Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News August 2024 Eau Claire
August 2024
2024 FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS IS GROWING TO THE TUNE OF SUCCESS
QUANTUM LEAP: THE NEXT INTERNET REVOLUTION
BASELOAD VS. INTERMITTENT POWER
FACTORS THAT IMPACT ELECTRICITY PRICES
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The Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News (Formerly Wisconsin R.E.C. News) has been published monthly and distributed since July 1940 to members of Wisconsin’s non-pro t, consumer-owned rural electric cooperatives. It is available to non-members for $13 per year or $35 for three years. Members pay $6.93 per year.
Published by the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200. Steve Freese, president & CEO.
USPS number: 688-480.
Postmaster: please send address changes to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200
Periodicals postage paid at Sun Prairie, Wis.
Send correspondence to Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200. Phone (608) 467-4650.
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Co-op Members: Please send address changes to your local electric co-op. Contact information can be found on page 18.
Steve Freese WECA president & CEO
Dana Kelroy editor
Mary Erickson associate editor
Julie Lund contributing writer
Ann Bailey graphic designer
Geri Miller advertising consultant
Jennifer Taylor editorial assistant
For advertising opportunities please email geri@weca.coop. The appearance of advertising or events does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. We reserve the right to refuse advertisers.
On the cover:
This year’s Farm Technology Days will be held on the Chippewa Valley Music Festival grounds and the adjoining elds of Close Farms, both members of Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative. Special thanks to Andrew Falkenberg for the drone photo. Story on page 24.
Electric cooperatives are on the forefront of AI, while bracing for the related power surge.
Why understanding the di erence matters.
Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative members host Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.
Kids & Critters
Cute co-op kids get coz y with their critters.
SYMBOL SEARCH
HIDDEN OBJECT GAME
Finding our July symbol was Alicia Wilson, a member of Clark Electric Cooperative. Alicia said, “My daughters, Braelynn (9) and Elliana (6), love looking for the symbol each month. We were sitting outside by a camp re when they worked together to nd the symbol. They found the hotdog on page 14 on the handle part of the man’s leaf blower. They enjoy doing these searches each month.”
Now, we challenge you to nd this spark icon, which commonly represents arti cial intelligence, to remind you to check out the story on page 10. Remember that the symbol can be anywhere and any size. One randomly selected winner will receive a Wisconsin Energy Cooperative News kitchen kit. One entry per household, please, and provide your permanent home or mailing address with your entry. Send entries by August 12.
Enter via the “Symbol Search” link on the homepage of wecnmagazine.com.
You can also enter by mail (don’t forget to include the name of your cooperative):
SYMBOL SEARCH WECA 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200
EYOUNG LEADERS PARTICIPATE IN 2024 NRECA
YOUTH TOUR
ighteen high schoolers from 11 Wisconsin electric cooperatives traveled to Washington, D.C., June 15–23 for the NRECA Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Future leaders from Adams-Columbia, Riverland, Barron, Jackson, Pierce Pepin, Oakdale, Rock, Clark, Vernon, and Polk-Burnett made the trip.
During the Youth Tour, the delegates visited historical landmarks and museums, met with federal legislators and sta representatives, and participated in leadership training.
Some places they visited include the White House, Lincoln Memorial, Holocaust Museum, and Arlington Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony. Co-op sponsors used retired capital credit funds from the Federated Youth Foundation to send these students on this once-in-alifetime trip. Their support showcases the commitment of cooperatives to youth and growing the future leaders of our communities.
Upon their return to Wisconsin, the high school students submitted photos from their trip to a photo contest. The winning photo, a striking image of the Iwo Jima Memorial taken by Peyton Steines, who was sponsored by Barron Electric Cooperative, is featured at the top of the page. Peyton (inset) won a $25 Visa gift card for her moving entry.
Dana Kelroy Editor
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Freese Takes Medical Leave
Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) President and CEO Steve Freese has taken medical leave as he continues to battle cancer. He has been on Short Term Disability since Monday, July 8. Freese was first diagnosed in June of 2022. WECA Vice President of Operations Tim Clay and Vice President of Government Relations and External Affairs Rob Richard are taking additional leadership roles in his absence, to ensure continued quality service to member cooperatives.
Dairyland’s Melby Named
Wisconsin CIO of the Year
Dairyland Power Cooperative Vice President & CIO Nate Melby has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 Wisconsin CIO of the Year ORBIE award. ORBIE Awards recognize the premier technology leaders in the nation. Melby was selected as one of seven winners from a group of 29 finalists and 180 nominees.
Melby joined Dairyland in 2016. As CIO, he is responsible for leading the strategy, development, and implementation of information technology initiatives and systems to advance Dairyland’s business and operations strategies.
Biden signs ADVANCE Act
President Joe Biden signed into law legislation that supports new nuclear advancements in an effort to add more carbon-free, reliable energy to the mix. The ADVANCE Act will further streamline permitting for new reactor designs, give the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) more resources, and promote deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.
Under the ADVANCE Act, Congress directed the NRC to revise its mission statement to ensure it uses its oversight authority “in a manner that is efficient and does not unnecessarily limit” the use of nuclear energy. The ADVANCE Act passed with bipartisan support and is the first significant nuclear legislation in almost two decades.
