Colorado Country Life April 2022 Grand Valley by American MainStreet Publications

GRAND VALLEY POWER

APRIL 2022

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Volume 53

Number 04

April 2022 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE COLORADO RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Mona Neeley, CCC, Publisher/Editor mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org Cassi Gloe, CCC, Production Manager/Designer cgloe@coloradocountrylife.org Kylee Coleman, Editorial/Admin. Assistant kcoleman@coloradocountrylife.org ADVERTISING advertising@coloradocountrylife.org National Advertising Representative, American MainStreet Publications 611 S. Congress Street, Suite 504, Austin, TX 78704 | 800-626-1181 Advertising Standards: Publication of an advertisement in Colorado Country Life does not imply endorsement by any Colorado rural electric cooperative or the Colorado Rural Electric Association. Colorado Country Life (USPS 469-400/ISSN 1090-2503) is published monthly by Colorado Rural Electric Association, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216-1731. Periodical postage paid at Denver, Colorado. ©Copyright 2022, Colorado Rural Electric Association. Call for reprint rights. EDITORIAL Denver Corporate Office, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216 mneeley@coloradocountrylife.org | 303-455-4111 coloradocountrylife.coop | facebook.com/COCountryLife Pinterest.com/COCountryLife | Instagram.com/cocountrylife Twitter.com/COCountryLife | YouTube.com/COCountryLife1 Editorial opinions published in Colorado Country Life magazine shall pertain to issues affecting rural electric cooperatives, rural communities and citizens. The opinion of CREA is not necessarily that of any particular cooperative or individual. SUBSCRIBERS Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Colorado Country Life. Cost of subscription for members of participating electric cooperatives is 22.5 cents per month, paid from equity accruing to the member. For nonmembers, a subscription is $10 per year in-state/$16 out-of-state. POSTMASTER Send address changes to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington Street, Denver, CO 80216

“Sunrise Greeting” by Cindy Kallechy, a San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member.

4 VIEWPOINT 5 LETTERS 6 ASK THE ENERGY EXPERT 7 YOUR CO-OP NEWS 12 RECIPES 14 NEWS CLIPS

16 COVER STORY Doggone Amazing Stars 20 ENERGY CONNECTIONS 22 GARDENING 24 OUTDOORS 26 FOCUS ON 28 CREATIVE CORNER 29 YOUR STORIES

On the Cover APRIL 2022

Dog Toro takes a flying leap for his trainer Jack. Photo by Sara Carson.

LEAP TO STARDOM

PINTEREST SNEAK PEEK COCountryLife pinned: Egg muffins are easy, delicious and freezer friendly! Try Egg Casserole Muffins created by Colorado Proud and Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C., 5280 Culinary and Ace Hardware Grill Expert.

30 DISCOVERIES

Monthly Contest Enter This Month’s Contest Enter for your chance to win a SodaPup Enrichment Lick Mat (see page 30). For official rules and how to enter, visit coloradocountrylife.coop, click on Contests.

FACEBOOK CHATTER Colorado Rural Electric Association posted: Ouray is now completely green thanks to San Miguel Power Association! Joining Ridgway, Ouray County and the city of Ouray, government is now 100% renewable energy through the cooperative’s Totally Green Program. Learn more about their program: https://smpa.com/ content/sign-totally-green

INSTAGRAM PIC of the month Colorado Country Life posted: @coloradoreindeerranch shared this great photo with us: Two hungry reindeer coming in for morning feed.

coloradocountrylife.coop

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

VIEWPOINT

FROM THE STATE CAPITOL CREA’s Mid-Term Legislative Report

BY KENT SINGER

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

he Colorado General Assembly meets each year for 120 days with the legislative session convening in early January and adjourning in early May. As I write this column on March 12, the 60th day of the Second Regular Session of the Seventy-third General Assembly, the legislature is at exactly the halfway point of the 2022 legislative session. As the trade association for Colorado’s electric cooperatives, CREA monitors the activities of the Colorado legislature closely. And by “activities,” I’m referring to the bills that are introduced and considered that could impact the business operations of the state’s electric co-ops. So, how are Colorado’s electric co-ops faring so far in the 2022 legislative session? I’ll answer that question by providing an update on some of the bills we have been working on this year. First, CREA initiated legislation this session that deals with the subject of “microgrids.” Microgrids are a subset of the larger electric grid that can be operated independently of or in conjunction with the grid. Typically, microgrids are comprised of small power resources that support a group of specific interconnected electric loads. Microgrids are engineered to enable “islanded” electric service, that is, to work separately from while still being connected to, the traditional electric grid. Our bill, H.B. 22-1013, establishes a grant program in the Colorado Department of Local Affairs that would provide funding opportunities for electric co-ops and municipal utilities that want to set up microgrids in their communities. The microgrids could only be deployed to

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

provide service to “community anchor institutions,” which are defined in the bill as schools, libraries, law enforcement facilities, government offices and other critical community service facilities. The bill has bipartisan support in both the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado Senate. The bill was heard in the House Energy & Environment Committee on February 3 and passed nearly unanimously (11-1). It is awaiting action in the House Appropriations Committee. We’re hopeful that the bill will be funded and eventually be passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis. There are several other bills that have been introduced this session that could impact electric cooperatives. As introduced, S.B. 22-090 requires all electric and gas utilities to notify customers whenever a severe weather event is forecasted that could result in increased prices for gas or electric service. You may recall, that in February of 2021, extremely cold weather resulted in widespread outages in Texas. That same weather system caused a spike in natural gas prices in Colorado, and some utilities passed on significant rate increases to their consumers. S.B. 22-090 appears intended to require utilities to notify customers in similar circumstances going forward so that customers can conserve energy and avoid big rate increases. We have concerns about how that would work in practice, and we’re working with the sponsor of the bill on amendments that would address those concerns. Another bill pending at the legislature is H.B. 22-1104, a bill that encourages local governments to work with electric trans-

KENT SINGER

mission providers to develop recreational trails known as “powerline trails” in electric transmission corridors. The term “transmission corridor” is defined to include easements for transmission lines of 69,000 volts or more. While we don’t object to the primary objective of the bill, we asked the sponsor of the bill to exempt distribution co-ops from its application since most of them don’t maintain transmission facilities. This is an example of CREA working with a bill sponsor to fix what we perceived was a problem without interfering with the passage of the bill. We have also been following S.B. 22-110, a bill that would require owners or operators of wind turbines to install aircraft detection lighting systems. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration requires that wind turbines of a certain height have red warning lights that blink simultaneously to warn aircraft. To lessen the visual impacts of the flashing lights, the FAA allows wind turbine operators to install lights that come on only when aircraft come close to the turbines. Since many of Colorado’s wind farms are in co-op territory in eastern Colorado, we support measures to decrease the impact of turbines on rural communities. So, speaking of wind turbines and aircraft, we’re hoping the wind will be at our back as we approach the glide path to the conclusion of the 2022 legislative session. Kent Singer is the executive director of CREA and offers a statewide perspective on issues affecting electric cooperatives. CREA is the trade association for your electric co-op, the 21 other electric co-ops in Colorado and its power supply co-op.

LETTERS

FROM THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Real Thing

Eagle-Eyed Readers Clear Up Identification

BY MONA NEELEY

EDITOR

bird is a bird…right? Wrong! MONA NEELEY Every bird species has its own special colors and markings and many of our readers know that. Reader Kevin Fettig enjoys photographing wildlife, including birds, as well as natural landscapes. That’s what led him to a Hawk Quest birds of prey photo shoot in Bear Creek Park in Lakewood where he got his award-winning shot of a bird. It won 3rd place in Colorado Country Life’s annual photo contest. When CCL’s photo contest winners were published last month, we immediately got emails about Kevin’s photo. He had identified the bird as an American kestrel when he sent in his photo. Turns out, the bird was said to be an Aplomado falcon when he was at the photo shoot, but several people told him it was a kestrel. He checked it out and, not being a bird expert, called it an American kestrel. CCL readers disagreed and they were right. Turns out it was a misidentified Aplomado falcon in the care of Hawk Quest, captured in a beautiful photograph by an award-winning photographer. Mona Neeley is the statewide editor of Colorado Country Life, which is published in coordination with your local electric cooperative. Its goal is to provide information from your local electric co-op to you, its consumer-members.

