No Title 2147
Co-op deal helps western economy
50 years ago in Kentucky Living
Co-op deal helps western economy
This summer, a group of electric co-op executives strengthened western Kentucky’s economy by completing a six-years-long string of negotiations with stakeholders from California, Frankfort, Wall Street, Washington, D.C., and Montreal.
The mission was simple: the Big Rivers power generation and transmission co-op based in Henderson regained all operational control of four power plants it had leased to Louisville Gas & Electric in 1998.
But the details of making that happen were so complicated the co-op officials referred to it as the “unwind.”
Big Rivers President and CEO Mark Bailey says, “Decisions about power generation and how we manage our facilities now will be back in the hands of people who live and work in this part of the state.”
That hometown ownership comes along with real economic benefits: the agreement includes new long-term power contracts with the Century and Rio Tinto Alcan aluminum smelters.
Bailey says those contracts would “help protect the significant economic impact they have on our region.”
Other benefits included the avoidance of a planned rate hike, allowing Big Rivers to pay down part of a loan with the federal government, and the ability to make electricity more available for regional economic development.
Big Rivers once again owns and operates electric generating plants and transmission lines that provide power for the three distribution co-ops that own the co-op utility: Meade County Rural Electric Co-op based in Brandenburg; Kenergy electric co-op based in Henderson; and Jackson Purchase Energy co-op based in Paducah. Those member co-ops serve more than 110,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in parts of 22 counties.
Big Rivers had leased the power plants to LG&E as part of completing a bankruptcy reorganization plan.
Duct tape can solve hundreds of life’s little annoyances and even some big problems, but it may actually be the least effective method of sealing ducts and saving energy dollars—so says the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The lab defines duct tape as any fabric-based tape with rubber adhesive. Tests showed that under challenging but realistic conditions, duct tape failed to prevent the leakage of hot and cold air from ducts.
What did work? Clear tapes, foil-backed tapes, mastics, and aerosol sealants formed good seals for the duration of the tests. For more information about the research, visit the lab’s Web site at www.lbl.gov.
When using your laptop computer at home, put the battery charger (an AC adapter) on a power strip that can be turned off. The transformer in the charger draws power continuously, even when the laptop is not plugged in.
—U.S. Department of Energy
“One of our key national priorities should be to aggressively promote the expansion of broadband…We must restore our place as the undisputed world leader in communications technology.”
Jonathan S. Adelstein, at his July Senate confirmation hearing to be administrator of the Rural Utilities Service
Two of five teachers inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in 2009 are from Kentucky—Patrice Powell McCrary of Bowling Green and Dr. Jerry L. Parks of Georgetown, shown here at the Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas.
A 20-year classroom veteran, McCrary teaches kindergarteners at Cumberland Trace Elementary and was the 2003 Kentucky Teacher of the Year. She has a master’s degree in elementary education from Western Kentucky University.
Parks teaches seventh-grade social studies at Georgetown Middle School. In 2007, he was on the USA Today’s “All American Teacher Team.” He is an Eastern Kentucky University graduate with a master’s degree in education.
The National Teachers Hall of Fame annually honors five outstanding educators as a tribute to the “nation’s most important profession—teaching.”
If you’re interested in exploring renewable energy sources, solar water heating may be the simplest and most cost-effective way to get started. Federal and Kentucky tax credits can take 30 percent off the installed cost of solar water heating for your home or business. The photo shows solar water heating tubes installed on a rooftop.
Electric water heating generally accounts for 8 to 14 percent of a typical electric bill.
Several solar water heating methods are available. Choosing the right one depends on climate zone, hot water needs, installation site, and budget. The Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (www.solar-rating.org
) is a nonprofit agency that rates systems and products.
To find a qualified solar equipment dealer and installer, check with your electric cooperative. There are also several online sources of information—the Kentucky Solar Partnership (www.kysolar.org), Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence (www.energy.ky.gov), and Solar Energy Industries Association (www.seia.org).
The Bluegrass turns green October 24-25 as Lexington hosts the 6th Annual Bluegrass GreenExpo in Heritage Hall at Lexington Center. The event, which boasts the largest exhibit of green, energy-saving, and renewable energy products ever assembled in the Commonwealth, runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. It is free and open to the public.
Attractions include 70 exhibitors with thousands of products and services; workshops, including sessions on green burials and green housecleaning; a kid’s expo, shown here with kids teaching kids about recycling with hands-on activities; and information and resources for improving the health, sustainability, and prosperity of our communities. The GreenExpo also features green design workshops for architects and environmental education training for teachers.
