AUGUST 2015
VOL. 16 NO. 4
Bon Homme Yankton Electric 71st Annual Meeting Tuesday, August 18 Beseda Hall, Tabor, SD
Pork Loin Sandwiches Served from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Business Meeting 7:00pm Financial Report Director Election
Prize drawings after the meeting - You must be present to WIN!!
Don’t Forget Your Ticket!! Watch your mail the first part of August for your registration postcard! 2 August 2015 • Cooperative Connections
Electric Grills On Sale!
(USPS No. 018-973)
Bon Homme Yankton Electric Assn, Inc. PO Box 158 134 S Lidice Tabor, SD 57063 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm
To Report an Outage or For Internet Tech Support, Call: Local From Tabor, Tyndall and Yankton 605-463-2507 or Toll Free in South Dakota 1-800-925-2929 NOTICE: Electric bills must be paid by 10:00am on the 20th of each month to avoid a $10 late fee. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections is published monthly by Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association, Inc., PO Box 158, 134 S. Lidice St., Tabor, SD 57063-0158 for its members. Families subscribe to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections as part of their electric cooperative membership. Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connection’s purpose is to provide reliable, helpful information to electric cooperative members on matters pertaining to rural electrification and better rural living. Subscription information: Electric cooperative members devote $6.00 from their electric payments annually for a subscription. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 annually. Periodicals Postage Paid at Tabor, SD 57063 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections, Bon Homme Yankton Electric, PO Box 158, Tabor, S.D. 57063 TELEPHONE (605)463-2507: FAX (605) 463-2419. Design assistance by TDG Communications, Deadwood, S.D.
Deluxe Cart Grill - $150 Deluxe Tabletop Grill - $120 Portable Tabletop Grill - $100 Call Member Services at 605-463-2507 for more information Welcome New Members Mission Hill Doty, Tyler Hanson, Greg Tabor Beringer, Judy A Utica Espinoza, Keely Rumsey, Matthew Yankton Anderson, Justin D Beckel, Charleen Eickhoff, Keith Harvey, Sheryl Houck, Brandy Huitink, H Douglas Leesch Real Estate & Rentals Marquardt, Roland Pulfer, Kent Rensink, Joshua Sand, Bethany Scott, Tom Van Alst, Rex Yankton Antique Warehouse
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Statement of Non-Discrimination This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
Cooperative Connections • August 2015 3
SafetyTips
Always Take Steps to Avoid Injury or call 8-1-1 Death While Walking BEFORE you dig.
We rarely are more vulnerable than when walking in urban areas, crossing busy streets and negotiating traffic. And we all are pedestrians from time to time, so it’s important to pay attention to what is going on around us.
Cell Phone Distracted Walking It has become such a big problem in recent years that Injury Facts® 2015, the statistical report on unintentional deaths and injuries published by the National Safety Council, for the first time has included statistics on cell phone distracted walking. According to Injury Facts, distracted walking incidents involving cell phones accounted for more than 11,100 injuries between 2000 and 2011. • 52 percent of cell phone distracted walking injuries happen at home • 68 percent of those injured are women • 54 percent are age 40 or younger • Nearly 80 percent of the injuries were due to a fall. The Vehicle Factor While many communities are implementing measures to become more “walkable,” like adding more paths and traffic-calming measures, there still is a long way to go to keep pedestrians safe. Malls surrounded by parking lots, few sidewalks, blind intersections and high traffic areas all contribute to pedestrian fatalities and injuries. According Injury Facts 2015: • In 2013, 6,100 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles • That same year, about 160,000 pedestrian injuries required medical attention • 23 percent of deaths and injuries result from pedestrians darting into the street, with the majority of those younger than age 15 • The number of pedestrian deaths has decreased significantly since the 1970s; during that decade, deaths were between 8,400 and 10,300 • During the decade from 2002 to 2013, death rates didn’t change much; they hovered around 6,000, with a low of 5,300 in 2009 Head Up, Phone Down While pedestrian-vehicle injuries are the fifth leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 19, according to SafeKids.org, no age group is immune. Here are a few tips from NHTSA and NSC for children and adults of all ages: • Look left, right and left again before crossing the street; looking left a second time is necessary because a car can cover a lot of distance in a short amount of time • Make eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you • Be aware of drivers even when you’re in a crosswalk; vehicles have blind spots • Don’t wear headphones while walking • Never use a cell phone or other electronic device while walking • If your view is blocked, move to a place where you can see oncoming traffic • Never rely on a car to stop • Children younger than 10 should cross the street with an adult • Only cross at designated crosswalks • Wear bright and/or reflective clothing • Walk in groups Source: nsc.org 4 Aug ust 2015
•
COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
Aug. 11 is National One Call Day.
