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NEWS SOURCE FOR WYOMING CO-OP OWNERS SINCE 1954 WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS FEBRUARY 2018 [16] wyoming women HUNT [26] COACH TEACHES LIFE LESSONS WREN WYOMING FULL PAGE EXPORT WITH NO PRINTERS MARKS We’ll take ours sunny side up As a co-op member, 30 percent of the electricity you use comes from renewable resources. Renewables are an important part of Tri-State’s diverse energy mix. A fact that may help you sleep a little easier. Just make sure you don’t snooze past breakfast. Together, we generate possibilities. Visit Randy at www.tristate.coop/renewables [22] [16] MAGAZINE THE WREN MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2018 WYOMING RURAL ELECTRIC NEWS The official publication of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association The WREN Magazine, Wyoming Rural Electric News, volume 64, number 1, February 2018 (ISSN 1098-2876) is published monthly except for January for $12 per [14] year by Linden Press, Inc., 216 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C, Cheyenne, WY 82001. Periodicals postage paid at Cheyenne, WY (original entry office) and at additional 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 39,631 for 11 months ending in September 2017. WREN Magazine is delivered to rural electric member/ consumers and other subscribers throughout the entire state of Wyoming and the nation. ESSAYS & Acceptance of advertising by WREN Magazine does not imply endorsement of the product or services advertised ANECDOTES by the publisher or Wyoming electric cooperatives. WREN STAFF FEATURES WREA NOTES Publisher: Linden Press, Inc. • Editor: Maggie Budd 04 LOOKING WYOMING WEEKENDS FORWARD TO 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 13 BLACK HILLS BY SHAWN TAYLOR Tri-State G&T, Westminster, CO – Dick Clifton, President SCENIC BYWAY Garland Light & Power, Powell – Scott Smith, Vice President HOME ON THE RANGE Deseret Power, South Jordan, UT – CENTERPIECE 22 SOMEONE'S HERO Gary Nix, Secretary/Treasurer 16 WYOMING BY MEGAN BEAVERS Basin Electric, Bismarck, ND – Paul Baker WOMEN HUNT Big Horn REC, Basin – Tom Delaney Bridger Valley Electric, Mountain View – Ruth Rees BY RACHEL GIRT JUST FOR FUN Carbon Power, Saratoga – Jerry Rabidue ENLIGHTEN US High Plains Power, Riverton – Hearley Dockham 37 RIDING IN THE High West Energy, Pine Bluffs – Ed Prosser CO-OP CLOUD PEAK KIDS' CORNER MEET THE Lower Valley Energy, Afton – Fred Brog 26 SPOTLIGHT WILDERNESS 14 Niobrara, Lusk – Andy Greer COACH TEACHES BY ROSEMARY CARR PRONGHORN Mike Lohse Powder River Energy, Sundance – LIFE LESSONS Wheatland REA, Wheatland – Sandra Hranchak Wyrulec, Torrington – Dewey Hageman BY NEVA BODIN PUZZLE 24 CONNECT ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO WREN Magazine • 214 West Lincolnway, Suite 21C THE DOTS Cheyenne, WY 82001, [307] 772-1968 FROM OUR BY KENDRA SPANJER [email protected] STATE NEWS SUBSCRIPTION RATES READERS BOOK REVIEW $12 per year, Single copies $1.50 each & EVENTS 25 POWER PLAYS ADDRESS CHANGES COUNTRY COOKS BY TED CASE To change, contact: Jean Whitlock: 28 ANTELOPE [307] 286-8140 or [email protected]. Please make THE CURRENT sure to include your name, address and co-op. 06 PEN TO PAPER ADVERTISING 29 AT THE CAMPBELL COVER PHOTO A pronghorn To purchase, contact Dhara Rose: COWBOY STATE BUZZ antelope relaxes in the sunshine west [970] 221-3232 x33 • [email protected] COUNTY FAIR 08 of Cheyenne in December. WHAT IS A HEART OFFICE OF WREN OWNER STRING? PHOTO BY KELLY ETZEL DOUGLAS 2312 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82001 30 WHAT'S HAPPENING OFFICE OF WREN PUBLISHER Linden Press, Inc., 214 West Lincolnway, JUST PICTURE IT Suite 21C, Cheyenne, WY 82001 34 ANIMAL TRACKS PRINTED WITH VEGETABLE INK WREA NOTES LOOKING FORWARD TO 2018 realize we are a month ing various comments from House Bill 36 – Move over into 2018, but it’s still the magazine on our newly requirement. An additional Inew to us, and I hope you all formed Facebook page, and safety measure for our utility SHAWN TAYLOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR had a Merry Christmas and you can read more about that crews, by including them in Happy New Year. When we below. the same category as the high- left each other in December of way patrol, EMTs and other Last year we focused on vari- 2017 I was preparing for what emergency vehicles. ous communities around the was an amazing journey to Bo- state in our “What’s Happen- Senate File 10 • Utilities rate- livia for an international rural ing” page, this year we’ll be making. Clarifies the defini- electrification program, and tion of avoided costs for coop- you can read more about the looking at bigger regions of eratives. trip and the project