MARKETING - relaymagazine.orgrelaymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Relay_Vol39_Issue4_WEB.pdf · A Florida municipal utility juggles the benefits and responsibilities of partnership

MARKETING

305-387-9099 reliant.com

WEBFAX

305-387-8959

EMAIL

[email protected]

Reliant Energy is dedicated to serving Florida'sever-increasing wholesale power needs.

With a portfolio of more than 2,200 megawatts and major assets such as the Indian River Power Park - we have the resources to provide the Florida power industry with the capacity-backed energy needed to meet the demand.

Our Miami office will offer solutions to the many complex energy provider and service issues you may be facing.

Call us today and we'll put our energy to work for you. For more information, please contact; Michael B. Antonell Marketing Director 9010 SW 137th Avenue, Suite 228 Miami, Florida 33186

Amping Florida's "juice" portfolio.

Reliant Energy Osceola Power Park near Holopaw

Reliant Energy Indian River Power Park near Titusville

S A D D L E U P W I T H T H E R I G H T PA R T N E R A N DY O U W O N ’ T R E G R E T I T D O W N T H E R O A D .

Especially if it's your energy partner. So pick Southern Company now and in the future. We're the

leading wholesale energy supplier in the Southeast with more than 70 years of experience, $35 billion

in assets and nearly 39,000 megawatts of total generating capacity. And because we own and operate

our generating plants, we can manage them all as a single entity for maximum efficiency, competitive

pricing and high reliability. So take the reins in hand. Visit southerncompany.com/wholesale.

© 2004 Classic Media, Inc. "THE LONE RANGER” and ”MR. MAGOO” TM, and associated character names, images, and other indicia are trademarks of and copyrighted by Classic Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

4 RELAY | Winter 2005 | www.publicpower.com

Engineering Solutions...

❖ Distribution

❖ Substations

❖Transmission

❖ Relaying

❖ Highways

❖ Bridges

C O N S U L T I N G E N G I N E E R S

Complete Electrical & Transportation

Design Services

3970 Hendricks Ave. • Jacksonville, FL 32207phone: 904-398-8636 • www.fredwilson.com

• established 1962 •

0 4

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

ne

mts

ev

nI

nO

nrut

eR

t

Ye a r s

30%

35%

40%

8 12 16 20

Applying financial know-how backed by our diverse engineering background, shows you the bigger picture...so you can move forward with confidence.

1.800.285.BECK www.rwbeck.com

We See the Bigger PictureR. W. Beck provides technically based business solutions

supporting capital investments in energy assets.

www.publicpower.com | Winter 2005 | RELAY 5

CONTENTSWinter 2005 | Volume 39 | Issue 4

Questions, Comments or Suggestions? [email protected]

cover photo courtesy of National Football League and JEA

Gypsum from ashes, p. 19

Energy Connections, p. 22

COVER STORYJEA & Super Bowl XXXIX page 16A Florida municipal utility juggles the benefits and responsibilities of partnershipwith Super Bowl XXXIX.“Like many other local agencies and companies, we wantto support the success of the event in our city,” JEA CEO Jim Dickenson said.

FEATURESSeminole Electric Cooperative and Lafarge Corporation’s partnership: A match made from ashes page 19Seminole Electric Cooperative has found a way to balance the challenge of pro-viding efficient and economic service while protecting the environment byconverting limestone slurry waste byproduct to make synthetic gypsum.

Highlights of the 2004 FMEA Energy Connections Workshop and Trade Show page 22October brings cooler temperatures, football season and exciting learning oppor-tunities with the Energy Connections Workshop and Trade Show. This year’sevent encompassed news about underground infrastructure, ways to use infraredtechnology, considerations for siting generation and transmission, and a host ofreviews of the 2004 hurricane season.

COLUMNS/DEPARTMENTSOhm Page: Global WARNing page 7What can we do about what is happening to our atmosphere? Who is responsi-ble and how much proof do we need before we change our behavior?

Industry Watch page 9Calendar of Events page 25Index to Advertisers/Advertisers.com page 26

Global WARNing, p. 7

RELAYFLORIDA’S ENERGY AND ELECTRIC UTILITY MAGAZINE

www.publicpower.com/[email protected]

VOLUME 39, ISSUE 4 WINTER 2005


FMEA Board of Directors

PresidentLloyd Shank, Jr., Leesburg

President-electElmon Lee Garner, Chattahoochee

Vice PresidentGary Quick, Jacksonville Beach

Secretary/TreasurerTeala Milton, JacksonvilleImmediate Past Presidents

Robert R. Padron, Key WestSusan J. Freiden, Havana

Elie J. Boudreaux III, Fort Pierce

Elected DirectorsGerald K. Ergle, Ocala

Blaine Suggs, NewberryEd Regan, Gainesville

Thomas B. Tart, OrlandoAl Minner, Fort Meade

Lee Vincent, StarkeKevin McCarthy, Clewiston

James F. Stanfield, Lakeland

Appointed DirectorsW. Earl Banks, Quincy

Anatole Bezugly, Lake WorthCal Byrd, Williston

Jim Coleman, WillistonJerry Conerly, Wauchula

Marvin W. Cox, QuincyJoseph J. DeLegge, Bartow

George D. Forbes, JacksonvilleBeach

Jimmy Hand, BlountstownAllan J. Katz, TallahasseeByron A. Knibbs, Orlando

James E. Knight, Green CoveSprings

Leonard H. Knowles, Key WestKen Konkol, Homestead

Michael L. Kurtz, GainesvilleJames A. Lewis, Alachua

Becky Mattey, OcalaMike New, Alachua

Harry H. Ogletree, Moore HavenBud Para, Jacksonville

James L. Pittman, ClewistonJeff Porter, Homestead

Vicente R. Ruano, BushnellPaul Thompson, Vero Beach

Ricky Thompson, StarkeKevin G. Wailes, TallahasseeJames C. Welsh, Kissimmee

FMEA Executive DirectorBarry Moline, Tallahassee

RELAY Magazine is a publication ofthe Florida Municipal ElectricAssociation, 417 East CollegeAvenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Forpermission to reprint articles, con-tact FMEA. Copyright 2004.Editor-in-Chief, Creative DirectorFaye M. [email protected] EditorLucy [email protected] EditorJill AndreuContributing WritersJeff CurranLucy DuggerBarry J. MolineJennifer SzaroRon WhittingtonCirculationBrenda ThompsonPublisherSteve StrammNaylor Publications, Inc.Project ManagerAaron VickerySales ManagerDenise CreeganMarketingAllie Hansen

For advertising information contact:

Advertising DirectorDoug FolkerthNaylor Publications, Inc.5950 N.W. First PlaceGainesville, FL 32607Phone: 800-369-6220Fax: 352-331-3525E-mail: [email protected]

Advertising RepresentativesJennifer DiCapua, Erik Henson, Rick Jones, Bill Mulligan, Paul Walley,Chris Zabel

For RELAY information contact:RELAY MagazineP.O. Box 10114Tallahassee, FL 32302-2114Phone: 850-224-3314, Ext. 4E-mail: [email protected]

For questions regarding mailing list additions or address changes, please callBrenda Thompson at 850-224-3314, Ext. 3.

Published January 2005/FLE-S0604/9167

Vegetation Management &Other Utility Services

North, East & South Florida:

Eugene Wyatt 772-220-0125

Central & South Florida:

Venancio Montero 561-791-9763

North, West & Central Florida:

Pat White 352-333-9370

Harry Burchell 561-686-5808

International Headquarters:708 Blair Mill Rd., Willow Grove, PA 19090

www.asplundh.com ■ 1-800-248-TREE

800 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453-1480Tel (781) 736-0002 • Fax (781) [email protected]

Represented in Florida by Engineer Sales2500 25th Ave North, St. Petersburg, FL 33713Tel (727) 323-2100 • Fax (727) 424-5785

www.highlineproducts.com

POLYMER CONCRETE

PLASTIC BOXES FIBERGLASS

Flat PadsSplice Boxesand Vaults

10k or 20k rated

TransformerBox PadHDPE Splice Box

PRIMARY CABINETS

DeferralCabinet

Single-PhaseCabinet

Three-PhaseCabinet

NEW

The STANDARD to WhichOthers are Measured

Now Taking Orders for Immediate

Delivery

In the debate over climate change,each side claims that there is evi-dence proving that something ishappening to our atmosphere. Theydisagree, however, on who is respon-sible for the change and how muchproof we need before we change ourbehavior. There’s even contentious-ness with the simple language eachside uses to name the issue: globalwarming vs. climate change. Onesounds negative and ominous, andthe other recognizes a fact. It’s thescientific equivalent to the socialdebate of “pro-choice vs. pro-life.”Depending on your perspective, thewords can make you cringe — ormake you angry.

