through, Mark Maloney and Larry Brassard all WEC has had problems with “cutouts” (a to enter and short out the device. replacing the cutouts and insulators with responded, driving to the East Montpelier fuse and housing assembly) “With this high humidity and heat a new kind made of polymer that resists substation from their homes. They found manufactured by the A.B. Chance they’re failing in great numbers,” Weston cracking. But WEC has 1,200 miles of the dead bird, but fortunately they also Company. They were purchased and said. line to maintain, and during the summer found that none of the substation mounted by the thousands on WEC’s Sometimes the result is a full-scale construction season new homes are equipment was ruined. They were able to electric system in the early 1990s. The power outage affecting several homes, being added on nearly every day and the farms and businesses. Other times the Co-op must respond to their owners’ power fails very briefly before a device requests for new line extensions. There’s Co-op Currents called a “recloser” automatically kicks the only so much the crews can get done in power back on again. But even that brief a 10-hour work day. Co-op Currents (Publication No. USPS 711 -210 and ISSN No. 0746-8784) is published interruption causes digital clocks and “When we get an opportunity to isolate monthly except February, May, August and November by Washington Electric Coop- some other devices to need to be reset. an area and take care of it, we’ll be doing erative, Inc., Route 14, P.O. Box 8, East Montpelier, Vermont 05651. The cost of this publication is 37¢, which is included in the basic monthly charge to each member. Periodical Recurring problems have been worst that,” said Weston. “But a lot of the time postage rates at East Montpelier and at additional offices. Postmaster: Send address in East Montpelier (in the Horn of the we’re jumping from place to place changes to Co-op Currents, P.O. Box 8, East Montpelier, Vermont 05651. Moon area), in Middlesex and in Fayston. responding to people’s calls for help, But they have affected other areas as Board of Directors while also trying to do our summer President BARRY BERNSTEIN 1237 Bliss Road, Marshfield, Vt. 05658 456-8843 well. maintenance and line construction. [email protected] “We are fully aware of the nuisance “The best I can tell folks now is that Vice President ROGER FOX 2067 Bayley-Hazen Rd., East Hardwick, 563-2321 and inconvenience to our members that we realize what the problem is and are Vt. 05836-9873 [email protected] Treasurer DONALD DOUGLAS 21 Douglas Rd., East Orange, Vt. 05086 439-5364 these problems are causing,” said doing our best to address it. In all [email protected] Weston. “I guess I need to ask for their honesty, it’s going to take time.” WENDELL CILLEY 5 Warsley Road, West Topsham, Vt. 05086 439-6138 [email protected] CHARLES HAAS 4733 South Road, Bradford, Vt. 05033 439-5397 [email protected] MONIQUE HAYDEN 407 Weir Road; Williamstown, Vt. 05679 433-6170 [email protected] MARION MILNE 1705 E. Orange Rd., W. Topsham, Vt. 05086 439-5404 WEC To Convene Local [email protected] CARLA R. PAYNE 1554 US Rt. 2; West Danville, Vt. 05873 563-2390 [email protected] Meetings In Moretown, Corinth RICHARD RUBIN 3496 East Hill Rd., Plainfield, Vt. 05667 454-8542 [email protected]

AVRAM PATT WILL LINDNER TIM NEWCOMB nce every year Washington However, a year between meetings General Manager Editor Layout Electric Cooperative hosts a can be a pretty long time. The Co-op’s [email protected] [email protected] O dinner and its Annual leaders also realize that some WEC Editorial Committee Membership Meeting, where WEC’s members might be more inclined to Avram Patt Donald Douglas Wendell Cilley Will Lindner leadership attempts to bring people up to attend a dinner and discussion held date on subjects related to energy, closer to home. The Board of Directors’ regularly scheduled meetings are on the last Wednesday of each finances, system maintenance and WEC For these reasons Washington Electric month, in the evening. Members are welcome to attend. Members who wish to discuss a policies. The Annual Meeting also has planned two local get-togethers in matter with the Board should contact the president through WEC’s office. Meeting dates presents an opportunity for Co-op September. These will be held on and times are subject to change. For information about times and/or agenda, or to receive a copy of the minutes of past meetings, contact Administrative Assistant Deborah Brown, members to ask questions of their own Tuesday, September 9, in Corinth 802-223-5245. and tell WEC’s Board and management what’s on their minds. continued on page 5

Wind, Methane And Walnuts America Is Slowly Growing Greener

