Corn Belt Power Cooperative
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November 2022 | Volume 71 | Number 11
Truck accident causes damage to Neal Substation
Neal Substation Above | Corn Belt Power electrical maintenance crews assess damage after a semi-truck ran off the road and into the Neal Substation in Butler County Oct. 10.
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semi-truck traveling northbound on Sinclair Avenue south of 290th Street in Butler County, ran off the road and into Corn Belt Power Cooperative’s Neal Substation at 9:40 a.m., Oct. 10. The truck broke through the chain link fence and continued into the substation, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. The truck struck and damaged two 833 kilovolt ampere transformers, the station service transformer, a meter cabinet and tore down the 69 and 12.5 kilovolt unregulated bus. After waiting for law enforcement to complete their investigation and a wrecking crew to clear the scene, Corn Belt Power crews were quick to put the
substation back in service. “We replaced the destroyed transformers with spares,” said Mike Finnegan, electrical system superintendent, Corn Belt Power. “Our meter technicians and electrical maintenance crews made repairs to the substation’s structure.” Finnegan says it’s important for drivers to know their surroundings. “During this time of year, there is a lot of larger farm equipment and trucks on county roads,” he said. “We’re always telling our crews to be aware of your surroundings. It’s important for the general public to do the same when traveling near electric facilities.” The driver sustained minor injuries in the
crash and no Corn Belt Power employees were injured.
Damage cleanup Above | Hampton electrical maintenance crew members safely dispose of broken substation equipment after a semi-truck ran off the road and into the Neal Substation Oct. 10.
Above | Corn Belt Power’s new vehicle storage facility will encompass 14,000 square feet just north of its Humboldt headquarters building. The Humboldt transmission crew will relocate to the new facility.
Corn Belt Power constructing
will house the Humboldt transmission crew’s 19 vehicles, trailers and line tensioners. “It’s important to keep these materials and assets under a roof,” Kuyper said. “We look at our equipment as an investment. We want to keep them out of the elements and safe.” Corn Belt Power hopes to complete the building by spring. Once complete, the Humboldt transmission crew will move across the parking lot, which will open space in the exiting storage areas to bring more material inside.
new vehicle storage facility
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fter months of intensive study and planning, in August, Corn Belt Power Cooperative broke ground on a new vehicle storage facility just to the north of its Humboldt headquarters. In 2020, Corn Belt Power purchased an existing storage facility and land surrounding it with plans for future expansion. “Our existing vehicle storage and warehouse facilities were built in the 1950s,” said Ken Kuyper, executive vice president and general manager, Corn Belt Power. “At the time, line trucks were much smaller and digger derrick trucks weren’t very common. In the past 70 years, equipment has become
much larger. We’re thankful for advanced equipment that helps us do our jobs more efficiently and safely. We have simply outgrown our space. On any given morning, you can walk back to our existing garage and see vehicles parked back-to-back, with no space. It’s just not efficient.” The 14,000 square-foot building features eight overhead doors and a truck wash bay. It will also have offices for the Humboldt transmission crew, a breakroom, locker room and shower room. A concrete parking lot will connect the new facility and Corn Belt Power’s existing headquarters building. Among other critical materials, the building
Under construction Above | A concrete parking lot and driveway will be poured between the cooperative’s existing headquarters building and new vehicle storage facility.
Supply chain issues a problem for cooperatives, including Corn Belt Power
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recent NRECA report from the Rural Electric Supply Cooperative (RESCO), urged electric cooperatives and other utilities to adjust system planning to factor in longer wait times and higher prices for many supplies and components needed to maintain the electric grid. According to RESCO, shipping delays, materials shortages and cost increases that plagued the U.S. supply chain at the height of the pandemic are not expected to subside anytime soon and may impact major projects scheduled for next year, said Matt Brandrup, president and CEO of RESCO, a member-owned logistics and supply co-op serving more than 250 utilities, including Corn Belt Power, in 10 Midwestern states.
“Inflation is having a major impact on our industry,” he said. “In 2021, the overall inflation rate impacting the basket of products we sell was 14 percent. In 2022, we’re estimating an overall rate of 15 percent to 18 percent. That will place a huge budgetary burden on work plans.” Like all other utilities, Corn Belt Power isn’t immune to supply chain challenges. The cooperative now must wait up to
Delays Above | RESCO urged electric cooperatives across the country to adjust system planning for supply delays.
80 weeks for wire deliveries. Bolts, nuts and washers have gone from just a few weeks of lead time to 20 weeks. Smaller transformers that Corn Belt Power could originally receive within 18 weeks are now a 45 week wait time. It now takes up to five years from order to delivery of larger equipment like bucket trucks and digger derrick trucks. “These lead times have forced us to look into new places for alternatives,” said Jeremy Stattelman, transmission superintendent, Corn Belt Power. “This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is harder to find materials and it is much more time consuming. Our goal is to continue to grow our inventory in this time of uncertainty, just to be prepared for storms and our upcoming jobs.” Continued on page 4...
