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GUNNISON COUNTY ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

Powering Possibilities

AUGUST 2018

WHY GREEN POWER?BY MIKE MCBRIDE || CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERWhy green power? For one thing, we like providing choices. We recognize that we have a diverse membership with different needs and goals. The board of directors and staff work extremely hard to find the balance. Member choice allows us to push the boundaries without upsetting that balance.

Gunnison County Electric Association’s voluntary green power program allows members to determine if, and to what extent, they want to help promote renewable energy. At a small additional cost, members can support the development of renewable energy both on the larger grid and here at home. More on that in a minute.

Over the past few years, culminating in action at the May and June board meetings, we have been working to find the balance with local renewable projects that could

provide power at or below the cost of our current power supply. Until recently, the proposals we received were not able to accomplish this goal. I am happy to report that three projects have now been approved by the GCEA board of directors that meet this objective. Though the power cost savings are small, with these projects we can meet the desires of members who want local renewables, as well as those for whom cost is the primary concern. The three projects are: two 0.5 megawatt solar arrays and an expansion of our community solar garden. There are a few remaining hurdles such as permitting, but we feel good about the prospects of bringing these three projects to completion. This is one example

where we were able to find balance without pushing boundaries.

But that isn’t always the case. Sometimes renewable projects fall short on the economics. This can be especially true with smaller scale projects like those we want to develop locally. One way members can help push the boundaries of balance to make local projects a reality is by participating in the voluntary green power program. Twenty-five percent of the amount paid for green power by participating members is being set aside in a fund to help pay for future renewable energy projects that might not be viable otherwise.

More than 30 percent of the power we get from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association comes from renewable sources. But members who want to do more can. Our voluntary green

power program uses renewable energy certificates representing current year production from quality projects, mostly Colorado wind. When our members subscribe to green power, we acquire the certificates needed and retire them through the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System.

Once retired, that renewable generation cannot be claimed for any other purpose, including compliance with the Colorado renewable energy standard.

We are calling our latest offering the Green Power Plus Club. Members choosing this option can offset 130 percent of their usage through GCEA’s green power program in combination with the renewable energy provided by Tri-State. This allows those who choose this option to go above and beyond and make a greater contribution in support of renewable energy. Members can also choose a 100 percent offset option or purchase any number of green power blocks at 100 kilowatt-hours each.

The board of directors recently set a goal of 50 percent renewable energy for GCEA by 2030, and you can help us reach that goal by participating in the green power program. With our renewable percentage from Tri-State estimated at 32 percent this year and growing, the development of some local renewable projects and member participation in the voluntary green power program (currently 8.6 percent), we should be able to meet that goal.

If you want to support renewable energy, please join our Green Power Plus Club or participate in our green power program as you choose. Thank you!

Mike McBride

coloradocountrylife.coop8 AUGUST 2018

Powering Possibilities

FFOR ELECTRIFYING EXPERIENCE, CALL GCEAGUEST ARTICLE BY CHRIS DICKEY || GUNNISON TIMES PUBLISHER || ARTICLE FROM JUNE 21 PAPER

For the past week, and for the first time in my 23-year “working” career in Gunnison, I pumped the brakes on the bicycle and joined the masses of car commuters.

Except it wasn’t an ordinary vehicle I used to make the not-so-maddening five block trek from home to office, and this unexpected experiment served an additional purpose of providing me more behind-the-wheel perspective in our community’s ongoing debate over vehicle vs. pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Please, allow me to explain: Last Wednesday, I was pretty much

minding my own business (if you can call publishing news of the community that) when I received an email from Gunnison County Electric Association’s Sherry Booth. Sherry, a spark-plug of energy herself, informed me of an educational and public relations program our local, forward-thinking power provider sponsors.

“GCEA has two previously owned all-electric vehicles we loan to association and community members,” she wrote. “We let people try out the Chevy Spark or Nissan LEAF for a week at a time so you can feel for yourself the experience of using a small EV in the valley. Interested?”

I immediately dropped my proof-reading pen, put the presses on hold and met Sherry and the cute little cruiser they’ve dubbed “Spark-e” by the charging station located behind City Hall.

To make a long story short, I want one. For the past week, I’ve zigged and

zagged all over town in Spark-e. I cruised up to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Gothic to test its charge, made U-turns on Elk Avenue in

downtown Crested Butte just for fun and parked in the City Market parking lot with ease.

So, the first thing you notice about Spark-e is its diminutive size — about that of a customized golf cart pros like Wolfgang Spohr or Ron Haun probably use to cruise the links at Dos Rios. Small cars, like small bodies, are easy to maneuver, especially in tight places.

The next thing you notice about Spark-e is that it purrs like a mute kitten, which is to say it doesn’t purr at all. Spark-e’s engine is dead quiet. It’s so quiet, the folks at Silent Tracks would likely, if asked, approve its use beyond the winter trailhead at Slate River.

Don’t get me wrong; there’s a time and a place for big noise. I’m hoping, for example, Sturgill Simpson cranks it up to 10 this Sunday in Telluride at the bluegrass festival.

But can you imagine how pleasant the first block of Main Street would be if, instead of the deafening roar of diesel engines, you could actually hear Kim at the W Cafe call your name as you sit on the sidewalk waiting for a table?

I know, I know. That’s crazy talk, and blasphemy to some. But John Lennon wasn’t the only dreamer.

Once you actually put Spark-e in “Drive” and start to go, the most impressive (and fun) characteristic you notice is its zippiness. Torque might be a more technical term. Bottom line is, it’s quick! And, as a former (and current, if Old Fart League counts) basketball player, I really like quickness.