The people who are convincedglobal warming is occurring saytheir evidence is overwhelming. Inthe past 100 years, global tempera-tures have risen 0.6 degrees Celsius,and the past few decades are thewarmest since people began keep-ing temperature records. Sen. JoeLieberman complained last year thatthe last few summers have been sohot that we need to cut carbon diox-ide emissions immediately. Thissimplistic deductive statement aloneshows the public’s narrow ability tograsp a complex issue like this one.There’s no correlation between oneor two hot summers and CO2 emis-sions, but in the minds of theshortsighted, perception is reality.

Many groups are taking positionson the issue. The Public InterestResearch Group (PIRG), a left-lean-

Ohm Page


ing national organization, has a“Campaign to Stop Global Warming.”They claim impacts of increasedhealth risk, using as examples malar-ia outbreaks in seven states,including the normally cool-in-the-summer Michigan, New Jersey andNew York.They warn of environmen-tal destruction, including the loss of40 percent of frog and toad speciesin the Costa Rican rain forest, due to

unusual dryness they link to globalwarming. The group cautions thatincreased catastrophic weather willlead to drought in some places andheavy downpours and flooding inothers.

Even religious leaders are gettinginto the action, organizing Florida’schurches, synagogues and mosques.Many say global warming is aninescapable spiritual challenge, dra-matically reminding us of the call byGod to faithful stewardship.

A November 2004 report by theArctic Climate Impact Assessment, agroup of 250 scientists from aroundthe world, states that the polar ice

caps are indeed melting, and that thesea level will rise as global tempera-tures increase. Polar bears may bethreatened if their icy land mass dis-appears. Amazingly, an “industryrepresentative” responded to thereport by suggesting that the benefitof less sea ice cover is the openingof polar sea routes for shipping.This,he stated convincingly, wouldincrease efficiency and reduce deliv-ery time for sea transportationbetween Russia, Canada and Europe.While this may be true, it is mostly aa laughable try at straight-faced spin.

I believe the physical evidence ofice melting is incontrovertible. Inaddition to the polar ice caps, it’s nosecret that glaciers are recedingaround the globe. As my teenagedaughter would say, way receding.And the bigger worry is not the dis-appearing polar bear, although thatwould be tragic by itself. It’s the sea-level rise and subsequent flooding ofcoastal areas such as Bangladesh,Bangkok, Calcutta, Dhaka and Manila,that have tens of millions of peopleliving about one meter above sealevel. Oh, yes, and then there’sFlorida. Fortunately, our state’scoastal property has a low financialvalue, and if the Greenland-ice-sheet-melting-worst-case-scenario actuallyoccurs, the global sea level will riseonly seven meters — about 24 feet.That wouldn’t affect Florida much,would it?

In the fiction disaster movie “The

Global WARNingBy Barry MolineFMEA Executive Director

continued on page 24


Storm Damage Assessment Services

Fall 2004 -- one of the worst hurricane seasons on record in Florida and the Gulf Coast. The Synergetic Design Storm Team assisted with restoration efforts at FPL, TECO, Lee County Electric Cooperative, and Progress Energy.

Call Synergetic Design at 1-800-581-4892 to discuss storm restoration planning.

Synergetic Design has been providing services to utilities since 1981. In addition to the Storm Team, we provide consulting and technical services to electric utilities including:

• System analysis and studies • Reliability assessment and improvement • Sectionalizing and protection coordination • Planning and load forecasting • System audits and investigations • System design services

www.synergeticdesign.com

Hunt Technologies TS2 andBadger Meter’s ORION® AMRSystems together providea multi-utility solution forgas, water and electricmeter reading.

Badger Meter, Inc.P.O. Box 245036 • Milwaukee, WI 53224-9536

800-876-3837 • Fax 414-371-5932


Industry Watch

Department of Energy supports efforts to install 1,000 MW of concentrating solar power systems

In an effort to tap the significant solar ener-gy resources of New

Mexico, Arizona,Nevada, California,

Utah, Texas andColorado, theU.S. Departmentof Energy will

support efforts toinstall a total of1,000 MW of con-

centrating solar power (CSP) systems overthe next several years.

“This exciting initiative will provide asubstantial engine for economic develop-ment, job creation, air quality improve-ments and new, non-polluting sources ofelectricity supply for the region,” saidActing Under Secretary of Energy DavidGarman. “The federal long-term goal is tolower the cost of CSP technology to 7cents/kilowatt-hour from the current costof 12-14 cents/kilowatt-hour.”

Through a five-year cooperative, cost-shared agreement first proposed by the

Western Governor’s Association (WGA),DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency andRenewable Energy will provide $90,000 forthe first year along with the expertise andbest technical information about CSP sys-tems for the five-year span of this agree-ment. DOE’s support will allow the partici-pating states to achieve the WGA goal ofnew power purchase agreements for 1,000megawatts (MW) of CSP — enough energyto power 150,000 homes each year — inthe southwestern states by 2010.

The total estimated cost of the five-yearproject is $1,860,000, including DOE’s$90,000 contribution. WGA and theinvolved states will provide a cost share inthe amount of $61,690 (41 percent of thetotal) in the first year. It is anticipated thatWGA will provide additional cost share inyears two through five of the project.

During the first year of the project,activities will include establishment of astakeholder group, development of theprocess by which stakeholders in theregion can achieve the 1,000 MW goal, and

possibly the formation of a utility consor-tium. This agreement supports ongoingstate projects that include a one MW troughplant being built in Arizona, a 50 MWtrough plant in Nevada that will be built in2005, a task force in New Mexico to deter-mine the most appropriate CSP technologyfor the state, and a task force that is devel-oping a solar strategy to include a widerange of solar technologies for the state ofCalifornia.

The agreement grew out of a resolutionpassed by the WGA during their annualmeeting in June 2004. The resolution callsfor the development of 30 gigawatts (GW)of clean energy (renewable energy andenergy efficiency improvements) in theWest by 2015; one GW of this is to be pro-vided by concentrating solar power. Thisproject is appropriate to the mission of theWGA to develop policy and implement pro-grams in the areas of energy, naturalresources, the environment, human ser-vices and economic development.

Moody’s reports Florida municipals maintain sound debt service coverage

Florida’s municipal electric utilities have endured an unprecedented hurricane season this yearand come out with their credit intact, according to a Moody’s Investors Service report. Four suc-cessive storms with average maximum sustained winds of more than 140 mph have causedextensive damage to the infrastructure of the vast majority of the state’s public power utilities.While the challenges of repairing the infrastructure, restoring power and accepting lost revenueshave been great, the report found that the “financial impact has been limited and debt servicecoverage should remain intact.”

The report goes on to state that “the overall rapid response to power restoration was expect-ed given that disaster planning is an integral part of a utility’s business plan. The severity of thesuccessive hurricanes tested the recovery plans of many of the public power utilities. FloridaMunicipal Power Agency’s (rated A1) role in facilitating information on FEMA’s financial reim-bursement programs and coordinating assistance from neighboring utilities was also a positivefactor.”

Officials at Moody’s anticipate that rated utilities will maintain sound debt service coverageand liquidity.

For full report details, please visit www.publicpower.com/pdf/2004_moody.pdf

Storm Response factsheet available

FMEA and FMPA announce the releaseof their Hurricane Restoration FactSheet: Powerful Response, which wasdeveloped to address the emergencyresponse procedures of public powerutilities following the recent hurricanes.

During August and September 2004,four major hurricanes devastated thestate of Florida in a six-week period.Some of the areas hit hardest wereserved by municipal electric utilities.The fact sheet shows public power'sstrong response to the storms, and howworking together, we equal or exceedthe capabilities of very large utilities.

The fact sheet is available atwww.publicpower.com/pdf/2004_fmea_stormresponse.pdf


The definition of “green” is changing.Until recently, the term “green tag,” AKAtradable renewable energy credits(TRECs), was limited to green powertechnologies such as solar photo-voltaics, wind turbine generators andbiomass co-firing, all of which produceelectricity. A recent sale of solar ther-mal green tags by Lakeland Electric hasofficially altered this limited definitionand is ultimately changing the conceptof green tags nationally.

