Alabama Living, April 2016 by Alabama Living

Electric

COOPERATIVES of ALABAMA

Randy Owen

A conversation with beloved Alabama musician

Gospel of greens

Vitamin-rich and cooked slow, these veggies are Southern staple

The gospel of greens

Whether cooked or raw, fresh greens add vitamins and taste to your kitchen table.

Electric of

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Clean, safe beaches

Five years later

BBQ hickory-style

The Leave Only Footprints campaign aims to educate Alabama beach visitors to take their belongings with them each night.

Co-op employees, members recall the spirit that helped them recover and rebuild after the devastating April 2011 tornadoes.

A wood fire of green hickory and only the freshest pork are what’s been giving Top Hat BBQ its distinctive flavor for more than six decades.

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Electric

COOPERATIVES of ALABAMA

Randy Owen

A conversation with beloved Alabama musician

Gospel of greens

Vitamin-rich and cooked slow, these veggies are Southern staple

ON THE COVER: Randy Owen, frontman for the group Alabama, is grateful for the way he grew up, learning the value of hard work on the family farm. The hardscrabble way of life is woven through some of the band’s most successful songs. PHOTO: Courtesy Conway Entertainment Group APRIL 2016 3

Co-ops launch non-partisan voter engagement program By Justin LaBerge America’s electric cooperatives have launched a non-partisan, nationwide effort to promote civic engagement and voter participation in the communities they serve. Jeffrey Connor, interim CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, unveiled the Co-ops Vote program at the association’s 74th annual meeting in New Orleans.

Affordable and Reliable Energy • • Renewable Energy “Electric cooperatives are perfectly designed to help address these important issues,” Connor said. “We can make politics ‘local’ again because civic engagement is part of our DNA.” A new website, vote.coop, offers co-op members information on the voter registration process in their state, dates of elec-

“Through Co-ops Vote, we want to help our members know when elections are, what’s at stake and how to make their voices heard,” Connor said. “Who folks vote for isn’t really as important as the fact that they do vote.” The Co-ops Vote initiative will focus on eight issues that are important to health and prosperity of communities served by electric cooperatives: Rural Broadband Access • • Hiring and Honoring Veterans • Low-Income Energy Assistance • Cybersecurity • Water Regulation • Rural Health Care Access

tions, information on the candidates running in those elections, and explanations of the eight key issues the campaign aims to address. In keeping with its non-partisan goals, the initiative will not be endorsing specific candidates for office. Mel Coleman, president of NRECA and CEO of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative said the program would help ensure the voices of rural Americans are heard. “We want to make sure our government knows that rural America matters,” Coleman said. “This campaign isn’t about divisive, partisan issues. It’s about real people in real places facing real challenges. It’s

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about our co-ops living out the principles of our movement: Concern for community and democratic control.” Connor cited partisan gridlock in Washington, the explosive growth of money in politics and the effects of gerrymandering as important reasons for launching the program. In 2014, 318 of 435 House races had a margin of victory of 20 points or more , and 30 House candidates – 16 Democrats and 14 Republicans representing 11 states – didn’t even face an opponent in the general election . “Elections aren’t won and lost in November anymore,” Connor said. “They’re really decided in primaries months sooner, when fewer voters recognize the opportunity to vote, fewer participate and only a handful of issues are up for debate.” This results in a Congress where more members represent the extremes of each political party and are less inclined to seek compromise and bipartisan solutions to problems. “The electric cooperative movement has always been non-partisan, and our communities are facing too many challenges to have a government crippled by bickering,” Coleman said. “When our parents and grandparents set out to electrify rural America, they didn’t have time to ask the person next to them about their views on economic or social policy. Their economic policy was ‘we need to save this community’ and their social policy was ‘let’s do it together.’ I hope the Co-ops Vote program can help rekindle that spirit of cooperation.” For more information about Co-ops Vote and the impact of these eight key issues on the people of, visit vote.coop. Justin LaBerge writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, notfor-profit electric cooperatives.