And if that’s not enough, stop by to enjoy local art, music, and food. More information is available at www.bluegrassgreenworks.org.
The 2nd Annual Trail Ride for a Cure takes place at Seven C’s Ranch in Nancy on Saturday, October 10. Money raised from the dinner, auction, and three-hour ride will benefit the Markey Cancer Center of Lexington and the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge of Lexington. Last year’s event attracted 400 people, more than 70 horses, and raised nearly $4,000.
Registration for this year’s ride starts at 8 a.m., with the three-hour ride beginning at 11 a.m. Nonriders can take part in corn hole and horseshoes. For children, swings, slides, and carnival games will be available.
The event is free, but accepts donations for the Hope Lodge and Markey Cancer Foundation.
Seven C’s Ranch is off KY 80 Louie B. Nunn Parkway, Exit 78, in Pulaski County. More information is available by e-mail at sevencsranchky@yahoo.com or call (606) 875-9500.
Like many people, Owen Electric Cooperative customer Dennis Frommeyer looks for a better, faster, and easier way.
Unlike most people, he followed through on an idea, inventing an aide to make shrub trimming better, faster, and easier.
“When I trimmed our bushes, I got real aggravated trying to keep the trimmings out of the bedding material and complained to my wife,” says the Scott County firefighter, carpenter, and cabinet-maker.
His wife, Michelle, challenged him to create a solution. Frommeyer’s response was the Pruning Partner, a tarp consisting of several triangle-shaped pieces of tear-resistant fabric that can be configured in several shapes.
Are there other creative solutions in the Frommeyers’ future?
“Who knows what’s next,” the inventor answers. “I still have some ideas in my head.”
Anyone interested in Frommeyer’s invention can click on www.pruningpartner.com or reach him toll-free at (877) 889-9169.
At age 15, Missy Jenkins was critically injured in West Paducah’s Heath High School shooting that left three students dead and five injured. Paralyzed from the chest down, Jenkins faced using a wheelchair for life plus dealing with associated health and personal issues.
Now at age 27, Jenkins is a college-educated counselor for troubled youth. She’s a wife to Josh Smith and mother to son Logan. She is a motivational speaker and author.
“I have everything I ever wanted,” she says. “I’m really happy in my life.” She attributes her accomplishments to two decisions made within days of the tragedy.
“I chose to forgive Michael (Carneal, the shooter),” she explains, “and I chose to be happy.”
Her book, I Choose to be Happy, written with William Croyle, tells Jenkins’ story from the shooting through her physical and emotional rehabilitation to her marriage and birth of her son.
“God gave me the ability and courage to forgive,” she says. “I soon realized being angry wouldn’t make me walk again. Anger is exhausting. If I had spent my life angry, (Carneal) would still have control over me. I want to be in control of my life.
“When you go through something like I did, you have a choice,” Jenkins says. “You can let it rule your life. But I choose to be happy. You are the only one who can make that choice.
“You also have to work hard at it. I had to put a lot of work into being happy.”
Jenkins regularly shares her story with groups of young people. She describes her story as “overcoming obstacles, the power of forgiveness, what violence can do, and how to prevent it.” Writing the book allowed Jenkins to reach a broader audience.
“If I share my experience, maybe people will think about it and apply it to their own lives. I’m hoping to reach people who are thinking of doing something (like Carneal did). I also hope to reach people in wheelchairs and let them know I have achieved everything I wanted… I just do it in a chair.”
Jenkins’ book and contact information are available at www.missyjenkins.com.
50 years ago in Kentucky Living
Eagle Eye
The latest electronic gadget in October 1959 was the photoelectric cell described in the Rural Kentuckian (now Kentucky Living) magazine as “electricity’s eagle eye” that opened the supermarket door “the last time you went to town.”
New on the market 50 years ago was the farm security light featuring an electric eye to turn the light on at night and off again at daylight. Also novel were post-mounted lantern security lights to mark driveways or other entrances at night.
Although leaves are changing color and frost is approaching, it’s not too soon to think about fresh produce for next summer.
The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service reports that Community Supported Agriculture farms are increasing in popularity, fueled by the demand for healthy, local, and farm-fresh products.
Most CSAs operate by selling subscriptions to consumers who receive a weekly basket of seasonal produce or other farm products during the growing season.
To find a local CSA, check the CSA Resources Web site, www.csacenter.org, or the Local Harvest CSA database at www.localharvest.org/csa. Farmers interested in marketing their products can register at these sites.
