Renewable Energy in Your Backyard
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November/ December 2012 Vol. 33, No. 1 Editor Gail Knudtson Associate Editor Doug Snitgen Design Editor Cindy Zuker Publisher Craig Borr 15 17 18 DEPARTMENTS COLUMNS features Michigan Country Lines, USPS- 6 Readers’ Pages 11 Comment 10 Our Energy 591-710, is published monthly, Letters, mystery photo, Prop. 3 is a power grab Understanding window except August and December, with periodicals postage paid utility scams Frank Kelley energy efficiency claims at Okemos, MI, and additional Megan McKoy-Noe offices. It is the official publication 18 Home Cooking 16 Family of the Michigan Electric Coopera- Take-along dishes Top gifts for kids 12 Cover Story tive Association, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Christin McKamey & Linda Wacyk Renewable energy: Subscriptions are authorized Our readers At any cost? for members of Alger Delta, Cher- 17 Outdoors Doug Snitgen ryland, Cloverland, Great Lakes, 22 Wolverine Power* Bamboo fly-rod maker HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, Some Wolverine history Bob Gwizdz 14 Winter Wise and Thumb electric cooperatives Nancy Tanner Home heating by their boards of directors. Sub- 22 Gardening* assistance programs scriptions for nonmembers are Shrubs $6 per year. POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA Neil Moran 15 Michigan-Made to CFS. The craft lady of Caro Letters to the editor should 23 House & Home Kath Usitalo be sent to Country Lines, 2859 W. Soundproof walls Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Phone 517-913-3531. Email: gknudtson@ YOUR CO-OP James Dulley meca.coop. Association officers are Tony Pages specific to your 26 Ramblings Anderson, Cherryland, chairman; Ken Swope, Midwest Energy, 1st electric cooperative: 1, Promises, promises vice chairman; Robert Schallip, 4-5, 8-9, 20-21, 24-25, 28 Mike Buda Cloverland, 2nd vice chairman; Eric Baker, Wolverine Power, secretary- treasurer; and Brian Burns, PIE&G, *Not in all editions past chairman. Craig Borr is presi- dent and CEO. Unsolicited letters, photos and manuscripts are welcome. Country Lines, however, will not be respon- sible for their safe keeping or return. The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorse- ment of the products or services advertised. Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives Change of Address: Please notify your electric cooperative. See countrylines.com page 4 for contact information. On the Cover Cover illustration is by Dennis Preston. artbypreston.com November/December 2012 | 3 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN CHEBOYGAN PRESQUE ISLE OTSEGO MONTMORENCY ALPENA Standing United Against Prop. 3 1937 – 2012 OSCODA ALCONA hile we, the general managers special interest groups who would profit PRESQUE ISLE ELECTRIC & GAS Co-oP and CEOs of Michigan’s electric from binding energy policy into our distribution co-ops support constitution. 19831 M-68 Hwy., P.O. Box 308 W renewable energy, we also stand united Onaway, 49765 against Proposal 3. This ballot proposal RENEWABLE IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE. Business Office & Billing: 989-733-8515 would amend the Michigan Constitution Renewable energy has a place in our power Toll-free: 800-423-6634 to include a 25 percent Renewable Portfolio supply toolbox, but its limitations make pieg.com Standard (RPS), which would be very it less-than-ideal. Wind farms in the state expensive and extreme. Please consider the typically only generate 30 percent of the following important facts about Proposal 3 time—and this “reliability” is often lower BOARD OF DIRECTORS as you head to the polls on Nov. 6: on the hot, still days when electricity John F. Brown, Chairman demand is highest. By comparison, wind 231-625-2099 YOUR CO-OP IS A RENEWABLE farms in Texas and parts of the upper 21 W. Devereaux Lake Rd. ENERGY LEADER. Michigan’s electric Midwest often operate at levels exceeding Indian River, MI 49749 co-ops are already leaders in renewable 40 percent. Allen Barr, Vice-Chairman energy, and we support the current 10 231-625-2128 percent RPS set by the Legislature in PROPOSAL 3 WOULD BE EXPENSIVE. 2591 Grant Siding Road 2008. Electric co-ops are key partners in Wind power in Michigan is very Cheboygan, MI 49721 Michigan’s first commercial wind farm, expensive. The Mackinac Center for which is located in the Thumb area and Public Policy reports that it would cost the David W. Smith, Secretary was built prior to any RPS requirements. average residential ratepayer an additional 989-785-5345 P.O. Box 180 One of our state’s largest renewable energy $170 to $190 annually to achieve the 25 Atlanta, MI 49709 resources, a hydro facility in Sault Ste. percent RPS suggested by Proposal 3. Marie, is also owned by an electric co-op. This cost estimate does not even include Daryl Peterson, Treasurer the additional costs of building new 989-742-3145 THE CONSTITUTION IS THE WRONG transmission lines or generation needed to P.O. Box 54 PLACE FOR ENERGY POLICY. “back up” the wind when it does not blow. Hillman, MI 49746 We strongly believe that the Michigan Solar power is even more expensive, and Allan Berg – 989-734-0044 Legislature—not the constitution—is the better suited for other regions of the U.S. 1117 E. Heythaler Hwy. place to enact far-reaching energy policy. Rogers City, MI 49779 While the Legislature’s work can be “fine We support renewable energy and the Sally Knopf – 989-734-4196 tuned” to allow for changes in technology, current 10 percent RPS, but encourage 1849 W. 638 Hwy. the economy or unintended consequences, you to join us in voting “no” against Rogers City, MI 49779 these types of necessary adjustments Proposal 3. You can learn more about your would be nearly impossible to achieve if co-op’s concerns with Proposal 3 in this Bernice Krajniak – 989-379-2727 enshrined in the Michigan Constitution. edition of Michigan Country Lines (pp. 11, 13478 Carr Rd. The majority of the financial support for 12-13) and at CAREforMich.com. Posen, MI 49776 Proposal 3 is coming from out-of-state Robert Wegmeyer – 989-379-2311 16181 Beaver Lake Park Rd. Lachine, MI 49753 Tom Harrell Steve Boeckman Deborah Miles Raymond Wozniak – 989-766-2498 Alger Delta Cooperative Great Lakes Energy Ontonagon County REA 6737 State St. Electric Association Posen, MI 49776 PRESIDENT & CEO Mark Kappler Brian Burns Brian J. Burns Tony Anderson HomeWorks Tri-County Presque Isle Electric & Gas Cherryland Electric Cooperative Electric Cooperative Co-op PIE&G’s natural gas operations are not regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Dan Dasho Robert Hance Dallas Braun Cloverland Electric Cooperative Midwest Energy Cooperative Thumb Electric Cooperative 4 | Michigan Country Lines YOUR CO-OP Notice to Members of Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op A Special Board Meeting is set for November 27, 9 a.m., Why Do We Send at the cooperative’s Onaway office You Country Lines? The board of directors will consider changes to the cooperative’s rates and tariffs at its meeting on November 27, 2012, to be held at the cooperative office at 19831 M68 Highway, We send Country Lines Onaway, Michigan.