ike Rodney Dangerfield, green ener- mining coal since 1820 but is still sitting gy “don’t get no respect” from the on top of an estimated 84 percent of the Fuel Sources for U.S. Electricity Generation, 2000-2002 L energy establishment. The accom- original resource – some 88 billion tons of panying chart, reprinted from Electric extractable coal, according to the 2,000,000 Co-op TODAY, reveals some truths about Kentucky Coal Association. the U.S. energy supply, including a fact But the negative environmental effects that may be surprising to Vermonters: that of coal-burning power production are well 1,500,000 50 percent of electric generation in this known (though the industry is developing country still comes from coal. Nuclear new technologies to reduce emissions). 1,000,000 energy is second with 20 percent, followed Responding to public interest, and particu- by natural gas at 18 percent. larly to inquiries from Toyota Motor DOE Agency, Energy Information Hydroelectricity – “renewable” because Manufacturing Co. about supplying green 500,000 it does not deplete a finite resource, but power to its North American headquarters Billion Kilowatt Hours not considered “green” when large in Erlanger, Ky., East Kentucky Power facilities alter or destroy habitat – comes Cooperative (EKPC) is building three 0 in fourth, generating 7 percent of the trash-to-energy facilities at Kentucky nation’s electric energy. Finally, according landfills. 2000 2001 2002 to the Energy Information Agency, EKPC generates electricity for the 16 Coal Petroleum Gas Nuclear Hydro-Electric petroleum-powered plants produce distribution co-ops that own it. The 2 percent of U.S power. facilities, developed at a cost of around $4 Interestingly, those figures add up to million each, will be the first landfill-gas 97 percent. Where does the other (methane) electric stations in Kentucky in Iowa is not to erect large wind farms, Like landfill gas, this is a methane-based 3 percent come from? and will come online in September. with enormous turbines to harness the technology. One reasonable guess would be the “They’ll produce a total of about 10 wind, but municipally owned projects with Farms are larger in Wisconsin than in combined forces of wind, solar, methane megawatts of power,” EKPC spokesman a small number of turbines – often only Vermont, and accumulate enough animal and geothermal sources, which the EIA Kevin Osbourn told Co-op Currents. one. According to Public Power Weekly, waste to make Dairyland’s investment leaves out of its reckoning. “While comparatively that’s not a much 31 Iowa cities and towns “own their own worthwhile. Within five years it should In any case, the nationwide contri- power, it’s equivalent to the electricity wind turbines, are in the process of produce up to 25 MW of power – enough bution of green and renewable energy is needs of about 6,800 homes.” installing them, or are purchasing power for 20,000 homes – using wastes from growing. Washington Even in coal from wind resources owned by others, local dairy and swine farms. Electric Cooperative country, Osbourn said, including schools.” And in Missouri an electric-generation generates a portion of “Every block of wind power the methane-produced In neighboring Minnesota wind power co-op purchased 3,000 tons of damaged its power from its purchased will have the power will be econom- is also gaining popularity among publicly walnut shells from a large commercial hydroelectric station at same environmental benefit ically competitive. owned utilities. The Southern Minnesota processor after tornadoes in May ruined the Wrightsville dam, “We’re taking a Municipal Power Agency generates the nuts for consumption. and like other as planting half an acre of naturally occurring electricity for municipal utilities, and has “Rather than just waste (the walnuts) in Vermont utilities buys trees or not driving a car waste product and actually lowered its wholesale price for a landfill, we’ll put them to good use,” said additional power from 2,400 miles.” making affordable wind power by siting turbines close to a Central Electric Power Co-op official. small-scale, in-state — Southern Minnesota electric power from it. electric distribution lines, which avoids The nuts will be mixed with coal at the hydro projects. WEC Municipal Power Agency EKPC and its member transmission costs. local power plant, providing nearly also purchases co-ops will be the The agency is building more turbines 4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity. electricity generated leaders in green power and will sell the power to the municipal “We are always looking for ways to from landfill methane in Connecticut. The among electric utilities in the whole utilities in 100-kWh blocks. generate green power from our own Co-op’s interest in further methane southeastern U.S.” “Every block purchased will have the plants,” the