Rural Electric Nebraskan March 2010 by American MainStreet Publications

March 2010

Volume 64, Number 3, March 2010

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff Editor Wayne Price Editorial Assistant Kathy Barkmeier

Contents Features

Grappling with a changing energy future

Published by the

Nebraska Rural Electric Association

Public power districts and electric cooperatives, along with other electric utilities, have launched several initiatives to limit carbon emissions while keeping electricity flowing and your electric bill affordable. They are also focusing technology-driven activities on energy efficiency.

Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Jay Holmquist President Barry DeKay, Niobrara Valley EMC Vice President/Secretary Gary Dill, Roosevelt Public Power District

10 ways to curb your carbon footprint Smart landscaping can save energy, save you money and reduce your household’s greenhouse gas emissions. But most folks are almost clueless when it comes to caring for their lawns and gardens in an environmentally friendly manner. Freelance writer John Bruce shows you how to reduce the carbon footprint in your backyard. .

Treasurer Randy Papenhausen, Cedar-Knox Public Power District Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan does not imply endorsement for products by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price, Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Jacob North Companies, Box 82046, Lincoln, NE 68501. Form 3579 should be sent to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Rural Electric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 and ISSN 0193-4937.

Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley

RECIPES

ADULT PEN PALS

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

On the cover A Sandhills crane stops for an evening meal in an alfalfa field near Elm Creek, Neb. Photograph by Scott Casper at scottcasperphotography.com

Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

March 2010

EDITOR’S PAGE

Multi-tasking is dangerous behind the wheel y duties as editor of the Rural Electric Nebraskan magazine require me to drive a lot. I’ve spent my fair share of time behind the steering wheel in pursuit of articles and photographs, driving up and down Nebraska’s interstate, highways and gravel roads. Even a few minimum maintenance roads, although I try to avoid those in the spring since they are usually impassable. I’m just amazed at the things I’ve seen other drivers doing behind their steering wheel. I have seen some funny things but mostly they’ve been a bit scary and downright dangerous. Many drivers out there think nothing of talking on their cell phone while driving. Some even think reading the newspaper or a book while they’re driving is just fine. I must admit these kinds of irresponsible drivers are a pet peeve of mine. According to a national survey performed by FindLaw.com, nine out of 10 drivers report they have been involved in distracting and potentially dangerous activities while driving. While many states and municipalities are passing or considering laws to restrict activities, such as sending text messages or using cell phones while driving, the survey found that nearly all drivers (91 percent) admit to trying to multitask while behind the wheel, with potentially dangerous consequences. I am not without fault as a driver myself. The two highest scoring events in the survey were drinking a beverage and eating. I’m guilty of doing both of those. Eating sunflower seeds while I’m driving long distances is a vice I just can’t seem to break. “Multitasking may be great in the office, but is often dangerous and illegal behind the wheel,” said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney and editor with FindLaw.com. “Many states and localities have laws specifically prohibiting activities such as using a cell phone or sending a text message while driving. In addition, several states have laws that hold drivers accountable for distractions that could contribute to an accident.” Certain distracting activities are particularly prevalent among younger drivers. More than half of drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 say they have sent or received a text

M by Wayne Price

message while driving. One out of ten admit to having sent or received emails or surfed the Internet while behind the wheel. According to the FindLaw survey, the most common events people say they have engaged in while driving are: • Drinking coffee or beverages - 81 percent • Eating - 76 percent • Talking on a cell phone - 66 percent • Sending or receiving text messages - 29 percent • Applying makeup - 11 percent (21 percent of women drivers) • Sending or receiving email - 8 percent • Reading a book or newspaper - 7 percent • Surfing the Internet - 5 percent In January, the Transportation Department began prohibiting truck and bus drivers from sending text messages on hand-held devices while operating commercial vehicles. The prohibition applies to drivers of interstate buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750, the department said. The trucking industry supports limiting the use of electronic devices that distract drivers. The trade association for the wireless industry, CTIA, also supports a ban on texting and e-mailing while driving. Research by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting, the department said. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road, the department said. Nebraska state law defines reckless driving as “any person who drives any motor vehicle in such a manner as to indicate an indifferent or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property shall be guilty of reckless driving.” In my mind, a person driving down the highway at 60 miles per hour while reading a book that’s resting on the steering wheel is showing a disregard for the safety of everyone else on the road.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

by Scott Gates

Grappling with a changing energy future Searching for new ways to keep electricity affordable in the face of federal carbon regulation

or decades, rural electric utilities across the country have relied on fossil fuels to do most of the grunt work, burning coal and natural gas to create steam, spin turbines, and generate electricity. While fossil fuels remain the most cost-effective way to create massive amounts of electricity, that may not be the case in the future. Looming government regulations targeting climate change and carbon dioxide will add to the costs of operating fossil fuel-fired power plants. As the cost of generating electricity goes up, the cost to consumers inevitably goes up with it. As a result, public power districts and electric cooperatives, along with other electric utilities, have launched several initiatives to limit carbon emissions while keeping electricity flowing and your electric bill affordable.