I promised Sherry and GCEA chief charger Mike McBride that I’d obey all traffic laws while borrowing Spark-e, so I can’t speak to its top-end

speed. But, as far as I know, there’s no law governing how quickly one goes from zero to the speed limit.

In this regard, Spark-e’s performance simply sparkled. It’s a stop-and-go world, and we left more than our fair share of tough guys eating our proverbial fumes (did I mention that Spark-e belches exactly zero tailpipe emissions?) at the light at Main and Spencer, northbound en route to Garlic Mike’s.

Like I said, I want one — so badly, in fact, that I have to retract, or at least revise, a statement I’ve previously made.

I’ve said that I would refrain from buying a new vehicle until it was fully capable of driving me around. My addendum to this claim is I now await a self-driving vehicle that can recharge comfortably, and at off-peak rates, overnight in the garage — at about 81 cents per gallon equivalent.

For now, though, it’s back to a bicycle for me. And as for the aforementioned safe streets talk, like with most things in life, I think we’d all be better off by spending a little time and effort seeing things from someone else’s perspective.

Chris Dickey can be reached at 970-641-1414 or publisher@gunnisontimes.com.

CO-OP ANNIVERSARYGREG KATHEISERVehicle maintenance and equipment operator, 23 years

Energy Efficiency Tip of the MonthLook for LED products and fixtures for outdoor use, such as pathway, step and porch lights. Many include features like automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors.

Source: energy.gov

coloradocountrylife.coop 9AUGUST 2018

Powering Possibilities

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDSScholarships are a tradition at Gunnison County Electric Association. For decades, GCEA has provided scholarship assistance for graduating seniors to pursue an education beyond high school. This year, the scholarship program awarded 81 scholarships, compared to 68 scholarships last year. Thank you to the generosity of members who participate in Operation

Round Up®, the board of directors, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, GCEA member and employee donations and funding from unclaimed and returned capital credit checks.

Crested ButteEloir Bilow-Makler

James Biven

Walker Carroll

Sierra D'Aquila

Dylan Eaton

Ian Eldridge

Calyton Freed

Katherine Freeman

Sherwood Martineau

Vincent Micheal

Ashton McGuin

Morgan Moss

Malia Olson

Marry O'Neal

Sydney Petersen

Turner Peterson

Kia Pulitzer

Megan Sandgreen

Charlene Stoneberg

Lilly Talbot

Katie Trautman

Catherine Washburn

Finnegan Wilson

Returning Students

Erika Bremer

Peter Bright

Michaela Butts

Ryan Carroll

Kayla Chambers

Kendall Cox

Cameron Curtis

Clara Cranor

Annie Duryea

Lana Fanagan

Madelynn Felix

Avery Forsythe

Barrett Fuller

Matthew Howard

Josh Jacobson

Julia Jacobson

Sean Jones

Katherine Ketcham

Summer Lambro

GunnisonLane Bacaialli

Macey Billinger

Jade Fry

Alexandra Hays

Madeline Johnson

Tanner Klug

James Lambert

Sara Melby

Dustin Parmeter

Kylie Schodorf

Madison Vickers

Alyssa Ware

Lacie Wise

Lake CityCameron Arthur

Autumn Baker

Issac Borchers

Miranda Hall

Ethan Wuest

Returning StudentsJessica Lehmann

Megan Levine

Ivy McBride

Gage Meredith

Kelley Mundell

Ryan Myers

Robert Nard

Ian O'Bannion

Rhiannon Parent

Shay Percival

Avery Pulley

Dani Pringle

Madaline Redden

Caitlin Rhodes

Matthew Ricks

Ian Scroggins

Ryan Scroggins

Justin Smith

Jamey Spahn

Jack Starkebaum

Isabel Young

GCEA Youth Tour representatives Siena Truex and Juneau Baer in Washington, D.C.

YOUTH TOUR

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Powering Possibilities

AUGUST 2018

What an exciting annual meeting we had this year. Tri-State Generation and Transmission brought the ever-so-popular Power the robot, and its new renewables booth and virtual reality experience display. The linemen gave bucket truck rides and educational demonstrations, while inside there were informational displays regarding energy efficiency and lighting. Guest speaker Brad Nebergall from Tri-State gave a speech about the industry, including Tri-State’s progress in expanding its renewable portfolio over the past several years.

There was a contested election for District 6 this year. Mark Daily was re-elected for District 7, and we have a new director, Polly Oberosler, for District 6.

Thank you, F-BAR Catering, for the delicious food that is always a big hit with the members.

Thank you everyone who came to celebrate 79 years with GCEA!

ANNUAL MEETING

Board member Mark Daily shows off GCEA’s EV fleet at the annual meeting.

Power poses with a child attending the annual meeting. Shane McGuinness hands out an annual meeting gift to a member.

It’s the time of year when college campuses are preparing for students to move all of their worldly possessions into their home away from home: the dorm.

Safe Electricity urges everyone to make sure their college-bound students take precautions to prevent and protect themselves from campus-related fires and shocks. Do not overload your electrical outlets, power strips or extension cords. Use power strips with an over-current protector that will shut off power automatically if there is too much current being drawn.

Potentially older wiring in student housing and apartments may not be able to handle the increased electrical demand of today’s college student. If use of an appliance frequently causes power to trip off or its power cord or the outlet feels hot, the appliance should be disconnected immediately and the condition reported to a resident assistant or housing manager.