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CO N G R ATS Kim Carlton of Peyton, a Mountain View Electric Association consumerm e m b e r, w o n a n Audubon Nature page-a-day calendar containing 313 pages of beautiful photos of the wilderness.

EVs Versus Gas-Powered Vehicles

Regarding the letter in the February issue, hydrogen delivers absolutely zero pollution when it burns — just water. We already have infrastructure for safe, abundant, convenient, economical natural gas. Natural gas is very low pollution compared to coal, although coal keeps the lights on. The standard of living of the entire world is immeasurably higher due to oil and gas. Uncountable lives have been saved and lengthened due to oil and gas. Most all modern medical appliances are made from plastics derived from natural gas. J.N. Burkhalter, Grand Junction Grand Valley Power consumer-member

Support for Marshall Fire Victims

We in Boulder County appreciate Viewpoint from Kent Singer (February ’22) about all the trauma and loss in the Marshall Fire; tell him thanks. Josie Heath via email

Colorado’s Changing Demographics

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In regard to your Colorado guacamole recipe by executive chef Oscar Padilla, with due respect, this is NOT anywhere close to guacamole. Do not pass off a high-end mix-match recipe for the real thing. Sharon Lee, McCoy Yampa Valley Electric consumer-member

Make Your Driveway Like NEW! • Fill in potholes and smooth out washboard • Loosen & redistribute existing material • Tow with your ATV, UTV, or tractor

The demography of the U.S. and Colorado shows a growing population, one of changing complexion. By most estimates the state has over 6 million residents: • 84% are white with 21% of those being Latino. • A bit more than 4% are black. • “Other” ethnicities comprise 3.8%. • Asians are at 3.2%. • Native Americans make up less than 1% Just curious — how many Asians does San Isabel Electric serve? John Morris, Pueblo West San Isabel Electric consumer-member EDITOR’S NOTE: Asians make up an average of 1.1% of the population of Pueblo, Heurfano and Las Animas counties, according to census.gov/quickfacts.

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Editor Mona Neeley, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or mneeley@ coloradocountrylife.org. Include name and address. Letters may be edited for length. COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

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t can be difficult for a homebuyer to know how efficient a home is when viewing the listing online or taking a tour, but a home inspector can help you identify potential energy costs and energy-efficiency upgrades. Some homes may already be efficient, while other homes may need improvements. There’s nothing wrong with buying an inefficient home, but you will want to know what you’re getting into and that you can afford the energy costs once you get the keys. Here are four questions to ask your home inspector:

1. What is the condition of the electrical panel and wiring throughout the home? A panel upgrade or rewiring can be a costly endeavor. An older panel and wiring aren’t inefficient, but it can delay or make some energy-efficiency projects more expensive. I’ve worked on several homes where older wiring had to be replaced before insulation could be added. Make sure the panel can accommodate any new appliances you might want to add, such as air conditioning or an electric vehicle charger.

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As the largest energy user and often the most expensive equipment in the home, you’ll want to know the age and efficiency of the home’s HVAC system’s age and efficiency is important. Photo Source: Mark Gilliland, Pioneer Utility Resources

4. What are the levels and conditions of insulation in the attic, walls and floor? If your new home needs insulation and air sealing, make this your efficiency priority. The sooner you do it, the more energy you will save over time. Recommended insulation levels vary by location. You can find information about insulation and air sealing at energy.gov. Miranda Boutelle is the director of operations and customer engagement at Efficiency Services Group in Oregon, a cooperatively-owned energy-efficiency company. She also writes on energy-efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

LEARN MORE ONLINE For more tips when considering a new home, visit coloradocountrylife.coop and click on Energy Tips under the Energy tab.

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

HARD CHOICES BY CAROLYN SANDEEN-HALL

GR AND VALLEY POWER BOARD PRESIDENT

s a director of our member-owned electric cooperative, one of the most difficult decisions I am called on to make is to vote on a rate increase. The questions and concerns directors are hearing from members about the rate change are the same ones we deliberated ourselves. The impacts rate changes have on directors are the same ones felt by many consumers. As board president, I see it as my responsibility to address some of these concerns in hopes that the members can understand why the rate adjustment is necessary. I will use these pages to share my thoughts. WHY ARE RATES GOING UP? With inflation hitting a 40-year high, consumers everywhere are seeing costs rise for just about everything we have to buy. GVP is a consumer too. We buy poles, wire, transformers, conduit — everything we need to deliver electricity to our members. We buy trucks and equipment, along with fuel, tires and parts needed to get to those poles and wires. We have seen our prices for these essentials rise dramatically. We all know that fuel prices have gone up 50% in the last year. As much ground as our crews must cover, this is a significant addition in cost. At the last board meeting, staff reported that, in the space of a week, the cost of conduit increased from about $10 per foot to $16 per foot. The price of our wood poles went up 10% that same week. It looks like interest costs will be increasing as well. This is significant, as funding our workplan requires that we borrow $3 million or more each year. Supply chain issues also affect us. Some of our costs may go up as we try to build inventories. Orders for garden variety transformers take a year or more to fill. If we order a replacement bucket truck now, we will be lucky to take delivery in 2025. Taking these factors into account, our cost-of-service study recommended a 4.25% rate increase to cover projected cost increases. The cost challenges don’t stop there. Xcel Energy, GVP’s wholesale electricity

provider, has advised us that our wholesale power bill will be going up 1.5% to 2% every year for the foreseeable future. In addition to these cost increases, Xcel indicates that the monthly fuel cost adjustment that is added to our bill will also increase. Xcel’s costs are going up for a variety of reasons. Coal-fired generation plants are being shut down before the end of their projected life cycle as part of the move to cleaner energy. But ratepayers still have to pay for these plants. Xcel is increasing its reliance on natural gas burning generation to replace some of its coal generation. Natural gas is also being used to provide power when Xcel wind and solar generation facilities are not producing. The cost of natural gas is volatile and has been on a steady rise. Our wholesale power costs are also expected to go up to help pay for additions to Xcel’s transmission system. Xcel is proposing that its transmission customers pay for a $1.7 to $2 billion investment to improve the grid and enable future renewable energy development. Our cost-of-service study recommended a 3.61% increase to cover rising wholesale power costs. The total increase averages 7.85% across all rate classifications. COSTS EVERYWHERE ARE GOING UP. DO GVP RATES HAVE TO BE INCREASED NOW? The GVP board always views rate discussions with empathy for the members. GVP has been facing increasing cost pressures for several years. The board initially talked about a rate adjustment several years ago. It was initially delayed so that we could gather data from our new enhanced metering system to help us come up with an effective, equitable rate design. We delayed it again when the pandemic hit. Instead of a rate increase, we tapped our unclaimed capital credit balance and used it to support members with the GVP Hometown Relief Fund. Last February, the $2.4 million Xcel fuel cost adjustment caused us to postpone the move again, as we knew that combining a rate increase with the fuel cost recovery could have devastated some

CAROLYN SANDEEN-HALL

of our consumers. But in 2022, with cost pressures ramping up, the board feels that GVP cannot put this off any longer. WHAT CAN CONSUMERS DO TO MANAGE THE COST INCREASE? In addition to providing a more equitable rate structure, GVP’s new time-of-use rates give consumers who are able to shift their electricity usage the opportunity to reduce the impact of the rate increase. Consumers naturally focus on the increase in the kilowatt-hour charge during the five-hour on-peak window. You should not lose sight of the fact that the kilowatt-hour charge goes down during the remaining 19 hours of the day. Consumers with less than 25% of their energy consumption during the on-peak period will lessen the impact of the rate increase. In most cases, a drastic change is not necessary because most consumers are already below 30% consumption during the on-peak window. Over the course of the year, if enough GVP consumers shift their usage, it could lower — or at least reduce the rate of increase of — our wholesale power bill. Any savings would be passed along to our consumers with a power cost adjustment, or PCA. IS THERE ANYTHING GVP CAN DO TO CUT ITS COSTS SO THAT A RATE INCREASE IS NOT NECESSARY? GVP historically runs very efficiently. The board and management staff continually track our performance. Compared to other Colorado electric cooperatives, our total controllable expenses per consumer are among the lowest in the state. For the past five years, GVP rates have been among the lowest in the state for cooperatives with similar size and load characteristics. The rate adjustment we are implementing will [continued on page 8] COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