NEWS BRIEFS
MISO Warns of Shortfall
The Midwest Independent System Organization (MISO), the grid operator that oversees 15 states including Wisconsin and part of Canada, and the Organization of MISO States (OMS) released the annual OMS-MISO survey results, which show a growing capacity deficit in electricity generation in the 2025–26 planning year. The predicted shortfall for next summer could be as high as 2.7 GW, according to the report.
According to MISO, this emphasizes the urgent need to accelerate the addition of new generation resources, monitor large load additions, and delay resource retirements in order to ensure reliability as electricity demand grows.
Clark Electric Youth
Selected as State Youth Representative
Jonah Vircks of Clark Electric Cooperative has been selected to serve as Wisconsin’s State Youth Representative at NRECA’s annual meeting. Vircks was chosen from a competitive group of interested youth leaders. As a high school freshman, Vircks was elected to serve as alternate on the 2023–24 YLC board, even though he was among the youngest attendees to run.
Tina Walden, WECA youth coordinator, said Vircks has emerged as a “respectful and smart” leader and will be a great representative of Wisconsin electric cooperatives.
Co-op Lineworkers
Participate in Light Up Navajo!
Lineworkers from Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative, Riverland Energy Cooperative, and Eau Claire Energy Cooperative traveled to the Navajo Nation recently to help run electricity to rural homes for tribal members who have never had power before. The Light up Navajo! Project is aimed at energizing more than 10,000 homes in the region where people are still living without electricity.
Central Wisconsin sent lineworkers to help power homes in May, Riverland Energy had a crew participate in June, and Eau Claire Energy’s crew traveled to the region in July.
Wisconsin electric cooperatives are among the first in the nation to join the effort, which is proving especially critical this summer as the region experiences record heat.
Dairyland Awarded
$2 Million for Fast Charger
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced that Dairyland Power Cooperative has been awarded $2.028 million for a solar canopy EV fast charger with battery storage project that will be built in Price Electric Cooperative’s service territory at the Prentice Truck and Travel Center.
Dairyland submitted the grant request in March 2023. According to the co-op, it applied for the grant to support renewable energy and resilience while expanding EV charging infrastructure to reduce range anxiety in rural areas.
DOE Selects Two Wisconsin Fusion Companies for Energy Development Grant Funds
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $46 million in funding to eight companies across the nation working to advance designs through research and development for fusion power plants, and Madison’s Realta Fusion and Type One Energy Group are among the companies selected. The Biden administration is looking to build on the recent scientific advances in fusion research and set a goal of having a pilot-scale demonstration of fusion within a decade.
Fusion energy would be abundant, safe, and clean if researchers can accomplish efficient generation. The goal of the program is for awardees to resolve scientific and technological challenges to create designs for a fusion pilot plant to make fusion energy commercial viability within 5-10 years.
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MESSAGE from the CEO
KEEP ENERGY ISSUES IN MIND FOR THE AUGUST PRIMARY
This month’s “Message from the CEO” is guest commentary from Rob Richard, WECA Vice President of Government Relations and External A airs.
Rob Richard WECA Vice President of Government Relations and External A airs
On August 13, Wisconsin voters will go to the polls to decide which candidates will proceed to the general election. This primary election is our opportunity to dwindle down the number of individuals running in their respective parties to only one. Then, the remaining candidate from each party will face off on November 5. There are primary contests in races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state senate, state assembly, and district attorney. Not every race will have a primary, so it’s incumbent upon you to do a little research and find out who’s running and their position on the issues, particularly energy issues.
As WECA’s President and CEO Steve has discussed in this column recently, there may have been a shakeup of the legislative maps depending on where you live, so you may not recognize the candidates for state senate and state assembly. Even the district number for your legislative seats may have changed. For instance, if you live in Assembly District 29 under the old maps represented by Clint Moses (R-Menomonie), you may now find yourself living in Assembly District 28. No incumbents are running in that seat since Moses was redistricted out of his old seat and is now running in Assembly District 92.
energy sources, maybe ask them if they believe nuclear energy needs to be a part of the mix to maintain grid reliability.
OCSIW N SIN ’SPRIMA RY ISAUGU S T HT31
One of the tougher issues we will face in the very near future when it comes to energy is the overwhelming demand for electricity that data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning will put on the grid. Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services in Ellsworth recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a small, 2-megawatt data center on their lines (see story on page 10). This is very good news in terms of load growth for the cooperative and business growth for the community. However, the challenge lies in the bigger picture as hundreds of data centers are being built, or planned to be built, to accommodate the insatiable demand for digital infrastructure that can sustain technological innovation. This all takes energy. A lot of energy! This fast growth is putting our energy reliability and the grid at risk. While many high-tech companies have vowed to reduce or even eliminate their carbon footprint, this is proving more difficult than planned. Author and energy expert Robert Bryce recently wrote that Google, a company that once claimed to be carbon neutral in 2017, has seen its CO2 emissions jump fourfold since then, and its emissions will continue rising due to growing demand for AI. Google likely isn’t the only tech giant experiencing this dichotomy—the desire to reduce their corporate carbon footprint while, at the same time, their advancements in cloud-based computing and AI are consuming vast amounts of electricity that are being fueled by coal and natural gas plants.