later in the the state. And finally, for those magazine. of you who send in pictures, Senate File 11 • Public utility poems, recipes, etc. there will regulation joint powers board. For purposes of my column be a change in some of our Allows for joint powers boards this month I wanted to cover deadlines. that enter into utility agree- some new things that will ments to not be regulated by As noted above, the WREA be happening both with the the Public Service Commis- has joined the Facebook era magazine and at the Wyoming sion. Rural Electric Association and would encourage you all (WREA), and also cover some to visit and follow us at www. Senate File 12 • Public Ser- Submissions to WREN legislative issues that will be facebook.com/WyomingRu- vice Commission, member Magazine will now be due ralElectric. Here you will find qualifications. Sets out certain on the 10th of the month coming up during this year’s requirements for future Pub- preceding the issue. We will session in Cheyenne. information about our edu- be sure to let you know the cation and scholarship pro- lic Service Commissioner Re- topic two months ahead. The WREA board of directors grams, historical information quirements. and the WREN editorial staff on electrifying rural America Senate File 14 • Biennial en- have talked for the past sever- and Wyoming, interesting ergy strategy. Creates a five- APRIL ISSUE DEADLINES: al years about making a digital and informative videos, and member energy strategy com- BOOK GIVEAWAY edition of the magazine avail- legislative updates both from mittee to produce and present Power Plays able to those readers who wish Cheyenne and D.C. an energy plan every two entries due Mar 10 to read an electronic version, years. Speaking of legislative up- COUNTRY COOKS while still continuing with our Parsley recipes award-winning print edition. dates, the Wyoming Legisla- Senate File 47 • Eminent Do- due March 10 Beginning with this issue, we ture will convene for a 20-day main-wind energy collector will have a poll on the Archive budget session beginning on systems. Prohibits the use of JUST PICTURE IT “Green” photos page asking for your prefer- February 12. Despite the elect- eminent domain for wind farm due Mar 10 ence. It may take some time ed officials facing huge bud- collector systems. to compile the data and see get deficits that will consume WHAT'S HAPPENING Here is to a great 2018! April events what avenue we go down, but much of their time, there are a due March 10 we will have past issues avail- couple of non-budget related able on the website beginning pieces of legislation that we’ll this year. We’ll also be featur- be focusing on: 4 WREN MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2018 KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON ISN’T ENOUGH. We’re not your typical electric company, we’re a local not-for-profi t electric cooperative. We power our community with more than just electricity. Our employees give time and resources to help build a better community. YOUR SOURCE OF POWER. AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. Your energy starts here. basinelectric.com WREN | DEC 2017 5 BEPC Lights On TSE ad 1-18.indd 1 1/5/2018 2:50:46 PM THE CURRENT BRINGING IN DECEMBER, I was fortunate to LIGHT TO travel to rural Bolivia to witness people getting electricity for the first time. It was like traveling to rural Wyoming more than 75 years ago and The morning of inauguration TAYLOR PHOTOS BY SHAWN witnessing farmers day, I went for a hike up about and ranchers flipping took care of us; getting our 15,000 feet. From there I the switch, experienc- gear, bedding and food up the ing the miracle of light. could see the poles, wires and mountain safely up a scary dirt You might think the transformers for the entire road with a smile on his face word “miracle” is too village. It was a great time to and gratitude in his heart. dramatic, but when I saw the faces of the reflect on what we were doing I mentioned that the crew did people whose lives there, as well as how fortunate almost all the work because the were about to change, I we are to live where we do. bucket and digger trucks from could think of no other the state-owned utility out of word. Cochabamba didn’t show up. Harken back to the early days of co-ops where our founding fathers My trip lasted a week, but the did what others wouldn’t. The same thing happened here. The crew planning that goes into something told us that the day before they got there, the local villagers dug like this was years in the making, about 100 postholes, and the anchor holes were dug by hand! When and the seven-man line crew from the crew showed up, they set all the poles the old-fashioned way, Missouri who did all the work (or with ropes and a lot of manpower.