Lakeland Electricis a producer ofTRECs that arederived from the util-ity’s solar PV andsolar thermal genera-tors. A solar thermalgenerator is, quitesimply, a solar waterheater. At LakelandElectric, solar waterheaters are beinginstalled on residen-tial rooftops as utili-ty-owned distributedgenerators. The utility holds title to thesolar equipment with the understandingthat the homeowners buy the energy thatthe solar system provides them.Lakeland Electric has developed ametering system that accurately quanti-fies the output of the solar collector. Themeters are, in essence, measuring theoutput in BTUs, while the digital calcu-lator displays kilowatt-hours. The metermanufacturer, ABB, has reconfigured themeter especially for Lakeland Electric todisplay kWh in order to be compatiblewith existing electric utility standards.The utility’s meter readers record themeter readings during their regularmonthly rounds. The customers are thenbilled for the solar energy at the basicretail electric rate. This charge appearsas a separate line item on their monthlyelectric bill. The green attributes thatare derived from the solar heaters arestill marketable as Tradable RenewableEnergy Credits.

Because the thermal energy pro-duced by these units is being metered

and sold in the kilowatt-hour equivalent,Lakeland Electric has enhanced the image ofsolar water heaters from energy offsetdevices to supply-side generators. This is alandmark moment in the solar industry.

Sterling Planet, a broker of wholesaleTRECS, is under contract to market and sellthese credits to other utilities and corporatecustomers. Earlier in the year, LakelandElectric assigned 330 mwh of solar greentags to Sterling Planet. In mid-September,Sterling Planet sold 50 MWh (25 pv and 25

thermal) for $40/MWh.

The broker receives a20 percent commis-sion resulting in

$32/MWh revenue for the utility. This is thesame as 3.2 cents/kWh. Even though solarPV green tags have been traded for the lastseveral years, this marks the first time thatsolar thermal credits were traded, a historicevent for the solar hot water industry.

There were two buyers in this situation,Keys Energy Services, the municipally-owned electric utility in Key West, and theDemocratic National Convention.

Keys Energy Services needs the creditsto support its retail Green Pricing offering.Lynne Tejeda, assistant general managerand COO at Keys Energy Services, sharedher excitement about the prospects partner-ing with other public power providers tocreate a bigger market for homegrown solarthermal technologies in Florida’s fledglinggreen tag market. “Our Go Green program isless than a year old, but already we see thatour customers are most interested in sup-porting the Florida program which empha-sizes solar. We were thrilled that KeysEnergy Services was able to team up withLakeland Electric and purchase tags fromtheir solar water. This is an outstanding

example of public power working at itsbest.”

The Democratic National Conven-tion purchased a portion of these creditsin order to fulfill its commitment to userenewable energy during the conven-tion.

Traditionally, TRECs are bought andsold on the green power market by utili-ties, commercial businesses, govern-ment agencies and residential con-sumers. These “green tags” representthe environmental attributes of energy

generated by renewablesources, and can beused to offset emissionsrequirements, reduce acompany’s environmen-tal footprint, or allow aconsumer energy con-sumption choices bysupporting environmen-tally-friendly energydevelopment.

The solar hot water advocacy group,USH2O, is fully supportive of this suc-cessful transaction. “The Utility SolarWater Heating Initiative is excited aboutthis transaction between LakelandElectric and Keys Energy Services,” saidChip Bircher, USH2O’s coordinator.“Keys Energy Services’ purchase ofrenewable energy credits from LakelandElectric’s solar water heating is historic.It validates that solar water heating canplay a significant role in green energyprograms nationwide.”

“What this sale proves is that thereis a market for solar thermal credits. Ihope that legislatures contemplatingrenewable resources take note andinclude solar thermal resources in anyrenewable portfolio standards legisla-tion,” remarked James Stanfield, gener-al manager of Lakeland Electric.

Florida’s public power customers warm up to solar thermal tags


FPL studies microturbine technology at Tomoka Correctional Institution

Industry Watch

Florida Power & Light Co. (FPL) hasannounced that it is working in cooperationwith the Electric Power Research Institute(EPRI) and the state’s Tomoka CorrectionalInstitution to study microturbine energytechnology. The project places a microtur-bine at the Tomoka Correctional Institution inDaytona Beach.

“FPL believes that technology — com-bined with energy conservation — is neededto meet the electric needs of customers andsupport environmental initiatives now andin the future,” said Paul Hamilton, vice pres-ident of state legislative affairs for FPL. “Themicroturbine project at Tomoka CorrectionalInstitution clearly supports this effort.”

Microturbines are small combustiongenerators that efficiently create heat andelectricity on-site, conserving grid power.About the size of a refrigerator, the naturalgas fueled microturbine at Tomoka hasextremely low emissions of smog-formingNOx and other pollutants compared to otherenergy sources. The Tomoka project is grid-connected to FPL’s electric system. It willheat water for the laundry area at the correc-tional facility.

FPL and EPRI partnered to purchase the$50,000 microturbine and fund the researchand development for a total cost of about$360,000. The 60 kW Capstone microtur-bine will be studied during an experimentalperiod lasting approximately one year. Thestudy will determine how the microturbinemight be used as backup energy generation,as a stand-alone power source and as adevice to be deployed to reduce energypeaks. Additionally, the test project will eval-uate the viability of the technology by mea-suring the performance of the system com-pared to its technical specifications. Theproject team will test the unit’s reliability,assess the equipment’s readiness for com-mercial service, identify technical obstacles,ease of maintenance and operation cost.

“We are looking forward to participatingin microturbine technology, and we’redelighted to be a partner with energy leaderssuch as FPL and EPRI in an effort to findbetter ways to manage energy use and cost

and to protect our natural environment,”said Secretary James V. Crosby, Jr., forTomoka Correctional Institution.

“There are about 3,000 Capstone micro-turbines worldwide, but very few in Florida,”Capstone spokesman Keith Field said.“We’re proud that the forward-thinking

experts at FPL and EPRI are taking this lead-ership role in creating cleaner energy withless fossil fuel use.”

is a full service Manufacturers Representative Organization

proudly representing the following companies:

www.floridautilityservice.com

Tampa, Florida(813) 632-8148

BETHEA TOOLS & EQUIPConductor Stringing Blocks and equip-ment, Handline blocks, Swivels, Pullingeyes, Wire Rope & Web Slings, Pullinglines.

ERMCO INC.Distribution Transformers; single & threephase Pole and Padmount.

ERMCO COMPONENTS INC.Transformer components including circuitbreakers & accessories, bushings,arresters, arrester disconnect switches,fuse holders, tap changers, dual voltageswitches, bird guards.

FORTUNE ELECTRICPower transformers from 34.5KV to345KV and 3000KVA to 500,000KVA.

IRSTOil spill containment and clean up systems.Unique polymer based products permanent-ly encapsulate hydrocarbons on contact,immobilizing spills. Economic substationspill containment.

MORGAN SCHAFFERPortable on-line analyzers for detecting andmonitoring dissolved gas and moisture inelectrical equipment dialectric fluids.

NEWMARKSuperior quality fiberglass poles for streetand area lighting, decorative lighting, anddistribution. Strong and lightweight,unique design provides best warranty inthe industry.

NxtPHASETesla Disturbance Recorders, B-Pro BusProtection Relays, T-Pro TransformerProtection Relays, F-Pro Feeder ProtectionRelays, L-Pro Line Protection Relays. HighVoltage Fiber Optic PTs & CTs.

NOVATECHRTUs, SCADA Systems, CommunicationProcessors HMI Software, DistributionAutomation, System Integration.

PREMAX, INC.Metal Marking Systems, AluminumNumbers and Letters.

PSN COMPONENTSSolid Core porcelain Station PostInsulators up to 230KV, Suspension andPin-type insulators.

SOUTHERN GROUNDINGHot dipped galvanized ground rods,Copper clad threadless and threadedRods. Rod couplers and clamps.

WHITE SAFETY LINELineman’s Tools & Equipment, Hot Sticks,Grounding & Protective Equipment,Rubber Gloves, Insulating Blankets, LineHoses, Voltage Detectors and PhasingTesters.

State lawmakers in Florida are seeking toset up a task force to review the status ofthe battered Florida electric grid in theaftermath of four back-to-back hurricanesthat knocked out the lights for more than10 million Florida customers. The taskforce’s work would include a study of thefeasibility of laying underground powerlines, informed state government sourcessaid. They say concerns abound over thesystem’s continued unreliability, but thereis great uncertainty over who would payfor the cost of burying transmission linesand how effective this tactic would be.