Looming Regulations In December 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, are “endangering public health and welfare” of current and future generations. Emissions from motor vehicles of four of those greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, were also said to contribute to air pollution. The action comes in response to a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Massachusetts v. EPA) that opened the door to regulation of greenhouse gases under the federal Clean Air Act. “The Clean Air Act as written was never designed to deal with carbon dioxide, and it could be awkward at best and probably a disaster, at worst,” warns

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Glenn English, CEO of the Arlington, Va.-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). In addition to potential carbon regulation from EPA, Congress is mulling over its own set of regulations, and English urges PPD and electric co-op members to continue to ask that any resulting legislation be fair, affordable, and technologically achievable. If passed, Congressional legislation should also preempt use of any other existing laws—like the Clean Air Act—in order to avoid a regulatory disaster that would only add to costs for consumers. “Regulation of carbon dioxide as a pollutant will occur with or without congressional input,” English explains. “But Congress must not simply add new legislation on top of old regulations. Any climate change bill should become the roadmap— the single strategy—for reducing carbon dioxide emissions at federal, state, and local levels. By staying engaged in the process, we can have a measureable impact on the outcome in order to keep electric bills affordable.” A Smarter Way of Doing Business Once regulations are in place, whether under the Clean Air Act or from Congress, public power districts and electric co-ops will be faced with the daunting task of meeting our nation’s growing electricity demands while finding cleaner ways to burn fossil fuels. Since coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels currently account for more than 70 percent of all electricity generated in the United States, new technology will be key to keeping the lights on. Cleaner use of fossil fuels, an increased use of renewable energy, and a big commitment to energy efficiency will all be necessary. Public power districts and electric co-ops, as they have done for decades, are indeed focusing technology-driven activities on energy efficiency. Simply using electricity more efficiently in residential, com-

March 2010

Paul Cowan, a journeyman/lineman at Seward PPD, removes the cover to show the computerized interior of a smart meter. Photograph by Wayne Price mercial, and industrial sectors could lead to total energy savings of 236 billion kWh by 2030, according to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), a non-profit, utility-sponsored consortium based in Palo Alto, Calif., whose members include public power districts and electric co-ops. That’s a lot of power: equivalent to the electricity used in a year by New York City—14 times over. A more efficient electric grid— often called a “smart grid”—could provide rural electric utilities with a

big payoff. More than 50 co-ops and public power districts in 15 states recently captured U.S. Department of Energy smart grid investment grants, a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (better known as the federal stimulus bill). The not-for-profit utilities are receiving more than $215 million of the $3.4 billion total awarded, amounts they will match with their own funds. Please turn to page 8

A Changing Energy Future From page 7 In addition, NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network (CRN) received a $33.9 million smart grid grant for a wide-ranging project that brings together 27 electric co-ops in 10 states. Local co-ops will match the grant money awarded, creating a pool of nearly $68 million for technology development. “Cooperatives, who are leading the industry in the deployment of smart meter infrastructure, have the potential to drive the national effort to understand which smart grid technologies work best and are cost effective,” remarks NRECA’s English. Public power districts and electric co-ops are well-positioned to advance the implementation of a smart grid. Their use of advanced, or “smart,” electric meters, a fundamental smart grid technology, jumped from 3.8 percent in 2006 to 16.4 percent in 2008—well above the industry as a whole—according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Approximately half of all public power districts and electric co-ops have installed at least some advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) on their systems, and some 30 percent of rural electric utilities have begun to integrate AMI with other systems, according to NRECA. AMI includes devices and software applications that enable two-way communications with smart meters and provide electric utilities, using frequent meter reads, with near real-time oversight of system operations. Seward Public Power District is one such utility that has integrated advanced metering into its operating system. They have installed more than 4,000 smart meters and plan to install another 1,000. “We’re able to show a customer the exact amount of electricity they have been using during a given period,” said Tim Pozehl, a consumer services representative at Seward PPD.

