A Service of Cherryland Electric Cooperative
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A service of Cherryland Electric Cooperative The Voice of the Getting Back to Our 4 Balancing Act 12 Turtle 13 (Grass) Roots 1 YEAR. THOUSANDS of happy geothermal owners. MILLIONS of dollars saved. Real WaterFurnace Owners Over the last year we’ve saved thousands of happy homeowners millions of dollars on heating, cooling and hot water using the clean, renewable energy in their backyard! During SEVENbration, we’re offering instant savings of $2100 on the most efficient unit on the planet. With the additional 30% federal tax credit, there’s never been a better time to upgrade to WaterFurnace. But hurry, this rebate ends April 30th, so contact your local dealer today—and join the SEVENbration! Your Local WaterFurnace Dealers Bad Axe Grand Rapids Mount Pleasant Traverse City B & D Htg Total Comfort Walton’s Htg & Clg D&W Mechanical (989) 269-5280 Resource, LLC (989) 772-4822 (231) 941-1215 (616) 406-3182 Berrien Springs Muskegon UPPER PENINSULA WaterFurnace Hart/Ludington Adams Htg & Clg Michiana Adams Htg & Clg (231) 873-2665 Manistique (269) 473-5667 (231) 873-2665 Hoholik Enterprises Muskegon (906) 341-5065 Big Rapids Indian River Kiessel Geothermal Stratz Htg & Clg M & M Plmb & Htg Htg & Clg Marquette (231) 796-3717 (231) 238-7201 (231) 747-7509 J Goods Plmb & Htg Caro Ionia Onaway (906) 235-5788 AllTemp Comfort, Inc. Home Experts Standard Htg (866) 844-HEAT (800) 457-4554 (989) 733-8309 Marquette (4328) Swick Plmb & Htg Jackson Palms (906) 228-3400 Carsonville Comfort 1 Htg/ Lakeshore Certified Temperature Lenawee Htg Improvements Sault Ste Marie/ Innovations (517) 764-1500 (989) 864-3833 Kinross (810) 300-7748 Great Lakes Kalkaska Portland Services Inc. Clifford Kalkaska Plmb & Htg ESI Htg & Clg (906) 632-5543 Orton Refrig & Htg (231) 258-3588 (517) 647-6906 (989) 761-7691 Lapeer Traverse City DeWitt Porter & Heckman Geofurnace Htg S & J Htg & Clg (800) 445-4328 & Clg (517) 669-3705 (231) 943-1000 instant $ REBATE 2,100 Learn more at waterfurnace.com/SEVENbration Rebate available only to residential customers through participating dealers. WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International, Inc. ©2014 WaterFurnace International Inc. March 2014 Vol. 34, No. 3 Executive Editor Casey Clark Editor Gail Knudtson Publisher Michigan Electric Cooperative Association IN THIS ISSUE HOME COOKING Shakes & Smoothies Michigan Country Lines, USPS- Christin McKamey 591-710, is published monthly, & Our Readers except August and December, 6 with periodicals postage paid at Okemos, MI, and additional offices. It is the official publication OUR ENERGY of the Michigan Electric Coopera- Maintaining Affordable, tive Association, 2859 W. Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Reliable Electricity—You Subscriptions are authorized Can Take Action to Help for members of Alger Delta, Cher- 7 ryland, Cloverland, Great Lakes, HomeWorks Tri-County, Midwest Energy, Ontonagon, Presque Isle, and Thumb electric cooperatives FEATURE by their boards of directors. Sub- Going to the Edge for scriptions for nonmembers are Perfect Shots $6 per year. Kath Usitalo POSTMASTER: SEND ALL UAA 10 TO CFS. Letters to the editor should be sent to Country Lines, 2859 W. SAFETY Jolly Rd., Okemos, MI 48864. Phone 517-913-3531. Email: gknudtson@ Stay Clear of Downed meca.coop. Power Lines Association officers are Ken Swope, Midwest Energy, chairman; 13 Robert Schallip, Cloverland, 1st vice chairman; Jon Zickert, Cher- ryland, 2nd vice chairman; Eric READERS' PAGE Baker, Wolverine Power, secretary- treasurer; and Tony Anderson, Help With Affordable Cherryland, past chairman. Craig Health Care Law • Mystery Borr is president and CEO. Photo • Energy Tip Unsolicited letters, photos and 14 manuscripts are welcome. Country Lines, however, will not be respon- sible for their safe keeping or return. The appearance of advertising ON THE COVER does not constitute an endorse- Photographer Shawn Malone, who recently opened ment of the products or services a studio and gallery in Marquette, literally goes to advertised. the edge of cliffs and makes nighttime forays into Change of Address: Please notify the wilderness to capture the glory of the Upper your electric cooperative. See page 4 for contact information. Peninsula’s land, water and sky. Photo Courtesy – Shawn Malone/lakesuperiorphoto.com Michigan’s Electric Cooperatives countrylines.com March 2014 | 3 MANAGER’S MESSAGE LEELANAU KALKASKA BENZIE GRAND TRAVERSE Balancing Act MANISTEE WEXFORD he electricity you use comes constructed poses major regulatory and from two sources: fossil fuels community challenges. Already, NERC BOARD OF DIRECTORS and renewable resources. claims that almost 6,500 miles of planned Cherryland Electric Cooperative, transmission lines are delayed, with the Tin partnership with Wolverine Power typical delay lasting up to three years. TOM VAN PELT President Cooperative, balances these resources to Meanwhile, the U.S. Energy 386-5234 • [email protected] deliver safe, reliable and affordable power. Information Administration’s (EIA) Most electricity gets produced