Florida state Sen. Ron Klein (D) plansto introduce a bill to set up a task forcethat will review the need for undergroundpower lines at a special session. Kleintold EnergyWashington.com, an onlinenational energy news service, the purposeof the task force will be to get a statusreport of the transmission grid and itsvulnerabilities. “The recommendationswould determine if there should be achange of law and what the [FloridaPublic Service Commission’s] authorityshould be,” Klein said.

An official at the Florida Public ServiceCommission (FPSC) said that state statutecurrently does not allow the commissionto require a utility to bury power lines.“The way the Florida state laws are written,the commission has regulatory authorityonly over rates, and the ratebase has toconsider the least-cost alternative,” theofficial said. The FPSC currently requiresonly that the utilities provide overheadlines. If certain customers want under-ground power lines, those customers haveto pay the difference. The FPSC studiedthe feasibility of requiring undergroundpower lines in the 1990s, but concluded itwas not cost-effective on a statewidescale.

But that sentiment seems to be chang-ing. Efforts are already under way in somecounties to consider burying power linesas way to prevent extended power outagesdue to hurricanes. Commissioners at thecity of Lauderhill in Broward County havepassed a resolution asking the state tostudy the option of underground power

lines. The city joins a contingent of groupsthat want power lines buried, includinglocal officials from Palm Beach andMiami-Dade counties.

Experts agree that underground powerlines are less susceptible to outages afterstorms, but burying power lines is moreexpensive than laying overhead lines.According to estimates by the EdisonElectric Institute, the private utility indus-try trade group, burying new power linescosts about $1 million per mile, which isabout 10 times more than installing over-head lines.

Utility industry officials say most utili-ties are willing to bury power lines if theycan pass on a portion of the costs toratepayers. And, in Florida, most of thestate's utilities are largely on board withburying the power lines. Since HurricaneAndrew struck in 1992, about 70 percentof the new lines installed by Florida Powerand Light (FPL) are underground, andclose to 40 percent of its overall lines arenow buried, compared with only 31 per-cent 12 years ago.

But, while most new power lines arebeing buried, industry sources say costestimates for retrofitting existing lines ismore problematic. “Retrofitting costs canvary depending upon terrain and also whether the community is an urban

or rural area,” a spokesperson with FPLsaid.

The FPSC modified the tariff structurelast year to allow local governments to payfor retrofitting existing power lines upfront and then to be reimbursed by cus-tomers over a 20-year period. An officialwith FPL says the utility is engaged in pre-liminary talks with the city of Naples onthe west coast of Florida to retrofit thepower lines, but no other cities have madeuse of the tariff change.

Even though experts agree that under-ground lines are more stable, there are con-cerns that flooding can also cause wide-spread outages. When Hurricane Charleyapproached land, Tampa Electric Co. shutdown power to the city's downtown busi-nesses because of fears that a saltwaterstorm surge would damage the under-ground network. Experts say buried serviceis superior during high winds, but linesand poles perform better during heavyrains. The roots of a toppling tree also canpull out lines and break connections.

Further, repairmen complain that it’soften difficult to locate problems in buriedlines that would be obvious if they werestrung overhead. Underground linesrequire special equipment and crews tolocate faults and a separate crew to dig upthe lines.

Florida lawmakers likely to set up task force to review grid status

On November 2, Mona C. Clark was sworn into officeby Key West City Clerk Cheryl Smith to fill the Group 4seat left vacant by the passing of Dr. Otha P. Cox.

By virtue of her appointment, Clark has become thefirst female board member in the utility’s history. Theboard appointed Clark at their regular meeting onOctober 27.

Clark, a native Conch and 50-plus-year Key Westresident, has worked for the Monroe County SchoolDistrict for 30 years, serving as a teacher and adminis-trator – she is currently the assistant principal at GlynnArcher Elementary. She is also a member of variouscivic organizations and governmental task forces, andwas the chair of Florida Keys Community College’s Board of Trustees from 1999–2001.

Mona C. Clark sworn in as utility board member



Industry WatchIn memoriam: Dr. Otha P. Cox

On the morning of October4, Dr. Otha P. Cox, KeysEnergy Services’ (KEYS)longest serving Utility Boardmember, succumbed to ill-ness and brought to a close

a distinguished career of public service. Dr. Cox was first elected to the Utility

Board of the city of Key West in 1979, andmost recently served as vice chairman. Heretired from the Monroe County SchoolBoard, where he served with distinction invarious capacities, finishing as assistantsuperintendent of schools. His duties andresponsibilities carried him from Key Westthroughout the state and nation where hemade numerous contacts and formedimportant alliances. Dr. Cox’s expertise inthe area of measurement and evaluation wasrecognized during his professional careerand led to his involvement in the evaluationof public schools and college/universityprograms.

“His knowledge of every aspect of theutility and commitment to this communitywas vast and far reaching,” said Robert R.Padron, Utility Board chairman. “The voidleft by his passing will not soon be filled.”

Dr. Cox received numerous awards andrecognition for his excellent pursuits in botheducation and the public power industry inFlorida and throughout the nation. He wasnominated for the prestigious Ida BakerDistinguished Florida educator Award,received the 1995 American Public PowerAssociation’s (APPA’s) Spence VanderlindenPublic Official Award – a national honorawarded by the APPA for outstanding publicservice in the public power industry, andwas awarded the Florida Memorial CollegeBoard Member of the Year Award.

In addition to the Utility Board and theMonroe County School District, Dr. Cox wasinvolved in a variety of philanthropic andcivic endeavors. He was the founder andchair of the Martin Luther King Jr. BirthdayCelebration and Scholarship Committee;chair of the Betty T. Cox MemorialScholarship Fund; member of the MonroeCounty Executive Roundtable; past member

of the Board of Directors, ExecutiveCommittee, and Policy Makers AdvisoryCouncil of APPA; past treasurer of theMonroe County Tourist DevelopmentCouncil; and trustee of Florida MemorialCollege. He also generously shared hisexpertise as he served as a consultant tothe Gates Millennium Scholars Program,colleges, universities and public school districts.

Dr. Cox earned his Bachelor of Sciencedegree from North Carolina A&T StateUniversity, his Master of Science from theState University of New York, and his Ph. D.from Michigan State University. He graduat-ed from Michigan State University withhighest honors and was elected to the honorsociety of Phi Kappa Phi.

Dr. Cox passed away after a long strug-gle with illness. He leaves behind two chil-

dren, Deborah Barnett and Marcie Cox, andfour grandchildren.

“The thoughts and prayers of the entireKEYS family are with the Cox family duringthis difficult time,” said Carl Jansen, KEYSgeneral manager & CEO.

Leonard Knowles was elected as the newvice chairman of the board in the wake ofthe passing of Dr. Cox. Knowles has servedon the board since 1991.

With TechnologyThrough advanced vegetation managementplanning and program software developed byDavey Resource Group.

ProfessionallyDavey Tree's professional recruiters and trainers locate the best talent available for newand ongoing utility operations.

To Restore PowerEven with the best vegetation management pro-grams, storms can impact trees and cause out-ages. Davey Tree's national support networkcan provide additional crews to assist your utility in times of normal or extraordinary need.

SafelyFrom day one of their employment, Daveyemployees are trained for safety and evaluatedbased on adherence to safe work practices.

Productively Davey's utility operations constantly seek fornew improvements in the planning, crew structure and execution of our work, leading toreal program savings for our utility customers.

Cooperatively By providing all manner of utility program services, from line clearance services to turnkeyvegetation management programs, Davey Treecan meet your needs.

Davey Works...

Marvin Hassell, Area Manager Phone: 407-644-4695

Fax: 407-644-6350www.davey.com


The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced it has selected the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) – along with Southern Company – to build a $557 million, advanced coal gasification facility in Central Florida as part of the department’sClean Coal Power Initiative.

The 285-megawatt plantwill be built atOUC’s StantonEnergy Centernear Orlando andwill gasify coalusing state-of-the-art emis-sions controls,showcasing thecleanest, mostefficient coal-fired power tech-nology in theworld. The DOE will contribute $235 million. OUC and Southern Company will con-tribute $322 million.

“For Central Florida, this is an environmental milestone,” said Tommy Boroughs,commission president for OUC. “OUC has been an industry leader in providing reliableand affordable power, while also using state-of-the-art environmental power productiontechnologies. We are proud to continue our efforts in partnership with the Departmentof Energy and Southern Company in the Clean Coal Power Initiative.”

The expected date for commercial operation is early 2010, with groundbreakingsometime in 2007. OUC and Southern Company will co-own the project.