Readings are automatically entered into the billing system at the end of a billing cycle to generate a customer’s bill. This saves both time and money for the district. All residential customers of Seward PPD are part of the smart meter system. Smart meters, which can help consumers save money by lowering utility operation costs, will be a big part of CRN’s project as well: approximately 132,000 are planned for installation. Other cost-saving components include 18,000 load control switches; nearly 4,000 in-home displays, smart thermostats, and other personal energy management devices; and 2,800 ZigBee gateways (a wireless protocol for low-cost, lowpower sensor networks such as those used with household electronics and appliances) to conduct “realworld testing of two-way demandresponse programs, including all related software and cyber security issues.” “This represents the first opportunity for a nationwide pilot that tests end-to-end smart grid connectivity from a power plant all the way to a consumer’s home,” relates CRN Executive Director Ed Torrero.

Generating Innovation While technology will get electricity to your home more efficiently and help consumers use it more efficiently, new methods of generating electricity are also being tested. Looming regulations make carbon dioxide-mitigation research a priority for any future fossil fuel-fired power plants. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a Westminster, Colo.-based generation & transmission co-op that supplies wholesale power to 44 local electric distribution co-ops in four western states, has recently joined with EPRI to host a study that will convert a 245-MW coal-fired power plant into a “hybrid plant.” Escalante Generating Station in Prewitt, New Mexico, will utilize solar thermal technology—using mirrors to reflect sunlight to heat a liquid and create steam—to scale back the burning of coal when possible. The hybrid plant will work like this: on a hot summer afternoon, when the sun is scorching, air conditioners are on full blast, and electricity demand peaking, solar generation will switch on so less coal needs to be burned. When the sun goes down and the flow of solar

Cowan can monitor each of the installed smart meters from a computer in the Seward Public Power District office.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

power begins to drop, the coal generation side of the plant steps up to keep electrons flowing. In this way, plant operators will be able to scale back carbon dioxide emissions while also using less fuel. Dick Shirley, general manager of Grants, N.M.-based Continental Divide Electric Cooperative, which receives power from Tri-State G&T, is encouraged by the project. “While I believe we’re going to continue to rely on coal-based power plants for a large portion of our electricity supply, we obviously have to look beyond fossil fuels to other, more sustainable forms of energy.” Scott Gates 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, not-forprofit public power districts and electric cooperatives.

March 2010

GUEST EDITORIAL

Looking out for you hen money is tight, every dollar counts in the family budget, so I thought this would be a good time to review how your PPD or Cooperative manages the ratepayer money that flows through their hands. Public power districts were created 60 years ago by the State of Nebraska to provide safe, reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost. There isn’t a power district in the state of Nebraska that doesn’t have that goal or something similar in its mission statement. With the lowest possible cost as one of our primary goals, PPDs are by nature fiscally responsible and the people who run them -- the boards of directors elected by consumers -- are by nature fiscally responsible people. They pay the same rates you pay. They go to the same coffee shops and buy their gas at the same stations. With the directors being a conservative bunch of people, the managers they hire to run day-to-day operations tend to be same way. So exactly what do we do to hold down costs? We are required to have a detailed budget process, an annual audit and transparency. PPDs that serve rural Nebraska are required by state law to get public bids for everything over $250,000. The handful of cooperatives that serve Nebraska must obey strict lender requirements to assure sound finances, and they, too, are governed by state and bylaw requirements requiring financial disclosure. We pride ourselves on having dedicated employees and invest in training them to make sure their knowledge is up-to-date and that they understand new equipment and industry practices. By having low turnover, long-term employees, ratepayers save big dollars in the long run. Stupid mistakes in this business can cost a lot of money!

Rates are set and finances managed conservatively to keep expenses lower than revenue. That extra revenue, the difference between income and expenses, is called margins in our business. Power districts and cooperatives reinvest margins in their systems to improve reliability and do the maintenance necessary to protect the system from the ravages of age, use, and weather. Cooperatives from time to time return a portion of those margins to their members. Those refunds are called capital credits. In a PPD, there are no such refunds; instead consumers realize the benefit in the form of rates that are lower than they otherwise would have been. Public power districts and electric cooperatives are ongoing entities. They have been around for over 60 years and will still be around 100 years from now. That’s why it is so important to plan for the future and fund projects for the long term to ensure a continually operating business. When it comes to planning, I often describe our method as follows: we plan for something, then we plan some more, and then we plan some more. We do that planning because large dollars are involved in building, operating, and maintaining power plants, high voltage transmission, and the distribution lines and substations that bring the power to your door. Before we spend money we want to make sure we have found the best solution for the long term, so we take the time to do it right the first time. During this planning we continually look for alternatives that allow us to maximize our existing equipment and delay expensive projects. We build only when it’s absolutely necessary and we prioritize projects to get the best costbenefit ratio. We partner with other power districts and pool our purchases with other utilities to buy in bulk.