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| Your Co-op |

Products to avoid By Tom Tate

When it comes to saving energy, caveat emptor is alive and well. We are all bombarded by claims that border on outright falsehoods, so it pays to view savings claims from third parties cautiously. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it generally is. Electric space heaters drain energy savings from your home if used incorrectly. Companies make elaborate claims about the amount of money you can save and charge exorbitant sums for their products. The advertisements frequently target those on a fixed income, presenting false hope while extracting precious dollars from their customers. I have seen a number of these space heaters and admit they appear to be well made, but they typically offer no better economy than any other 1,500-watt electric heater. Bottom line, electric space heaters should only be used to heat small spaces – not your entire home. Black boxes that claim to clean up power, protect appliances and reduce energy use come and go. These often require an electrician to install and claim to improve power quality, smooth out power fluctuations and store energy so you can reduce your bills. Save your money. The concepts they present are already in use by your electric cooperative, and require utility-size equipment to deliver them. Something that can fit in a shoebox is not going to deliver any value, at least not in the areas promised. If you are concerned about protecting your sensitive appliances and electronics, talk to your cooperative about

surge protection. When you see the ad that reads, “The power companies don’t want you to know,” skip it. These are generally claims around building your own renewable energy source from parts easily obtained at the local hardware store or a motor that produces limitless “free” electricity. I would equate these with the emails I get from foreign countries telling me I can receive mil-

lions of dollars by simply sending all my banking information. At least in the case of the homemade renewables and limitless motor you get some cool plans and parts lists. You decide if it’s worth $50 – $200. I’d give it a pass. There is a product that claims it will replace basement dehumidifiers and save tons of money. It basically is a fan system that vents all the basement air outside. Yes, dehumidifiers can be expensive to run and are a nuisance when you have to empty the water. Knowing that, I asked the Cooperative Research Network (an arm of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) a few years ago if these products delivered on their sav-

ings claims. They said no. The problem is that when you blow all the basement air outside, it is replaced with conditioned air from other parts of the house. Now your HVAC system works harder and dramatically reduces the promised savings. Here’s my solution: I set my dehumidifier to 60 percent and run a hose to my floor drain. This resolves the water emptying hassle and really reduces the power use while keeping my basement acceptably dry. I will close with a non-technology warning. Scammers love to call or stop by claiming they represent the local power company. Never give anyone personal or financial information who claims to be a cooperative employee without confirming their identity. Ask for a call-back number from the caller, then check to see if it is correct. Ask the door-to-door person for a valid ID. If he really is a co-op employee, he’ll be able to prove it. Most of us want to save energy and keep our bills manageable. Technology can help do this, but be careful. Do your research before making any investments in technology that seem too good to be true. You’ll be glad you did. n Tom Tate writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month Earth Day is April 22. Give back to the environment by planting a deciduous tree near your home. Deciduous trees lose their leaves during the fall, allowing sunlight to warm your home. The extra shade during summer months will keep your home cooler and give your AC a much needed break. Alabama Living

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Take a break from technology By Meghaan Evans

I am not the first, and I certainly won’t be the last to say this, but it is becoming more difficult to escape the pull of technology these days. As a society, we are becoming dependent on our devices for nearly everything we do. In fact, device dependence has become so severe, even leaders in the technology industry have started taking measures to wean themselves from their devices. Have you ever read a line of a book – or an email or a work document – and a minute later, you can’t remember it? Well, device dependence could be to blame. Your brain is like a muscle; after it is used, it needs time to recover. Without that time, it may not be able to “soak-up” and process the information it is receiving. Many of us go from one task to another, only taking a break to respond to a text, check Facebook or send a Tweet. But research has shown that using the time in between tasks to rest your brain can increase your cognitive abilities. Device dependence isn’t only detrimental to our cognitive development; it can also strain our relationships. Here are a few tips you and your family can use to keep device dependence at bay: §§ The next time you finish a task, instead 6 APRIL 2016

of getting online or checking your phone, take a walk in a quiet place, or simply sit back and let your mind wander (some call this day dreaming, and it is actually a great way to rest your brain throughout the day). §§ Set up gadget-free zones throughout your home. It goes without saying that the dinner table should be one, but try creating a gadget-free zone in the bedroom or living room as well. §§ Many of us use our devices to listen to music, read books or even take notes during meetings. Try turning your device on airplane mode when using it for those purposes. If you need Wi-Fi or a mobile connection to perform these tasks, disable all of your push notifications so that they don’t distract you from the task at hand. §§ You might be thinking there is no way you will be able to coax your kids to put down their devices. Here is a solution: start a contest in your family to see who can go the longest without checking their phone or playing a video game. Make the prize a fun treat to incentivize them to win!