“This project is a prime example of our Administration’s desire to develop cutting-edge technologies to help meet our nation’s future energy needs,” said Department ofEnergy Secretary Spencer Abraham.

The new coal gasification project will turn coal into gas for generating electricitywhile significantly reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mer-cury. In addition, the technology produces 20-25 percent less carbon dioxide, on aver-age, than coal-based generation in place today.

“This clean coal project is good for Florida's environment and quality of life, it is astrong boost to our economy as a direct source of job creation, as well as increasedpower to fuel future Florida businesses, and it improves the security of our energy sup-plies,” Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said. “Clean, advanced energy technologies are thefuture of energy in this state and this country.”

The project was one of two selected to demonstrate advanced power generation sys-tems using Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology, a variation ona natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant in which a coal-derived gas (producedby the coal gasifier) replaces the natural gas. In a combined cycle plant two power gen-erators, or cycles, are used in combination to generate electricity in a very efficientmanner.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to work once again with the Orlando UtilitiesCommission,” said Paul Bowers, president, Southern Company Generation and EnergyMarketing. “We already jointly own a 600-megawatt, combined cycle facility at theStanton Energy Center with OUC and others, and this new project demonstrates astrong partnership in helping meet the growing energy needs of Florida and the nation.”

Department of Energy selects OUC, Southern Company to build clean coal technology plant

TECO Energy Inc. has implemented someleadership changes, including the recentappointment of Charles Black as the newchief of TECO Energy Inc. subsidiary,Tampa Electric. Black replaces formerchief William Cantrell, who will continueto serve as president of TECO Energysubsidiary, People’s Gas.

Black joined Tampa Electric in 1973,where he initially held various entry- andmanagement-level engineering positionsin the utility’s production departmentuntil he was promoted to director of engi-neering and construction for TECO PowerServices in 1989.

Throughout the years, Black contin-ued to rise through the company ranks,and in 1999, he was appointed vice pres-ident of energy supply, engineering andconstruction. In this position, he super-vised the repowering of Gannon PowerStation, and he was also responsible forTampa Electric’s Generation ExpansionProgram. Finally, in 2003, Black wasnamed senior vice president of genera-tion for TECO Energy, Inc.

Other changes in leadership at TECOEnergy, Inc. include the following:

• Gordon Gillette, TECO Energy Inc.’schief financial officer, will now overseethe company’s wholesale power opera-tions in Guatemala.

• Executive Vice President JohnRamil will supervise regulatory and gov-ernmental affairs, a duty which was pre-viously the responsibility of RichardLehfeldt, TECO Energy Inc.’s vice presi-dent of external affairs. Lehfeldt is tak-ing early retirement.

• Sheila McDevitt, TECO EnergyInc.’s senior vice president and generalcounsel will assume corporate communi-cations duties in Lehfeldt’s absence.

According to TECO spokesman RossBannister, these changes are being made“as part of our continued strategy offocusing on the success and growth ofour regulated businesses and profitableunregulated businesses.”

Charles Black appointed chief of Tampa Electric

Progress Energy Florida and Sumter Electric Cooperative (SECO)are planning to build a 10-mile, 69-kilovolt (kV) electric trans-mission line in western Marion County. The line will run from theintersection of State Road 484 and Southwest 140th Avenue toSumter Electric’s new substation, to be built near State Road 40 andSouthwest 140th Avenue in Dunnellon.

Progress Energy will invest more than $4.1 million in the pro-ject, which is scheduled for completion in mid-2007. The transmis-sion line is needed to meet growing electricity demands in thearea and to ensure a continued reliable supply of electricity tohomes and businesses throughout the region.

“We continue to see tremendous growth, not only in the numberof customers we serve, but in the amount of electricity those cus-tomers are using,” said SECO Director of Engineering &Information Technology Ben Brickhouse. “The new line is essentialfor our continual efforts to improve power quality and reliability,and most importantly, to ensure our customers have power whenand where they need it.”

The transmission line will be built on a right-of-way approxi-mately 15 feet wide. Land agents will work individually with proper-ty owners in purchasing easements for the line. Easements allowconstruction and maintenance of transmission facilities. Propertyowners maintain ownership of the easement, with some restric-tions on its use.

“This is an important project that will help support regionalreliability, and we’re pleased to have SECO as our partner,” saidMartha Barnwell, vice president of Progress Energy's North CoastalRegion. “We look forward to working with the residents in the com-munity as we move forward.”

Initial surveying will begin in early 2005. The process of acquir-ing new easements will begin thereafter, with line clearing sched-uled to start by late 2006. Construction is expected to be completeby May 2007, when the line will become operational.

The transmission line will be attached to single transmissionpoles, standing approximately 90 feet tall and spaced approxi-mately every 400 feet.


Industry Watch Progress Energy, SECO plan new transmission line in Marion County

DUNCAN, WEINBERG,GENZER & PEMBROKE

– Law Offices –

PROUDLY SERVINGPublic Power Systems and Public Agencies since 1971

Areas of Specialization

Public Utilities MunicipalNatural Resources Small Power ProductionEnvironment Government ContractsEnergy CogenerationFederal Legislation HydroelectricWater Federal LandsAntitrust CommunicationsIntellectual Property Indian Claims

1615 M St., NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036

(202) 467-6370Fax (202) 467-6379

E-mail [email protected]

Loaded WithContradictions.

It has the highest horsepower in its class (60 hp/45 kW @ 2200 rpm),yet it produces minimal noise (less than 100 dBA; only 85 dBA duringtypical operation). Although it weighs 9700 lbs. (4400 kg), it stepslightly, thanks to turf-friendly, low-profile rubber tracks. It is amazinglycompact, yet with 12,000 lbs. (53 kN) of pullback, it has the highestratio of power to size. It is easy to maneuver, yet has the capability toinstall much larger product than you would expect in a wider varietyof soils, even in confined areas. These paradoxes make the Ditch Witch®

JT1220 Mach 1 one of the industry’s most productive horizontal directional drilling systems. For more information, see your DitchWitch dealer.

ditchwitch.com


A public power Super BowlBy Ron WhittingtonMedia Coordinator, JEA

hen Jacksonville welcomes thousands of visitors for Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, it will have the distinction of being the smallest market ever to host the game. W

The use of cruise ships to add guestrooms and supplement existing hotelavailability in Jacksonville will givethe upcoming game a distinctivequality, and is one reason the city’selectricity/water/sewer utility, JEA,will take on a vital role in SuperBowl XXXIX.

Based on past Super Bowls, offi-cials expect Super Bowl XXXIX weekwill translate into an increase in JEArevenues by $2.5 to $3 million —which is one reason why the utilityjoined the Jacksonville Super BowlHost Committee as a Super BowlCommunity Partner.

Through the partnership agree-ment, in which JEA provides$500,000 in cash and $500,000 in in-kind services, JEA is also activelyinvolved in two local outreach pro-grams — the “Super Learning in a

Super City” Program and theEmerging Business Program.

“Like many other local agenciesand companies, we want to supportthe success of the event in our city,”JEA CEO Jim Dickenson said. “Also,our participation is essential becausethe cruise ships require drinkingwater and sewer services.

“Being a municipal agency, wewere very careful in setting up ourpartnership with the host commit-tee. JEA took no direct benefit — notickets, no hospitality suites, nor any-thing of that nature.We did want theinvolvement in the educational andoutreach programs, which matchedup well with our mission of ‘buildingcommunity.’”

JEA’s partnership will benefit localchildren through the Super LearningProgram, an educational program

that uses a football theme to facilitatelearning. Likewise, JEA gains accessto the small, minority and disadvan-taged businesses that may laterbecome JEA contractors and consul-tants through the Emerging BusinessProgram.

Unrelated to its partnership, JEA isalso supporting the event by leasingproperty it owns along the southside of the St. Johns River downtown— for $1 — to the National FootballLeague (NFL) for the NFLExperience, an interactive sportsentertainment complex. The leasewill take effect in mid-December,with the land returned to JEA by theend of February 2005.

And, like many other companiesand public agencies in Jacksonville,JEA is soliciting volunteers to help invarious guest services positions dur-

ing game week. About 100 applica-tions from JEA employees wereaccepted and forwarded to theJacksonville Super Bowl HostCommittee, and event training beganin the fall.

Serving cruise shipsThe theme for the Super Bowl XXXIXwill be “Building Bridges,” reflectingthe many bridges that span the St. Johns River, which flows north-ward through downtown Jacksonville.