Rick Nelson General Manager of Custer PPD We have invested in technology when it was needed. Back in the 1970s rural power districts and cooperatives invested in technology to control electric use (in industry jargon, to control load). By shifting more load to the night time, we’ve delayed the need to build a power plant equivalent to a large coal plant. That is a large coal plant worth of avoided cost that in today dollars amounts to nearly $750 million in savings. These days we are investing in new technology that will enable us to control load more effectively and to read the meter “by remote control.” That will provide us with information that will help us serve you better and give us data to plan how to cost-effectively meet your needs. The result of this conservative management is that Nebraska electric rates are among the lowest 10 percent in the nation. Your local power district or cooperative generally operates locally on 35 cents of every dollar you pay. The remainder goes to generate wholesale power and get it to local substations. We do all of these things to manage your money conservatively without often stopping to explain it. It is so much a part of our corporate culture that we perhaps might be guilty of just assuming that you know about it. I know that every single one of my fellow PPD managers joins me in saying that we welcome your questions and comments.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

10 ways to curb your carbon footprint in your backyard by John Bruce

re you concerned about curbing your carbon footprint when doing outdoor chores? If you answered yes, you are not alone. The National Gardening Association (NGA) finds that nine in 10 Americans believe it’s important to maintain their landscapes in a way that benefits the environment. It’s true that smart landscaping can save energy, save you money and reduce your household’s greenhouse gas emissions. But most folks are almost clueless when it comes to caring for their lawns and gardens in an environmentally friendly manner. The NGA’s recent Environmental Lawn and Garden Survey asked a representative sample of U.S. households, “How environmentally friendly do you think are the practices currently used to maintain residential, commercial and municipal lawns and landscapes?” NGA found only one out of five respondents give current lawn and landscape maintenance practices a passing “green” grade. Homeowners can’t control how commercial and public lawns are maintained, but they do have control over their own backyards. To measure how “green” homeowners are in caring for their lawns and landscapes at home, NGA asked respondents with a yard or garden which environmentally friendly lawn, garden and landscape practices they follow. The result? Most homeowners follow only a sixth of the environmentally friendly lawn, garden and landscape practices recommended by the NGA.

While most homeowners answered that they water their lawn and plants only when needed and keep yards well maintained to add beauty to their homes and neighborhoods, only about half say they follow pesticide and fertilizer labels carefully. Fewer than half follow the recommended practices of leaving grass clippings on their lawns and keeping fertilizer, pesticide and yard and pet waste out of water sources and off pavement. Similarly, fewer than half surveyed said they apply mulches; go to the trouble of choosing the right plants for their climate, sun/shade, soil and rainfall; or cut their lawns at the highest recommended mower setting.

Less than a third answered that they recycle yard waste by composting or check to ensure they are using the most appropriate method before applying insect or weed control products. Only about a quarter use only well-adapted or native plants in their landscaping and remove poorly adapted, exotic or invasive plants. Fewer — just a fifth of survey respondents — said they take time to learn about ways to care for their lawn, specific plants, soil or wildlife at home. Most troubling, the survey findings suggest the majority of households with a yard or garden follow only a small fraction of these environmentally friendly lawn, garden and landscape practices recommended by the NGA.

Above: Feed and water plants regularly to produce foliage and flowers. Top: A mulching mower will reduce the amount of grass clippings. Photographs provided by The Scotts Company

Rural Electric Nebraskan

“There’s a real need for improvement in people’s appreciation for the impact each of us can have on the environment in our own backyards. Most homeowners have a lot to learn about ‘green’ lawn and landscape practices,” says Mike Metallo, NGA president. The NGA survey asked respondents, “How knowledgeable would you say you are about how to maintain your home lawn, garden and landscape in an environmentally friendly way?” Most homeowners replied that they aren’t very knowledgeable. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, in partnership with Keep America Beautiful, educates homeowners across the country about how watering, feeding and lawns and gardens can work together to maximize the environmental benefits of green spaces. They’re learning easy ways to maintain a healthy lawn and beautiful garden and conserve water. “As the leader in our industry, it’s our job to educate homeowners on sustainable lawn and garden practices,” says Rich Shank, chief environmental officer at ScottsMiracleGro. “Good stewardship is a priority at Scotts, and we believe that simple changes will result in a positive impact on the environment.” Beginning with advice from ScottsMiracle-Gro, following are 10 ways homeowners can be environmentally friendly when caring for their lawns and gardens. Feed regularly. Maintaining a healthy lawn or beautiful garden involves regular feedings. A healthy lawn is able to absorb and use water more efficiently and recover from drought quickly once water becomes available. Plants must receive nutrients to produce foliage, flowers and fruit. Water wisely. Remember, pumping water requires power. Rely on rainfall for watering lawns and gardens as much as possible. Before watering, watch for signs of lack of water such as dry soil or wilting. For your lawn, the time between needed irrigation

