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NEWS SOURCE FOR WYOMING CO-OP MEMBERS SINCE 1954 WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS AUGUST 2019 CENTERPIECE [15] CO-OP SPOTLIGHT For news from your local cooperative, turn to the center of the magazine. 40 Heroes [26] “Tune to ESPN” AMERICA’S TOP 120 Channels 190 $59.99/mo. Local channels included! Smart HD DVR Included | 2-Year TV Price Guarantee All offers require credit qualification, 2-year commitment with early termination fee, and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling, or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more. Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification. Fees apply for additional TVs: Hopper $15/mo., Joey $5/mo., Super Joey $10/mo. A Better TV Experience DISH is ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction nationally by J.D. Power and our customers.* FREE HD for Life® FREE Standard Professional Installation [15] MAGAZINE [08] THE WREN MAGAZINE WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS The official publication of the AUGUST 2019 Wyoming Rural Electric Association The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 65, number 7, August 2019 (ISSN 1098-2876) is published monthly except for January for $12 per year by Linden Press, Inc., 214 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C, Cheyenne, WY 82001. Periodicals postage paid at [ ] Cheyenne, WY (original entry office) and at additional 21 mailing offices.POSTMASTER – Send address changes to: The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, c/o Linden Press, Inc., 223 S. Howes St., Fort Collins, CO 80521, [970] 221-3232. Include 3-digit co-op code. WREN Magazine is owned and controlled by rural electric cooperatives in the interest of the economic progress of rural areas specifically and the entire population of Wyoming and the nation generally. WREN Magazine has a total average monthly paid circulation of 40,912 for 11 months ending in September 2018. WREN Magazine is delivered to rural electric member/ consumers and other subscribers throughout the entire state of Wyoming and the nation. Acceptance of advertising by WREN Magazine does not imply endorsement of the product or services advertised ESSAYS & by the publisher or Wyoming electric cooperatives. WREN STAFF ANECDOTES Publisher: Linden Press, Inc. • Editor: Maggie York WREA NOTES BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEATURES 04 TRI-STATE'S MISSION Tri-State G&T, Westminster, CO – Dick Clifton, President BY DUANE HIGHLEY Garland Light & Power, Powell – ECONOMIC BENEFITS Scott Smith, Vice President 06 LOWER VALLEY Deseret Power, South Jordan, UT – Gary Nix, Secretary/Treasurer ENERGY HOME ON THE RANGE 21 THEY'RE SO CUTE Basin Electric, Bismarck, ND – Paul Baker Big Horn REC, Basin – John Joyce BY BRUCE CONNALLY Bridger Valley Electric, Mountain View – Ruth Rees CO-OP YOUTH Carbon Power, Saratoga – Kenny Curry 08 D.C. YOUTH TOUR High Plains Power, Riverton – Hearley Dockham ENLIGHTEN US JUST FOR FUN High West Energy, Pine Bluffs – Michael Lerwick 36 OLD TOOLS Lower Valley Energy, Afton – Fred Brog CENTERPIECE AND MEMORIES Niobrara, Lusk – Andy Greer ARTISANS KIDS' CORNER 15 BY CHUCK LARSEN Powder River Energy, Sundance – Mike Lohse AT WORK 20 ART ABOUT Wheatland REA, Wheatland – Sandra Hranchak NATURE PHOTOS BY LAUREN MODLER Wyrulec, Torrington – Dewey Hageman ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO WREN Magazine • 214 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C CO-OP SPOTLIGHT PUZZLE Cheyenne, WY 82001, [307] 772-1968 26 40 HEROES 24 EASY AS PIE [email protected] BY NEVA BODIN BY KENDRA SPANJER FROM OUR SUBSCRIPTION RATES $12 per year, Single copies $1.50 each READERS BOOK REVIEW THE PRAIRIE ADDRESS CHANGES 25 To change, contact Jean Whitlock: COUNTRY COOKS HOMESTEAD [307] 286-8140 or [email protected]. Please make STATE NEWS 28 PIE COOKBOOK sure to include your name, address and co-op. BY JILL WINGER ADVERTISING & EVENTS To purchase, contact Dhara Rose: PEN TO PAPER [307] 996-6552 • [email protected] 29 ELK HUNTER'S THE CURRENT DILEMMA OFFICE OF WREN OWNER 10 COVER PHOTO Adobe Town 2312 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001 in the Red Desert resembles a COWBOY STATE BUZZ JUST PICTURE IT moonscape in the setting sun. OFFICE OF WREN PUBLISHER 12 Linden Press, Inc., 214 West Lincolnway, 33 PRAIRIE PHOTO BY KYLE SPRADLEY Suite 21C, Cheyenne, WY 82001 30 WHAT'S HAPPENING PRINTED WITH VEGETABLE INK WREA NOTES AS OUR INDUSTRY CHANGES, SERVING MEMBERS REMAINS OUR MISSION Since joining Tri-State Generation and Our board of directors has also directed the Transmission Association as CEO in April, I’ve development of our Responsible Energy Plan. been asked what my vision is for our cooperative. The plan will detail how Tri-State will be an My answer has always been the same – we are increasingly clean and flexible power provider going to determine our future together with our and will set goals and pathways to comply members. That is what electric