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Corn Belt Power Cooperative

WattsWatt A www.cbpower.coop

August 2026 | Volume 74 | Number 8

Iowa co-op members experience energy trail bus tour

ore than 120 electric cooperative member-owners from western and north-central Iowa participated in this year’s Energy Trail Tour. The 2026 tours, departed from Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative’s headquarters in Le Mars in late June and July. The threeday educational experience exploring how electricity is generated and delivered, took participants through the Dakotas to visit key facilities operated by Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Western Area Power Administration. This year marks the 37 anniversary of the Energy Trail Tour offered to members of the NIPCO and Corn Belt Power Cooperative systems. Along the route, members explored a diverse energy mix, from hydroelectric generation at Big Bend Dam in Fort Thompson, South Dakota, to coal-based generation at Antelope Valley Station and lignite coal production at the Freedom Mine near Beulah, North Dakota. They

Director on tour Above | Ted Hall, left, director, Corn Belt

Power and guest Gary Ludwig traveled with Corn Belt Power and NIPCO on the last Energy Trail Tour this year.

Corn Belt Power energy trails tour participants Above from left | Jimmy Robinson, guest; Vanessa Barney, building custodian; Adam Schulz,

IT network administrator; Ryan Cornelius, vice president, corporate relations; Jim Mertz, electrical maintenance foreman; and Kerri Mertz, executive assistant; took part in this year’s Energy Trail Tour. also learned about wind energy and the production of synthetic natural gas and valuable byproducts at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah. Beyond the technical learning, the tour reinforced the cooperative difference— highlighting the history, principles, and community focus that set electric cooperatives apart from other utilities. Participants also enjoyed educational and entertaining stops that showcased nonenergy points of interest throughout the Dakotas. Sponsored by Iowa generation and transmission power cooperatives NIPCO and Corn Belt Power Cooperative, the Energy Trail Tour connects members with the people, resources, and partnerships that power their homes, farms, businesses, and

communities, offering a firsthand look at what it takes to keep the lights on. Interested in participating next year? Contact your local cooperative office to find out how you can learn more about the 2027 Energy Trail Tour. Corn Belt Power employees who took part in this year’s tours include: Adam Schulz, IT network administrator; Jim Mertz, electrical maintenance foreman; Kerri Mertz, executive assistant; Vanessa Barney, building custodian; and Ted Hall, director, Prairie Energy and Corn Belt Power. Corn Belt Power Cooperative has a purchase power agreement with Basin Electric Power Cooperative, along with an allotment from WAPA, which markets power generated from the Missouri River Dam System.

Make your mark on safety

AKE

at the Iowa State Fair! UR

YO MARK AT THE FAIR! M

Stop by our booth in the 4-H Exhibits Building; we’ll have crayons and coloring pages for kids! (while supplies last)

e’re keeping things colorful at the Iowa State Fair as the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of Iowa are pleased to once again sponsor the 4-H Exhibits Building. Corn Belt Power and its member-cooperatives are proud to be Touchstone Energy members, which means we’re part of a nationwide network of locally owned co-ops that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help memberconsumers use energy wisely. If you’re planning a visit to the Iowa State Fair from August 13-23, make sure to stop by and see us in the air-conditioned 4-H Exhibits Building on the southwest corner

of the fairgrounds. It’s a great place to take a break from the heat or rain during your adventure. Electric co-op staff from across the state will hand out crayons and coloring pages while supplies last. Kids can color the pages at our booth or at home and learn about electrical safety. Adults can mark their home location on our statewide service territory map and see which cooperative powers their community. We look forward to connecting with our co-op members at the Iowa State Fair this summer. Please stop by our booth and say hello!

Strong storms cause minor damage

n July 21, spotty severe weather made its way through Corn Belt Power’s service territory. Heavy winds and lightning caused damage to five of the cooperative’s transmission structures. One pole was broken on the Ackley Tap and crews repaired four broken poles on the transmission line that runs between Hampton to Willemssen. Crews completed restoration work by Wednesday, July 22.

Above | Corn Belt Power crews locate five broken poles that high winds and severe thunderstorms damaged in our system July 21. Crews completed

restoration work July 22.

