Corn Belt Power Cooperative
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October 2022 | Volume 71 | Number 10
Corn Belt Power installs battery storage
Tesla®® Megapacks Tesla Above | Corn Belt Power crews assist a crane operator in placing the first of three Tesla® Megapack battery storage facilities Monday, August 29. The 1.425 megawatt Tesla® Megapack will be used as a load management resource for Corn Belt Power and its member-cooperatives.
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hanks to the cooperative principle of Hampton Substation. “Cooperation Among Cooperatives,” Total project cost is near $3.5 million, Corn Belt Power’s service territory which includes the battery pack, engineering, now has a fully functioning battery energy storage system as of Aug. 29. Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which provides power to electric co-ops across the Midwest, introduced a member-owned Trial Battery Rate into its rate book in 2019. Hampton Substation The rate allocates up to 150 kilowatts per Class C distribution Above | Three semi trucks transported Corn Belt Power's new battery energy storage system on Aug. 29 to the Hampton Substation for installation right next to the Rural cooperative. Electricification Administration museum. Corn Belt Power, a Class A member of Basin Electric, collaborated with our membership to develop site preparation and labor. The stored power a plan that allows each member-cooperative from the battery will allow Corn Belt Power to pool its individual allocation and create to avoid purchasing 1.425 megawatts of one large battery energy storage system. This power during peak usage times for up to system is a 1.425 megawatt Tesla® Megapack six hours. This is enough energy to power which Corn Belt Power integrated into the roughly 145 homes for six hours at a time.
Once the battery’s energy is depleted, it will recharge during off-peak times in preparation for its next disbursement. “We want to learn more about battery technology, from the process of procuring and installing the batteries to operation and how the batteries can benefit the co-op,” said Jacob Olberding, vice president, power supply, Corn Belt Power. “We will also use the battery project as a load management resource. By doing so, we hope the batteries pay for themselves in 12 years.” Corn Belt Power plans to share ongoing performance data with its membership to highlight the battery’s ability to reduce member-cooperative power costs and use existing generating resources more efficiently. This sharing of operational information will provide the membership with education and insights to support future use of battery storage technology.
Corn Belt Power celebrates 75 years
Ken Kuyper, right, executive vice president and general manager, Corn Belt Power Cooperative reminisces about co-op memories with more than 200 employees, directors, retirees, member system managers and special guests at Corn Belt Power’s 75th anniversary celebration Aug. 25. The cooperative’s articles of incorporation were established August 28, 1947.
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orn Belt Power Cooperative marked the 75th anniversary of its articles of incorporation with a celebration at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds Thursday, August 25. More than 200 employees, retirees, directors, member system managers and special guests attended. “Our founding day actually took place August 28, 1947,” said Ken Kuyper, executive vice president and general manager, Corn Belt Power in his welcome remarks. “I could go on and on about Corn Belt Power history. But, by and large, I would be preaching to the choir. You all know our story, about how we helped play a role to pull rural Iowa out of the dark in the 1930s and 1940s.”
Kuyper thanked those in attendance for their steadfast dedication to Corn Belt Power’s mission. “This achievement can be attributed to individuals with far-reaching vision who created the cooperative 75 years ago and to the dedicated people since that time who have worked to make it strong,” he said. “We want to thank all of our current and previous employees, member-cooperatives and directors who have made the last 75 years possible. I want you to take a moment and look around the room. Everyone here, whether you’re a retired or current director or employee or a special guest are what makes Corn Belt Power great. And our spouses and families are included in that. We know that
our employees and directors give a lot of their time to this organization.” In 75 years, Corn Belt Power has grown as a power supplier to more than 34,000 homes, farms and industries and 20,000 municipal customers. The cooperative maintains more than 1,790 miles of transmission line, 160 substations and 46 switching stations across 41 of Iowa’s counties.
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Communicators, energy advisors gather for shared meeting at Okoboji
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o-op communicators and energy advisors heard from a variety of speakers at their annual member services retreat at Bridges Bay, Okoboji, Sept. 8-9. Tracie Bettenhausen, Basin Electric Power Cooperative; Tom Grady and Molly Ham, Bucket Agency; and Sean Walker, Touchstone Energy Cooperatives were on hand to speak with communicators. Bettenhausen conducted a video-making training course for those in attendance. She also gave an update on Basin Electric and what’s available via their communications department. Representatives from Bucket Agency went over the successes of the system’s joint advertising and marketing campaigns. Sean Walker gave a brief update on Cooperative Web Builder.
Energy advisors heard product updates from Rheem and Mitsubishi, a presentation from Pearl Certified Homes and a discussion about rebates led by Caleb McKim, Midland Power Cooperative. Together, the combined group received updates from Regi Goodale, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, on Iowa’s state electric vehicle plan, and Keith Kaderly, Inside Information, on the results from the recent database survey the Corn Belt Power system conducted. In keeping with the cooperative principle of Education, Training and Information, Corn Belt Power hosts an informational retreat each year for member services personnel to come learn and be updated on projects taking place across the system.