YOUR CO-OP NEWS [continued from page 7]

move us near the mid-point. If we were not dealing with higher costs from Xcel, our rates would still be lower than average. We achieve these results because we are always looking for ways to control costs. Other than power supply, our biggest cost is labor. As we celebrate National Lineman Appreciation Day in April, it is a reminder of the special skill and commitment that is required of our team members. That skill and commitment comes with a cost. It is always a challenge to balance workforce needs and requirements, and the contributions from consumers that must pay for the workforce. We try to find a balance that is fair to the employees as well as the members. Our experience confirms what experts have told us: The best way to do this is to pay wages that are consistent with the labor market. This is what we try to do. By paying fair wages, we have developed a team that is engaged and motivated. Team members work efficiently, without the added cost of high turnover that many employers are seeing. We have a team that focuses on our core principles of safety, service and value. We see the results of this focus in an outstanding safety record, where our employees just marked three

years without a lost-time accident. We see it in great reliability, where we wrapped up 2021 with the best reliability rating in our co-op’s history — and one of the best reliability records in the nation. And we see it in the pride our team members take in providing the Five-Star Customer Service that members have grown accustomed to. These results have been produced efficiently, as we have not had a rate increase in 10 years. Other factors make it difficult to contain costs. We must deal with the growing risk of wildfires and costs associated with reducing that risk. Increased cybersecurity threats also put us at risk and require investments to protect our organization and our consumers. With the pace of growth in the Grand Valley, we have more consumers to serve and more miles of line to build and maintain. As much as we would like to avoid a rate increase, the board cannot see a way to do so and maintain our financial position in an acceptable way. The challenges outlined here underscore the difficult job that GVP directors have. The board was faced with a hard choice. It would have been easier to ignore the cost pressures and kick the can down the road for another board to address. To their

credit, the directors recognized why the rate change was necessary, and they made the tough decision to vote for it. Using serious and thoughtful decision-making processes, these directors have the interests of GVP members foremost on their minds. ASK THE CEO You are a member of a cooperative and your opinion does count. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please write to Ask the CEO, P.O. Box 190, Grand Junction, Colorado 81502, or email twalch@gvp.org. Check out our website at gvp.org. BOARD MEETING NOTICE Grand Valley Power board meetings are open to the members, consumers and public. The April 2022 board meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m., Tuesday, April 19, at the headquarters building located at 845 22 Road, Grand Junction, Colorado. The monthly agenda is posted in the lobby of the headquarters building 10 days before each meeting and also posted on the GVP website. If anyone desires to address the board of directors, please let us know in advance by calling 970-242-0040 to be placed on the agenda.

Safety & Reliability Highlights Zero Days Away, Restricted or Transferred (DART) rate (2021)

0 Incidents 1,135 Days Since last Lost-Time Accident (as of March 1, 2022)

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Minutes

Average Outage Duration Experienced by a Member

(2021 System Average Interruption Duration Index)

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

NO FOOLIN': APRIL IS SAFE DIGGING MONTH BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

pring showers bring May flowers, but digging in your yard this spring could bring big trouble. Even if you think you could get lucky or that digging one small hole (or two) won’t matter, don’t take for granted what lines might lurk beneath the soil in your yard or easement. Before you use that post-hole digger or other unearthing tools, STOP and call 811 to request that buried electric, gas, cable and other live lines in or near your yard be marked. The service is free, but digging in an unmarked yard may not be. You might think you don’t have time for that and ask yourself, "What’s the worst that could happen?" You could die, injure

GVP WILL BE CLOSED ON GOOD FRIDAY: FRIDAY, APRIL 15

Welcome Aboard COLE ZUNICH Journeyman Lineman

Promotions DAN REID Purchasing, Materials and Compliance Manager

ERIC LOWARY Warehouseman

Retirements GARY BILLIET Purchasing, Materials and Compliance Manager

yourself or injure others. Read that one more time! It doesn’t make that yard project quite as pressing, does it? Other consequences of blindly digging and taking a chance? You could cause a power outage. You could hit a gas line and get burned or cause an evacuation in your neighborhood. You could be fined. If you hit a telephone line or fiber optic line, you might lose your telephone, cable TV or internet service. Although it all seems like “your” yard, utilities have the right-of-way to the live lines lurking under the ground in places where you might dig. In fact, nearly two in five U.S. homeowners will put themselves

CHRISTMAS WHARTON

and their communities at risk this year by digging without calling 811 beforehand, according to data collected by Common Ground Alliance. So, before you start to dig this spring, call 811 or submit a locate request online at Colorado811.org before you dig. Each state has its own call center and website dedicated to help you get digging safely. As call811. com says, “Know what’s below.” Then dig safely. For more about outdoor electrical safety, visit gvp.org/outdoor-safety.

Director Petitions Available April 25

he election for the Grand Valley Power Board of Directors is approaching. While the election is held in August, the nominating procedure starts in April. There are three director positions up for election every year. This year, the directors whose terms expire are Rod Martinez, Carolyn Sandeen-Hall and Sylvia Spangler. To be eligible to become or remain a director, a person must receive electric service from GVP at the member’s primary residence. A director cannot be engaged in a competing enterprise or in other businesses involving a conflict of interest. GVP’s bylaws provide in-depth information on director qualifications, terms, elections, meetings and officers. Election procedures for the board of directors are governed by Colorado statute. The cooperative’s bylaws and election policy comply with statutory requirements. These bylaws and policies can be found on GVP’s website at gvp.org/director-elections. Upon request, these written documents can be picked up at GVP’s headquarters or mailed to you. Nominating petitions will be available to be picked up beginning April 25 at the GVP office. Petitions must be signed and returned no later than the close of business on June 3, 2022. If no more than three petitions are returned to fill the three director positions that are open for this year’s election, there will be no mail ballot and the election of directors will take place at GVP’s annual meeting to be held on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at Colorado Mesa University’s Meyer Ballroom. More details on the election process can also be found at gvp.org/bylaws.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

YOUR CO-OP NEWS

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE LINEMAN STRONG BY DANA POGAR

COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

veryone knows that it takes years of education, training and experience to become a doctor — and because of this, we immediately trust their abilities to care for our medical needs. But have you ever considered the same line of thought when turning on your television or electric stove? Behind every switch is a lineworker who has committed years of their life to learn how to safely deliver reliable electric service to your home. To understand what a person has been through, it’s best to put yourself in their shoes— or in this case, climbing boots. Though we celebrate all year, to honor our crews for National Lineworker Appreciation Day on April 11, we are going to walk you through what it takes to power our hometown community and the education needed to become lineman strong. ELECTRIC LINEWORKER SCHOOL To begin your career as an electric lineworker, you must start as a groundsman, earn an associates of applied science, or a technical certificate in electric linework. Fortunately, we’re lucky enough to have an electric lineworker program right here in the valley at Western Colorado Community College. During school, students can expect to learn the fundamentals of electric line work while diving into complex subjects such as transformer connections, underground repair and installation, equipment operation, and most importantly, job safety. This program can take approximately one to two years to complete.

