by Scott M. Lindsay - Northwest Public Power Association

WRECA elects Johnson to top position
T
he Washington Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (WRECA) has
elected Mark Johnson to be president
for the 2009-2010 term. Johnson is the general
manager of Parkland Light & Water
Company in Tacoma, Wash.
WRECA, headquartered in Olympia,
Wash., represents the interests of
Mark Johnson
Washington’s electric cooperatives.
Also elected as officers for the 2009-2010 term were
Vice President Steve Walter, general manager of Tanner
Electric Cooperative (North Bend, Wash.); Secretary Fred
Guyer, trustee of Benton Rural Electric Association (Prosser,
Wash.); and Treasurer Les Teel, CEO of Columbia Rural
Electric Association (Dayton, Wash.).
Johnson joined Parkland Light & Water in 2002 as the
manager of finance and administration, and became the
general manager in 2007. NWPPA
Montana’s first biomass facility
dedicated
R
Member News
epresentatives of Flathead Electric Co-op (Kalispell,
Mont.) and the Flathead County Solid Waste District
dedicated the state’s first landfill gas-to-energy facility
on June 26, 2009, at the Flathead County landfill.
Initially, it is anticipated that the system will generate
enough electricity to serve up to 900 households and eventually
grow to serve about 1,600. FEC owns the system and
contracted with SCS Energy — a company that specializes
in landfill projects — to design, construct, and operate the
plant and well field.
The biomass project is expected to pay for itself in
about 15 years. Making the project possible are Clean
Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) awarded to Flathead
Electric in the amount of $3.5 million. The co-op applied
for CREBS because biomass fits the criteria of its renewable
energy portfolio. General Manager Ken Sugden said the
investment will accommodate growth at the landfill as well.
A second generator can be added if need be over the course
of time.
Technically, Flathead Electric is exempt from complying
with mandates of Montana Renewable Energy Standards.
The co-op strives, however, to follow the intent of the law.
Flathead Electric, along with the landfill board and Public
Works Director Dave Prunty, are being commended by state
and local leaders for pursuing green energy and for taking
steps now to address projected power shortages in the
future. NWPPA
20 NWPPA Bulletin August 2009
OTEC-area youth tour D.C.
F
our high school seniors from the Oregon Trail Electric
Cooperative (Baker City, Ore.) service territory were
among the over 1,500 high school students from
across the country that participated in the Electric
Cooperative Youth Tour held June 12-18, 2009, in
Washington, D.C. Selected on the basis of their outstanding
academic, extracurricular, and community service achievements
they were sponsored by OTEC to participate in this
event.
Every June, select high school students have the opportunity
to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in
politics, community service, and today’s pressing issues.
This marked the fourth year of OTEC’s commitment to the
program.
The theme of the 2009 Youth Tour was “Our Energy,
Our Future.” Highlights included meeting with
Congressman Greg Walden (R–Ore.) and Congressman
Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) to discuss the process of government
and issues of the day, and increasing their knowledge of
cooperative electric utilities and American history.
OTEC Members Services Manager Steve Schauer said,
“OTEC’s continued commitment to the NRECA Youth
Tour is really one of the more meaningful programs we
offer. This is a fantastic opportunity for one student from
each of our districts to visit Washington, D.C., and learn
first-hand how government operates.” NWPPA
PUD 3 joins the fight against cancer
T
he recently completed 2009 American Cancer Society’s
Relay for Life event in Shelton, Wash., generated
$117,000 for the fight against cancer.
The Mason County PUD No. 3 PowerWalkers team
joined with other community members to put their hearts
and souls into the project, raising over $6,100 in their
efforts for the cause.
Over 20 PUD 3 employees worked on events from a
golf tournament to “Food Fridays” and car washes as part
of the fundraiser.
Thirteen employees and a number of family members
participated in the annual Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
walk on June 5 and 6 at Highclimber Stadium at Shelton
High School. NWPPA
City Light seeks new resources
S
eattle City Light (Wash.) is actively pursuing opportunities
to purchase up to 50 megawatts of new renewable
energy.
If successful, such purchases will help City Light on its
way to meeting the renewable energy requirements of voterapproved
Initiative 937. Such purchases also support the