official said, noting that in generation is announced on page 1 of this same environmental benefit as planting 2002 the co-op burned 70 tons of shelled issue, and in 2001 WEC received a $1- Wind gaining momentum half an acre of trees or not driving a car corn “just to prove it was a possible green million federal grant for a future Wind is the fastest-growing energy 2,400 miles,” said an agency official. power fuel.” wind-turbine project (still in the early source of any kind in the world. The In some places municipal utilities that planning stages). American Wind Energy Association and own wind turbines or buy wind power Worth it? However, WEC is not alone. the European Wind Energy Association from regional government entities Are these efforts to impact the Cooperative and investor-owned utilities, reported in March that wind-electric dedicate the electricity to specific uses, establishment energy market worth it? municipalities and statewide power generating capacity increased by such as schools or town halls, reducing Last February The Wall Street Journal entities all over the country, are increas- 28 percent in 2002, with investments of taxpayers’ electric costs for certain reported that federal regulators had ingly interested in alternative energy. $7.3 billion in new installations. According services. In Brookhaven, N.Y. (on Long ordered the U.S. Energy Department to Here are some examples. to these sources, that brought total Island), wind power operates the waste design a system of warning markers to generation to 31,000 megawatts (MW), treatment facility. In Hull, Massachusetts, keep intruders away from the nuclear Methane in coal country enough to power 7.5 million average a $750,000 wind turbine powers the waste-storage facility being developed at Coal is king in Kentucky. Ninety-seven American homes or 16 million average streetlights and traffic signals. Yucca Mountain in Nevada for the next percent of Kentucky’s electricity is European homes (note the difference in 10,000 years. generated from coal, which is the personal energy consumption). Offbeat This is not an easy task, the cheapest fossil fuel used for electric Wind-powered generators are The Dairyland Power Cooperative in newspaper pointed out, “considering that generation. That explains why Kentucky appearing in many parts of the country. Wisconsin, which provides electricity for the world’s oldest stone monument, a has the lowest average residential Texas, traditional home of America’s oil distribution co-ops in five states, plans to pyramid in Egypt, is only 4,000 years old.” electricity rates in the country (5.3 cents barons, is one such place. become the first power-generation co-op Perhaps it would be best not to gener- per kilowatt hour). Kentucky has been Another is Iowa. Interestingly, a pattern to use animal waste to make electricity. ate that lethal waste in the first place.

Serving more than 9,000 member/owners in central Vermont. A rural electric cooperative since 1939. Page 4, Co-op Currents, August 2003 www.washingtonelectric.coop The View From Tunbridge John O’Brien’s World Is Our Own

ou can hear it rumbling up the dirt driving a pig around in his car. He road, its tires flinging dust and chauffeured Fred Tuttle around Vermont Y gravel against the stately maples for months, the irrepressible Tuttle that shade the approach to John hamming it up at the passenger’s window O’Brien’s farmhouse. When it pulls up in whenever they passed a car sporting a his yard it looks out of place – a FedEx Spread Fred sticker.) truck, the very symbol of AMERICA ON In the competitive film industry, the THE MOVE, parked beside O’Brien’s best O’Brien hopes for is to establish sheep pen, where baaing lambs and himself as a regional filmmaker, a ewes watch the shorts-clad delivery man woodchuck Woody Allen (whose movies stride purposefully to the door. His errand take place in New York). O’Brien’s completed, he wheels his truck around movies, and O’Brien himself, are locally and drives quickly back where he came so well-liked that theater owners are from; FedEx will have no other business inclined to feature his films, with Vermont- today in this human outpost three miles based companies like Magic Hat helping from the little village of Tunbridge, with promotions. But the movies must Vermont. then be good enough to put people in the As off-the-beaten-track as John seats, or the owners will find others that O’Brien’s home is, so too are his movies can. Unlike his Hollywood counterparts, far from the cinematic mainstream. O’Brien spends much of his time O’Brien is a filmmaker who writes personally ferrying canisters of his (“makes up” might be more accurate), movies and trailers from one theater to casts, produces, shoots, edits and another in his 1992 Honda Civic. markets movies about people