Blackett,

Weber

wed It’s a cooperative love story.

ongratulations are in order for two Corn Belt Power employees. Jena Blackett, safety and environmental coordinator, and Collin Weber, energy services engineer, married on June 27 in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Congratulations, Collin and Jena. We wish you the best.

Co-op love story Above | Collin Weber, energy services engineer, and Jena Blackett, safety and environmental

coordinator married in June. Here they are surrounded by children Kaycee, Bradlee and Laycee.

Midwest Transmission Conference comes to Iowa in September

he 2026 Midwest Transmission Conference is set for Sept. 15–18 at the Bien Venu Event Center, bringing utility professionals, industry partners and vendors together for four days of learning, networking and sharing ideas. The conference has come a long way since June 19, 1956, when the first “Safety and Job Training Meeting” was held. By 1959, the gathering had officially become the Midwest Transmission Conference. Seven decades later, its purpose remains much the same: give professionals working in generation and transmission an opportunity to learn from one another and strengthen relationships across the industry. The conference kicks off Tuesday with registration and a vendor reception, followed Wednesday by a full day of featured speakers, industry discussions and opportunities to connect with exhibitors. This year’s speaker lineup includes Dr. David Gattie, University of Georgia, Garrison

Wynn, keynote speaker, Hilary Lane, Nuclear Energy Institute and Jason Davis, Southwest Power Pool, bringing perspectives

on energy, leadership, communication and the challenges facing today’s electric industry. Thursday puts the focus on getting out into the field. Attendees will have opportunities to tour the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum, A-Line EDS Waterloo

and Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy before returning to Bien Venu for an evening dinner featuring Hall of Fame wrestling coach Jim Miller. Miller, a 10-time NCAA team championship coach at Wartburg College, will bring lessons in leadership, teamwork and building a culture of sustained success. The conference wraps up Friday with business meetings and roundtable discussions— continuing one of the traditions that has made the Midwest Transmission Conference valuable for generations: getting people who do similar work around the same table to talk about what’s working, what isn’t and what’s coming next. Registration, the full agenda, hotel information and additional conference details are available at

MidwestTransmissionConference. com. Early bird registration ends August 15.

Corn Belt Power Cooperative A

1300 13th Street North • PO Box 508 Humboldt, IA 50548

Cody Montgomery, control operator, captured these funnel clouds located west/southwest from Wisdom Station while conducting routine rounds July 4. The plant sustained no damage and the National Weather Service did not issue any warnings.

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Humboldt, Iowa Permit No. 32

July Touchstone Energy Volunteer Challenge winner | Amy Howard, administrative assistant, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative, won this month's Volunteer Challenge. She donated her $100 prize to Kaden’s Closet.

CIPCO honors Corn Belt Power Cooperative’s mutual aid

s reported last month, Corn Belt Power provided mutual aid to Central Iowa Power Cooperative following strong June storms. Corn Belt Power sent three crews to help with system restoration consisting of: Travis Hefty, Connor Almond, Devin Chesler, Reed Dreyer, Mike Devers, Ryan Conlon, Adam Bird, Ethan Miller, Brayden Johnson, Luke Bormann, Dean Jensen, Mark Saxton, Ethan Petersen, Jack Arndt

and Howard Henkelvig. Following the restoration efforts, CIPCO’s board of directors approved a Resolution of Appreciation and Gratitude. CIPCO board president, Paul Heineman, and executive vice president and CEO, Andrew St. John, presented the resolution to Corn Belt Power’s board president, Dave Onken, and executive vice president and general manager, Jacob Olberding, at the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives summer meeting in Okoboji.

Corn Belt Power Cooperative

WattsWatt

Mutual aid honor

Watts Watt is published monthly for employees and associates of Corn Belt Power Cooperative, 1300 13th St. North, Humboldt, Iowa 50548-0508. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Above | CIPCO’s Executive Vice President and CEO, Andrew St. John, second

from left, and Board President, Paul Heineman, present a board resolution of appreciation to Corn Belt Power’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Jacob Olberding, left, and Board President, Dave Onken, right.

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