That focus on the waterway willalso be a key component in JEA’soperations during the Super Bowl asthe utility provides water and wastedisposal services for cruise shipsdocked along the St. Johns River.

The NFL required 29,000 roomsfor Jacksonville to host Super BowlXXXIX. As part of its bid obligationto the NFL, the host committeesecured 35,000 hotel/cruise shiprooms and set aside 17,500 of theserooms for NFL-related groups.

“Disposing of waste from thecruise ships that will be dockedalong the river is something no otherSuper Bowl host city, or utility, hasever had to contend with, so JEA’sthe first in that respect,” Dickensonsaid.

Currently, there are plans for fivecruise ships to dock along the St.Johns River — one at the DamesPoint Bridge, about five miles north-east of downtown, three atTalleyrand, an industrial port arealocated within about a mile fromAlltel Stadium (where the game willbe played), and a smaller ship dockednear the Adam’s Mark Hotel down-town.

The five ships are the RadissonSeven Seas Navigator, HollandAmerica’s Volendam, Zaandam andZuiderdam and the Carnival Miracle.

At this time, JEA plans to use fourto five barges that will be dockednext to the larger ships, and twomobile barges, to collect waste andtransport it to JEA’s nearest treatment

plant — the Buckman WastewaterTreatment Plant near Talleyrand.

The five ships provide 3,617 addi-tional rooms and a higher totalpassenger count depending on occu-pancy. All of the ships will be dockedbetween five and seven days. JEA isestimating that it will have to disposeof up to 700,000 gallons of waste perday.

While most of the ships will havetheir own internal water supplies,JEA is also adding new water metersand making other infrastructurechanges to support the cruise shipswhile they serve as floating hotelsand play host to many special eventsthroughout the week.

Security and electric reliability As with any major event held in thepost-9/11 era, security is foremost inthe minds of public officials, lawenforcement personnel, event plan-ners — and at JEA, as well.

Over the last year, JEA has identi-fied facilities that will requireadditional security to further ensurethat no tampering will occur to theutility system.

Likewise, JEA has been focusingon the electrical system in the down-town area, replacing older electricalcable and other components, to fur-ther ensure the reliability of the

system prior to the arrival of SuperBowl guests.

The Sunday night of the big game,it will be critical that operations atAlltel Stadium are flawless. (Insidethe stadium, there are 900 miles ofelectrical cable, 3,535 plumbing fix-tures, 140 miles of electrical conduit,300 electrical panels, 10,000 electri-cal light fixtures, 10 miles ofbroadcast cable,500 exhaust fans and439 television monitors.)

“Certainly, ensuring the reliabilityof our electrical system in the down-town area is very important,”Dickenson said.

In some ways, the battering JEA’selectric system sustained from hurri-canes Frances and Jeanne may havehad an underlying benefit when itcomes to game-day preparations.

“Most of our system damage wasrelated to tree damage … trees beinguprooted, limbs coming down onpower lines,” Dickenson said. “Sincemost of our normal outages through-out the year are tree-related, I expectwe will have less of that during theSuper Bowl since nature has takendown most of our weakened branch-es and older, diseased trees.”

In addition to work on the regularelectrical grid, there will be manyentertainment venues set upthroughout the downtown area forwhich JEA will have to provide tem-porary water and electric hookups.

Along with NFL events like theNFL Experience,Taste of the NFL andGameday Hospitality Suites, therewill also be events set up by the localhost committee (events locally devel-oped, funded and managed by thehost committee), and sanctionedevents (those events approvedthrough a sanctioning process devel-oped by the Jacksonville Super BowlHost Committee and submitted tothe NFL for their review andapproval).

In addition to host committee-sanctioned events, many othertemporary entertainment areas will


Jim Dickenson, JEA CEO

JEA among local agencies poised to support Super Bowl


be created in time for the SuperBowl. For example, the local news-paper is sponsoring the Times-UnionSuperFest — a temporary themedentertainment area featuring liveentertainment on multiple outdoorstages, food and beverage tents andmerchandise vendors that willstretch for about three miles alongJacksonville’s downtown riverfront.Water taxis and ferries will crisscrossthe river, connecting the Times-Union SuperFest to the NFLExperience at JEA Park.

Also, JEA will be assisting vendorsin setting up meters and newwater/electric service for temporaryentertainment venues like these thatwill be springing up in the time lead-ing up to the big event.

JEA ready for an “uneventful, eventful” eventDickenson, like all the city leaders, ishopeful that the Super Bowl is excit-ing and fun for all visitors in townfor the game...and that the entireoperation will go “very smoothly.”

“We just hope people have agreat time and we don’t experienceany major problems during theweek,” Dickenson said. “We’ve donea lot of planning in preparation forthe Super Bowl. On the JEA end ofthings, we think we’re ready for allthe responsibilities we will havethroughout the week. And I believethe city is ready for it, too.”

Dickenson’s sentiment wasechoed by National Football LeagueCommissioner Paul Tagliabue in May,when he was interviewed after twodays of NFL meetings wrapped up —dismissing suggestions that someleague owners were concernedabout the city’s ability to host thegame.

“If there was skepticism, they(Jacksonville) wouldn’t have beenawarded the Super Bowl,” Tagliabuesaid.“Right from day one I’ve had thesense people thought this would bean excellent place to play the game.”

Partnership activitiesIn May, the Jacksonville Super Bowl Host Committee and JEA hosted areception for First Coast teachers to kick off “Super Learning in a SuperCity.” All educators teaching kindergarten through 12th grade wereinvited to attend the kick-off at the Terrace Suite at Alltel Stadium.

Fully endorsed by the National Football League,“Super Learning in aSuper City” is a curriculum-based youth outreach program designed toengage students in learning activities using the Super Bowl, Jacksonvillehistory and the community as the central focus.

“The main goal of the program is toprovide an opportunity for all kids toparticipate in the Super Bowl at somelevel,” said JEA Community OutreachCoordinator Hollie Smith.

JEA is the presenting sponsor and isnow in the process of administeringthe program in the Duval CountySchool System. Smith expects that, inthe end, the program will touch about200,000 local school students andabout 3,000 kids in Jacksonville areaBoys and Girls Clubs.

“We’ve customized the curriculum for Jacksonville and for JEA, so itincludes information on water and energy conservation,” Smith said.“For example, one of the questions is,‘If a toilet flush uses five gallonsof water, how many gallons of water will be used if each of the 82,000people at Alltel Stadium during the Super Bowl flushed just once?’”(The answer is 410,000 gallons.)

The Super Learning Program is under way in First Coast schoolsnow through February. All students and teachers who participate inthe program are also eligible for special youth-related Super Bowl eventsand incentives.

U


The birth of a partnershipWhen operating at full capacity, thetwo units at Seminole GeneratingStation produce about 3,300 tonsof limestone slurry waste per daythat can be converted into about1,800 tons of synthetic gypsum.The slurry is a byproduct of thestation’s flue gas desulphurization(FGD) system, also known as scrub-bers. FGD systems literally “scrub”sulfur dioxide out of the exhaustgases of coal-fueled power plants,to meet air quality requirements.

Prior to SECI’s partnership withLafarge Corporation, this waste by-product was stabilized with fly ashand deposited into the station’slandfill. With technology nowinstalled at Seminole GeneratingStation, this waste is chemicallyconverted to synthetic gypsumthat is purchased by Lafarge forthe manufacture of commercial

SeminoleElectric

Cooperative &Lafarge

Corporation:

A matchmadefromashes

By Lucy DuggerUtilities are constantly faced withthe challenge of providing efficientand economic service while protect-ing the environment. Tampa-basedSeminole Electric Cooperative, Inc.(SECI) is no exception. In an effortto work toward that delicate bal-ance, SECI began converting thelimestone slurry waste from thescrubbers at its 1,300 MW Palatka-based Seminole Generating Stationinto synthetic gypsum in the Fall of2000. The substance is widely usedin the manufacturing of wallboardfor commercial and residential construction.

The electric cooperative secureda contract to sell the gypsum toLafarge Corporation, a leading wall-board manufacturer headquarteredin Herndon, Va. The initiative hasproduced positive results for thePalatka area’s environment andeconomy.

wallboard at a plant the companybuilt in 1999.The wallboard manufac-turing plant is conveniently locatedadjacent to Seminole GeneratingStation. Through an agreement, SECIsells nearly 500,000 tons of syntheticgypsum annually to Lafarge Corp.