Kids’ Corner Safety Poster
“Take a look when lifting up the bucket!”
Josie Mousel, 10 years old Josie is the daughter of John and Jessie Mousel, Colman, S.D. They are members of Sioux Valley Energy, Colman, S.D. Kids, send your drawing with an electrical safety tip to your local electric cooperative (address found on Page 3). If your poster is published, you’ll receive a prize. All entries must include your name, age, mailing address and the names of your parents. Colored drawings are encouraged.
Reader Recipes
Succulent Salads Cran-Chicken-Corn Salad 1 (13 oz.) can premium chicken breast, drained 1 can whole kernel corn, drained 2 T. Miracle Whip
1/2 cup Vidalia onion salad dressing 1/2 cup chopped red onion 1/2 cup Craisins
Mix together all ingredients and serve cold. M.J. Knopp, Madison, MN
Strawberry Pecan Pretzel Salad 1 cup crushed pretzels 1/2 cup pecans, chopped 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup butter, melted 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 8 oz. whipped topping 2 cups fresh strawberries, diced
Mix together pretzels, pecans, brown sugar and melted butter; spread in a pan. Bake at 400°F. for 7 minutes. Cool, then break into small pieces. Beat together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Fold in whipped topping. Before serving, stir the strawberries and pretzel/pecans pieces into the cream cheese mixture. Lillian Schlechter, Scotland
Party Salad 2 (3 oz.) pkgs. lemon gelatin 2 cans chicken rice soup 1 can tuna 2 cups chopped celery
1 cup cream, whipped 1/2 cup nuts, chopped 1 cup Miracle Whip
Dissolve gelatin in hot soup; cool and refrigerate until partially set. Pour hot water over tuna in strainer; drain. Whip jello; fold in remaining ingredients. Prepare salad the day before so it sets well. Zona Schanzenbach, Aberdeen
Southwestern Bean and Quinoa Salad With Cilantro-Lime Dressing 1 (15 oz.) can READ Southwestern Bean Salad 1/2 cup red cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 cup chopped tomatillos 1/2 cup thin bell pepper strips 2 cups cooked quinoa
Dressing: 1-1/2 T. canola oil 1 T. fresh lime juice 1/2 tsp. shredded lime peel 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (or to taste) 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Drain bean salad. Discard liquid or save for another use. In large bowl, combine bean salad, tomatoes, tomatillos and bell pepper. For dressing, whisk together oil, lime juice, peel and cayenne. Stir in cilantro. Toss with quinoa. Add to bean salad mixture; toss lightly to combine. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Makes 4 servings. Nutritional information per serving: 250 calories; 10 g fat; 8 g protein; 35 g carbohydrate; 7 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol; 8.98 mg iron; 210 mg sodium; 0.12 mg thiamin; 781.13 IU vitamin A; 20.44 mg vitamin C Pictured, Cooperative Connections
Summer Bean Salad 1 (15 oz.) can green beans, drained 1 (15 oz.) can yellow beans, drained 1 (15 oz.) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 (8 oz.) bag frozen peas 1 cup sliced onion
1 cup sliced green pepper 1 cup sliced yellow pepper 1 cup chopped celery 1 cup sliced black olives Dressing: 1-1/2 cups white vinegar 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup oil 1 tsp. salt, optional
In a large bowl, combine all vegetables. Stir together dressing ingredients, mixing well so sugar dissolves. Pour over vegetables. Refrigerate. Jane Ham, Rapid City
Garbage Salad 16 oz. dry pasta 6 cups raw vegetables, any combination 2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup milk 2 pkgs. dry Ranch salad dressing mix
Cook pasta, drain and cold rinse. Cut any combination of vegetables into a large bowl. Add pasta. In separate bowl, mix mayonnaise, milk and dry Ranch. Add dressing to pasta/ vegetables. Option: Substitute 1 (16 oz.) bottle of Italian dressing for Ranch dressing.