for whom “The business side (of filmmaking) is the rest of the world, frankly, could give a demanding, to put it mildly,” says damn: rural Vermonters, in flannel shirts Above, John O’Brien of Tunbridge. Below, the emblem he has created for O’Brien,” but also interesting. I’m a and floral blouses, with rusty cars, “Nosey Parker”. Look for it on a bumper near ewe. believer that if you’ve got a good product hardened hands and weathered faces. there’s a market out there for it.” Chances are pretty good, with O’Brien’s films, that many of the ‘A natural resource’ characters, who usually play some a meal out of it,” he snake) theater near O’Brien, 40, is convinced that Vermont version of themselves, belong to said, referring to the ewe.” and Vermonters are excellent ingredients Washington Electric Cooperative—as envelopes. “Nosey” is for a good product, which doesn’t seem does the filmmaker himself, whose father However, it conveyed by a to be a widespread opinion in the film once served as president of WEC’s was Fred Tuttle, pig’s snout industry. He grew up in the same board. And chances are excellent that star of O’Brien’s poking through a farmhouse he now lives in, to which he they look out at the world with a twinkling 1996 film, “A Man knothole. From returned after a Harvard education. The eye rather than a Hollywood-style flinty With A Plan,” who this image he has 200-acre property hosts a flock of sheep, glare. For O’Brien uses his characters’ stole the show at the created a startlingly productive apple and maple trees, a interactions with conniving politicians, Annual Meeting, even odd, oval bumper sticker. vegetable garden, a woodlot, and bemused baby boomers and wealthy though he wasn’t there. O’Brien The ubiquitous Spread Fred sometimes Holsteins or Jerseys – when urban émigrés to reflect, with humor and played video clips of Tuttle’s appearance stickers helped make “Man With A Plan” O’Brien can find time for these affection, upon the human condition. on NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” which had and its leading man something more than agricultural pursuits. The furniture inside Humor is a personal trait of O’Brien’s, 190 Co-op members, employees and a movie – a whimsical touchstone of the house is nearly invisible under piles as well. In May he was the featured guests laughing and grinning proudly as Vermont identity. It was mass advertising of books, records and movies. speaker at Washington Electric’s 64th Tuttle charmed and amused host Jay on the cheap. O’Brien hopes to recreate O’Brien calls himself a “first-generation Annual Membership Meeting, where he Leno and his urban audience. the phenomenon with the pig’s nose. Vermonter” because his parents moved drew laughter when he quipped (in light He is, after all, an underdog in the film here from Massachusetts. When they of WEC’s lawsuit against five towns over Spreading the word game. chose Tunbridge they provided their son property tax appraisals), “I knew things Today, the FedEx man has brought a “On average Hollywood spends $40 not only a picturesque location for the had gotten litigious at the Co-op when copy of the new trailer (preview) for million making a movie and an equal movies he would one day make – (WEC president) Barry Bernstein invited O’Brien’s latest release, “Nosey Parker.” amount promoting it,” he explains. scenery shown to good effect in the me to be the guest speaker and said he’d Threading the film onto spools at his “They’ve got great armies of people out autumnal “Nosey Parker” – but also with have me subpoenaed if I didn’t show up.” hulking metal editing table, he explains promoting ‘Matrix’ and ‘Bruce Almighty.’” neighbors and a native culture that Then, reflecting on the brief period in that the trailer is a rebus – a series of The trailer plays to people already O’Brien clearly loves. the 1970s when his father, Robert R. images and scenes conjuring words or sitting in a movie theater – an apt He has a particular reverence for O’Brien, chaired the WEC board, he phrases which string together to say, “A demographic. If the pig’s nose catches elderly Vermonters. recalled the time he and his sister were trailer for Nosey Parka … a moo V ‘bye’ on, one driver with the strange emblem “They are a great natural resource,” he recruited to lick thousands of envelopes (child waving) john (use your imagination) on his car will remind everyone in traffic says, “unfortunately disappearing. The and stamps for a mass mailing to the O’Brien (picture of Conan). Yule Lovett of the Vermont-grown movie, “Nosey age group of people from 70 to 100 is membership. (picture of Lyle), butt donut take hour Parker.” unusual in terms of what they’ve lived “We didn’t get paid, but at least we got word 4 it.. . Watch ferret adder (scary (Perhaps O’Brien will then consider through.”