The gypsum conversion systemrequired an increase of about 13 per-cent in the volume of the plant'sdischarge to the St. Johns River. Assuch, SECI’s $16 million capital invest-ment in its gypsum production systemincludes the cost of a new wastewatertreatment plant. This plant treats theadditional wastewaterstream before it’s dis-charged to the river.The Florida Depart-ment of EnvironmentalProtection completedan extensive study toensure that the treateddischarge is not harmfulto the river’s animal andplant habitat before theproject was ap-proved.

Environmental and economic impactsThe benefits of converting the slurry to synthetic gypsumare innumerable. First, the process eliminates the need forscrubber sludge waste disposal. It also increases theamount of fly ash available for recycling. Fly ash recyclinghelps reduce carbon monoxide emissions by eliminat-ing the need to burn rock to make cement. Finally, theprocess eliminates the need to purchase and store limethat is used for waste stabilization. Synthetic gypsum pro-duction also reduces the impact of natural gypsummining and transportation, which brings additionalenvironmental benefits.

For SECI, converting FGD waste to gypsum alsoreduced the landfilling of waste materials by 67 per-cent. That reduced the cost of landfill operations andmaintenance. Conversely, gypsum and increased fly ashsales also provide revenue that benefits the utility andits member distribution co-ops, further reducing netproduction costs.

While pricing details are confidential, Seminole’sgypsum revenues and production have increased since2001. The Cooperative’s partnership with Lafarge alsoresulted in 100 new Palatka-area jobs and significantlyincreased the county’s tax base.

According to Jim Frauen, SECI’s manager of environ-mental affairs, “The environmental benefits were a


significant factor in Seminole’spartnership with Lafarge but itwas the economics thatmade this decision feasible. Wewere fortunate to contract witha company willing to build aplant in Putnam County to useour gypsum, which also made

this contract a win for the local community.”SECI also is participating in the new Coal

Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) with theEnvironmental Protection Agency, the Department ofEnergy and the American Coal Ash Association.According to Frauen, the group’s goal is,“to increase thebeneficial reuse and recycling of all coal combustionproducts.”

What are other utilities doing?FirstEnergy Corp., an Akron, Ohio, based utility has a simi-lar gypsum sales agreement with National GypsumCompany. The utility developed a process called forcedoxidation gypsum (FOG) which converts the byproductfrom the smokestack-scrubbing system into commercial-grade gypsum. The smokestack-scrubbing system at itsBruce Mansfield power plant in Shippingport,Pennsylvania, sprays a liquid lime substance into the fluegas creating calcium sulfite, which is normally placed in alandfill. Now, FOG converts the calcium sulfite into a use-able product.

In 1999, the National Gypsum Company built an $85million drywall facility next to the Mansfield Plant.Through the agreement, the National Gypsum plantproduces enough wallboard for 70,000 new homeseach year.

Jim Frauen, SECI’s manager of environmentalaffairs: “The environmental benefits were asignificant factor in Seminole’s partnershipwith Lafarge, but it was the economics thatmade this decision feasible.”

A match made from ashescontinued from page 19


Similarly, as a response to the Clean AirAmendments of 1990, Indianapolis-based IndianaPower & Light (IPL) installed FGD systems on someof its coal-fired boilers. Since the installation in 1996,gypsum production at the power plant was estimatedto be in the range of 250,000 to 300,000 tons a year.Most of the gypsum produced has been utilized by awallboard plant in a nearby town.

Standard Gypsum in Cumberland City, Tennessee,and the Temple-Inland Forest Products Corporationfacility in West Memphis,Arkansas, produce wallboardusing scrubber gypsum purchased from theTennessee Valley Authority’s Cumberland Fossil Plantin Cumberland City. Scrubbers on the Cumberlandplant reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by more than95 percent.The wallboard produced from the synthet-ic gypsum byproduct of the scrubbing process hasreceived certification for its pollution-prevention ben-efits and is sold through area building-supply stores.TVA produces between 800,000 – 1,200,000 tons ofscrubber gypsum per year at Cumberland.

Said TVA spokesman Gil Francis:“We have a uniquethree-way arrangement between TVA, the gypsum pro-ducer; Synthetic Materials, who processes the gypsumfrom a slurry into a usable gypsum ‘cake’; and TempleInland, the wallboard manufacturer. This arrangementallows each party to concentrate on what they dobest — TVA on power production, Synthetic Materialson gypsum processing and transportation and Templeon board product manufacturing. TVA realizes rev-enue for its byproduct material and saves money ondisposal costs. Synthetic Materials assumes all of theresponsibility for quality control, maintaining ade-quate stockpiles of product for end users andshipping of the raw material. Temple is able to obtainexceptionally high-quality raw materials at a pricewhich allows its plants to operate competitively.”

TVA plans to add scrubbers at its Paradise Unit 3 inKentucky, at Colbert Unit 5 in Alabama, and at BullRun and Kingston plants near Oak Ridge, Tennessee.All of these scrubbers will produce a high-quality gyp-sum byproduct which TVA plans to market.

From the ashes to innovationSECI has been rewarded for its efforts. The utility washonored with a 2001 Leadership Award from theCouncil for Sustainable Florida, recognizing Seminole’sgypsum conversion project, among other environmentalinitiatives. The project was also spotlighted in “Successin the Sunshine,” a program produced for the PublicBroadcasting System (PBS) with federal and state grants.The project was syndicated in the spring of 2003 to PBSstations in Florida.

All of these efforts are indicative of SeminoleElectric Cooperative Inc.’s commitment to the envi-ronment and its customers.

SMS leads the way in public power.

A leading US contractor since 1982 specializing in high-techapplication of high-quality overlay, Southeastern MechanicalServices offers complete overlay, maintenance, new operationsand retrofit services.


F

Barry Moline, right, presents the Community Restoration Award to Lee Garner, city manager of Chattahoochee.

Shaw Energy Delivery Services

The trade show provides membersa chance to learn about productsand services with exhibitors.

Randy Boswell, JEA

2004 EnergyConnectionsWorkshop and Trade Show highlights

FMEA’s annual Energy ConnectionsWorkshop and Trade Show tookplace October 26-28 at the OrlandoMarriott at Lake Mary.Workshop top-ics included updates on the latestsafety practices and procedures,innovations in customer service, aswell as the most current technologi-cal innovations in the electricindustry.

In addition, with Florida’s record-breaking 2004 hurricane season,utility personnel came together toshare successes and explore ways toimprove storm response. FMEAExecutive Director Barry Moline pre-sented each of Florida’s 32 publicpower utilities with a CommunityRestoration Award.The award recog-nizes each utility’s efforts through-out the hurricane season.

FMEA premiered a DVD they pro-duced entitled “Powerful Response:Public Power’s Response to Florida’sDevastating Hurricanes of 2004.” TheDVD is a tribute to the tremendousefforts of the people from publicpower utilities across the nation whoresponded to Florida’s need follow-ing the devastation of the 2004hurricane season. The DVD will bedistributed to each member utility.

During the trade show,attendeesexplored the advantages of exhibitors’products and services.

The 2004 hurricane season hasprompted greater interest in under-ground electric infrastructure.Duringthe general session, Brad Johnson,president of Virginia-based ACNEnergy Ventures,explored the benefitsand the disadvantages of under-grounding power lines. Johnsonsummarized that the cost of under-ground infrastructure is 10 times thatof overhead lines. He also said thatwhile underground lines result infewer outages, when outages dooccur, they are of longer duration.

Ken Baker, a safety client managerwith Progress Energy Florida, exploredways to create a culture of safety in theworkplace. Baker stressed that mosterrors are predictable and can be pre-vented. Baker also said that on-the-jobaccidents and fatalities can be avoidedby understanding the reason mistakesoccur and applying lessons learnedfrom previous incidents.

Christopher Brooks and LarryMoore, both of Georgia-based PowerDelivery Associates, discussed waysto improve the reliability of distribu-tion design. Configuration changes,maintenance program reviews anddesign reviews are positive stepstoward improving reliability of distri-bution systems.

A topic of great interest and atten-tion in the utility industry is the highprice of natural gas. Jerry Warren, amanaging consultant with Orlando-based G.E. Warren & Associates,spoke on this issue. According toWarren, political and environmentalrestrictions are limiting the energy

options available. The Task Force onAffordable Natural Gas (TFANG) iden-tified three problems contributing tothe lack of available natural gas: thelack of incentives for the productionof natural gas on federal public lands,impediments to production on feder-al public lands, and the lack ofregulatory certainty for gas produc-tion and transportation on federalpublic lands

Finally, many conference attendeeswere able to tour Progress Energy

Florida’s customer service call center,which is located in Lake Mary. Thetour provided an opportunity toexchange ideas on improving utilitycustomer service.