Oreo Fluff Salad 1 box instant chocolate pudding 1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip 2 cups cold milk 1 pkg. Oreo cookies, crushed Prepare pudding with milk according to package directions. Refrigerate for 15 minutes. Fold in Cool Whip and Oreos. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Note: cheesecake or white chocolate pudding may also be used.
Please send your favorite garden produce, pasta and crockpot recipes to your local electric cooperative (address found on page 3). Each recipe printed will be entered into a drawing for a prize in December 2015. All entries must include your name, mailing address, telephone number and cooperative name.
Jillian Nedved, Harrisburg
Tina Suhr, Dimock
COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS
• Aug us t 2015
5
Annual
report
Balance Sheet and Financial Statement as of Dec. 31, 2014 & 2013 assets
2014
Cost of utility plant $28,858,319 Provision for depreciation 9,379,444 Net value of plant 19,478,875 Investments in assoc. co. 4,908,450 Margin Stabilization Fund 975,044 Non-utility plant investment 10,815 Cash and cash equivalents 335,384 Accounts receivable 849,867 Material and supplies 581,942 Prepayments 15,461 Deferred Debits 33,648 Total Assets
$27,189,486
equities and Liabilities Patronage capital Other equities Long-term debt Current maturities of long-term debt CFC Line of Credit Accounts payable Customer deposits Taxes accrued Other current liabilities Customer prepayments Deferred revenuemargin stabilization Total Liabilities
2014
2013 $27,129,126 8,914,127 18,214,999 4,664,534 1,267,588 18,957 205,939 933,150 434,837 15,503 24,930
2014
Farm/Residential Sales Seasonal Sales Irrigation Sales Commercial Sales Large Commercial Public Street Lighting Public Authorities Other Revenues Deferred Revenues Total Revenues
$5,684,456 191,745 331,690 1,388,204 736,355 12,072 263,390 64,447 292,545
2013 $5,677,521 153,174 389,878 1,316,582 731,448 12,072 247,680 67,192 -99,424
$8,964,904 $8,496,123
$25,780,437
2013
$8,296,475 1,130,747 14,291,091
$7,781,068 1,113,617 13,552,199
616,000 750,000 738,017 100,943 144,074 132,858 14,237
617,000 500,000 555,378 102,735 143,661 137,636 9,555
975,044
1,267,588
$27,189,486
$25,780,437
Average Number of Accounts Billed 3,650 Consumers per mile of line 2.81 6 August 2015 • Cooperative ConneCtions
operating revenue
operating expenses
2014
Cost of Power Operations Maintenance Customer accounting Customer service Administrative/General Depreciation Taxes Interest on long-term debt Other Deductions Total Expenses
$5,489,647 491,455 400,842 173,041 100,719 799,432 785,950 136,653 379,847 7,401
$5,145,455 508,632 472,078 149,249 103,033 680,394 743,363 135,565 401,262 8,030
$8,764,987
$8,347,061
Margins Operating margins Non-operating margins G&T & Other Capital Credits Total Margins
2013
2014
2013
$199,917 52,003 336,252
$149,062 65,698 365,443
$588,172
$580,203
Annual
report
2014 Proposed Annual Meeting Minutes The annual meeting of the members of Bon Homme Yankton Electric Association was held in the Beseda Hall in Tabor, South Dakota on August 19, 2014. The meeting was called to order by President Rick Koupal at 7:00P.M. President Koupal welcomed the members and guests to the meeting and thanked all those involved in getting the meeting organized and set up. Director Paul Voigt gave the Invocation. Director Joe Kostal led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Quorum - President Koupal announced that 322 members had registered and that a quorum was present. Introductions - Director Matt Stone introduced the Directors, Attorney, Manager and special guests and visitors. The President called for the reading of the Proof of Mailing of the Notice of the Annual Meeting by the Secretary at which time the reading was made by Secretary Namminga. Minutes of the Previous Annual Meeting - President Koupal indicated that a copy of the previous annual meeting minutes had been printed in the Bon Homme Yankton Electric Cooperative Connections. It was moved by Merle Toyne and seconded to approve the previous annual meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried. Seating of Directors - Since only one petition in each district had been