March 2010

is up to 20 days for heavy, clay soils and about 5 days for light, sandy soils. Mow high. Set your mower to its highest appropriate setting. Longer grass blades promote deeper roots that help retain moisture. Mow St. Augustine and buffalo grass at 3 inches, 1 inch for Bermuda grass and 2 inches for centipede and Zoysia grass. Leave grass clippings on the lawn. Recycled grass clippings return organic matter and nutrients to the soil. It’s an easy way to save clean-up time and improve your soil quality. Leaving the clippings on the lawn doesn’t cause thatch build up, but it does make lawns healthier. Soil organisms recycle the clippings into free fertilizer. Keep fertilizer on the lawn. Sweep fertilizer and grass clippings off driveways, sidewalks and curbs and back onto your lawn. Making it a habit protects rivers, lakes and streams by keeping nutrients on the lawn. Choose the right plants. Pick easy-to-grow plants and lawn types that are well adapted or native to your region. Avoid plants with known pest problems. Additionally, the Pew Center for Global Climate Change, on the Web at pewclimate.org, provides a number of tips and suggestions for how to reduce your lawn and garden greenhouse gas emissions. Be green in your yard. Use a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you use a power mower, a mulching mower helps further reduce grass clippings. Compost your food and yard waste. Doing so reduces the amount of garbage sent to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenScapes program, online at epa.gov/greenscapes, gives tips on how to improve your lawn or garden while also benefiting the environment.

3 4

Apply mulch to your yard and garden. Use mulch to help moderate soil temperature and retain moisture during dry weather, reducing the need for watering. Learn all about mulch, plus free sources of mulch, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture at nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/mul ching.html. Plan your landscape wisely. Choose plants that are low-maintenance and require less water and fewer pesticides. In some parts of the country, lawns use 2-3 times as much water as other plants and can result in 50 percent more water waste from evaporation, runoff, over spray and over watering. Learn more at the Regional Water Providers Consortium’s Web site, conserveh2o.org/outdoors/landscapes/plants. Lawns in the Midwest and Northeast typically do not require supplemental irrigation, using less supplemental irrigation than ornamental plantings. The statistic is more the result of practice than an agronomic requirement. John Bruce is an editor, writer and gardener.

Add mulch to the garden to moderate the temperature of the soil.

A camp for kids who like to think ach year member systems of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association accept applications from area high school students to attend the NREA Youth Energy Camp at the State 4-H Camp in the Halsey National Forest. The 2010 Youth Energy Camp will be July 19 - 23. The popular week-long camp is set up to give young people a better understanding of electricity, power generation and the rural electric program. Our goal is to offer a program that challenges participants educationally, recreationally and socially. The Youth Energy Camp is established as an operating power district and provides a “hands-on” approach to member-owned businesses. The students will join other high school students from Nebraska and Wyoming, along with adult counselors and junior counselors. The adult counselors are employees of rural electric systems who donate their time and talents to the camp. The junior counselors are selected by their peers to return to next year’s camp. On the first day of camp, a board of directors is elected to oversee the operation of the newly formed electric power district. The board then chooses a general manager to over-

see the committee activities and act as a liaison between the counselors and campers. Every participant has a role in the workings of the camp. Students can participate in the Ambassador competition or actively seek a position on the Board of Directors. Each student must also volunteer to serve on at least one of the committees responsible for various aspects of the camp activities. There is even a talent show where the campers can show off their various talents.

and have a week of fun! A highlight of the camp involves a tour of the Kingsley Hydro Station at Lake McConaughy and Gerald Gentleman Station, a coal-fired power plant at Sutherland, Neb. High school students who attend the energy camp may compete for a chance to participate in the

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Youth Tour in Washington D.C. with expenses paid by the Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Three students are chosen as part of the Ambassador competition held during camp. The competition involves submitting an application at camp, presenting a self-introduction speech and delivering a five-minute speech on an assigned topic. Each camper votes for three candidates following the speech with the top male, top female and person with the next highest vote total becoming next year’s ambassadors. The top six finalists and ties are invited to return to next year’s Youth Energy Camp as junior counselors. Recreational activities include basketball, volleyball and canoeing. Camp expenses and transportation are provided by each sponsoring rural electric system. High school freshmen, sophomores and juniors whose families are customers of NREA member systems may apply. Eligible students must contact their rural electric system by May 14. For more information about attending Youth Energy Camp, send the form below to your rural electric provider.