cooperatives do, with state-specific regulatory requirements. and that’s what we are doing at Tri-State. The plan will ensure the reliability and affordability of Tri-State’s wholesale power Tri-State is a power supply cooperative owned by system, and importantly, strive to lower our eight Wyoming co-ops and many other similar wholesale rates to members while maintaining not-for-profit electric utilities across the West. Our Tri-State’s strong financial position. diversity of membership is a strength that will help us navigate the significant changes in our energy We’ve already taken meaningful actions and industry and create more opportunities for our will have more specifics about the plan as it’s members. developed in the coming months. In June, Tri- State issued our sixth request for proposals One need not look far to see the dramatic changes for renewable energy resources. Additionally, in our industry, many of which are driven by DUANE HIGHLEY a contract committee of our membership is CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER regulation, economics and consumer demands. currently reviewing how we can offer more I recognize these changes are being deeply felt TRI-STATE GENERATION flexible contract options for our members that AND TRANSMISSION across Wyoming. ASSOCIATION would like to generate more power locally. With these changes, we are choosing to be Finally, our board has taken steps that will proactive and we’re working actively with our ensure our wholesale rates are equally applied members to move forward. across all of our members by seeking federal Our cooperative has taken several important steps. rate regulation. Tri-State’s board of directors, representing each of Development and implementation of our our members, refined our mission statement. The Responsible Energy Plan is not something we core of our mission remains the same, but we’re can do alone. We’ll be working closely with simplifying and clarifying our focus: our membership and a range of stakeholders to identify how to reach our goals, and I’m Tri-State’s mission is to provide our looking forward to the conversations as we member systems a reliable, affordable determine our path forward. and responsible supply of electricity in accordance with cooperative principles. Our mission is serving our members reliably, affordably and responsibly within our The words reliable, affordable and responsible cooperative business model. Together, we will are important. Reliability of electric service continue to be focused on the changing needs remains our first priority, followed closely by and desires of our members and the evolution the affordability of power. We’ve added the of our industry. Our members will always be word responsibility, and while this is not a new at the core of that discussion, and I know that concept for cooperatives, we want to highlight the when our diverse voices come together, the importance of being responsible to our members, strength of the solutions we can achieve is our employees and our environment. unmatched. 4 AUG 2019 WREN WYOMING FULL PAGE EXPORT WITH NO PRINTERS MARKS At Tri-State Our cooperative approach to a clean grid starts now. Learn how we’re transforming with our Responsible Energy Plan. www.tristategt.coop/cleangrid ECONOMIC BENEFITS Assisted Living IN DUBOIS, WYOMING LOWER VALLEY ENERGY COUNTIES 7.66 32,081 LINCOLN, SUBLETTE, TETON METERS PER MILE METERS SERVED Living assisted on the Wind River – western style 59 miles from the entrance to Yellowstone Lower Valley Energy is proud to partner with Energy Conservation Works to Privately owned, non-profit implement and advocate for energy efficiency in the community. Medicaid approved 10% monthly discount for private pay Veterans AT THE CO-OP Join us for: Bingo on Tuesdays – 6:30 to 8:00pm “Happy Hour” on Fridays – 4:30 to 5:30pm 69 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES 100 HOUSEHOLDS SUPPORTED Want more information? (307) 455-2645 5643 US HWY 26 • Dubois WY • warmvalleylodgewy.com JOBS CREATED IN SALES 129 THE LOCAL COMMUNITY $47,477,614 PERSONAL PAYROLL INCOME $6,172,148 $8,968,471 GENERATED IN THE COMMUNITY TOTAL D 90 OL ,9 LA 1 RS Wills, Trusts 2 FR 4 O CAPITAL CREDITS , M & Probate 8 C RETURNED TO MEMBERS O 2 - $ O P PROPERTY TAXES PAID Land Use T O $21,947,729 C GAY WOODHOUSE DEBORAH RODEN O SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS AWARDED M TARA NETHERCOTT JOANNE SWEENEY $112,969 M U HOLLI WELCH KATYE BROWN $5,000 N AWARDED FROM OPERATION I JEFF VAN FLEET CHRISTOPHER BRENNAN T Y $6,356,293 ROUNDUP DONATIONS 1912 Capitol Avenue Suite 500 Cheyenne, WY 82001 (307) 432-9399 WRNLawFirm.com AT THE CO-OP: The Wyoming Business Council (WBC) recently completed a study of the economic benefits of Wyoming’s rural electric cooperatives. Looking at employment and tax revenue data from 2017, the WBC reported that Lower Valley Energy is an economic driver in the local community. IN THE COMMUNITY: Between 2007 and 2017, Lower Valley Energy gave more than $28 million back to the community.