taken out, Attorney Woodward asked for a motion to have the Secretary cast a unanimous ballot for petitioners in District’s #1 Paul Voigt, District # 4 Darrell Beran and District #6 Rick Koupal . A motion was made and seconded to cast unanimous ballot for those who had taken out petitions. Motion carried. Presidents Report - Rick Koupal gave a historical perspective of the financial information of the cooperative and gave a preview of reports to be made at this meeting from the financials, operations and also for the guest speaker, Bob Sahr from East River Electric. Treasurer’s Report - Treasurer Darrell Beran presented the Treasurer’s Report. A motion was made and seconded to accept the report. Motion carried. Management Reports – Manager Goehring started with a review of the current status of the new Operations Center building and invited Nicole Einrem, Office Manager to report on the status of the business software conversion being done. Robert Ulmer, Operations Manager talked about the new 4 year construction work plan that was submitted to RUS. Manager Goehring followed up with a review of the RUS loan application in process, Rate review, use of Margin Stabilization funds and capital credit retirements. Bob Sahr from East River Electric discussed the recent EPA Proposed rules on CO2 reduction and the potential
Mark Your Calendar!! Annual Meeting August 18, 2015
effects on rates to the electric energy users. Service Award presentations were made by Manager Goehring and President Koupal. Service Awards went to Travis Gause (10), Kevin Meyer (15), Teresa Holland (15), Joe Renner (20), Nicole Einrem (25), Bill Showers (30), Karla Kortan (35) and Dave Sternhagen (25). President Koupal asked if there was any Other Business to be brought before the members. With there being no further business, a motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Prize drawings were held after adjournment.
2014 Grand Prize Winner Francis Serr
PAY ONLINE!
www.byelectric.coop
Have a recent bill handy when signing up for your new online account.
Cooperative ConneCtions • August 2015 7
Getting
Ready for the Rumble
Co-ops Prepare for 75th Sturgis Rally
T By Brenda Kleinjan
ime will tell exactly how large the 75th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be, but most expect it will be large. Very, very large. The rally’s 60th gathering in 2000 brought an estimated 633,000 people to the town of just more than 6,600 people. More recent rallies have been smaller, with 442,000 attending in 2014. This year, attendance is expected to exceed 750,000, with some estimates as high as 1.2 million. The influx of people for the annual August event puts pressure on infrastructure from roads and transportation corridors to electricity and utilities. For homeowners and landowners, the impact of
8 August 2015 • Cooperative Connections
having an extra RV or two or three parked on their property may bring hidden surprises if those units are plugged in and air conditioners are cranked up to battle hot weather. Responding to those trouble calls can be tricky for area electric cooperatives. Cooperatives have been busy staging supplies for easy access during the rally to hopefully avoid congested thoroughfares. “Our biggest problem will probably be getting around because of traffic,” said Mike Letcher, manager of operations for West River Electric Association in Wall, S.D. WREA serves one of the area’s largest camp-
Photos Courtesy S.D. Tourism/Chad Coppess
Left: Banners welcoming bikers are a common sight in August in western South Dakota. Opposite Page: The night lights up at the Buffalo Chip during the rally. On the cover: A trio of motorcyclists are silhouetted against the night sky. Cover Photo Courtesy S.D. Tourism/Chad Coppess
past, but hopefully we’re beefed up this year,” said Fosheim. Another component of Fosheim’s game plan for the rally is establishing travel corridors and staging co-op materials and equipment strategically to avoid traffic snarls. For West River Electric, the Buffalo Chip Campground will become one of the co-op’s top loads. Typically, the co-op’s largest customer is about a 1.5 megawatt load. The Chip is poised to surpass those energy needs during the rally. “The hardest part is trying to predict the load. You don’t know how many people are going to show up or what the weather will be like,” said Letcher. Both Letcher and Fosheim agree that milder temperatures will go a long way for making the rally more manageable for everyone. “The numbers and weather are going to be what the problem is,” Fosheim said. Letcher concurred. “How it all ends up depends on the weather,” he said.