APPRENTICESHIP Now that you’ve learned the fundamentals of electric linework in a classroom (or in the field), it’s time to find an apprenticeship and put your knowledge on the line. During your apprenticeship, you will endure four years of rigorous on-the-job training in preparation for the journeymen lineman certification exam. To qualify for the exam, an apprentice must complete over 8,500 hours of field training and countless hours of studying before becoming a certified journeymen lineman. “Each month, I am assigned a module that focuses on a specific area of linework. Before moving onto the next module topic, I must pass a series of smaller exams,” GVP Apprentice Hunter Henderson said. “I have to score a minimum of 80% on each section before I can move onto the next topic,” he explained. He is on his fourth year of Grand Valley Power’s apprenticeship program and is expected to earn his journeymen certificate in this year. JOURNEYMAN CERTIFICATION EXAM You’ve made it through four years of training and it’s time take the next step in your career and take the journeyman lineman certification exam. The exam consists of 300 multiple-choice and short-answer questions that are designed to test the knowledge and skills of a lineworker to determine their competency to work with high voltage. The exam covers every aspect of the electric utility industry and takes approximately four hours to complete. “This was the most important test of my life…

LINEWORKER

DANA POGAR

I remember pulling many all-nighters to get ready for this,” GVP Lineman Destry Smith said. Students must score an 80% on the exam to receive their journeyman lineman certificate. “I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of accomplishment I had when I found out I passed the exam,” Smith recalled. A BROTHERHOOD FOR LIFE After at least five years of training, education and studying, you are now a certified journeyman lineman. Looking back, the countless hours of studying and nights working through Mother Nature’s most horrific storms were worth it because nothing compares to the brotherhood of lineworkers. “Some of my most memorable moments as a lineman were spent in sub-zero temperatures with the guys. Your crew is your family, and you watch out for one another; there’s no other industry like it,” stated long-time GVP Service and Line Patrolman (a.k.a troubleshooter) Scott Bradley. Please join us in honoring our line crews for their dedication in delivering co-op members a safe and reliable source of electricity. Post your favorite lineworker picture on Facebook and tag @GVRuralPower!

APPRECIATION

HERE'S TO THE ONES KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON.

GVP Service and Line Patrolman Scott Bradley is the longestworking employee at Grand Valley Power. This year he will celebrate 41 years of service to the co-op.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

GVP Apprentice Hunter Henderson is on the third year in his apprenticeship program and is expected to earn his journeyman certification in early 2023.

RECIPES

Get Egg-cited for Eggs! Take a step outside ordinary eggs

BY AMY HIGGINS

| RECIPES@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE.ORG

MORE RECIPES ONLINE at coloradocountrylife.coop

Orange Eggs Benedict

makes the perfect brunch dish. Get the recipe online at coloradocountrylife.coop.

erhaps it’s that annual bunny visit that gets us enthusiastic about eggs around Easter. Or maybe it’s simply the sweet smell of spring that conjures a desire for eggs and a fresh glass of orange juice or a hot cup of coffee. Whatever the reason, egg purchases soar during this joyful season and it can be intriguing beyond whipping up the simple scrambled variety. Colorado Proud of Colorado’s Department of Agriculture sent us this recipe and we couldn’t wait to share it with our readers. You’ll find that the piquant flavor of apple cider vinegar and mustard combined with the tangy twist of barbecue sauce and the somewhat buttery essence of eggs provides a splendid twist to the everyday deviled egg.

Get enthusiastic about eggs!

Colorado Smoked Deviled Egg Recipe Provided by Colorado Proud and Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C., 5280 Culinary and Ace Hardware Grill Expert

1 dozen eggs, extra large, washed 4 tablespoons mayonnaise, heavy duty 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 1/2 teaspoons yellow mustard 1 teaspoon Oink Rub (5280culinary.com/product/oink-7oz/) 1 tablespoon High Altitude BBQ Sauce (5280culinary.com/product/high-altitudebbq-sauce/) 1 tablespoon roasted green chiles, minced Low country BBQ sauce mixed in coleslaw, to taste BBQ pulled pork, chopped fine, as needed Coleslaw, shredded, as needed Preheat pellet grill to 180 degrees on smoke setting. Place 3 cups of water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Slowly add the eggs and return to a boil. Adjust water if needed to ensure eggs are covered. Remove from heat and place eggs into a deep ice bath; chill for 5-7 minutes. Peel eggs, place on a plate and store in refrigerator until time to smoke. Place the chilled whole, hard-boiled eggs into the pellet grill on the top shelf. Close the lid and smoke for 30-45 minutes, depending on desired smoke level. Once the eggs are smoked, place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator to chill for one hour. (Note: It’s normal for the eggs to have a yellow color after being smoked.) Once fully chilled, remove eggs and gently slice in half lengthwise. Pop out the yolks into a smaller bowl and arrange the egg white halves onto a plate. Cover and chill the whites until time to fill. Take a fork and mash yolks into fine crumbles. Add the mayo, vinegar, mustard, Oink Rub, High Altitude BBQ Sauce and green chiles; mix using a rubber spatula. Place the mixture into a large resealable bag and place in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes minimum. Mix the slaw and low country BBQ sauce; mince the pulled pork; chill in refrigerator. Snip off the tip of the resealable bag and squeeze to slowly fill the egg white halves until all the mixture is evenly divided between all of them. With a wet spoon, lightly tamp down the peaks of the yolk mixture. Top with the chilled pulled pork and slaw mixture. Dust with Oink Rub and served chilled.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

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NEWS CLIPS

NASHVILLE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

housands of people representing electric cooperatives across the country went to Nashville, Tennessee, at the beginning of March for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting. More than 100 of them, including co-op directors from Colorado, took time prior to the meeting to volunteer in a nearby community. Electric co-op directors, managers and staff members spread out to five different locations in Murfreesboro, serving area schools and families. About 40 volunteers, including Kohler McInnis of La Plata Electric in Durango, sorted and prepped 25,000 pounds of food that was then loaded into the vehicles of 300 families, who arrived to pick up the muchneeded food. The group also packaged

More than 100 individuals representing electric cooperatives across the country sort and prep 25,000 pounds of food, package 16,000 meal packets and assemble 5,000 dental hygiene packets for families in need while in Nashville, Tennessee, for the NRECA Annual Meeting.

16,000 meal packets and 5,000 dental hygiene packets for families in need. Other volunteers worked on upgrades in several schools as a part of the service day. Holloway High School got a face-lift to its entryways; Wee Care Daycare got its playground cleaned up; and Bradley Academy had 200 light fixtures converted to LEDs.

Electric co-ops added this community service program to NRECA's annual meeting in 2006 when the meeting was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, the year after that city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

New Authority Oversees Transmission Development Throughout Colorado

he new Colorado Electric Transmission Authority, created by a 2021 law focused on modernizing the state’s electric transmission infrastructure, is identifying who will sit on the board and get ready to begin work. The new board will serve as a “transmission builder of last resort” when a specific transmission line is needed in a particular place where utilities have not built transmission. It will also assist in transmission necessary to integrate electric resources into a regional transmission organization and help small utilities that do not have the capacity to build necessary transmission. The board will consist of: • Two members appointed by the governor • The director of the Colorado Energy Office • Three members appointed by the Senate president • Three members appointed by the speaker of the House

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Leaders for a Sustainable Future

s part of a statewide goal to be leaders for a sustainable future, more than 150 electric co-op directors, managers and CEOs, and staff gathered in Denver February 12-15. They came together to attend educational classes, hear from experts in the electric industry and share information on what each of the state’s 22 electric co-ops are doing to move co-ops into the new energy future. Eighty-six co-op directors attended industry classes Saturday and Sunday. Then, 46 co-op representatives reviewed the high-voltage transmission of electricity with Chris Pink, vice president of engineering at Tri-State Generation and Transmission. Also on the program was Cindy Schonhaut of the Office of Utility Consumer Advocate; Dr. Jeffrey Deems of the National Snow & Ice Data Center; Michael Ogletree of the Air Pollution Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; the national trade association’s CEO, Jim Matheson; Matthew McCombs of the Colorado State Forest Service; and Dr. Will Toor of the Colorado Energy Office.

NEWS CLIPS

CONSIDERING A HOME WIRING PROJECT? Don't be a weekend warrior Home wiring projects may sound easy — and even look easy on YouTube tutorials — but tackling wiring projects without the proper knowledge and expertise could result in a fire. Those qualified to work on electrical components are armed with the following:

SKILLS They can demonstrate their skills in all aspects of electrical work.

KNOWLEDGE They have the knowledge to complete projects safely and successfully.

TRAINING They are trained in proper installation and know how electrical systems work.

EXPERTISE They can identify hazards and reduce risks when it comes to home wiring.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) defines a qualified person as: "One who has demonstrated skills and knowledge related to the construction and operation of electrical equipment and installations and has received safety training to identify the hazards and reduce the associated risk" (NFPA 70E).