O’Brien is especially struck by their showing Lyford growing younger and ingenuity. His films browse through old younger, until the chubby infant is linked tool sheds and include flickering, faded to the lined and weathered gentleman footage of equipment such as hay forks we’ve come to know during the course of (for elevating hay into a barn) and apple the film, and a life is revealed. peelers in use. It’s the kind of affectionate and “These folks remember a completely unpretentious touch that makes an different way of life. Some people had O’Brien film special. gas-powered milking machines before electricity came here,” he says, and grins conspiratorially as he confides, “Fred WEC to Convene Tuttle told me, ‘Oh John, I can’t milk a Local Meetings cow by hand.’” continued from page 2 In part, he considers his films an elegy to that generation. (Corinth Town Hall, on the Cookeville “My original idea was just Road in West Corinth), and Thursday, documenting those old-time Vermonters, September 11 in Moretown (Moretown but to do so in a way that was not just Town Hall on Route 100B in Moretown talking heads. Who’d want to watch that? Village). But make it entertaining, and before we At both events, dinner will be served at know it we’ll have watched an anthropo- 6 p.m., for $5 per person (reservations logical comedy.” required by August 29; call the Co-op if O’Brien knows what Hollywood you did not receive a reservation form doesn’t – that charismatic characters with your August bill). exist by the thousands in rural America. The informational meeting and He didn’t have to look far for his leading discussion will begin at 7 p.m. men, Fred Tuttle and the late George Reservations are not required for the Lyford. Both were featured in “Vermont Is discussion, and people are welcome to For Lovers” (1993) – the first film in what attend only the discussion (skipping the O’Brien calls his Tunbridge Trilogy – with dinner) if they choose. Both meetings will Tuttle subsequently taking the lead in be open to the public. “Man With A Plan” (1996) and Lyford “The focus of our presentation will be starring in the recently released “Nosey our recently announced renewable Parker.” energy project, generating electricity from “Fred is a WC Fields or Charlie methane gas at the Coventry landfill Chaplin kind of character, a natural operated by Casella Waste comedian,” says O’Brien. “George is a Management,” said WEC General Tunbridge version of Jimmy Stewart.” Manager Avram Patt. “We’ll also be A surrounding cast of true-life folks discussing the Co-op’s energy supply, round out the picture O’Brien Co-stars Natalie Picoe and more broadly.” affectionately paints of his home town. A George Lyford, in an ad for ➞ Equally important, Patt said, is that scene in “Nosey Parker,” filmed in WEC management, Board and staff nighttime silhouette, shows a line-up of members will attend the meetings oldsters filing across a lighted farmhouse more of this as Vermont fills up” with new say, ‘Wow, it’s not so hard to conserve prepared to hear and respond to the porch to play 88s (a nearly forgotten card arrivals. electricity, to recycle, to drive smaller concerns and interests of local Co-op game); their sizes and shapes, their The gentle filmmaker provides at least cars.’ members. ambulatory diversity (including canes and a partial remedy to the cultural tension. “But it has to be done with comedy “These could be subjects related to a motorized wheelchair), and the He calls it “good old American tolerance.” and humor – maybe a combination of our power-supply and renewable energy molasses pace of their progress, are His movies resolve with his characters Woody Allen and Scott Nearing. It would policies, or very localized issues about simultaneously funny and endearing – a learning to accept and find the good in need to be a populist enough film that not reliability, outage response or anything silent gem of a scene. each other. If we can’t do this in Vermont, just the VPR (Vermont Public Radio) set else,” the manager said. “We meet the O’Brien contrasts these Vermont folks where can it be done? would see it.” members face-to- with a sprinkling of Regardless of the face once a year at actual actors, who subject matter, what’s ‘A design the Annual Meeting if portray downcountry Many of his characters sure to come through in The irrepressible Fred for living’ they choose to interlopers. He’s not belong to Washington John O’Brien’s next Tuttle would ham it up at What’s next for attend, but this is a afraid to milk Electric Cooperative, as venture is his deep the passenger’s window our local filmmaker? chance for us to stereotypes for their appreciation of human does the filmmaker, whose O’Brien feels he whenever they passed a come out to their humor, but he rejects decency. Along with father was president of is finished with the car sporting a Spread locations and make the ultimate cliché: homespun production WEC’s board. Tunbridge Trilogy, Fred sticker . ourselves available.” “That all old values and a disregard for but Vermont offers a The September Vermonters are written scripts (O’Brien great deal more to meetings in fabulous and all newcomers are evil.” attains a comfort level for his actors, then explore in the way of social change. In Moretown and Corinth could be the start So, for example, in “Nosey Parker” he lets them create their own dialogue and his next film he will search for “a design of something new. comically sets a gang of town listers relationships), this is what differentiates for living” in a state, and by implication a “We’ll see what the level of interest loose in a