Similar scenarios are playing out across the state. The new maps have created many open seats since many incumbents were paired up. This, in turn, caused incumbent retirements or incumbents moving into other districts to run again in unfamiliar territory. There are lots of changes when it comes to the legislative maps, so make sure you do your homework before heading to the polls.
If you can engage a candidate(s) in conversation, don’t be afraid to ask where they stand on the issues important to you. When it comes to energy, maybe ask how they plan to keep your electricity affordable, reliable, and safe. If they believe in supporting a transition from hydrocarbon-based fuels to more renewable
As you consider the energy positions of candidates running for office, please take a deeper dive into understanding them and what they could mean for energy reliability and affordability. Suppose you’re not getting a clear picture of the candidates’ positions. In that case, it might be appropriate to ask the candidates themselves to dig deeper into the critical issue of energy policy. There’s a lot at stake, and there’s absolutely no reason why a transition to a less carbon-dense future must be accompanied by less energy reliability. If the candidates’ position puts them in that bucket, they should be doing homework before the election. It’s one thing to take a popular position on energy, but it’s a whole other animal to understand it.
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QUANTUM LEAP: THE NEXT INTERNET REVOLUTION
How electric cooperatives are on the forefront of arti cial intelligence, while bracing for the power surge that’s already on the way
It’s called artificial intelligence, or AI, but the powerhouse minds behind it are very much real.
“Generative AI” is like software on steroids—part Google, part human. It’s like Siri’s smarter and more sociable sibling. It has the ability to not only search web pages, but to reason, analyze, and communicate using the appropriate tone. It is a game changer, especially for businesses that depend on data, such as utilities.
“It’s like this projection platform that allows people to be more productive, more complete. It helps them do what they do, even better,” explained Nate Melby, vice president and chief information officer with Dairyland Power Cooperative.
“Ungated” with VoltWrite Back in 2022, when most people were just hearing of ChatGPT, a generative AI tool owned by OpenAI and other stakeholders, Dairyland Power Cooperative was already on its way to developing its own version.
Melby, who has extensive experience and training in cybersecurity, and a long history of advancing business strategy through technology, knew that for
Dairyland’s team to harness the many advantages of AI, they couldn’t just use the public’s version—they would have to build their own. So, they did.
“They call it ungated,” explained Melby, who recently received the 2024 Wisconsin CIO of the Year ORBIE® award in the Large Corporate category. Working with Microsoft, Dairyland’s team led by Supervisor, Business Systems Applications Vladimir Tsoy got the go-ahead to develop a generative AI tool specifically for use by Dairyland, and now, its member cooperatives.
“And that’s how VoltWrite was born,” Tsoy said. Dairyland was among the first 4% of all companies, not just utilities, to be “ungated” by Microsoft for its own AI tool implementation. With comprehensive communication and training, they rolled it out to staff in February 2023, complete with natural language processing, which means you can actually have a conversation with VoltWrite and follow up or narrow down your task request.
“Not many companies were in that space at that time,” Melby said. “Because of Vlad’s experimentation and belief that this could have
an impact, we accelerated ahead of others, and we’ve stayed there.”
The advantages are already immeasurable, from communications to analytics. Dairyland is finding new efficiencies by using VoltWrite every day.
“We have a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) engineer, and their time is very limited. They always have a list of projects buried in a backlog,” Melby said. “With AI, one of our SCADA engineers went through a month of backlogs in just three days because VoltWrite helped them accelerate their work.”
Dairyland staff also used VoltWrite at a leadership development meeting. Breakout groups were to come up with bullet points on a certain topic. Melby used VoltWrite for the same task. “The breakout groups came up with three bullet points of ideas, and in the same time, VoltWrite came up with seven, and the three from the groups were included in the list of seven,” he said.
Dairyland is also working to use VoltWrite to analyze load management programs, compare weather data to generation data, and do load analysis at substations. Melby is quick to explain that the tool, as remarkable as it is, is still just a tool, and is not a replacement for real people.
“Humans are beautifully and infinitely complex and while we’re
making amazing machines using remarkable technology, it’s still nowhere near the level of complexity of people,” he said.
How it
Works
Generative AI is developed using a comprehensive analysis of a massive amount of information on the web. “And it learns by using basically statistical probabilities,” Melby explained. “It looks at the relationships between words and the relationships between concepts in that volume of data— that snapshot of the whole internet, and it recognizes how words are sequenced in the context of a certain kind of a conversation. This is a really oversimplified way of explaining it, but that’s how it works.”
That type of information processing—that allows for the complexity of reasoning, requires computing on a massive scale, and the electricity demand to keep up with the AI explosion—is accelerating rapidly. For example, according to Melby, ChatGPT-3, released in March of 2023, required 1.5 billion parameters. ChatGPT-4, released in October, required 1 trillion parameters. Some expect ChatGPT-5 will be at 27 trillion parameters.
By comparison, the human brain has 1 quadrillion synapses, which
basically means real intelligence is still infinitely more complex than artificial intelligence, and perhaps more importantly, we don’t have to be plugged in.