2010 Youth Energy Camp RSVP Form Name ________________________________ Age _______ Current Grade ________ Address ___________________________________ Phone number (____)__________ City ________________________________________ State _____ ZIP __________ Name of parents or guardian ______________________________________________ Sponsoring rural electric system ___________________________________________ March 2010

SAFETY BRIEFS

Invest in safety with tamper-resistant outlets airpins, the building blocks for many fancy “dos,” are perfect for holding back unruly tresses. But these slender, metal objects are also easy for children to manipulate. As a result, hairpins are the dominant household item improperly stuck into electrical outlets. Each year, approximately 2,400 children—an average of seven a day—receive emergency room treatment for injuries caused by inserting conductive material into electrical outlets, according to a 10-year report released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). More than 70 percent of these incidents occur at home, with adult supervision typically present. The end result? About 95 percent of the time children receive a burn, according to CPSC. Though ranging in severity, a significant number of serious and fatal burns occur, and even minor injuries can leave emotional trauma. Pediatric burns can be particularly serious, because a child’s skin is thin and offers little resistance to electric flow or heat. The danger of electrical outlets isn’t new; parents often use plastic outlet caps to cover outlets when “childproofing” a home. Unfortunately, the Electrical Safety Foundation, Inc. (ESFI) claims plastic caps are not the safest option since they can easily be removed by a young child. Instead, ESFI suggests installing tamperresistant outlets. Although normal looking, these types of outlets include a shutter mechanism to protect against harm from inserting foreign objects. The spring-loaded system only allows electricity to flow when you apply equal pressure to both sides of the outlet, as happens when you

plug in an electrical device. During unused conditions, both shutters are closed. For public power district and electric co-op consumers with brand new homes, tamper-resistant outlets may already have been installed; the 2008 National Electrical Code requires them. However, these outlets are cheap—costing as little as $2 at some retailers—and can easily be incorporated into older homes.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Don’t get burned

s you warm yourself and your family indoors during the winter months, don’t get burned. Stay safe around heaters, stoves and other hot objects. Some tips: • Keep your space heater several feet away from yourself, your furniture and draperies while it’s turned on. And never leave a child alone in a room with an operating space heater. • Don’t try to balance a child in one arm and a cup of hot coffee or tea with the opposite hand. • Avoid loose clothing while cooking or tending to the fireplace. Put on a short-sleeved shirt to cut your risk of catching your clothes on fire. • Turn pot handles away from the edge of the stove to avoid knocking pots over. • Teach kids respect for fire: Let them know it’s dangerous and not something to play with or around.

March 2010

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Cut your energy costs with landscaping by James Dulley

: We just built a house and it Q needs a lot of landscaping. I want to plan and plant it all myself. I’ve heard proper landscaping can impact my utility bills. What are some basic efficient landscaping tips? : People tend to appreciate land-

A scaping for its aesthetic value,

but proper landscaping also impacts the energy efficiency of your house. From an overall environmental standpoint, good landscape design also minimizes the need for mowing and other lawn care. This not only saves you time, but you may be able to get by with a push mower or a battery-operated mower to eliminate gasoline costs. In addition to increasing the efficiency of your home, wise landscaping can reduce the need for watering. In the past, this was an issue primarily for the Southwest. Today, water shortages are an issue across the nation. Even if there’s adequate water available, it takes large amounts of energy at municipal waterworks facilities to process and pump domestic water. Proper landscaping includes the use of ground cover, dwarf and fullsize shrubs, climbing vines, and trees. Ground cover is typically some type of plant, grass, or gravel. The selection you make depends on your climate and specific house. Within the same neighborhood, a combination which works best for one house may not be the best for a home just one street away. In general, try to use low-growing ground cover plants or gravel instead of grass. Other than some unique types of grass, most common species of grass require maintenance. Grass is still the best choice for areas of your yard where children play or pets

roam, but try to keep it to a minimum. In all but the most humid climates, placing low-growing ground cover plants near your house helps keep it cool during summer. The leaves block the sun's heat from being absorbed into the ground, and they give off moisture. This evaporation of water from the leaves, called transpiration, cools air near the home—similar to when we perspire.

