500+ conributors to the SNAP purchasers program

The website says 350, but Tom DeLong tells me that there are now more than 500 SNAP purchasers (people who contribute extra money to pay alternative energy producers in the SNAP program). The site also says that "GVEA is well on its way" to meeting its goal of producing 10 percent of its peak load from alternative sources. However, it doesn't say what that peak load is (anticipated to be 230 MW) or what percentage is actually produced from alternative energy sources. Or at least, I can't find it. Does anyone know what this is, and how close or far GVEA is from meeting its goal?

It would be helpful, on this page, to have contact e-mails or links to the members of the Green Power Advisory Committee. I know several of these people, so I have that info, but others may not.

The new bills

It's been a few months now since the new-format bills came out, so I've had time to get used to them. Guess what?

I still don't like them.

The little bar graph is nice and all, but I don't know exactly HOW much electricity I used each month in the last year. A close approximation, yes, and a nice visual quickie look-see, yes, but exact amounts? No. I have to go to my old bills and look 'em up.

Not so convenient.

Okay, done now.

Schedule set for GVEA distribution tariff request

While the tariff filing is confidential, here's a look at the sense of what was filed back in August 2007. All the other documents relating to this case can be found on the RCA website under U-07-08

There is reference to a summer 2008 cost study, in which the balance/allocation of costs between commercial and residential could impact the rates.

Alaska Utility Plans in need of full environmental considerations

It's nice to know that GVEA isn't the only utility with challenges.

Chugach Electric has had ongoing controversy surrounding a board that either is or isn't supportive of its union employees and their labor representative IBEW.

Matanuska Electric Association is now going out to members to ask about siting for a coal fired power plant, justified by a new state prison to be built. This was recently reported in the Anchorage Daily News. There are a number of members who believe a coal plant has environmental concerns that have not been taken into account. The CH2M Hill Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) commissioned by MEA is not available to the members, so they have no way to review it. I'm happy that GVEA hasn't been so secretive with their IRP and having it available to members for review can lead to a better report. Members don't charge for their input.

In a recent study commissioned by the University of Alaska Fairbanks to look at meeting future power needs, they also came out with a recommendation to build (another) coal fired power plant on campus. Having access to the report helped point out that the economic analysis didn't include any carbon cost analysis, no substantive consideration of alternatives and a near-total wash on further conservation/demand side reductions. You can download the Utility Development Plan at the bottom of the linked page in 3 different sections.

When GVEA performed an Integrated Resource Plan in order to justify the experimental coal plant in Healy in the 1990s, the study found that conservation would cost 1.5 - 2 cents/kwh vs. 3.5 -4.5 cents for a new plant. What the MEA IRP found is anyone's guess. The irony of UAF's plan to add a coal plant is that a coal plant is either on full time or it isn't. There is no load balancing one can do without hours or days for starting a plant. If one builds a 20 mw plant, the most efficient use of that plant is to use 20 mw, not less. This is actually a disincentive for conservation.

I also notice that Governor Palin just awarded Usibelli Coal an award for exporting large quantities of coal to Korea. Rewarding a company for exporting a product that creates pollution that alters our environment? This is the same governor who just created a sub-cabinet level group to find ways that the state can reduce its "contribution" toward climate change.

With all the recent ramp up in discussion over climate change and the added CO2 that coal puts out, it seems like the discussion and research being performed demonstrating all the hazards aren't being translated into action.

Perhaps others would like to add their info about GVEA's Green Power goals?

I ran into Dan Osborne the other day

and he told me that yes, in fact, the margin required on the G&T was not the 1.25 minimum required by the Regulatory Commission, it was higher, as they had presented, because of GVEA's own requirements. He thinks the membership made an error in voting the G&T down; I disagree--there were other things about the proposal that I didn't like, aside from the margin weirdness. My question to him was, if there was a requirement within GVEA to keep the margin higher, then why didn't anybody tell me this when I asked them, or explain the seeming discrepancy by telling me where the requirement came from? He wasn't able to explain that, but then, we only discussed it briefly and in passing.

Anyway, we are going to get together and he'll tell me all about it then. I'm hoping he can explain this business here, too. Even though the whole thing was rejected by the membership, I think it's important to know what happened and why, because a lot of people I've talked to feel like the board was attempting to get one over on the membership. That's not a good thing.