Midwest Co-ops and Data Center Demand
Wisconsin’s electric cooperatives and utility leaders have been bracing for an increase in demand for electricity as clean energy policy is ramping up electrification efforts for everything from vehicles to stoves. But the almost sudden demand from the build-out of data centers to power AI and cryptocurrency mining is a “worldwide phenomenon,” according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
A ChatGPT or generative AI search requires almost 10 times the amount of electricity as a Google search, according to IEA, and one data center can require 50 times the electricity of a typical office building.
Over the past decade, U.S. demand for electricity grew about 0.5% per year, but the Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced grid operators are planning for annual demand growth of 5–6%, or more due to the “supercharged rise of artificial intelligence.”
Cooperative territories, and the Midwest specifically, are emerging as prime locations for new data centers (see sidebar for more on a new data center in Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services’ territory). As more populated areas are already presenting challenges for data center developers, rural areas, often served by cooperatives and looking for load growth, are often providing the right fit. According to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, about one-third of all new data centers are expected to be built in electric cooperative service territories over the next five years.
According to CFC Energy
Pictured below is some of the equipment Metered Mining moved in to the Hager City building in Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services’ territory for the new data center project (sidebar on page 12).
Industry Analyst Chris Whittle, “S&P estimates that more than 9 GW of data center projects are currently planned for construction in the U.S. and that around a third of these will be served by non-investor-owned utilities. Electric cooperatives could see significant load growth in the next five years as new data centers come on-line.”
“There is no better place” for data centers than the Upper Midwest, according to Josh Riedy, of Thread, a grid maintenance software company. Riedy and others say the Great Lakes region and its cooler climate can help reduce energy demand for centers that require cooling so the equipment works properly.
“The Upper Midwest can export data around the globe,” he said, and Microsoft agrees. It is building a $3.3 billion data complex on the former FoxConn site near Racine.
More Reason for Transmission, Permitting,
“All of the Above” Generation While new business is good business for utilities, the timing of the surge in power demand threatens to upend, or at least slow down, advances made by clean energy advocates to transition away from fossil fuels. In recent years, replacing baseload coal plants with carbon-free, but intermittent, wind and solar generation has posed a threat to reliability. Federal and regional oversight agencies have warned of the increasing risk of rolling blackouts, especially during times of extreme heat or cold.
This threat is further complicated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s new suite of rules that will expedite the closure of most
Metered Mining
A new data center bringing big business to Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services
Sidney Laurvick was just a kid when he borrowed money from his grandmother to buy a book on how to build a website. Now he’s married with three young kids of his own, but his forward-thinking focus on innovation and advancing technology is unwavering. The co-founder of “Metered Mining” addressed the crowd at the ribboncutting site of the new data center in Hager City on June 24.
“We look forward to being Pierce Pepin’s number one consumer of electricity by the end of the year,” Laurvick said, adding that they reached out to 43 utilities seeking the location that had both the ability to meet the load demand and also the internet infrastructure. Pierce Pepin’s SwiftCurrent Connect, and the location right next to a substation was just the right t.
“This project signi es not only to Pierce County, but to Western Wisconsin that we are open for business when it comes to data centers and the revolution that we’re seeing within our country related to data center projects, whether it be AI or Bitcoin or other uses, we are open for business,” said Nate Boettcher, president & CEO, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services, who added the data center will be partly served by a 2 MW solar facility located just up the road, which feeds into the neighboring substation.
Brad Ristow, vice president of electric operations with the co-op, talked about the many challenges of bringing a project of this size together in just one year. Showing a thick slice of cable, he explained how the project that started with the capability of 1 MW grew to end with the potential of 20 MW. “There is enough wire underground coming from the substation right now to handle 20 MW of load if this growth goes as planned,” he said.
Metered Mining o ers cloud-based services for individuals and businesses that do energy-intensive work such as AI, data analytics, virtual reality, and cryptocurrency mining. He said they are already in the planning stages for additional buildings as the rst one was already 70% full.
Laurvick said there was a lot of education required for all parties to make this project happen. “It was just constant communication with Pierce Pepin, because the one thing that was very important to them was protecting their members and making sure they were making the right nancial decisions for them. And now that I’m a member of Pierce Pepin, I’m glad they’re so cautious, and I’m also glad they wanted to be a pioneer in a eld where a lot of other people aren’t quite ready,” he said.
Left: Pierce Pepin’s Brad Ristow shows the cable size needed for this mega project. Right: Co-op and community leaders joined Metered Mining for the new data center ribbon cutting in Hager City June 24.
coal and some natural gas plants, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
In addressing the escalating demand for electricity, DOE Undersecretary for Infrastructure David Crane released a new report that recommends the power sector take advantage of “the full range of technology, planning, and operational solutions” to meet electricity demand, including “long-duration energy storage, hydropower, nuclear energy, geothermal, grid-enhancing technologies, and demand-site management.”
What the DOE report did not recommend, you might notice, is natural gas, which provided more than 40% of the nation’s electricity generation last year. Dairyland Power Cooperative has been working through the regulatory permitting process to break ground on the Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) for more than seven years. The state-of-the-art combined-cycle natural gas facility, to be located in Superior, would have the ability to ramp up quickly to backfill, when needed, if wind and solar generation drops.