million-dollar mansion, prying his movies from Hollywood’s. world, where resources are no longer is,” said Patt. “If these meetings are through the possessions of the wealthy The depth of his concern for people is expendable. successful we could do something like newcomers under the guise of doing a revealed in the ending of “Nosey Parker,” “A day doesn’t go by when it doesn’t two meetings a year in the future, rotating tax assessment. which he dedicates to his since-deceased rear its ugly head how much we throw among the towns in our service area. His mission, O’Brien says, “is to try to leading man, 74-year old George Lyford. out, how far we drive in Vermont,” he That would be a great way to enhance portray what’s happening, particularly to With the sound track playing “Ain’t It says. “This (movie) would be about the communication between ourselves small rural communities, which are under Funny How Time Slips Away,” O’Brien someone in my situation trying to figure and the people we serve.” terrific economic pressure and social out how to live a life that’s not full of presents a reverse sequence of change. Because there’s only going to be contradictions – a good life, so that you’d photographs of his friend and neighbor,

Serving more than 9,000 member/owners in central Vermont. A rural electric cooperative since 1939. Page 6, Co-op Currents, August 2003 www.washingtonelectric.coop

IBM the day a thousand people walked homes or businesses in WEC’s service out carrying their (workplace territory, and redesigns sections of the New Outdoor Employees possessions) in boxes.” That was a system where the poles and equipment corporate layoff that shook Vermont’s have become obsolete or need to be Learning The Ropes economy (and is regrettably being relocated to improve electrical service to repeated on a slightly smaller scale). WEC’s membership. It’s a job that Eventually, his skills and experience involves more contact with the public At WEC paid off. In April Brian Wilkin joined the than Brian’s previous jobs, and he was Engineering Department at Washington thrown into the mix almost immediately Electric Cooperative, replacing Kevin when co-worker Steve Hart took a leave Stevens who became WEC’s manager of of absence following the birth of a child. rian Wilkin of Barre knows about substation maintenance with Green information systems. The engineering Wilkin, a father of two, says he feels the volatility of today’s job market. Mountain Power Corp. But when Brian staff designs the Co-op’s electrical distri- fortunate to have landed with a stable B A master electrician with 20 years spied a job opportunity with Integrated bution system, including power line local company that values his knowledge experience, Brian had worked for local Control Systems, a subcontractor for extensions for people building new and experience. electrical contractors IBM, working in Wilkin is not Bates & Murray and preventive the only Norway & Sons after maintenance with electrician to find graduating from sophisticated a new career Spaulding High School in computerized path at 1982. He rose to the rank machinery, he Washington of foreman for the latter grabbed it. Electric Co-op company, supervising Suddenly last fall, this spring. teams of electricians in however, he was out Shane Blake, 32, large construction proj- of a job. hired as a ects. These included an “I got caught up in lineman in June, expansion at National Life the downsizing of the has a similar in Montpelier, and the semi-conductor history. new Barre City industry,” he says. “I worked at Elementary School. It’s tough to lose a Cabot Creamery, Next stop on his job, but Brian knew career path was a job in others were just as Shane Blake, bad off. “Hey,” he left, and Hans Brian Wilkin says, “I was there at Pope-Howe

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To call the Co-op, dial: weekdays 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., 223-5245; toll-free for reporting outages & emergencies, 1-800-WEC-5245; after hours, weekends & holidays, 223-7040. www.washingtonelectric.coop Co-op Currents, August 2003, Page 7 making cheddar cheese, after graduating from Hazen Union,” says the Woodbury native. But after two years Shane took a job with Benoit Electric Company, and then moved on to Lamberton Electric in ‘Men Montpelier, taking night classes for four years to become a journeyman electrician. He, too, specialized in Working’ commercial and industrial wiring, and became a crew foreman during his nine In Walden years with Lamberton (where Cy Lamberton, a longtime WEC employee, n May 2002 the members of Wash- also works). ington Electric Cooperative voted to Shane says the motivation for Igo forward with a new $400,000 switching from journeyman electrician to substation in South Walden. Presently apprentice lineman was largely to get that area is served by an aging facility away from the construction industry, inadequate to meet increasing demand which rises and falls in relation to in the towns of South Walden, Cabot, economic factors. Wheelock, Stannard, West Danville, “Hopefully utility work will be more Woodbury, East Calais and stable,” he says. A position on WEC’s line Greensboro. Building a new facility also crew came open when veteran lineman provides the Co-op an opportunity to George Brett left the Co-op to move to upgrade its distribution system. Montana. Site-preparation work was per- “Like a big erector set.” That’s how Shane began work with Washington formed last fall, and transformers and Foreman Bob Fair describes the new Electric on June 24, three weeks after his other equipment were