Sharpening video skills Above | From left, Tracie Bettenhausen, senior staff writer and editor, Basin Electric, teaches Jennifer Seivert, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative; Sarah Olson-McLaughin, Prairie Energy Cooperative; and Amy Howard, Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative how to upload a video to TikTok as part of a video production session in Okoboji at Corn Belt Power’s annual member services retreat Sept. 8.
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in brief
RVEC holds annual meeting
The annual meeting of RVEC was held September 7 at The Lincoln Club in Glidden, Iowa. The meeting was attended by approximately 325 members and guests. Registration count showed that 123 member-owners registered. Dinner was served from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Reports were given by: Mark Ludwig, Secretary/Treasurer; David Onken, President; Jim Gossett, CEO and Kyra Wolterman, RVEC’s Youth Tour participant. Employees Brady Boell, Brian Heun, Keith Greving, Ryan Galloway, Jill Hannasch and Mitch McKeever along with directors Karen Werner, Jeff Cranston and Steve Seidl were recognized for their dedication and years of service with RVEC. Directors elected for a three-year term include: District 1 – David Schroeder of Coon Rapids; District 6 – Jeff Cranston of Odebolt, incumbent. Registered member-owners received a knife and spatula for attending the meeting. Eight electrical bills credits were awarded before the meeting adjourned. The Board of Directors held an organizational meeting following the annual meeting. The following officers were elected: David Onken, President; Jeff Cranston, Vice President; Mark Ludwig, Secretary-Treasurer; and Karen Werner, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
Calhoun County ECA elects new directors
At its annual meeting on September 14, Calhoun County Electric Cooperative Association members elected Darcy Maulsby and Joe Parker as new directors. Parker fills the expiring term of Scott Hicks and Maulsby defeated incumbent director LaVerne Arndt. Arndt also served on Corn Belt Power’s board of directors. Calhoun County ECA plans to fill that seat in the near future. Registered members ate dinner provided by the Calhoun County Pork Producers and learned about the cooperative via educational booths, bucket truck rides and speeches from Keaton Hildreth, chief executive officer and Jim Miller, board president. At its reorganization meeting following the annual meeting officers were elected as follows: Jim Miller, President; Steve Boedecker, Vice President; Ron Hanson, Treasurer; and Jason McKenney, Secretary
Democratic process Above | Calhoun County Electric Cooperative Association members gather Wednesday, September 14 for the co-op’s annual meeting. Members elected Darcy Maulsby and Joe Parker to the board of directors during the meeting.
Heading to Hall of Fame Above | Longtime Corn Belt Power attorney John Ward will be inducted into the Iowa Institute of Cooperatives’ Hall of Fame at the organization’s annual meeting in November. Ward served cooperatives for more than 50 years during his career at Sullivan and Ward.
Ward inducted into Hall of Fame
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etired cooperative attorney John Ward will officially be inducted into the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives’ Hall of Fame at the IIC annual meeting in November. IIC established the Iowa Cooperative Hall of Fame in 1999. Since that time, 51 individuals have been selected to receive this award. This distinction recognizes the extraordinary service to Iowa cooperatives provided by these individuals throughout the course of their public and private lives. During his 56-year career at Sullivan & Ward, Ward served as legal counsel for several of Iowa’s electric co-ops and attended more than 500 cooperative annual meetings before retiring in 2020. Specifically, Ward served as counsel to many electric generation and transmission utilities and distribution cooperatives across America in the development of power supply and transmission arrangements and agreements. He has also provided primary representation of electric utilities in the development of financing agreements with Rural Utilities Service (RUS), National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC), CoBank and other lending institutions to build and develop power supply and transmission facilities. “I can’t think of a better cooperative leader and person than John to receive this honor,” said Ken Kuyper, executive vice president and general manager, Corn Belt Power. “John was a staple in our board room for many years and was instrumental in so many things Corn Belt Power was able to accomplish.”
Corn Belt Power Cooperative
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Humboldt, Iowa Permit No. 32
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1300 13th Street North • PO Box 508 Humboldt, IA 50548
Bill Fort, retired journeyman electrician, Corn Belt Power Cooperative soaks in co-op memorabilia that Sarah Dornath, administrative assistant, put on display for the co-op's 75th anniversary celebration at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds Aug. 25.
September Touchstone Energy Volunteer Challenge winner | Gordon Greimann,
Jeff Lindaman
director, Franklin Rural Electric Cooperative, donated his $100 prize drawing to Franklin REC's Light up the Night Christmas event.
The power of human connections
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orn Belt Power’s Jeff Lindaman, system operator, demonstrates the Touchstone Energy value of commitment to community by volunteering at the Humota Family Fun Day fundraiser Aug. 20. Lindaman ran one of the children's axe throwing stations. The fundraiser benefited the Humota Movie Group, the non-profit organization that began operating the only movie theater in Humboldt when it nearly closed in 2018.
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