The Financial Times recently reported that AI revolution will “usher in a golden era for natural gas,” with one executive saying, “Gas is the only cost-efficient energy generation capable of providing the type of 24/7 reliable power required by the big technology companies to power the AI boom,” but DOE doesn’t see it that way. The DOE report, titled “The Future of Resource Adequacy,” says new fossil fuel infrastructure development “has the potential to result in higher costs and unexpected lower reliability during extreme weather events than alternative options.”
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is seeking his own solution to ensuring the increased demand for power from artificial intelligence has a clean energy source. He founded a new company called TerraPower with the goal of building advanced nuclear
reactors.
Dairyland Power is currently researching the viability of adding small modular reactors (SMR) to its portfolio, but the technology hasn’t proven to be commercially viable in this country yet.
Riding
the
Wave
Regardless of what happens on the energy side, the new era of technology that is AI is not slowing down. Dairyland Power Cooperative is already working on VoltWrite 2.0 and experimenting with a combination of augmented reality and AI. The evolving tool set allows for the input of images, audio, and video. One possibility is they could create a virtual environment of sorts, where people at different locations could come together for problem solving. Another advantage will be for a tech at a substation looking to replace a non-descript part that VoltWrite could easily identify.
“Microsoft has actually taken notice of some of the things we are doing, like the work Vlad is doing with vector databases, and
through our partnership they are starting to feed us technology and they’re learning from us, too,” Melby said. “They even gave us resources in their data center, which they wouldn’t normally do for a company in our tier, so through our innovation and Vlad’s good work, we’re getting better performance because they know other companies are going to want to catch this wave.”
The best part about being among the first to catch the wave is that others may follow, but you will always be out ahead.
“I think it’s really special that this came out of cooperatives, and I’m excited that we can leverage our business model to create efficiencies for our team, which helps all of our members,” Melby said. “And we’re in the front of the industry. We’re leading the way. This is a historic time. You might catch another wave someday, but you’ll never catch this one.”—Julie Lund
Dairyland IT leaders o er a web demonstration to show how VoltWrite works. Pictured from left to right, Dairyland’s Dana Bolwerk, Nate Melby, and Vlad Tsoy, and Julie Lund of WECA.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BASELOAD and INTERMITTENT POWER
AND WHY IT MATTERS
It’s one of those excruciating days when the warm air becomes unbearable. You crank up the air conditioner on the way home from work, and the first thing you do when you get home is turn the thermostat down a couple degrees.
Throughout your area and the entire region, thousands of other people are responding the same way. Every air conditioner and fan start working at full speed to keep everyone cool and comfortable. The end of the workday creates a massive surge in the amount of electricity needed to meet the demand, and it’s up to the people who oversee the operation of North America’s power grid to make sure there’s an adequate amount to keep you comfortable.
It’s a challenging task because the amount of electricity that’s needed varies throughout each day. While you and your neighbors are asleep, the demand is lower, but as everyone wakes up, turns on the shower, and starts the coffeemaker, the demand for power climbs quickly.
Our electric grid gathers and distributes power from many sources, including power plants that convert fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil into electricity; nuclear power plants; and renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines, solar farms, hydroelectric dams, and even landfills. The electricity supplied from all of these sources is categorized as baseload, peaking, or intermediate power.
Baseload power accounts for most of the electricity we use. Always-available power sources are designed to constantly generate large amounts of power, so you and everyone else is assured of a reliable supply of electricity whenever you need it. The most familiar examples of baseload sources are nuclear and fossil-fuel power plants, along with some hydroelectric and geothermal facilities. While baseload plants provide an affordable and dependable source of power, they’re not engineered to keep up with sudden changes in electricity demand. The companies operating them are unable to turn them on or off quickly.
When the demand for electricity shifts––either gradually or suddenly––grid operators turn to either intermediate or peaking power plants. These plants are designed to start up quickly and adapt their power output to meet the varying demand. In most cases, peaking plants supply more frequent and sudden changes, whereas intermediate plants supply more gradual or slower changes.
Renewable power sources such as solar and wind farms are increasingly used to supply electricity. Both sources
Renewable power sources such as solar and wind farms are increasingly used to supply electricity. Both sources provide intermittent power since the amount of electricity generated and the time at which electricity is generated depend upon cooperation from nature.
provide intermittent power since the amount of electricity generated and the time at which electricity is generated depend upon cooperation from nature. Solar panels can’t generate electricity when there’s not enough sunlight, and large wind turbines generally don’t produce power until the wind speed reaches at least 13 miles per hour. Because intermittent power sources like wind and solar depend on unpredictable weather conditions, they can’t be relied upon to deliver predictable and constant baseload power. This is why changes in electricity demand are usually met with intermediate or peaking generation powered by more traditional sources like natural gas.
Electric co-op members who are concerned about climate change may wonder why power suppliers aren’t rushing to replace fuels such as coal and natural gas with environmentally friendlier alternatives like wind and solar. If co-ops and other electric utilities switched completely to intermittent sources, they wouldn’t be able to meet consumers’ needs for reliable power.
One promising technology involves the development of energy storage devices such as batteries that can be used to store excess power generated by wind and solar so it’s available even when the weather isn’t cooperating. While that technology is advancing, it’s still evolving, and largescale use of such batteries is many years away. Batteries also require large amounts of elements such as lithium that must be mined, creating additional environmental concerns.