The deciduous trees on the south side of the home allow the sun's heat through during winter. Evergreens are located to the northeast. Photograph provided by James Dulley In hot, humid climates, gravel which is shaded from the sun can be more effective than ground cover plants. Using gravel also eliminates the need for watering, but it may increase the air temperature around your house. The thermal mass of the gravel stores the afternoon sun's heat, causing the heating effect to last into the evening. Though not helpful during summer, during winter gravel provides an advantage. When selecting ground cover plants, consider their specific characteristics (mature size, water needs, propagation, foliage density, etc.) To minimize the watering requirements, group the plant types based on their

watering needs. Dwarf shrubs are ideal for energyefficient landscaping because they remain small at maturity (2 to 3 feet high). Plant some near the house foundation and some further away for windbreak ramps. Since they stay small, they require little care and little watering. In addition, dwarf shrubs can cut your utility bills year-round. The sill plate, the bottom frame along a home’s foundation, remains one of the greatest air infiltration pathways into many houses. Planting dwarf shrubs near the house, especially evergreen varieties, can block the force of cold winter winds and reduce the amount of air leaking in. As a windbreak ramp, dwarf shrubs can be planted to the northwest side of taller shrubs and trees. These smaller plants begin directing the cold winds upward toward the tops of taller trees. The upward wind path continues over the top of your house, not against it. Planting climbing vines on a trellis can create effective shading to reduce the heat buildup on a wall during summer. In most climates, locate the trellis close to the house to also take advantage of transpiration cooling. In humid climates, locate the trellis a little further away from the wall. This allows the air flow to carry the moisture away, but still provides good wall shading. Climbing vines are often more effective than trees for shade because you can target specific windows and areas of your house where heat produces the greatest problem. Deciduous vines which lose their leaves during winter are best so the winter sun still reaches the house. One with a robust stem structure can help disrupt the force of winter winds.

Send inquiries to James Dulley, Rural Electric Nebraskan, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Turn pruning chore into an artistic exercise runing plants can be an exercise in self doubt. Will I cut too much or too little? Will I snip the right limbs at right locations? Will I get so clip-happy that my shrubs are bald? Relax. Pruning doesn’t have to be an onerous task. The first rule of prudent pruning is to have a plan and a goal before you make the first cut. Decide in advance if you are pruning to reshape a plant, remove dead or diseased limbs, rejuvenate a neglected plant or induce more blooms or fruit. The second rule is to remember that pruning is good for most woody plants. It stimulates growth, removes dead or dying limbs and allows for better air movement and light penetration into a plant’s interior. The third rule is to remember that more is less, and less is more. Frequent, light pruning is usually more effective for trees, plants and shrubs (and even some annual flowers that benefit from deadheading or pinching back to promote better growth and blooming) than occasional extreme pruning. There are two basic types of pruning procedures—thinning and heading. Thinning allows you to remove select limbs and shoots from inside and outside the plant canopy so that plants look more kempt, but still retain their natural form. You take out entire limbs and stems, cutting then right where they join other limbs or the trunk, but doing so selectively so the general shape of the plant is not altered. Heading, on the other hand, usually involves cutting the tops (and sometimes sides) off of plants to greatly reduce their size and volume. This promotes more vigorous regrowth than thinning, but also causes the plant to form a dense, compact growth habit that changes its natural shape. Heading is often the best way to rejuvenate plants that have gotten too big and gangly or simply need a fresh start. It is also the basic premise used to hedge

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shrubs along walkways and in formal garden settings. Regardless of whether you thin or head your plants, follow the “rule of thirds”—reduce the size of the plant or the number of stems on a plant by no more than one-third each time you prune. The next big issue is the timing of

your pruning activity. You can prune dead or diseased limbs at any time during the year, but more extensive pruning should be done at fairly specific times of year depending on the plant. Timing varies depending on local climates, so it’s always safer to check with local plant experts for a local timetable.

DOWN HOME

RECIPES

Bing Cherry Salad 1 lb can Bing Cherries, pitted, drained 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained 1 (3 oz) pkg. Black Cherry Jell-O 1 (3 oz) pkg. Raspberry Jell-O 2 cups 7-up (1 lg bottle) 1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Topping: 2 (3 oz) pkgs. cream cheese 1 (8 oz) carton Cool Whip 1 1/2 cups small marshmallows

Measure juice from cherries and pineapple. Add enough water to make 2 cups. Bring to a boil. Dissolve Jell-O in this, then cool, and add 7-up. Mix fruit and pecans with Jell-O. Let set. Top with the following mixture: 2 (3 oz) packages cream cheese, 1 (8 oz) carton Cool Whip, and 1 1/2 cups small marshmallows. Refrigerate.