When in doubt, hire a licensed contractor to do the work. More than 150 Colorado electric co-op directors, managers and CEOs, and staff gather in Denver February 12-15 for the CREA Annual Meeting. COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

COVER STORY

Shazam performs his high-flying act with The Canine Stars’ co-owner Ethan Wilhelm. Photo by Keri Caraher.

than Wilhelm and Keri Caraher spotted something unusual in early 2014 as they drove down a Macon, Georgia, interstate highway — a dog was running down the median strip separating the divided roadway. The couple turned around at the next exit and drove back and found the mutt, still alive, lying on the side of the road with gashes and wounds all over her body.

Bootzilla grabs the flying disc thrown by Ethan Wilhelm. Photo by Sara Carson.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Using a bowl of food and a slip lead leash, Wilhelm coaxed the stray animal into their car. A deputy sheriff advised them to not look for its owner. An animal shelter told them it would euthanize the dog. Instead, Wilhelm and Caraher adopted the hound and made her a “canine star.” The mutt they named Whoopie Pie remained depressed for a long time, Wilhelm recalls. Then, “after about six months she wagged her tail for the first time, and now she is one of the happiest, goofiest dogs in our household,” he says. “She does dock diving and amazing belly flops and cannon balls,” as one of The Canine Stars, a stunt dog company the couple founded in Fort Collins in 2012. Whoopie Pie is one of 13 dogs the couple owns — most of them rescue animals they adopted and trained to be among their Canine Stars’ regular cast of characters. The show dogs entertain audiences at county fairs, theme parks, half-time shows, and corporate events all over the world, including the Virgin Islands, The Netherlands, South Korea and throughout the United States. In Colorado, The Canine Stars have performed at the Jefferson, Larimer, Adams and Boulder

county fairs, as well as at the National Western Stock Show. Caraher, a former website developer, grew up with dogs and began training pooches in 1999 to compete in dog sports. She drove across the country for national championship events. Wilhelm worked at an animal shelter as a teenager where he noticed some breeds were deemed “unadoptable” and were often euthanized, particularly pit bulls. The two animal lovers met each other while working part time for other dog show companies, some of whom promoted pure-bred breeding. Both Caraher and Wilhelm, however, have a soft spot for mixed breeds — mutts — who, the couple contends, not only make good pets but also, with proper training, excellent athletes. The Canine Stars run agility relay races, catch high-flying frisbees, dive off docks into water and do flyball racing — a team sport where four dogs compete head-to-head with four other canines, jumping over hurdles and snatching a tennis ball from a box at the end before returning with the ball to the start. Caraher and Wilhelm work with 15 other trainers and their dogs — subcontractors like LeRoy Golden of Texas — who join them for various performances worldwide. Golden dedicated his life to rescuing pit bulls from shelters, Wilhelm says.

COVER STORY “We always wanted to do our own thing and promote rescue/adoption as our main mission; that’s why we went out on our own,” Wilhelm says. “Dogs can be trained to be companions; all dogs have personalities. With training, you can have your best friend.” Plus, they wanted to work with dogs full time, Caraher adds. “Our lives revolve around the dogs,” she says. “We’re having a lot of fun; the business pays for the dogs. We’re happy traveling and doing what we do.”

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT 2019 was Canine Stars’ busiest year with shows in Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and in cities across the United States, including Alaska. They were on the road all but one month that year. “We were crazy busy,” Wilhelm remembers. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and touring slowed, which gave The Canine Stars team time to work on a skit for NBC’s television series “America’s Got Talent.” After viewing videos of their acts, the AGT producers contacted The Canine Stars, inviting them to audition for its televised competition show. The team was too busy touring, however, to take the time to develop a skit — until 2020. “We came up with an idea that’s kind of a spoof of the show,” where four of their dogs appeared to be mimicking the four celebrity The Canine Stars’ Riesen and Opal wait backstage at “America’s Got Talent.” Photo by Keri Caraher. The Canine Stars’ dogs mimic “America’s Got Talent” judges on the TV show in 2021. Photo by Keri Caraher.

AGT judges, Wilhelm says. Each animal was dressed in an outfit created to look like what the judges had worn the previous season. During the act the dogs and their trainers sat inside custom-made chairs with armholes for the humans, plus holes for the dogs’ heads, with past seasons’ recordings of the judges’ voices seemingly coming from the dogs’ mouths. “Each dog did something different,” says Brighton resident Jo Crickenberger, who began traveling with The Canine Stars team five years ago with her chocolate Labrador named Riesen. Crickenberger and Riesen also participated in the “America’s Got Talent” competition. “We dressed up each dog based on previous shows right down to the nails — and the judges caught it. They recognized themselves,” Crickenberger recalls. Riesen portrayed “Simon Howel,” a parody of executive producer and judge Simon Cowell. Crickenberger remembers Cowell’s telling the team, “The dogs acting like the judges, judging your act, while we are judging you is absolute genius.” The Canine Stars team traveled to Los Angeles to audition for the show a year ago, in April 2021, before performing the skit live in August at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Their audition took place in Pasadena and was aired June 1, 2021, on the program’s season premier. Although The Canine Stars didn’t make it to the final competition, “We got a standing ovation from the judges,” Wilhelm says. “Comedian Howie Mandel was one of the

judges. He said it was ‘one of the best animal acts he’s ever seen on the show.’” “Britain’s Got Talent” contacted The Canine Stars team about auditioning for its own reality show, although Caraher and Wilhelm haven’t yet found the time to pursue that opportunity.

“We got a standing ovation from the judges (comedian Howie Mandel was one of the judges). He said it was ‘one of the best animal acts he’s ever seen on the show.’” — Ethan Wilhelm, The Canine Stars

OUR DOGS ARE PETS FIRST During regular competitions and shows, Canine Stars trainers share stories about the dogs they’ve rescued, adopted and trained to be these “amazing pets and performers,” Caraher says. “There are so many homeless dogs out there. Our goal and purpose of the business is to encourage people to consider adopting their next dog.” Crickenberger has five dogs, one of which is a rescued terrier mix named Crouton that she began training along with her chocolate lab, Riesen. “I’m his fourth home,” she says. “He had been locked in a closet, was emaciated, had lost his hair.” She adopted the pup after he had been fostered and rehabilitated. “After four different owners, and at 3 years old, he’s finally in his forever home,” Crickenberger says.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

COVER STORY

UPCOMING SHOWS Apr. 9-10 – The Lincoln, Cheyenne, WY Aug. 26-Sept. 5 – CO State Fair, Pueblo

The Canine Stars’ team prepares for a performance. Photo by Sara Carson.

When not working at her “real job” as a medical coder, Crickenberger travels as often as she can with The Canine Stars. Typically, that means two or three times each summer, with trips ranging from four days to three weeks, depending on the show. She and Riesen have attended the National Western Stock Show, the Calgary (Canada) Stampede, the Alaska State Fair, and, most recently, a show in Kentucky. If you’re wondering if it’s humane to make dogs perform — a question Wilhelm says he is asked a lot — Wilhelm explains that they never force a dog to do anything it doesn’t want to do. Trainers use positive reinforcement, trust-building exercises and treats to encourage the dogs to participate in what they like to do naturally, he says. “If you watch the dogs, you see we don’t force,” he says. “They do what they love. It’s just like how a dog plays frisbee in the park. They like it even better before an audience. If they don’t want to join in, they can hang out. We look for dogs with extra energy to burn. Whatever they’re doing in the show is their favorite thing to do. They love the sound of a live crowd cheering for them — they’re little performers just like people.” “All of our dogs are pets first,” Caraher adds. “We started training them because it’s fun. Dogs want to interact with their humans. A relationship with a dog is awesome, especially for kids. We want them to have relationships with dogs instead of their phones.” While they have a house in Fort Collins,

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Caraher and Wilhelm train the dogs on an 8-acre property in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, where they stay in what was once a car shop that’s been converted into a big, roomy home. The couple’s 13 dogs all sleep in their bedroom, where the hounds stay in 5-feetby-5-feet pens, except for the three to five mutts who take turns sharing their bed each night, Caraher says.