While electric co-ops are working hard to shift to environmentally friendlier sources, the realities of differing power needs are why most maintain a diverse mix of energy sources and fuels. Co-op members can help by taking steps to reduce their own energy use. For example, switching to more efficient lighting and appliances will not only reduce your monthly electric bill, but it can reduce the amount of electricity that’s needed.
Contact your local electric co-op to learn more about practical ways you can use less electricity without sacrificing comfort and convenience. The less power we all use, the less the power producers will have to generate.
Scott Flood writes for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
FACTORS THAT IMPACT ELECTRICITY PRICES
Inflation has affected many aspects of our lives, from gasoline to groceries, and the cost of fuels required to produce electricity is no exception. Understanding the factors that impact electricity prices and your energy bills is crucial, especially in times of rising costs.
As a distribution cooperative, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative (ECEC) purchases its power from Dairyland Power Cooperative. This wholesale power accounts for 60% of the cooperative’s total costs, encompassing usage, fixed costs, and demand charges. Demand refers to the amount of electricity consumed by members at any given moment. It indicates the rate at which energy is being used and is crucial for ensuring the cooperative can supply sufficient power to meet members’ needs. Unlike kWh consumption, which measures total energy usage over time, demand focuses on the instantaneous or peak usage levels.
Your monthly electric bill comprises three primary parts: the service charge, the energy consumption charge per kilowatthour (kWh), and the Power Cost Adjustment (PCA). Each of these components plays a role in determining your total energy bill.
1
Fixed Monthly Service Charge
The fixed monthly service charge covers the costs associated with providing electricity to your home. This includes equipment, materials, labor, and operating costs necessary to serve each meter in Eau Claire Energy Cooperative’s service territory, regardless of the amount of energy used. Ensuring reliable service requires maintaining the local system, including power lines, substations, and other essential equipment. Like many other businesses, we’ve experienced supply-chain issues and steep cost increases for some of our basic equipment. For example, the cost for a distribution transformer, a vital component on power poles, has increased significantly in the last several years. Additionally, wait times for receiving this equipment have risen. As a not-for-profit cooperative, some of these expenses are passed on to our members. It’s important to note that the service charge is the same for everyone, sharing the costs equally across the membership.
2
kWh Charge
The kWh charge on your bill reflects your energy consumption. The amount of energy you use can vary monthly and can be affected by extreme temperatures. When temperatures soar or plummet, your heating and cooling systems work harder, increasing your energy use. However, energy consumption is an area where you have some control. Adjusting your thermostat to reduce the frequency of air conditioning use is one effective way to cut down on energy consumption.
3
Power Cost Adjustment (PCA)
The PCA is a mechanism to account for the varying cost of fuel used to generate electricity and is consistent across all Eau Claire Energy Cooperative members. Increases in PCA charges are due to higher fuel prices, meaning the wholesale power that ECEC purchases from Dairyland more expensive. The PCA helps manage fuel cost fluctuations without constantly restructuring electricity rates.
While we cannot control the weather or the rising costs of fuels, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative is committed to keeping costs down for our members. We strive to provide reliable service and support our members in managing their energy use. Members can play a significant role in keeping rates stable by lowering their individual demand. Simple actions like spreading out your energy usage can make a big difference in overall costs. If you have questions about your energy bill or need advice on how to save energy at home, please contact us. We’re here to help.
ECEC AT A GLANCE
12,588 MEMBER OWNERS
17,497 POLES IN SERVICE
CAPITAL CREDITS RETURNED TO MEMBERS IN 2023
$911,637
NINE DIRECTORELECTED DISTRICTS
7 MEMBERS PER MILE OF LINE
TOTAL KWH SOLD IN 2023 207,162,318 FIRST ENERGIZED FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1939
THIRTY-SIX DEDICATED EMPLOYEES
1,758 TOTAL MILES OF LINE 775 MILES OF OVERHEAD LINE 983 MILES OF UNDERGROUND LINE
DOLLARS GIVEN BACK IN REBATES TO MEMBERS IN 2023 $424,349
SEVENTEEN TOTAL SUBSTATIONS CONTROLLED WATER HEATERS
4,194
TOTAL KWH PURCHASED IN 2023 215,079,837
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER BEFORE INSTALLING ROOFTOP SOLAR
“Free
energy from the sun and lower electric bills… Where do I sign up?”
The benefits of installing rooftop solar panels may seem like a no-brainer, but the reality is, not every home (and homeowner’s situation) is always right for solar. There are several factors to consider before pulling the trigger on a rooftop solar system, like determining if your home will receive enough sun to achieve your goals, finding the right contractor, negotiating contracts, and other important details. Investing in solar for your home is a major decision. If you’re considering rooftop solar, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative can help. A call to your electric cooperative should be the first step. Here are some questions to consider before installing rooftop solar panels:
1. How will I work with Eau Claire Energy Cooperative? If you decide to install solar, the system must be connected to the electric grid, so you’ll need to sign an interconnection agreement. We can walk you through the steps, including how our solar rates and fees work. Visit https://www.ecec. com/energy-efficiency/renewable-energy/distributed_ energy_resources for a general overview of how you can work with us on connecting your new rooftop solar system.