Marker 126 opens
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Fort Dodge travel center receives RLF loan Corn Belt Power Cooperative recently closed an RLF loan with Marker 126 Friday, Sept. 23. Marker 126 is the new travel center along Highway 20 outside of Fort Dodge. Prairie Energy Cooperative, Midland Power Cooperative and Corn Belt Power Cooperative partnered together, each lending $250K from their respective revolving loan funds to Marker 126. Marker 126 is now open to the public. The travel stop is a full service travel center providing food, beverage, and fuel. It features a full service restaurant, coffee shop and creamery. Learn more about the new travel center here: https://www.marker126.com https://www.marker126.com.
Iowa's electric cooperatives announce details for 2023 Momentum is Building Conference
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owa-based builders and contractors are invited to learn about energy efficiency technologies at the 2023 Momentum is Building (MIB) Conference, scheduled for Feb. 16 and 17, 2023 at The Meadows Events Center in Altoona, IA. A major draw for electricians, plumbers and HVAC professionals is the opportunity to earn CEU credits at the conference. MIB attendees can also network with industry professionals, hear from recognized energy efficiency and building trades experts and gain insight on trending technologies. Registration will be open in November at www.MomentumIsBuilding.com. The annual Momentum is Building Conference also connects Iowa’s construction industry with the local services and resources available from Iowa-based electric cooperatives, who serve nearly 650,000 Iowans. “Iowa-based electric cooperatives have is long supported energy efficiency efforts and one of our goals is to help memberconsumers use energy wisely,” states Angela Catton, manager of member relations and development, Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative. “We invest in this conference to build relationships between cooperatives and the contractors who provide services to the members we mutually serve.” “Informing contractors about cutting-edge energy efficiency and beneficial electrification technologies is important to Iowa-based electric cooperatives,” said Ryan Cornelius, vice president, corporate relations, Corn Belt Power Cooperative. “For almost 30 years, the Momentum is Building Conference has provided both electric cooperatives and contractors an opportunity to come together to provide rural Iowans with safe, efficient and cost-effective home comfort solutions.” Tolu Omotoso, director of energy solutions at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) will kick off the conference by covering the evolving relationship between utilities and their members and how to leverage member-owned smart devices in the home for grid services. Other topics include sessions on promoting the value of home certifications and how to prepare contractors for large, new Federal home improvement subsidies to come online as well as employee management best practices for small businesses. The conference will close with motivational speaker, author, and 5-time “National Coach of the Year”, Jim Miller who will share the value of “Going the Extra Mile”. Miller’s message to attendees will be, “If it’s Important to your success, ‘Do It Anyway’”. MIB 2023 will be held at The Meadows Events Center beginning at 8:00 AM on Thursday, Feb. 16 running through Noon on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Registration is available online at www.MomentumIsBuilding.com. Early Bird registration is available until Jan. 18, 2023.
Momentum
building
Cooperative advocacy Above | U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra meets with Iowa cooperative representatives in Washington, D.C. during the annual fall Legislative Fly-in Sept. 29. The group discussed permitting reform, the 2023 Farm Bill and supply chain uncertainty with members of Congress and their staff.
Iowa Cooperatives meet with federal legislators
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n late September, two dozen Iowa Rural Power advocates participated in Iowa Association of Electric Cooperative’s annual fall Legislative Flyin to Washington, D.C. Iowa electric cooperative board directors and staff attended meetings and events coordinated by IAEC along with other Midwest cooperatives and statewides as part of our annual Congressional advocacy work. In consultation with NRECA, Iowa’s electric co-ops highlighted issues of concern related to permitting reform, the 2023 Farm Bill, land-use policy for renewable energy projects, and supply chain uncertainty. Over the span of two days in D.C., co-op advocates met with all six members of the Iowa Congressional delegation to continue dialogue about policy issues that have an impact on Iowa’s electric cooperatives and the rural communities we serve. The group also visited with representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute to learn more about the group’s national perspective and the promise of small modular reactor technology. We appreciate the service of Iowa’s elected officials and the tireless work of their staff who help look out for Iowans in the Halls of Congress. The next planned trip for Iowa Rural Power advocates will come in the spring of 2023 as part of the NRECA’s annual Legislative Conference.
Corn Belt Power Cooperative A
1300 13th Street North • PO Box 508 Humboldt, IA 50548
Corn Belt Power transmission crews practice pole top rescue as part of annual training in Humboldt Oct. 7. Linemen must ascend the pole, secure and lower a 150-pound life-size practice dummy by rope to the ground and descend.
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Humboldt, Iowa Permit No. 32
September Touchstone Energy Volunteer Challenge winner | Norb Boyle, director, Grundy County REC, donated his $100 prize drawing to the Ackley Ambulance Fund.
Supply chain Continued from page 2 Kevin Bornhoft, vice president, engineering and system operations, Corn Belt Power, says the cooperative is still in good shape, but the future remains uncertain. “We have done a good job managing our inventories,” he said. “However, it only takes one major storm to deplete our stock. This is a problem nationwide. We will continue to do right by our membercooperatives and plan diligently for system improvements, knowing we need to keep emergency supplies on hand.” For more on NRECA’s report, visit https://www.cooperative.com/ news/pages/amid-rising-prices-and-delivery-delays-supply-co-opurges-careful-planning.aspx.
Corn Belt Power Cooperative
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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. Copyright 2022 Kenneth H. Kuyper, Executive Vice President and General Manager Ryan Cornelius, Editor; Vice President, Corporate Relations; CCC Marena V. Fritzler, Marketing Director; CCC
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