A DREAM COME TRUE In 2020, The Canine Stars launched a youth mentorship program to teach kids ages 12-18 how to train their own dogs and help raise awareness of the need for pet adoption. To apply to the yearlong online program, young dog owners worldwide submit videos of themselves working with their pets. All of this year’s applicants happened to be girls from Canada, Bosnia, the United Kingdom, Hungary, South Carolina and three from North Carolina. Participants meet biweekly via Zoom where students share videos of their dogs doing tricks; they also give feedback to one another. “We give an assignment, say, throwing a frisbee,” Wilhelm says. “We teach proper techniques for throwing, different types of throws, sequences. Then we watch videos together on Zoom. Every two weeks there’s a special assignment for which they have to train.” Seventeen-year-old Meghan Wilcox, who lives near Greensboro, North Carolina, graduated in December from the 2021 Canine Stars youth program. She works

The Canine Stars’ co-owner Keri Caraher encourages Whisp during a performance. Photo by Ken Gee Photography.

with her dog Sawyer, an Australian-Shepherd mix she rescued four years ago. “I found him when he was 6 months old in a river behind my house; it was January and cold,” she recalls. “He had been abandoned in the woods. I took him inside, gave him a warm bath; he laid down by the fire like he’d always lived there. We’ve been close ever since.” While enrolled in the youth mentorship program, Wilcox and Sawyer were invited to audition with The Canine Stars for the “America’s Got Talent” show. “They needed a pretty, fluffy dog” for the skit, she says. They also wanted a dog who could sit still wearing a costume (Sawyer had been through obedience training). Although the AGT routine itself lasted only a couple of minutes, Wilcox remembers it took a lot longer to practice and shoot the scene. Thirteen dogs plus their trainers came to Los Angeles for the two-week, all-expensespaid trip. They all stayed in motor homes at a campground on the beach. “It was a dream come true for me,” says Wilcox, whose family is originally from Divide, near Colorado Springs. “When I was 13, I watched all the ‘America Got Talent’ acts with dogs. I remember watching it as a family and telling my mom, ‘I’m going to do that someday.’” Sharon Sullivan is a freelance writer for Colorado Country Life from Colorado.

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ENERGY CONNECTIONS Basin Electric Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station in Wyoming is located near a site being developed for a large-scale carbon storage project. XPRIZE finalists built labs at this Wyoming power plant where they tested beneficial uses of carbon dioxide.

Capturing Carbon Storing, recycling CO2 keeps it from the atmosphere

BY KATHERINE LOVING

roviding reliable, affordable electricity is the top priority for Colorado’s electric cooperatives. Co-ops and other electric utilities continue to incorporate additional energy generated from renewable sources, but until these technologies fully mature, fossil fuels remain a part of our overall generation mix to ensure power reliability. As the U.S. moves forward with carbon reduction goals, electric cooperatives are also looking for ways to provide clean energy and offset the carbon that’s generated during power production. Capturing carbon emissions at their creation source is one of those approaches. The federal government is making carbon capture a funding priority in 2022. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in 2021 provides $927 million for large, commercial-scale pilot projects as well as $3.5 billion for six demonstration projects at coal and natural gas plants. Carbon capture involves a series of steps to remove carbon dioxide from its original source to prevent it from reaching the Earth’s

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

atmosphere. During the capture step, CO2 is removed either before or after combustion. Post-combustion capture is the most common method used at existing power plants. After electricity is generated, the CO2 is removed from the gas mixture found in a plant’s flue. In pre-combustion capture, the fuel sources are heated with pure oxygen (or steam and oxygen) to release CO2. Once captured, the CO2 is transported to its next destination. Typically, CO2 moves as compressed gas in pipelines but can also be transported by tanker trucks or ships. Captured CO2 can be injected into geological formations or recycled for other uses. One appeal of carbon capture is the abundance of underground natural storage locations, such as deep aquifers, porous rock and unproductive coal mines. The U.S. Geological Service estimates the U.S. has the potential to store 3,000 metric gigatons of CO2, the equivalent of centuries worth of emissions. Research on how to recycle CO2 is ongoing, but established practices include

using the gas in enhanced oil recovery, growing fish food from lab-grown bacteria that feed on CO2, and creating carbon-negative concrete or other carbon-based materials. As promising as carbon capture sounds, the costs and risks limit the technology’s ability to be implemented on a larger scale. Postcombustion capture often requires expensive retrofitting of power plants. Pre-combustion capture, while more effective than post-combustion, has been limited due to high costs of equipment and pure oxygen. In addition to these costs, the processes require a large amount of energy. Transportation of the gas increases in cost for longer distances between the source and destination, making plants located far away from sequestration locations less feasible. Sequestration also carries the concern of CO2 leaks, which would negate the effort to remove it from the atmosphere. Despite these hurdles, carbon capture is seen as an important technology in reducing emissions. In 2015, XPRIZE, a technological development competition, kicked off with the goal

ENERGY CONNECTIONS of awarding $20 million to develop new and emerging technologies that utilize CO2. The competition was based on how much CO2 was converted and the economic feasibility of the project. XPRIZE concluded in 2021, and the winning project was a carbon-negative concrete created by a team of UCLA researchers called CarbonBuilt. The research team conducted tests at Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Integrated Test Center in Wyoming to turn flue gases and fly ash into carbon-negative concrete. The process reduces the carbon emissions of concrete production and traps additional carbon long-term within the final product. There will be more emphasis from the federal government in 2022 on carbon capture and storage. In addition to the demonstration projects from the infrastructure bill, the Slowing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act was introduced in

Carbon capture involves a series of steps that removes carbon dioxide from its original source to prevent it from reaching the Earth’s atmosphere. Above is a carbon capture plant, an important tool in reducing C02 emissions generated from fossil fuel use.

2021 to provide funding to overcome expansion barriers. The SCALE Act aims to reduce costs by financing scaling projects for pipeline infrastructure, creating regional storage infra structure, and providing grants for creating products derived from large-scale capture. Capturing carbon is an important tool in reducing CO2 emissions generated from

fossil fuel use. When this emerging technology can be deployed on a larger scale, the future of carbon capture will look much more promising. Katherine Loving writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Post-Combustion Carbon Capture

Post-combustion is the most common method used for capturing carbon before it is released into the atmosphere. The diagram below shows how carbon is extracted using membrane system technology. Post-combustion capture often requires expensive retrofitting of power plants, which limits large-scale adaptability.

1 2

Coal combustion creates heat, gases (including CO2) and particulate.

Blower

Flue gas

Primary CO2 capture

Primary membrane separates CO2 from the flue gas.

A secondary membrane further separates out CO2.

Flue gas, with nearly all CO2 removed, is released.

Pure, liquified CO2 is used to create beneficial products.

1 Boiler

Coal

Flue gas Source: Membrane Technology & Research (MTR)

CO2

Flue gas stack

Membrane

Secondary CO2 capture

Vacuum pump

Membrane

Vacuum pump

CO2-depleted flue gas

Compressor

CO2 recycle

CO2 condensation column Liquid CO2

5 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

GARDENING

Focus on Fit Gardeners A PBS series couples fitness with gardening

BY VICKI SPENCER

MASTER GARDENER | GARDENING@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

hanks to a current PBS television series called “GardenFit,” gardeners with aches and pains caused by the repetitive motions of digging, weeding, pruning, stooping and kneeling can learn how to care for their bodies while also caring for their gardens. Produced by Madeline Hooper and Jeff Hughes, the series emerged from Hooper’s extensive public relations work with top American and European designers, over 20 years of gardening experience, and a broad

network of gardening colleagues. Aches and pains led Hooper to Hughes, an awardwinning fitness trainer. Hooper was impressed by Hughes’ philosophy that you “train the mind and the body will follow.” As their friendship developed, they decided to take Hughes’ fitness program to gardeners across the country. In selecting gardens to feature, diversity was the main criteria so that gardeners could envision their own gardens and create their own fitness routines. Colorado Country Life readers may be particularly interested in episode 7 airing May 4 at 1 p.m. on Colorado PBS 12.1. It will feature a 5-acre garden sitting along the northern Colorado prairie as it rises to the foothills. Horticulturalist/designer Lauren Springer says her “inspiration — whether home, client’s or public — is the beautiful and resilient natural landscapes of drier regions.” Producers of the PBS television series called “GardenFit,” Madeline Hooper, left, and Jeff Hughes, right, stands with Lauren Springer, middle, in the northern Colorado foothills.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Train the mind and the body will follow. — Jeff Hughes