2. What are my goals? If your primary goal is to save money on electric bills, you may be able to achieve this through an energy audit program, which can identify areas of the home for maximum energy savings. If your main goal is to use renewable energy and help the environment, consider signing up for our community solar program. You can help power renewable energy without having to invest and maintain a home system.
3. Is my roof suitable for solar? If your roof is old and in poor shape, it may need to be replaced before solar panels can be mounted. Additionally, your roof should receive a lot of sun to make the most of a rooftop system. Consider how much sun, and shade, the roof receives and if any trees will need to be removed. Solar panels perform best when facing south, so keep this in mind as you think about where the panels will be mounted.
4. How long will I own the home? If you’re considering rooftop solar, you’re likely planning to stay in the home for several years. But if you plan to sell the home at some point down the road, consider that not all potential buyers will want to maintain a rooftop solar system. If you enter a contract to lease the system, carefully review the terms and what those mean if you decide to sell the property.
5. Lease or purchase? Purchasing a rooftop solar system outright is expensive, which is why many homeowners opt to lease their solar panels. However, federal tax credits can help cover some of the costs for a new system, up to 30%. Regardless of how you decide to finance the solar system, make sure you get several quotes from qualified contractors. Scan the QR code at right to visit our Trusted Energy Allies webpage. There, members can find vendors that have worked with Eau Claire Energy Cooperative on projects in our area and have an understanding of the policies and procedures needed to work effectively with the cooperative.
6. Can the contractor provide up-to-date documentation? It may seem obvious but be sure to request proof and documentation of the contractor’s licensing, permitting and other credentials. Comb through company reviews, check the contractor’s status with Better Business Bureau, etc.––do your homework before signing a contract.
7. Does the contract seem reasonable and fair? If you decide to hire a contractor to install rooftop solar, carefully read the fine print of the contract. Do the system performance calculations seem realistic? Does the project timeframe sound reasonable? Negotiate the contract terms to fit your goals and needs.
8. Who will maintain the solar panels? Determining who is responsible for maintaining the solar panels will depend on who owns the system. If you lease the system from a solar installer, it may be their responsibility. Periodically, solar panels need to be cleaned as dirt and debris can impact panel productivity. Parts may also need to be replaced, so it’s important to know who will take on these responsibilities.
For many homeowners, solar panels are a great way to help the environment and save on electric bills––but there are many factors to consider before diving in and installing a system. As your trusted energy advisor, we can serve as a helpful resource throughout the process.
CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!
Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to explore the cooperative di erence, learn from area leaders, and experience how Eau Claire Energy Cooperative demonstrates our commitment to community? Youth Ambassadors (YA) at Eau Claire Energy Cooperative have a ton of fun. They do so while making connections in the community and adding extracurriculars to their college applications. Throughout the school year, Youth Ambassadors will meet once per month for educational learning sessions, eld trips, and community service projects, followed by lunch. If this sounds like fun to you, apply today!
The cooperative will sponsor YAs to attend Youth Leadership Congress at UW-River Falls, and two students will have an opportunity to go on an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the Youth Tour hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Apply now at www.ecec.com under the “Community” tab or by following the QR code. Current Youth Ambassadors are encouraged to invite friends and classmates to join.
Taylor
Skibba,
Monica Obrycki, President and CEO
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
ECEC will be closed September 2 for Labor Day
2024-2025 Meeting Dates
September 18, 2024
October 16, 2024
November 20, 2024
December 18, 2024
January 15, 2025
February 19, 2025
March 19, 2025
April 16, 2025
May 21, 2025
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MUST HAVE
Grilled Turkey Salad with Dijon Mustard Dressing
Recipe and photo courtesy of The National Turkey Federation.
1 lb turkey breast tenderloins or cutlets, grilled 12–16 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
12–16 small mushrooms, cut in half
1 small red onion, peeled, thinly sliced, separated into rings
1 medium sweet red pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into long thin strips
1/2 cup parsley, coarsely chopped
1/3 to 1/2 cup Dijon mustard salad dressing, commercial or homemade (see below)*
4 cups mixed salad greens, torn, chilled, and divided
Coarsely ground black pepper
With a sharp knife, cut grilled turkey across the grain into 1-1/2 x 1/4-inch strips. In a large bowl, combine sliced turkey, tomatoes, mushrooms, onion, sweet red pepper strips, and parsley. Add Dijon dressing, tossing lightly to coat turkey and vegetables thoroughly. Arrange approx. 1 cup mixed salad greens on each of 4 small dinner plates. Spoon turkey mixture onto lettuce-lined plates, dividing evenly. Sprinkle each salad lightly with coarsely ground black pepper. Makes 4 servings.
HOMEMADE DIJON DRESSING*
1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1-1/2 tsp prepared Dijon-style mustard
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1/2 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste
2/3 cup preferred oil for salad dressing
Whisk the rst 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Gradually whisk oil into mixture until thickened and thoroughly blended. Store covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Mustard & Sage Glazed Turkey Steaks
Recipe and photo courtesy of Chef Marc Van Steyn, Executive Chef, Rigsby’s Cuisine Volatile, via The National Turkey Federation.