by Energy Outlook forecasts that the share TERRY LAUTNER burning fossil fuels or nuclear reaction. of generation coming from renewable Senior Vice President 946-4623 • [email protected] Fossil fuels – primarily coal and natural resources (including hydro) will grow from gas – are non-renewable, with 13 percent today to 16 percent MELINDA LAUTNER limited stockpiles. Nuclear in 2040 – mainly in the form of Secretary energy, fueled by uranium, also wind. But less than 25 percent 947-2509 • [email protected] relies on a finite resource. of this renewable capacity will be Renewable energy sources available when consumers need it RICK DENEWETH like water, wind, sun, biomass most, notably during times of peak Treasurer and the earth’s heat replenish demand, highlighting the need for 929-4526 • [email protected] themselves. When it comes research on the development of BETTY MACIEJEWSKI to generating renewable advanced energy storage options. Director electricity for rural America, It’s important to note EIA’s Tony Anderson prediction for renewables growth 947-0463 • [email protected] electric cooperatives are General Manager leading the way. Nationwide, is in response to federal tax credits, JOHN OLSON electric cooperatives receive state-level mandates and requirements Director 13 percent of their power requirements to use more biomass-based transportation 938-1228 • [email protected] from renewable resources compared to fuels (electricity can sometimes be JON ZICKERT 10 percent for electric produced as a byproduct Director utilities as a whole. “Cherryland, in of the refining process). 631-1337 • [email protected] Renewable energy has Electric cooperatives its share of challenges. partnership with are working closely “Green” power resources with others to remind GENERAL MANAGER don’t exist everywhere Wolverine Congress to keep Tony Anderson or in sufficient quantity the affordability of to “keep the lights on Power, balances electric bills in mind CO-OP EDITOR Nick Edson all of the time.” There’s fuel resources to when debating energy also a need for more legislation. A sound transmission lines deliver safe, reliable, approach to renewable OFFICE HOURS to move renewable affordable power.” energy remains an Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. power from the places important element for where it’s generated consideration. TELEPHONE NUMBERS 231-486-9200 or 1-800-442-8616 (MI) to population centers, and for new At Cherryland Electric Cooperative, technology capable of storing electricity we want you to understand the potential ADDRESS produced by variable wind and solar and realities of renewable energy in the P.O. Box 298, Grawn, MI 49637 facilities as a way to make them more areas we serve. Our best example is the reliable forms of generation. community solar project next to our WEBSITE The North American Electric Reliability office. We are learning daily about the cherrylandelectric.com Corporation (NERC), which oversees promise and challenges of solar energy reliable operation of the bulk power in northern Michigan. PAY STATION grid covering the United States, most of There is no one singular solution for Cherryland Electric office Canada, and a sliver of Mexico, estimates our energy generation future. It will 5930 U.S. 31 South, Grawn that 39,000 miles of transmission lines forever remain a balance of coal, gas, need to be built by 2019, with 27 percent nuclear and renewables. dedicated to connecting renewable resources to the grid. Yet getting these lines 4 | Michigan Country Lines YOUR CO-OP CEC Offers College Scholarships igh school seniors whose parents or The entry deadline isApril 11 at 4 p.m. guardians get their electricity from There will also be two scholarships Cherryland Electric Cooperative awarded for post-high school college classes. and live in our service area have You must also be a Cherryland member to Ha shot at three $4,000 college scholarships. apply for these adult education scholarships, The three winning seniors will receive worth $1,000 each. $1,000 a year for four years. The scholarship goes toward covering the Selection is based on GPA (minimum cost of a course or courses taken in a calen- required is 2.75), extracurricular activi- dar year and will be awarded on the basis ties, community involvement and/or after of need, grades and community service. It school employment. To continue receiving is a one-time award, and the deadline is the scholarship, a student must maintain a also April 11. minimum college course load of 12 credits Members may request an application for per term or semester and receive a 2.5 GPA either scholarship by emailing Nick Edson or higher. Students may apply by contact- at [email protected] (please include your ing their high school guidance counselor; name and address), call him at 486-9222 or or contact Nick Edson, communications write him at Cherryland Electric Coopera- coordinator at Cherryland, as noted below. tive, 5930 U.S.-31 South, Grawn, MI 49637. Incredible Mo’s STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION Cherryland Electric Cooperative is the recipient of federal financial to Host Annual assistance from the U.S.