Springer aims “to capture the romantic essence of those special places and also support a wide range of creatures through plant diversity and creating appealing habitats.” The program shows how Springer cares for hundreds of native plants, trees and bushes while remedying wrist and leg pains with simple “do anywhere” exercises that Hughes designed. Another episode of the 13-episode program shows how Jim Martinez, an expert on native plants throughout Texas and the Southwest, created a unique environment that flourishes in the desert. His garden features diverse natives and exotics situated

GARDENING Be sure to tune in for episode 7 airing May 4 at 1 p.m. on Colorado PBS 12.1 for the 5-acre Colorado prairie garden. in five distinct areas, just as they grow in nature. Tending nearly 100 species daily has taken a toll on Hughes’ shoulders and flexibility; his stretches target these concerns. In Connecticut, a gardener developed a Japanese garden with minimalist design characteristics based on principles of asymmetry and balance. Natural rocks and waterfalls representing life force provide the basic structure. Seasonally-changing plants provide an unique aesthetic in harmony with the traditional tea house. Although the environment was relaxing, the gardener had knee pain that Hughes helped alleviate. In Middleburg, Virginia, Elaine Burden created an enchanting private garden nestled in a pastoral setting against the Blue Ridge Mountains. The self-taught gardener

adjusted traditional garden designs to fit her own style. The result is a unique combination of English borders, formal gardens, and a French parterre on uneven ground. Hughes taught Burden simple movements to counter single directional movements that caused back pain. They are already becoming lifelong pain relief habits. All of us could benefit from seeing Hughes’ approach to remedying the aches and pains caused by gardening’s repetitive motions. It’s exciting to learn that new movements can become habits after just four weeks and gardening can become less painful. An added bonus for viewers is seeing the magic of diverse gardens featured in the show. Gardener Vicki Spencer has an eclectic background in conservation, water, natural resources and more.

PBS television series “GardenFit” producer Madeline Hooper kneels in front of a garden in the northern Colorado foothills.

LEARN MORE ONLINE Read previous gardening columns at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Gardening under Living in Colorado.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE 3:35 PM 12/11/21 APRIL 2022

OUTDOORS

A Tale of Yesteryear Reminiscing how times have changed BY DENNIS SMITH

OUTDOORS@COLOR ADOCOUNTRYLIFE .ORG

top me if you’ve heard already this story. It was 46 years ago this month that we moved to Colorado with our two small boys from a tiny mountain town in upstate New York and bought a little fixer-upper on what was then the extreme southwestern edge of Loveland. This was a two-bedroom farmhouse that had been moved in from out on the plains and plopped down on concrete blocks over a hand-dug, dirt-floor cellar housing a gas furnace and water heater. Twenty-four thousand bucks! Boy, those were the days. Big cornfields swept away to the south and an old, concrete irrigation ditch rambled through the tall grove of cottonwoods on the west. There were owls, woodpeckers and magpies in the trees and muskrats in the

ditch. Rodents, raccoons, foxes and rabbits left tracks through the underbrush and some nights we could hear coyotes howling. The boys loved it, as you might imagine. I did too, but it was the Big Thompson Canyon and the headwater streams in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park that really intrigued me, and I wasted no time getting up there to see what it was like to fly fish the Rockies. I don’t recall the exact date, but I do remember exploring Fall River for the first time on a chilly, lightly-overcast day in April. Snow was receding from the lower slopes of the Mummy Range and lay melting in random patches between the rust-colored clumps of willow and alder thickets along the banks of the creek, but the high peaks were still capped in white. It was stunning and so

completely different from the Catskills I grew up in that I was just kind of awestruck by the raw beauty of it all. And then there were the trout! Brookies. Stacked up in almost every hole, under the cutbanks, nymphing in the deep riffles, laying up against edges of the turn pools… and not another soul in sight. I was so taken with the scene I’d almost forgotten I’d come to fish. I went back to the car, broke out my fly rod — a homemade fiberglass 7-footer — and tied on a wet fly of some sort. I also remember that CODOW (Colorado Division of Wildlife at that time) encouraged anglers to keep as many as 10 extra “bonus brook trout,” 8 inches or smaller, in addition to the regular daily limit of eight to help reduce stunting due to overpopulation. So I took a wicker creel with me, too. I caught a bunch, I promise you, but kept only a handful. After all, brook trout taste best when they’re so fresh they flip themselves into the pan and there’s no way we could eat 18 of them, even if they were little ones. Besides, I figured I could always come back and catch a few more if I wanted to, but that was 46 years ago. Dennis Smith is a freelance outdoors writer and photographer whose work appears nationally. He lives in Loveland.

MISS AN ISSUE? Catch up at coloradocountrylife.coop. Click on Outdoors under Living in Colorado.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

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FOCUS ON WEEKEND FUN

Photo by Br8on Duncan Photography

“ANTIQUE CAPITAL OF COLORADO” On the eastern range of the Rocky Mountains along the Arkansas River you will find the charming town of Florence. Here visitors can enjoy rich history, breathtaking views and big adventure. This friendly community marks the start of the historic Gold Belt Scenic Byway, a railroad and stagecoach route leading to North America’s greatest gold camp, three world-class fossil sites and numerous historic sites along the way. An antique-lover’s paradise, Florence, Colorado, is home to more than a dozen antique shops and various co-ops, making it a great destination for treasure hunting. Head downtown to check out the great shops, art galleries and dining establishments and visit the town’s many original sites and historic buildings that still remain today. “We’re right off the interstate and have 30 antique stores and phenomenal restaurants serving everything from sushi to steaks — lots of variety. The bustling downtown shops and Junktique help to keep our small town thriving,” says Rena Pryor, president of the Merchants Association and manager of Loralie Antique Mall. So, kick off your summer early and hit the road to Florence for the Junktique Antique Show & Flea Market and 20th Annual Florence Car Show, May 13-15.

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Weekend Overview: Junktique Antique Show & Flea Market and 20th Annual Florence Car Show Friday, May 13

The area’s biggest antiquing event of the year, Junktique & Flea Market begins at 8 a.m. on Main Street and the historic Rialto Theater. The extravaganza features more than 40 vendors, evening shopping until 8 p.m., and street dancing with live music. This event brings hundreds of people to this small community with rich history and is truly fun for all ages.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

Saturday, May 14

The Junktique & Flea Market continues for a second day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. At 11 a.m., the Florence Brewing Company’s Sixth Anniversary Party kicks off with food trucks and live music by Six Bucks and a Flight on stage from 12 to 3 p.m., followed by Mark’s Midnight Carnival Show from 4 to 7 p.m. The brewery will be releasing some exclusive sixth anniversary T-shirts and more.

Sunday, May 15

Finish the weekend with more than 300 cars lining Florence’s Main Street at the 20th Annual Florence Car Show. This non-judged event is fun to see, Pryor says, as it shows a 100-year span of vehicles (everything from Model Ts to modern cars). For more information about the event, visit finditinflorence.com and florencecoloradocarshow.com

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CREATIVE CORNER

READER POETRY April Day

My Dog Louie

Springtime

I went outside today and paused — for there was something different in the air. I inhaled dirt and budding green and hints of times of lightness and easy, mellow hours. I heard the merry songs of meadowlarks unlike the winter bird notes of “We will persevere and hold our ground.”

The grief I feel since losing my companion has consumed me like a dark cloud swallowing up a once bright sky.

Many awakenings coming alive Ready to burst, ready to take flight. Feelings, emotions unexpectedly thrive Like many fuses ready to ignite. The sun tracing its path across the sky Gliding upon time; equaling day to night Ever moving; shining above on high Wanes as the day reaches its longest light. Nature strokes her winter white canvas Dripping droplets from the heavens above Dabbing the blades of the fresh green grasses Splashing color into the flowers we love. In the midst of the landscape not always seen A symphony of creatures for every scene From the mountain tops to the lowest ravine Nature’s concertos; harmonies unforeseen. How do you cast yourself in springtime play? Do you plunge in and flounder and flail about Or gracefully dive and swim a medley relay? No doubt, a part of both is in each new tryout.