Past Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 800,000 Attendance Figures 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000
?
200,000 100,000 0
50th 60th 65th 70th 1990 2000 2005 2010 2013
Year
75th
2014
2015
Cooperative Connections • August 2015 9
Source: http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/rally-info/faq-and-statistics
grounds – the Buffalo Chip Campground on the east edge of Sturgis. “We try to have two guys up there during the rally,” Letcher said. The linemen, equipped with infrared cameras, inspect the system, looking for hot spots which signal a malfunction. “We typically burn up a transformer every year,” said Letcher, noting that they keep a couple of the devices on hand for emergency repairs. Like WREA, Butte Electric Cooperative in Newell, S.D., is also planning ahead. “We’re anticipating traffic issues,” sad Brett Fosheim, manager of operations at Butte Electric. “It makes it harder for our guys to get around.” The co-op has an outpost in Sturgis, but gaining access to the building requires the crews to cross the city’s main highway which is extremely congested during the motorcycle gathering. “Getting the employees to the outposts and offices is the biggest challenge,” Fosheim said. In addition to having linemen based in Newell and Sturgis, the co-op also has four workers in Spearfish. Even the backways, usually known only to locals, will see traffic, lots of traffic. “We see cycles 30 to 50 miles off of pavement, riding on gravel,” noted Fosheim. While the rally provides for some variety, both co-ops still have their normal day-to-day work to see to. For Fosheim, his co-op plans to stop working on a project in Spearfish Canyon in late July and early August, but, work in other areas will go on. “We have some bigger projects in Butte County that we’ll probably keep working on as they’re pretty rural,” Fosheim said. Planning for the logistics of getting employees around during the rally is just one challenge the co-ops are faced with. As the region’s population swells for the annual gathering, the demand for electricity soars. At Butte Electric, the co-op has a set of dedicated regulators that are turned on just for the rally. The equipment helps the co-op maintain its electrical service. “There are usually some surprises; we’ve had troubles in the
Annual
Report
Members File Director Petitions Director districts three and five have terms expiring this year. Incumbent directors Joe Kostal and Matt Stone have decided not to run again since they have announced that they will both be moving out of their district in the near future. David Sykora has petitioned for election to district three. District three straddles Bon Homme and Yankton counties north of Tabor. He farms north of Tabor and has served on the board of Bohemian Farmers Mutual Insurance. David and wife, Linda, have four boys, Cory, Joey, Chad, Zach and one daughter, Camille. David hopes “to help maintain good
electrical systems for Bon Homme Yankton Electric." John Lillevold has petitioned to serve district five which consists of two townships south of Tabor including the west end of the lake area. John and his wife of 31 years, Beth Mikkelson, have three grown children, Hans, John and Jens. He is an electrical engineer and pilot and is involved with the Optimists and CASA. John is running for the board as a way to serve the public. Since no other person has returned a nominating petition for these districts, the petitioners will run unopposed at the 2015 Annual Meeting.
Capital Credit Refund Checks Mailed June 26 1993, 1994 and Par t of 1995 Refunded
To continue the spirit of the cooperative way of doing business, the board of directors authorized a general retirement of patronage capital. The authorized refund of 5% of the total amount of patronage allocated is $406,767. Using the first-in-first-out method, this amounted to a refund of capital credits earned in 1993, 1994 and 24% of 1995. Of 1,777 checks that were mailed, 1,070 went to current, active members and 707 were for inactive accounts. 238 checks were not mailed due to lack of a valid mailing address. Checks were only sent out if the total amount was over $25. This resulted in 346 members having amounts that will be held and added onto the next refund check. Contact our office if any information on your check is incorrect or if you received a check for a member that has
passed away. The board will review the financial situation of the cooperative on an annual basis to determine the date and amount of the next refund. Please cash your check as soon as possible. Checks that are unclaimed are eligible to revert to the cooperative after six years. The list of unclaimed capital credits can be found at http://www. byelectric. com/content/ unclaimedcapitalcredits.