shipped to the substation WEC crew members are daughter was born. (He and his wife also new substation’s location near the junc- building in a clearing in South Walden have a three-year-old son.) tion of Route 15 and the South Walden (above). Right, WEC’s “substation “It’s hard work,” he says, “but Road. WEC’s operations workers got guru,” Steve Anderson. Below, from challenging. It’s interesting to see started on construction of the substa- left, linemen Gene Manning and Rich electrical work from this angle, after tion itself in June. Summer is a busy Halstrom, with Foreman Bob Fair working so long in commercial wiring.” time for the line workers, so they’re (white shirt). Hans Pope-Howe agrees that line making progress on the substation work is challenging. That’s one reason he between other jobs. But the facility likes it. Hans, 22 and recently married, is should be in operation by the fall. another new Co-op lineman. Raised in This is the second substation- East Calais in a Washington Electric Co- construction project undertaken by op home, the 1999 U-32 graduate WEC employees in recent years. In replaced lineman Ed Schunk, who took a 2001 the staff replaced the substation new position at WEC monitoring the in Moretown with an improved and condition of the Co-op’s 1,200 miles of more worker-friendly facility. The South power line. Walden sub is of a similar design, with Hans (whose great-great grandfather a few improvements suggested by the founded the Boy Scouts) studied line workers themselves after automotive technology at U-32, and later completing the Moretown project. spent six months in the diesel program at Wyoming Technical College. A true Vermonter, he was eager to return home, where he took a job restoring and repairing Land Rovers in Williston. “I got pretty sick of working on cars,” he says. “I’d always been interested in line work because it’s good, physical labor, and I like working outdoors. This seemed like a great career move.” Now living in Calais, Hans and his wife are expecting a child. So the WEC family is growing – new employees, with new spouses and new children. And an old commitment to serving the members of Washington Electric Cooperative. Hans, Shane and Brian will learn all about that as they pursue their new careers at WEC.

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FOR SALE: Queen-size waterbed. Frame is dark stained wood with bookcase headboard. Comes with two waveless mattresses, plus liner, Putting it all together, linemen Gene heater and water conditioner. No Manning (above) and Shane Blake linens. $50. Call 433-6170 days. (right).

Serving more than 9,000 member/owners in central Vermont. A rural electric cooperative since 1939. Page 8, Co-op Currents, August 2003 www.washingtonelectric.coop

Power From Methane transmission company owned by continued from page 1 Vermont’s utilities, including WEC). The project will thus provide economic benefits to those Vermont communi- information about the project. Briefly, here ties. are some of the key benefits and charac- teristics: The approval process begins The Coventry Landfill project will • Long-term, affordably priced require a number of approvals before it baseload power. “Baseload power” can be built. These include: is the foundation of an electric utility’s power supply (as opposed to “peaking 1. Financing approval. We are power,” which is needed only in times submitting a loan application to our of excess demand). Baseload power lender, the federal Rural Utilities sources must be dependable and Service (RUS), for $6.34 million. We constant. The Coventry facility should will borrow up to this amount to cover generate power more than 90 percent all costs of building the project, of the time, similar to other baseload including all engineering and power plants. Our forecasts show that regulatory costs. By spreading this this power should be available to us cost over the life of the project at for 30 years at a levelized cost of less attractive interest rates, we are able to than 5 cents per kWh, which is a keep the power cost from this project One of several wellheads at New England Waste Services’ Coventry facility, which competitive price compared to lower and more predictable than were enable technicians to monitor the flow of gases and liquids within the landfill. alternatives. Moreover, this is a price we to purchase the same amount of we can predict with some accuracy, power elsewhere. as it will not be affected by the ups detailed study of gas being produced at central Vermont. and downs of natural gas or other 2. State approvals. We will be the landfill and projected future gas We also have an equally important market fuel prices. In its initial stages, submitting our proposal to the production through the life of this project. responsibility for securing the electricity the project will generate about 3.2 Vermont Public Service Board. Under E-Pro Engineering has provided us with that flows over those lines. In recent megawatts (MW), which equals the the PSB’s “Section 248” review their recommendations and cost years, as global, national and local amount of power we used to purchase process, all aspects of the project will estimates for getting electricity from the environmental concerns have grown, and from Vermont Yankee, and it could be carefully examined, from the landfill to the grid. as the economics of renewable energy eventually generate up to 6 MW. That economics and rate impact to the We especially want to thank Gordon sources have improved, we began will help us meet future needs as local environmental impacts in the Deane of Palmer