I breathed an essence in that clarified my inner space like shaking out a sodden cloth to flutter in the wind and dance its way to a softer place of fluffy, unencumbered ease. My whole self blinked and looked around. It was the old familiar place — but not. For it was new. A season born. A dormant core was stirred again. Then I awoke, revived. And I remembered Who I’d been. Jean Bayles, Mancos Empire Electric Association consumer-member

It’s the only place we couldn’t go together and it hurts so damn bad. I know he’s in my heart his spirit is with me but it’s impossible not to miss his ever presence in my life. He made me feel safe He made me feel needed He made me feel loved and losing those feelings has broken me. The pieces will eventually find their way back together in the spirit of peace, love, + joy until we meet again. Larry Woody, Buena Vista Sangre de Cristo Electric Association consumer-member

Linda Morrow, Bellvue Poudre Valley REA consumer-member

DO YOU WRITE POETRY? Submit your best works via email to: info@coloradocountrylife.org

MARKETPLACE Wanted: Jeep CJ or Wrangler. Reasonably priced. No rust buckets.

888-735-5337 1-800-889-1096

Buying anvils—blacksmith tools— cast iron (Griswold & Wagner). Old toys – colored pyrex – cowboy hats, boots, & spurs. Will come to you & we buy whole estates!

970-759-3455 or 970-565-1256

WE PAY CASH for

minerals and oil/gas interests, producing and non-producing.

800-733-8122 Stop feeding prairie dogs. We’ll rent hunting rights from you.

Seriously looking for duck & goose habitat. Encourage young sportsmen by providing safe, private access. You make the rules.

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COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

I want to purchase mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to: PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

YOUR STORIES

READERS’ PHOTOS

FUNNY STORIES It was Palm Sunday and, because of a sore throat, 6-year-old Johnny stayed home from church with a sitter. When the family returned home, they were carrying palm branches. Johnny asked what they were for. His family told him that people held them over Jesus’ head as he walked by. “Wouldn’t you know it?” Johnny said in frustration. “The one Sunday I don’t go, He shows up.” Lila Taylor, Stratton K.C. Electric Association consumer-member

Douglas Greenspan and Priscilla Milliren, Poudre Valley REA consumer-members, bring their copy of CCL to see the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi Sweden.

WINNER: CCL readers Sue and Chris Langseth of Fort Garland, visit the Walt Disney Boyhood Home Museum in Marceline, Missouri. They are consumer-members of San Isabel Electric Association.

Justin Stamps and Mary Hajojlou of Grand Junction stand at the entrance of Epcot in Florida. Mary and Justin are consumer-members of Grand Valley Power.

I was getting a pedicure at the salon. Next to me was a lady with the cutest redheaded granddaughter, around 5 years old. The grandma asked her granddaughter to go to the car and get her a Life Saver (the candy) in the console. A couple minutes later, the granddaughter came back and told her grandma she couldn’t find them. Her grandma asked her to go back because she knew they were in there. This went on about three times when the little girl came back upset and told her grandma, “I just can’t find the medicine that will save your life!” Louise Montano, Trinidad San Isabel Electric Association consumer-member Driving the high school women’s basketball teams to their away game, the bus driver notices that the bus’s temperature gauge was in the red. She radioed school mechanics and pulled off the highway. The school superintendent, who was following the bus, also pulled over and got on the bus. “You’re overheating,” the mechanic radioed. “Take off your bra, sit for a few minutes and you should be fine.” The flabbergasted players, coaches and superintendent gazed at the driver in disbelief. The driver got out and went to the front of the bus. As she removed the radiator cover (also known as a bra) from the front grill of the bus, everyone laughed. Bernice Molter, Denver Mountain Parks Electric consumer-member

Colorado Country Life takes an Alaskan dog sled ride at Chena Hot Springs in Fairbanks, Alaska, with Donna Elmore, a Southeast Colorado Power consumer-member and daughter Carrie Clark, a consumer-member of San Isabel Electric Association.

Kathy and Wolyn Paul, San Isabel Electric Association consumer-members, stand with their copy of CCL in front of Hadrian’s Wall in northern England.

Take Your Photo with Your Magazine and Win! It’s easy to win with Colorado Country Life. Simply take a photo of someone (or a selfie!) holding the magazine and email the photo and your name, address and your local co-op to info@coloradocountrylife.org. We’ll draw one photo to win $25 each month. The next deadline is Friday, April 15. Name, address and co-op must accompany photo. See all of the submitted photos on Facebook at facebook.com/COCountryLife.

We pay $15 to each person who submits a funny story that’s printed in the magazine. At the end of the year we will draw one name from published funny stories and that person will receive $200. Send your 2022 stories to Colorado Country Life, 5400 Washington St., Denver, CO 80216 or email funnystories@coloradocountrylife.org. Don’t forget to include your mailing address and the name of your electric co-op, so we can send you a check. COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

DISCOVERIES

The “Ruff” Life Colorado canine luxuries keep furry friends begging for more Boredom Busters

Fashion for Fido

Sometimes keeping your canine occupied is an overwhelming task, especially if they are assassins of the typical stuffed toys. Longmont-based SodaPup concentrates on this market of mischief-makers with its superdurable chew toys and, as of last year, lick mats. Simply smear soft foods onto the mat and your pup can be occupied for up to 45 minutes, the company touts. The licking summons soothing effects that help with anxiety, boredom and bad behaviors. More information and great recipes at sodapup.com.

GoodDogCouture of Colorado Springs makes it fun to dress up doggies with its custom costumes, dresses, vests, shirts and headbands. Peruse the variety of fabrics, ribbons and embellishments you think your pooch will drool over and she’ll soon be the talk of the town. Just send designer Mary Burger your pup’s measurements and she’ll customize the couture to fit your furry friend’s form flawlessly. See some design options at etsy.com/shop/digginitdesigns.

Keep Your Creatures Cool As warmer days intensify, pets can use a little reprieve from the heat. Here’s a refreshing solution: a water-activated cooling mat that stays cool for days, not just hours. Just soak the bed, roll it to remove excess water and the cool bed is ready for relaxation. Lyons-based CoolBeds4Pets and Kevin Harrington of “Shark Tank” will be promoting the product this summer on “As Seen On TV,” so stay tuned. For information, visit coolbeds4pets.com.

The Secret to Success Pueblo-based Timberwolf Pet Products’ one-of-a-kind machinery is the secret to its durable, double-braided leashes, collars, harnesses and accessories that withstand years of use — up to 20 years, the company touts. Just select your favorite product, send Timberwolf your doggy’s dimensions, and then choose from the company’s wide inventory of designs and your pooch will be ready for a fun walkabout in no time. They even have a couple of kitty collars for the adventurous feline. Find out more at timberwolfpetproducts.com.

COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022

ELECTRIFY AND SAVE

IS A HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER RIGHT FOR YOU? Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are available in multiple sizes to fit any household, or commercial application and have fast recovery to keep hot water flowing. HPWHs use electricity to move heat from one place to another rather than generating their own heat like a traditional electric water heater. This makes them 2-3 times more efficient when properly installed. + ENERGY SAVINGS WITH MORE CONTROL HPWHs can offer up to 4 modes of operation including an auto-mode for daily use, a vacation mode to maximize energy savings when you are gone, and a high demand to boost heat recovery when you have a large number of guests overnight. Whether you want to save or need a little extra hot water, you are in control.

+ A SAFE ALTERNATIVE FOR YOUR HOME HPWHs are all-electric and combustion-free, removing a source of carbon monoxide and potential gas leaks in your home. Also, HPWH’s do not generate heat, so they remain cool to the touch.

+ A HPWH COSTS LESS TO OPERATE THAN PROPANE WATER HEATERS Water heating makes up about 18 percent of U.S. residential energy use. HPWHs can use up to 70 percent less energy than traditional electric water heaters when installed correctly.

VISIT US AT www.tristate.coop/BE

Tri-State is a not-for-profit power supplier to cooperatives and public power districts in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE APRIL 2022