1 0 August 2015 • Cooperative Connections
Classifieds September Issue Deadline: August 1, 2015. Email your classified ad to: by@byelectric. com. Members can post one free ad per year. Repeats or longer ads are $1/column inch. FOR RENT: 1 bedroom apartment. Tabor Manor. Contact John at 605-463-2478 or Gary at 605-463-2209.r Thinking about building a home? Don’t pick a floor plan or a builder until you’ve talked with the area’s ONLY Certified Aging-in-Place specialist, Certified Green Professional Builder and ENERGY STAR Partner Builder. Call 4 Life Homes today. 605-661-4488.r Beseda Hall, Tabor, SD for rent for any special occasion such as weddings, anniversaries, graduation or birthdays! For more information contact Linda Bares at 605-661-6220 or snlbares@gmail.com. FOR SALE: 2009 Smart Car For Two Passion Cabriolet Convertible, 22,000 miles, 3 cyl, 1.0L, great gas mileage, $8,500. Located in Tabor, SD. Call 605463-2325 after 5pm or leave msg. FOR SALE: Native American and Disney art items. Make an offer. Call Gary or Jan Jerke at 605-583-4544 or 605-770-3002.
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Shining Brightly LED Lights Brighten Regional Truck Stop
F By Brenda Kleinjan
or the traveling public, a stop at a highway truck stop is usually helpful for refueling one’s vehicle and refreshing the driver with a quick dose of caffeine. But for the observant, a stop at the Coffee Cup Truck Stop on Interstate 29 and SD Highway 50 at the Vermillion exit can be an illuminating experience. In 2014, the truck stop replaced the lights in its parking lot with energy-efficient LED bulbs. LED lights can also be seen at work at other Coffee Cups in the state. In fact, across the country, truck stops are looking at more energy efficient lighting as a way to cut costs. Since truck stops and travel plazas are typically open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the business is constantly using electricity. Many operators and owners of the businesses find that exploring ways to reduce the energy needed to run the business makes financial sense.
12 August 2015 • Cooperative Connections
Among the many ways to reduce energy needs is to install LED lighting in their fuel canopies. Experts say that the move can be cost effective, with payback coming within less than two years in some cases. Payback is the point where cost savings in energy costs covers the expenses in making the efficient changes. Another advantage of LED lighting is that the light is directed to a more focused area – namely the space directly below the bulbs. The Coffee Cup at Vermillion went the extra step to replace its general overhead parking lights with the LED models. Inside the stores, many operators have also looked at replacing lighting in coolers as well. Switching from fluorescent bulbs to LED lighting in the coolers can have a 2.5-year payback. Retrofit kits are available that let operators swap out fluorescent bulbs in coolers with LED, typically with a 2.5-year payback. Truck stops and travel plazas are not the only
Eight Things to Know about LEDs 8. A light-emitting diode, or LED, is a type of solid-state lighting that uses a semiconductor to convert electricity into light. Today’s LED bulbs can be six to seven times more energy efficient than conventional incandescent lights and cut energy use by more than 80 percent.
type of businesses exploring lighting efficiency. U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Alliance supported the Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) Campaign. More than 100 U.S. businesses and organizations are participated in the campaign and are planning or installing energy efficient lighting in their parking lots and garages. These organizations have committed to install efficient lighting across more than 270 million square feet of parking space – cutting energy use by up to 90 percent. “By making parking lots and garages more energy efficient, our partners in the Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking Campaign are saving energy, improving their bottom lines and serving as models for other organizations to increase the use of energy efficiency in their communities,” said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson. Building owners spend more than $6 billion to light their parking lots and garages, and much of this could be saved if parking lots and garages were upgraded to the most efficient lighting solutions. LEEP Campaign participants have upgraded their facilities to high efficiency metal halide, fluorescent, and LED solutions that last three times longer than their previous technology and by using controls are able to reduce energy use when parking facilities are not in use. Through the LEEP Campaign, the Energy Department’s Better Buildings Alliance, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Green Parking Council and the International Facility Management Association are working together to help owners of parking lots and garages upgrade to energy efficient lighting. The Energy Department joined LEEP Campaign co-organizers to recognize 12 organizations for leading the way in efficient lighting. Combined, these 12 winners save nearly 45 million kilowatt-hours and $4 million per year by upgrading to high efficiency lighting in 500,000 parking spaces nationwide. Since 2009, the Energy Department’s Better Buildings Alliance has provided technical assistance to help building and parking facility owners and managers install energy efficient lighting. Find more information on the Energy Department’s broader efforts to save money by saving energy at U.S. parking facilities and a full list of the organizations recognized today. Left: As dusk approaches, two styles of canopy lighting can be seen at the Coffee Cup fuel stop near Vivian, S.D. The canopies at the far left and far right use LED lighting which is bright in the immediate area but does not spill beyond where needed. The center canopy uses a different lighting style. Above: The setting sun casts a glow over the Vivian Coffee Cup. The canopy to the south of the building employs efficient LED lights.