§§ When you are spending time with friends and family, put your device in another room so you are not tempted to check it if there is a lull in conversation. §§ On family vacations, make it a rule that devices can only be used to check-in with those who need to know how things are going. Stare up at the stars, not at your screens. We all need time to unplug and give our brains a break. By unplugging, you may even save on your electric bill. And don’t worry; Facebook will still be there when you return. n Meghaan Evans writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, notfor-profit electric cooperatives.

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| Your Co-op |

How to be energy efficient in humid climates By Anne Prince

Why does a 95°F day in one of the Gulf Coast states feel hotter than the same temperature in the Southwest? Why do dry heat and humid heat feel so different, and how does this affect your strategy for home energy efficiency? While there are many common ways to achieve energy efficiency across all warmer climates, there are some important differences that vary by geography.

Heat and humidity vs dry heat

Generally speaking, when there is more moisture in the air, the temperature feels hotter than it actually is because moist air is closer to saturation than dry air. On a humid day, when the air is saturated with water, evaporation is much slower. Simply put, high humidity will make the air feel hotter while low humidity will make the temperature feel cooler.

Heat reduction is priority one

In warm climates, the majority of energy used to make the home feel comfortable is spent on home air conditioning and cooling. The first priority is heat reduction. However, in humid areas, moisture reduction is nearly as important as lowering the indoor air temperature. If a home has too much moisture, indoor air quality can be comprised and mold and mildew problems can develop. Energy efficiency for hot and humid climates The first line of energy defense is to en-

Alabama Living

sure that your home is properly insulated and sealed in order to keep the heat and humidity that surround the house from getting inside. Leaky ducts, windows and doors can cause energy loss, making the HVAC system work much harder to wring the moisture out of the air and exacerbate potential indoor air quality issues. Homes that are “sealed tight” are easier to keep cool and dry. Next, make sure your HVAC system is the right size. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that most current residential systems are oversized. If your unit is too big, you will pay higher energy bills, and you won’t get the efficiency level or comfort you want and expect. It is also likely that the unit is “short cycling,” constantly turning off and on, never achieving optimum efficiency. When the unit runs in short bursts, it will not operate long enough to eliminate all of the humidity in your home. Damp, cool indoor air creates a muggy atmosphere that can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. This can be a particular concern for those who suffer from allergies, as many allergens thrive in damp conditions. If you are considering a new HVAC system, consult your cooperative to help you choose equipment that is the correct size and meets or exceeds the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) for the capacity requirement, such as Energy Star-rated systems.

DIY humidity reduction

There are some basic steps you can take to lower the humidity in your home to help make it feel cooler and more comfortable. Start by reducing the humidity you are already producing. The kitchen and bathrooms are the biggest contributors to higher humidity levels. Check to ensure that your range hood is ducted to the outside, as recirculating range hoods are not effective in controlling moisture (or odors). When cooking, and especially when boiling water, run the vent fan. In the bathroom, run the vent fan when bathing or showering. Keep the fan on up to 30 minutes after you have finished in order to eliminate the residual moisture in the air. If you can reduce the indoor humidity level, you may be able to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature with a higher thermostat setting and ceiling fans. The air movement from the ceiling fan will create a “wind chill” effect, lowering the temperature and increasing comfort. Finally, check gutters and downspouts for leaks or blockage. If rainwater leaks out and saturates the ground surrounding your home, some of the moisture can eventually migrate into your house. n

Anne Prince writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, notfor-profit electric cooperatives. APRIL 2016 7

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Alabama Living

APRIL 2016 49

| Our Sources Say |

One Life How the death of a Supreme Court justice could affect the cost of your electricity

he “butterfly effect” describes how small causes can have large effects. It’s a concept named by mathematician and meteorologist Edward Lorenz that refers to how a butterfly in Africa might circulate air that ends up as a hurricane in the U.S. If the beat of a butterfly’s wings can cause a hurricane, how might one person’s life change the world? The easy response is that with so many people on the planet, no one life could affect us all. But sometimes it’s clear that one life can have widespread and long-lasting effects. This idea comes to mind with the death of Antonin Gregory Scalia.