GVEA Districts 5 & 6 Elections

I'm inviting all GVEA Districts 5 & 6 candidates to be blog contributors themselves. To invite them, If they don't want or aren't able to do so, they are welcome to offer comments to this posting or any other.

My invitation to all current GVEA Board directors to become blog contributors remains.

News-Miner interviews of District 5 candidates

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has interviews with the candidates, too, asking them about upcoming priorities. According to the article, the priorities break down like so:

•Bartos - taking greater advantage of alternatives to petrochemical power generation: alternative fuels, using state and federal programs that encourage alternative fuels
•Berg (the incumbent) - hiring a new manager, improving communications
•Pieczynski - maintaining infrastructure (looking at renewables on the way, even if not currently cost-effective), working on easements, adding more members to the grid (through greater transparency)

But read the full article.

Interviews complete

Jeanne Laurencelle interviewed all six candidates for the two open seats on the GVEA board of directors at the annual meeting, and the article will appear in the May Republic. The questions she asked (on the G&T issue and how it was handled; renewable energy; and domestic partner benefits) and the answers they supplied will supplement those found at the GVEA website.

GVEA Annual Meeting 2007 re-cap

While still in the Carlson and folks still carting away piles of hard cookies, the last GVEA meeting was less contentious and a little less of a glitzy media presentation than in recent years past. The board members even said a few words as they introduced themselves. Board chairman Bill Nordmark made it through chairing the meeting with retiring CEO Steve Haagenson.

Members referred to the upcoming rate hike to be proposed at 4.5%, but it wasn't mentioned in the annual report or by GVEA folks. I had heard much higher than that. We'll see and it members will have a chance to weigh in through the RCA when the time comes.

Twelve SNAP producers were presented checks for about between $30-$1200 (as memory serves me). About $25,000 was contributed by members.

We heard nothing about Alasconnect finances.

My agenda item was to get board members talking to and hearing from their districts' constituents more than now (just about nil). In months and years past, I've suggested blogs, web forums, opt-in emails, district meetings as in years past, newsletters. The best methods to start are the ones that 1) don't cost much 2) more importantly, will allow transparent two-way communications. Surprisingly, Bill Nordmark and Ron Bergh expressed positive opinions, as did Tom Delong and Karen Cedzo. Apparently, they may now be hearing about such things at some of the many presentations, workshops, and conferences they attend. While I've heard promises before (usually when the board member is up for election), the 4 of them constitute a majority, so if they really want to, it can happen.

Others may have additional contributions to a recap of the meeting. Feel free to comment.

article forthcoming

My intrepid reporter has interviewed each of the board candidates and will be preparing an article for the next issue of the paper. I, like a numbskull, completely forgot about the annual meeting, and didn't go. Sigh.

director interviews

I may have found a person who will interview the GVEA candidates for the May issue (comes out May 15) of the Republic. If anyone has questions they'd like asked, information they think might be worth finding out on a candidate's stance, please comment here, and I'll check back.

director elections

Information taken from the GVEA website:
(here's the current board, for comparison.

Candidates for district 5

Candidates nominated by committee:
Ron Bergh, incumbent
David Pieczynski

Candidates nominated by petition:
Hank Bartos

Candidates for district 6

Candidates nominated by committee:
Karen Cedzo, incumbent
John Sloan

Candidates nominated by petition:
Brian Corty

It would be nice to have a little more information on these people other than their answers to GVEA's questions. The ballots will be mailed May 4, but it's not clear when they'll have to be sent back and when they'll be counted (other than the 6/07 rough date).

GVEA MAC member communications only One Way

Apparently, those GVEA board members who attend Membership Advisory Committee (MAC) meetings don't carry back the comments of the MAC members. At a recent MAC meeting, the MAC members were quite animated about the G&T vote (not in favor), but the board members present failed to mention this to the full board when they presented their report.

I again strongly urge the GVEA board to develop effective TWO WAY communications and offer this site as a forum, since there seems to be no official means.

GVEA President to resign

GVEA announced that Steve Haagenson plans to resign as President and CEO of GVEA in November 2007.