7. Good-quality LED bulbs can have a useful life of 25,000 hours or more – meaning they can last more than 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs. That is a life of more than three years if run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 6. Unlike incandescent bulbs – which release 90 percent of their energy as heat – LEDs use energy far more efficiently with little wasted heat. 5. From traffic lights and vehicle brake lights to TVs and display cases, LEDs are used in a wide range of applications because of their unique characteristics, which include compact size, ease of maintenance, resistance to breakage, and the ability to focus the light in a single direction instead of having it go every which way. 4. LEDs contain no mercury, and a recent Energy Department study determined that LEDs have a much smaller environmental impact than incandescent bulbs. They also have an edge over compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) that’s expected to grow over the next few years as LED technology continues its steady improvement. 3. Since the Energy Department started funding solid-state lighting R&D in 2000, these projects have received 58 patents. Some of the most successful projects include developing new ways to use materials, extract more light, and solve the underlying technical challenges. Most recently, the Energy Department announced five new projects that will focus on cutting costs by improving manufacturing equipment and processes. 2. The first visible-spectrum LED was invented by Nick Holonyak, Jr., while working for GE in 1962. Since then, the technology has rapidly advanced and costs have dropped tremendously, making LEDs a viable lighting solution. Between 2011 and 2012, global sales of LED replacement bulbs increased by 22 percent while the cost of a 60-watt equivalent LED bulb fell by nearly 40 percent. By 2030, it’s estimated that LEDs will account for 75 percent of all lighting sales. 1. In 2012, about 49 million LEDs were installed in the U.S. – saving about $675 million in annual energy costs. Switching entirely to LED lights over the next two decades could save the U.S. $250 billion in energy costs, reduce electricity consumption for lighting by nearly 50 percent and avoid 1,800 million metric tons of carbon emissions. This article is part of the Energy.gov series highlighting the “Top Things You Didn’t Know Cooperative Connections • August 2015 13
Taking it to the Streets:
LEDs Light Up Towns A By Brenda Kleinjan
trio of towns in western Minnesota have had some brighter nights – and lower electric bills – in the past year due to upgrades in street lighting. Last year, Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative in Tyler, Minn., received $8,600 in funding from the Southwest CERT (Clean Energy Resource Teams) to implement an LED lighting project in three southwestern Minnesota communities. Through funding provided by the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Division of Energy Resources, CERT awarded $20,000 worth of seed grants, catalyzing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the region. Lyon-Lincoln’s award, the City of Russell LED
14 August 2015 • Cooperative Connections
Lighting Project, allowed the cooperative to replace several existing mercury vapor and high pressure sodium street lights with LED lights to reduce energy use by the cities of Russell, Arco and Lynd, Minnesota. Since the installation of the lights (the City of Russell switched its lights in May 2014) LyonLincoln Electric Cooperative has been and will continue to study the results of the project and share that information with its nearly 4,000 utility members and through energy education programs at area schools. Before the retrofit, the project included 72 mercury vapor lights of 175 watts each, 23 high
pressure sodium lights of 100 watts each and seven 400-watt street lights. The lights used about 80,000 kWh annually (84,473 kWh in 2012 and 79,092 kWh in 2013) and cost more than $9,600 a year to light. As part of the retrofit, 104 48-watt Type III 5,700 K lights were purchased and installed. The project is estimated to save more than 61,600 kWhs a year and reduce lighting expenses by $5,570. Lyon-Lincoln also worked to replace 38 mercury vapor lights (175 watts each), 21 high pressure sodi-
um lights (100 watts each) and one 400-watt street light in the City of Lynd, population 450. The new lights were expected to drop the community’s light bill from right at $5,000 a year to $3,400 a year, reducing energy use from more than 50,000 kWh a year to just under 35,000 kWh. In the City of Arco, the co-op was replacing 37 lights (17 at 175 watts, 14 at 100 watts and six at 400 watts), a move that was projected to save the community of 78 people about $2,000 a year, shaving nearly 21,000 kWh of energy use.