Politics, the courts, and the EPA

Scalia was a United States Supreme Court Justice who passed away on Feb. 13. He served on the Court for 30 years after his appointment by President Ronald Reagan. He was known as an outspoken judge who used humor and satire in arguing issues. He was referred to as a “textualist” because he held to the plain meaning of the text of the Constitution. He was the principal voice for conservative values on the Supreme Court. Justice Scalia’s absence will certainly lead to more liberal decisions in several significant cases now before the Court. Those include abortion rights, affirmative action plans, voting rights and rules, the power of labor unions, contraception dissemination under Obamacare, and immigration policy. Justice Scalia’s death will even affect issues not before the Court. His replacement must be nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Republican Senate leadership has said a Supreme Court nominee will not be considered until after a new president is elected. That political strategy could affect the presidential and Senate elections this fall. Those elections will set the path for U.S. leadership for years to come. Justice Scalia’s death increases the odds that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will prevail in litigation to determine the applicability of the Clean Power Plan released last summer. Twenty-four states and hundreds of businesses

and individuals sued the EPA, arguing against the agency’s authority to impose the plan. The Clean Power Plan litigation is currently being considered by the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court. But just four days before Justice Scalia’s death, the Supreme Court issued an unprecedented stay in the case, precluding the EPA from enforcing the rule until all litigation has been resolved. The grounds for the stay were based on whether the rule would result in irreparable damage and the likelihood it would ultimately be upheld by the Court. Therefore, the logical conclusion was that five Supreme Court justices (including Justice Scalia) thought there was a considerable likelihood the rule would not withstand the lawsuit.

The future of fuel prices

However, with Justice Scalia’s death, the Supreme Court will operate with eight justices until the president nominates and the Senate confirms a replacement. A 4-4 split by the Supreme Court would affirm the lower court’s decision. It seems likely that lower court will affirm the EPA plan, because two of its three judges are Democratic appointees. Without a conservative majority on the Supreme Court, a tie vote is likely, affirming the D.C. Circuit. Furthermore, if Justice Scalia’s replacement is appointed by a Democratic president, it is even more likely the Clean Power Plan will stand. The Clean Power Plan would virtually eliminate coal as a fuel to produce electricity. While coal has traditionally been a low-cost fuel, lower-cost natural gas has recently replaced coal as the more economical fuel. But looking to the future, increasing demand for natural gas means its price is likely to increase. Also, a favorable ruling for the EPA on the Clean Power Plan will likely spark an EPA attack on natural gas fracking. It’s likely that the convergence of those two factors will lead to much higher natural gas prices and higher electric costs for you. With Justice Scalia’s support, it appeared we were in a favorable position on the Clean Power Plan to maintain coal as a viable fuel to produce electricity. With his death, it appears we are not. Just like the beat of a butterfly’s wing, one life can make a difference. I hope you have a good month.n

Gary Smith is President and CEO of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative

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| Our Sources Say |

Co-ops join together to bring light to the unserved world

istory is slowly repeating itself hundreds of miles from the rural countryside of Alabama, and electric cooperatives are playing a pivotal role in a miraculous transformation, similar to what happened here 80 or so years ago. In remote places like Bolivia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines the lights are finally coming on. Rural electric cooperatives, like yours here in Alabama, are being organized to deliver the miracle of electricity to villages and impoverished residents whose way of life resembles that of rural Alabama in the 1930s. There’s no running water. At night chores are done by candlelight or by lantern. Imagine that you are Isabel, a 25-year-old who lives on a muddy road in Bolivia. She’s a nurse living on her own with her two children, Angel 6, and Luz, 3. Isabel builds a cooking fire against the wall of her house and lights a candle so that her children can read. Her house has no beds and no privacy walls. Her pots and pans are stacked in another corner. And there’s Flora, who in her 50s has 10 children ages 10 to 31 and 20 grandchildren. She has cleared some land and built her house, which is nothing more than a large room divided by a thin wooden wall separating the bedroom from the main rooms. Hammocks are hung in a few places, both inside and out. Dented pots and pans are stacked on a table outside and water is hand-drawn from a well that is about 50-feet deep. Such is life without electricity. It’s hard to fathom, isn’t it? Here in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains stories similar to those in Bolivia are remembered by a diminishing few who can still remember the day the “lights came on.” Children today roll their eyes when discussions turn to the many conveniences delivered by electricity, like vacuum cleaners and washing machines and bathrooms, since indoor plumbing isn’t feasible without a pump. Country folks did their

bathing in the summer in the creek; in the winter it entailed lugging water and heating on the stove (which entailed lugging in wood) before pouring it into a number three washtub. Modern day Bolivia and rural Alabama 80 years ago aren’t that far apart. But thanks to the work of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and specifically its International Program, that gap is narrowing. NRECA International works with hundreds of electric cooperatives around the world, and in some instances worked hand in hand with communities to establish their co-ops. In fact, the biggest electric co-op in the world serves about a half million members in Bolivia. A Rural Electrification Board was created in Bangladesh in 1977 and there are now 72 electric co-ops that deliver power to more than 10 million members. In the Philippines there are now 119 electric co-ops in this nation of islands that serve more than nine million members. Earlier this year the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 2152, the Electrify Africa Act, which NRECA strongly supported. The Senate passed the legislation unanimously in January, and President Obama signed it into law Feb. 8. The bill encourages public-private partnerships that will bring electricity to 50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa and help lift impoverished African communities out of subsistence living. In the midst of the frantic pace of life in the 21st century the birth of rural electrification in remote areas reminds us that people worldwide are yearning to obtain the basics of life that we long ago received and now take for granted. Electric cooperatives here in Alabama and across the nation have joined hands to complete this mission of bringing electricity to previously unserved rural areas. It’s something that is part of the cooperative legacy: Doing collectively that which is impossible individually.n

Phillip Burgess is Communications, Government Relations and Conferences Director for the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association.

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Keep equipment far away from OVERHEAD POWER LINES. If your equipment makes contact with a power line: • Stay on the equipment unless, in a very rare case, it’s on fire. • Call emergency and utility services. • Warn others to stay away. • Do not leave equipment until a utility professional has told you it is safe to do so. • If equipment is on fire, jump clear of it with your feet together and without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Continue to “bunny hop” with your feet together to safety.

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| Alabama Snapshots | We realize Easter Sunday was March 27, but we wanted to continue celebrating this month with photos of our readers in their “Easter best” outfits. Some photos are timeless!

Easter Best

RULES: Alabama Living will pay $10 for photos that best match our theme of the month. Photos may also be published on our website at www.alabamaliving.coop and on our Facebook page. Alabama Living is not responsible for lost or damaged photos.

Kirklinn Marie Twitty, age 2 ½, with her two rabbits at Paw Paw Carden’s farm. SUBMITTED BY Ann Carden, Cullman. The Lewis family. SUBMITTED BY Cindy Lewis Shaw, Sterrett.

Claire, J.T. and Abby Kate Williams, Easter 2013. SUBMITTED BY Amanda Williams, Centre.

Natalee Wilson, age 4. SUBMITTED BY Debbie Smith, Flomaton.

Isabella, Leslie and Adella Stone, Easter 2015. SUBMITTED BY Leslie Stone, Stevenson.

Submit Your Images! June Theme: “Take me out to the ballgame” Deadline for June: April 30 SUBMIT PHOTOS ONLINE: alabamaliving.coop/submit-photo/ or send color photos with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Photos, Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, AL 36124

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