Management, our seriously investigating renewable energy other existing supply contracts end Coventry area. If the PSB approves landfill gas consultant. Starting 20 years not just as a token part of our supply, but and our membership continues to the project, it will issue a Certificate of ago with the first commercial landfill gas as the major part. grow. It will also reduce our reliance Public Good. In addition, the generation project in And, as we’ve on the electricity spot market, which is generating facility will require an Air the country, in The fact that the facility seen the utility sometimes expensive. Our forecasts Quality Permit. New England Waste Brattleboro, Gordon industry wracked by show that the Coventry project will Services will need a Solid Waste has developed will be local should enable turmoil, instability, help keep our rates stable, more so Permit for its proposed expansion at numerous successful WEC to avoid costs related volatility and than other options. the landfill, and Act 250 approval. landfill gas projects in to long-distance power sometimes fraud, we the United States and transmission, and the took a more old- •A source of clean, local, 3. Member vote. The final step, as elsewhere. His economic benefits fashioned approach renewable energy. This project required for electric cooperatives by services have been will stay within Vermont. and decided that will use gas created by the decompo- Vermont law, is membership approval. invaluable to us. We there is a lot of value sition of wastes in the landfill, and will Upon receipt of a Certificate of Public look forward to to stability and reduce the need for generation from Good, we will ask members to working with these and other project predictability, through ownership. non-renewable and imported sources. approve the project (as you have partners as we go through the approval The Coventry landfill gas project is a done in recent years for the rebuilding process, and then as we construct and major step for us, and we hope it helps • Reduction in the flaring of of our Moretown and South Walden operate the facility. lead the way for others in Vermont and landfill gas and associated substations). We hope to present this We also wish to thank the folks at the nation. As Co-op members, you emissions. Landfill methane is a for a vote in conjunction with our next Casella Waste Systems for providing us presently have more renewable energy in greenhouse gas, and modern landfills annual meeting in May 2004. with voluminous information about the your supply than perhaps any other utility are required to collect and burn (flare) Coventry landfill and its operation, and for customers in the country today. With this the gas rather than to allow it to enter A lot of work ahead their enthusiasm in partnering with us to project, we will be able to maintain and the atmosphere. The gas at the The Co-op’s staff and your Board of develop a renewable energy project on even increase our renewable energy Coventry Landfill is presently being Directors have devoted a great deal of their site. supply for many years to come, at an collected and flared. Generating elec- time and energy to developing this Although we have been careful and affordable cost. tricity will use the gas for a beneficial proposal, beginning more than two years rigorous in developing this plan, the real We take great pleasure in making this purpose, and should almost eliminate ago with a detailed analysis of power- work is just beginning. We are confident announcement in Co-op Currents, and the emissions from flaring. supply options available to us, before that, with the continued help of our expert look forward to providing you with much beginning to narrow our options. It is a lot consultants and Casella Waste Systems, more information in the coming months. •A low-profile project. Although of work for a small utility, but we felt we will gain all approvals necessary, and As always, feel free to contact the the project will supply WEC members strongly that we were on the right path. then construct and begin operating this members of your Board of Directors or with a major portion of our energy, it is We have been assisted throughout project according to plan. The plant will General Manager Avram Patt with any actually a very small project compared this time by some very capable and generate electricity for WEC’s members questions about what this project will to most other types of electric genera- experienced people. Our power supply starting in early 2005 mean for you and your Co-op. tion. It will require construction of a planner, Stan Faryniarz of La Capra modestly-sized building on the landfill Associates and others at that firm, have The reward Barry Bernstein is president of site itself. To get the power to WEC’s helped us analyze and constantly refine Day in and day out, our job at Washington Electric Cooperative’s territory, a single-pole line will be built and sharpen our economic analysis. Two Washington Electric Co-op continues to Board of Directors. Avram Patt is the along existing roads to a VELCO well-known engineering firms have focus on operating those 1,200 miles of Cooperative’s general manager. transmission substation in neighboring provided us with their expertise. poles and wire that bring electricity to our Irasburg. (VELCO is the statewide Dufresne-Henry, Inc. conducted a 9,400 members on the back roads of

To call the Co-op, dial: weekdays 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., 223-5245; toll-free for reporting outages & emergencies, 1-800-WEC-5245; after hours, weekends & holidays, 223-7040.