Many thanks to FMEA AssociateMembers Black & Veatch Corporation,Shaw EDS, Stanley Consultants, andFred Wilson & Associates for sponsor-ing FMEA’s 2004 Energy ConnectionsWorkshop and Trade Show. Many ofthe workshop papers are availableonline at www.publicpower.com.


Thank you, 2004 Sponsors

PlatinumBlack & Veatch Corporation

GoldShaw EDSStanley ConsultantsFred Wilson & Associates

Southeastern Testing Laboratory, Inc.1030 ASTONDALE RD, POST OFFICE BOX 149

BISHOP, GEORGIA 30621Office Phone

706-769-6645 • 706-769-6647 Fax

WE TESTRubber GlovesBlanketsLine Hose

Hot Line JumpersHot Line ToolsAerial Buckets

Underground CableInsulator HoodsHot Sticks

WE REPAIRHot Sticks and OtherHot Line Tools

Chain HoistCable Hoist

Extendo SticksStrap Hoist

WE SELLNew Gloves, Blankets, Line Hose and Other Rubber Goods,

Ground-Ins-Cable Jumpers, First Aid Supplies,Hot Tools, etc.


Day After Tomorrow,” global warming leads to rapid coolingand a sudden ice age. Scientifically, the theory is plausible,but unlikely. There is a global conveyer belt of currents.Near Florida, boaters are intimately familiar with the GulfStream, which passes by Florida and frequently affects ourweather. On a regular basis, the warm GulfStream changes the direction of massivehurricanes, sometimes driving themup the east coast toward NorthCarolina or out to sea.

The Gulf Stream carries warmsalty water northward towardGreenland, where it cools, falls to alower depth for the return tripsouth.The current then makes its wayaround the globe, past South America,around Cape Horn in Africa, past thesouthern Australian coast, up aroundHawaii, over to the western Mexicancoast, and then back again.Along the way,air currents, evaporation and rain create aninterdependent system that controls our weath-er, climate and way of life.

Ohm Page continued from page 7

If the polar ice caps melt, more fresh water melts intothe ocean changing its salinity. Salt water has a lower freez-ing point than fresh water, and thus doesn’t freeze as easilyin the ocean and allows the cool currents to flow. Morefresh water in the oceans could slow down the current

flow, as the less-salty water begins to freeze. Slowingdown the currents, then, could change everything

about these important “ocean rivers” and sub-sequently, the weather.

Ultimately, the global warming theo-rists claim that for all these reasons,consensus is growing among scien-tists, governments and business thatwe must act fast to combat climatechange. Could they all be wrong?

Yes, they could be.

Part II of Global WARNing willappear in the next issue of Relay.

a powerful solution

We Have a Full Line Inventory of Wire & Cablein both Copper & Aluminum Conductors

& Fiber Optic Cables…Just a Phone Call Away

Call Toll free: 1-800-342-7215• Bare Aluminum • Control Cables • Service Drop CablesFiber Optic Cables • Transmission & Distribution Cables

E-mail: [email protected]: 954-455-9886

2 BILLION FEETOF WIRE& CABLE

1920 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Suite 638 • Hallandale, FL 33009


Calendar 2005March30-31 FMEA Legislative Rally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tallahassee

31 Safety and Training Seminar . . . . . . . . . Tallahassee

April

1 Florida Lineman’s Competition Training & Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tallahassee

2 2005 Florida Lineman’s Competition . . Tallahassee

July

26-28 2005 FMEA-FMPA Annual Conference. . Key Largo

July 2006

18-20 2006 FMEA-FMPA Annual Conference. . Naples

“With over 30 years’ experience in Florida's public power industry.”

Craig Dunlap, President Phone: (407) 678-0977Sylvia Seaton-Dunlap, Sr. Vice President Fax: (407) 678-6240Sue Miner, Associate2898 Wild Ginger CourtWinter Park, FL 32792A

Rely on ABB’s global resources to provide cost-effective, high-quality solutions for public power.

ABB Inc.www.abb.comClay Cook:[email protected].: (407) 701-5427, Fax: (407) 732-2054

At ABB, we’ll keep the lights on for you.

Your Source For Dig - In Prevent ion

w w w . c l s l t d . c o m

For more information on our services, please contact:

David BlountRegional DirectorTavares, Florida

Phone: 352-235-0168E-mail: [email protected]


ADVERTISER .........................................WEBSITE/E-MAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

ABB, Inc. ....................................................www.abb.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

American Wire Group................................www.buyawg.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Accord Industries ......................................www.accordindustries.com . . . . .inside back cover

Arnold-Bryant, Inc......................................www.abirep.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Asplundh Tree Expert Company................www.asplundh.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Badger Meter .............................................www.badgermeter.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Central Locating Services ..........................www.clsltd.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Davey Tree Expert Company,The ..............www.davey.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Ditch Witch of Central

& South Florida.........................................www.ditchwitch.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Duncan,Weinberg, Genzer

& Pembroke, P.C. ...................................www.dwgp.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Florida Utility Service Co., Inc. ..................www.floridautilityservice.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

FMPA - Florida Municipal

Power Agency ...........................................www.fmpa.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Fred Wilson & Associates ...........................www.fredwilson.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Harris Group..............................................www.harrisgroup.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Highline Products .....................................www.highlineproducts.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Milsoft Utility Solutions .............................www.milsoft.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

National Power Equipment Inc. ................www.npesolutions.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

R.W. Beck ...................................................www.rwbeck.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Red Simpson..............................................www.redsimpson.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Reliant Energy Services .............................www.reliantenergy.com . . . . . . . .inside front cover

Southeastern Mechanical

Services, Inc..............................................www.semsi.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Southern Company....................................www.southerncompany.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Sunshine State One Call Center.................www.callsunshine.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Synergetic Design, Inc. ..............................www.synergeticdesign.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Weidmann Electrical Technology ..............www.weidmann-acti.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Index to Advertisers

Advertisers.com

ARNOLD - BRYANT, INC.Manufacturer’s Representatives

Serving Florida’s Utilities For Over 40 Years.

West Palm Beach / Clearwater

561-687-1090www.abirep.com

AttorneysDuncan,Weinberg, Genzer& Pembroke, P.C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Boiler RepairSoutheastern MechanicalServices, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Concrete Poles for Utility LightingAccord Industries . . . .inside back cover

Consulting EngineersSynergetic Design, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Contractors/Powerline ConstructionRed Simpson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Electrical Equipment ManufacturersABB, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Employment OpportunitiesEngineering/Consulting FirmsFred Wilson & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . .4Harris Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23R.W. Beck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Financial ConsultantsDunlap & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

High Voltage TestingSoutheastern Testing Laboratory, Inc. .23

Manufacturer’s RepresentativesArnold-Bryant, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Florida Utility Service Co., Inc. . . . . . .11

Meters & Meter Reading SystemsBadger Meter Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Power Generation EquipmentCummins SoutheasternPower Inc . . . . . . . . .outside back coverHighline Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Power Marketers/Gas MarketersReliant EnergyServices . . . . . . . . . . .inside front coverSouthern Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Software SolutionsMilsoft Utility Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Tree MaintenanceAsplundh Tree Expert Company . . . . . .6Davey Tree Expert Company,The . . . .13

TrenchersDitch Witch of Central& South Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Utility ContractorsCentral Locating Services . . . . . . . . . .25

Utility NotificationSunshine State One Call Center . . . . .26Weidmann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Wire & CableAmerican Wire Group . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

CONCRETE PRODUCTSwww.accordindustries.com

SETTING A HIGHER STANDARD

Accord Industries, Setting a Higher Standard, is the market leader in the fabrication of pre-stressed concrete

poles for utility applications. Whether it’s a street lighting, distribution, transmission, or sub station application,

Accord offers a full line of both static cast and centrifugally spun concrete poles that can be custom engineered

and built to meet your needs.Through our superior engineering capabilities and long history, Accord is able to

custom design and manufacture concrete poles to meet the stringent requirements of the utility industry.

Contact us today to discuss your specialized needs.And let us tell you about our installation service that truly

enables Accord to deliver a “Turn-Key” solution. Once you speak with us you’ll also understand why Accord

is “Setting a Higher Standard”. Call us at 800-477-7675.

Documents

MARKETING - relaymagazine.orgrelaymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Relay_Vol39_Issue4_WEB.pdf · A Florida municipal utility juggles the benefits and responsibilities of partnership