The bars above show monthly energy use for streetlights in the city of Russell, Minn., starting with January 2014 on the left and ending with December 2014 on the right. The sixth bar marks the month of June. The
Above: Lyon-Lincoln Electric Cooperative workers work on installing LED street lights in three communities in southwestern Minnesota in 2014. Opposite Page: A street in the project before the retrofit (left) and the same street after the retrofit (right).
decrease in energy consumption is due largely to a conversion to LED lights. Also, longer daylight hours in the summer cause a natural dip in the amount of night lighting needed. Cooperative Connections • August 2015 15
Regional Dateline
July 21-25 Days of ‘76 Rodeo and Parades Deadwood, SD 605-578-1876 July 24 Storybook Land Festival Aberdeen, SD artscouncil@nvc.net July 24-26 Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant “By the Shores of Silver Lake” DeSmet, SD, 800-776-3594 or 800-880-3383 July 24-26 24th Annual Honey Days Bruce, SD, Find us on Facebook July 24-26 Gold Discovery Days Custer, SD, 605-673-2244 July 26 Folk Off & Rib Challenge Renner, SD, 605-543-5071 July 30 Bad River Music Series – BlackHawk, The Outlaws Slamabama, Silver Spur Fort Pierre, SD, 605-220-9405
Events of Special Note August 8-9 Threshing Show, Twin Brooks, SD 605-432-9487 or 605-432-7990
PHOTO COURTESY OF S.D. DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM
Wednesdays in July & August Weekly Tours of the Governor’s Mansion, 30-minute tours will begin at 1 p.m. and will be conducted by volunteers, including the First Lady. Tour groups will consist of up to 40 people, Free tickets must be obtained in advance from the Pierre Chamber of Commerce at 605-224-7361
August 21-23 Riverboat Days, Yankton, SD www.riverboatdays.com August 22 Riverboat Days Extreme Bull Riding Tour, Rodeo Arena Yankton, SD, 605-760-2153
To have your event listed on this page, send complete information, including date, event, place and contact to your local electric cooperative. Include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Information must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to your event. Please call ahead to confirm date, time and location of event.
August 14-16 Frontier Days Rodeo White River, SD, 605-669-3310
August 16 Bull-a-Rama, Redfield, SD 605-472-4550
August 1 BBQ Pit Row, Winner, SD 605-842-1533
August 14-16 Black Hills Steam and Gas Threshing Bee, Sturgis, SD 605-721-6967
August 20-23 Kool Deadwood Nites Deadwood, SD, 605-578-1876
August 2-8 Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis, SD 605-720-0800
August 15 Wing and Brew Festival Brookings, SD, 605-692-7539
August 21-23 Summer Arts Festival Riverside Park Yankton, SD, 605-665-9754
August 5-9 Day County Fair Webster, SD, 605-345-4668
August 15 Culture Shock: Young Artist Festival, Rapid City, SD 605-716-7979
August 27-30 Hugh Glass Rendezvous Lemmon, SD, 605-393-5832
July 31 Bad River Music Series – Little Texas and The Beer Slingers Fort Pierre, SD, 605-220-9405
August 7-9 Harvey Dunn Society Plein Air ‘Paint Out’, De Smet, SD 605-854-9011 August 8 Lake Eureka Carp Classic Eureka, SD, ecdc@valleytel.net August 10-16 Brown County Fair Aberdeen, SD, 605-626-7116
August 15-16 27th Annual Threshing Bee Rosholt, SD www.rosholtthreshingbee.com August 16 Leading Ladies Marathon, Spearfish, SD edoll@rushmore.com
September 3-7 South Dakota State Fair Huron, SD, 605-353-7340 September 4-6 LifeLight Festival Worthing, SD, 605-338-2847 September 5 Third Annual Rush-No-More Car Show and Shine Sturgis, SD, 605-347-2916