Jenny Bergt, Amherst, Nebraska

Saucy Skillet Meatballs and Potatoes 1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 egg whites or 1 whole egg 2 tablespoons water 3 cloves garlic, minced, divided 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano or other seasoned tomatoes, undrained 1 pound small red-skinned potatoes (11/2 to 2-inch diameter), cut into quarters Grated Parmesan cheese (optional) Chopped fresh oregano (optional) Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, 1/4 cup cheese, egg whites, water, 1 clove garlic, salt and pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 12 two-inch meatballs. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Place meatballs in skillet; cook 5 to 8 minutes or until browned on all sides. Add remaining 2 cloves garlic, tomatoes and potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes and until potatoes are tender. Uncover; continue simmering about 5 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Sprinkle meatballs with cheese and oregano, if desired, before serving.

Correction Several incorrect ingredients were included in the list of ingredients in the Mom’s Quick Lasagna recipe printed in the February issue. The correct recipe is being reprinted below.

Mom’s Quick Lasagna 2 pounds ground beef 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 package lasagna dinner mix 2 1/4 cups hot water 2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained 1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed & squeezed dry

1 cup mushrooms 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1 cup cottage cheese 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Cook beef and onion; drain. Stir in pasta, seasoning mix, water, tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms & onion. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10-13 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in cottage cheese and Parmesan cheese. Transfer to 2 (8 inch) square baking dishes. Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese. Cover and freeze on casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350 for 15-20 minutes. To use the frozen casserole: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw), cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Uncover and bake 15-20 minutes longer until heated through.

Marcia Welniak, Elyria, Nebraska

Recipe provided by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 20

Rural Electric Nebraskan

MAR- 1: WidCWF, NS, 72, enjoy family time, dancing, playing cards, dining out, and quiet times. Looking for a companion with similar interests. Call or write. Photo optional. MAR - 2: DWM, 45, NS/ND, 5’10”, 180 lbs, from northeast Nebraska. I have no children, but would like some. I like small towns, antiques, animals, restoring vehicles, and gardening. Please send photo and phone number.

To appear in print The Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service is exclusively for member-readers ages 18 and over. To be considered for use, submissions must: (1) Identify rural electric system providing magazine; (2) Include $6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3) Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include full name and mailing address (will not be used in magazine); and (5) Be first person, submitted directly by person to receive responses. Acceptance, editing and issue scheduling is at editor’s discretion. Address all submissions to Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. All responses received by the Adult Pen Pal Service are routed directly, postage paid, to the response number assigned to each submission. To write To respond to one of the adult pen pal requests, write letter, place in envelope, seal and affix first class postage. Address to full, correct response #, c/o Rural Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501. Your letter will be forwarded unopened. Do not send money or additional postage; forwarding is prepaid. Enclose your full mailing address for return correspondence. Once again . . . it is very important that all responses carry the full response number—both month and number—to be properly forwarded. Abbreviation Code C — Christian; C/W — Country-western; D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker; R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single; W — White; Wid — Widowed

March 2010

football, and CW music. Please send phone number and photo. MAR – 9: Northeast Nebraska blonde, mid-30s, tall, single Mom of two young boys looking for a hefty, tall, hardworking, loving farmer, mid-30s to 40s to share her life with. Willing to learn new things. Friendship and more. Picture and phone number a plus.

MAR - 3: DWCM, 36, NS, family orientated with two children that live in my home. Love the outdoors. Looking for honest caring woman to enjoy life with. Please send recent photo, and phone number. MAR - 4: Starting anew! WCM, 57, NS/ND. Enjoys hunting, fishing, camping, grillin’, 2 steppin’, and more. Also life partner who likes children. Go Big Red! MAR - 5: WidWM, N/S, Social drinker, 69 years old. Looking for WF, 64-70 for companionship. Likes camping, having fun with family and friends, TV, and just hanging out. Send photo/ telephone number. MAR - 6: SWM, educated, eccentric, plays guitar and sings, likes Big Band, Sinatra, Beatles. Nice looking for 60ish, central Nebraska, good cook, liberal, tall, thin (seeks same) and healthy. I am a thinker, talker, and good listener. Send info and phone or photo, please. MAR – 7: If you would appreciate a “special someone”, this lady is the one. Wid, mid-60s, ND/DS, from north central Nebraska. I enjoy cards, walks, good movies, drives, and most of all family. Honesty & kindness a must. Let’s begin as friends. Please send photo. MAR – 8: WF, 62, NS/ND, 5’8” medium built from central Nebraska would like to meet nice gentleman 60-70 to have fun with, dinner and movies, travel or just stay home. I like cooking, Nebraska