MUSTARD GLAZE
3 large fresh sage leaves
1-1/2 cups Dijon mustard
3/4 cup honey
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
2 small shallots, peeled
1-1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup canola or vegetable oil
Remove stems from sage leaves and discard stems. Place sage, Dijon, honey, vinegar, shallot, salt, and pepper into blender. Purée until smooth. Slowly add oil with blender running. Divide glaze into two equal parts. Reserve one part for use as dipping sauce.
TURKEY
4-1/2 lbs turkey cutlets, 6 oz each Salt and pepper, to taste Canola oil for grilling
Sprinkle turkey cutlets with salt and pepper. Rub small amount of canola oil on each side of cutlets. Spray grill rack with nonstick vegetable spray and heat grill. Place cutlets on grill rack, 4 inches from heat. Brush mustard glaze on turkey and grill about 8–10 minutes; turn once after brushing with additional mustard glaze. Continue to grill another 8–10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Serve with reserved glaze as garnish. Makes 12 servings.
1-1/4 lbs boneless chicken, cubed
2 medium onions, cut into wedges
1 green pepper, cut into narrow strips
1 (1 lb 13 oz) can whole tomatoes
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp prepared mustard
Zydeco Gumbo
Recipe and photo cour tesy of The National Onion Association.
Gumbo is a long-time staple and source of culinary pride in Louisiana.
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 lb cooked shrimp
3 cups cooked rice, kept hot
Combine all ingredients except shrimp and rice in large saucepan; cover and bring to boil. Simmer 45 minutes or until chicken is tender and flavors mellow together. Add shrimp and cook 1 minute or until heated through. Serve gumbo over scoops of rice in wide soup bowls. Make 6 servings.
1/2 lb mushrooms, finely chopped
1 lb lean ground turkey
1/2 small onion, finely diced
1/2 tsp garlic & herb seasoning
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 egg
Blended Turkey Meatloaf
Recipe and photo courtesy of The Mushroom Council.
The secret ingredient to this classic meatloaf is the addition of nely chopped mushrooms; they make it more avorful and moist.
3 Tbsp mustard
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, combine mushrooms, turkey, onion, seasoning, breadcrumbs, and egg; mix until evenly combined. Form into lightly greased loaf pan. In a small bowl mix together mustard, brown sugar, and ketchup. Pour sauce over the top of the meatloaf, spreading until even. Cover with foil. Bake for 60 minutes or until cooked through. Makes 6 servings.
UKRAINIAN RED BEET SALAD
RECIPE COURTESY OF PATRICIA FRANKS, BLACK RIVER FALLS
REQUESTS FROM OUR READERS
An online reader is looking for summer beverage recipes.
SEND TO: WECN, Reader Recipes, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102 Middleton, WI 53562-2200 or jennifer@weca.coop
3 medium fresh beets 1/2 cup prunes, chopped 1/2 cup pecans 1/2 cup mayonnaise Salt, to taste
Boil beets until tender, approx. 30–40 minutes. (I prefer baking them until tender.) Let the beets cool, then peel and grate them. Add prunes and pecans; stir in mayonnaise. Add salt to taste.
CHICKEN NOODLE CASSEROLE
RECIPE COURTESY OF SAMANTHA MURRAY, MERRILLAN
12 oz noodles of choice, uncooked 2 (10.5 oz) cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup milk
3 cups cooked chicken breasts, cubed 1 cup crushed butter crackers (such as Ritz) 1/4 cup melted butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil noodles until al dente; drain. In a bowl, mix together both cans of soup, sour cream, and milk. Stir in cubed chicken and cooked noodles; pour into in a prepared 9-x-13-inch baking dish. In a separate bowl, mix crushed crackers and melted butter and sprinkle over the top of the casserole. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until bubbly.
EGG AND MUSHROOM ROLL-UPS
RECIPE COURTESY OF CINDY ERICKSON, ST. PAUL, MINN.
6 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 cup celery, nely chopped
1 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 tsp mustard
6 deli slices cooked ham
6 deli slices cooked turkey breast Toothpicks
1 (10.5 oz) can cream of mushroom soup
1 (4 oz) can sliced mushrooms
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup potato chips, crushed (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice hard-boiled eggs in half. Remove egg yolks and mix with celery, mayonnaise, and mustard. Spoon lling into egg whites and press the halves back together. Wrap ham and turkey slices around the eggs. Seal each egg wrap with a toothpick and place in a 9-x-13-inch baking dish. Combine soup, mushrooms, and milk; pour over eggs and sprinkle with cheese. Top with crushed potato chips (optional). Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. NOTE: This may be prepared the evening prior and baked just before serving. Remove toothpicks. Serves 6.
Submit your favorite recipes to be featured on our reader recipe page. Email to jennifer@weca.coop or submit directly at http://wecnmagazine.com/submit-a-recipe/. Due to food safety issues, we cannot accept canning recipes.
CAVATINI
RECIPE COURTESY OF KATHY GALLOY, TOMAHAWK
8 oz rotini pasta
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 lb ground beef
4 oz pepperoni, sliced
1 (24 oz) jar preferred spaghetti sauce
8 oz shredded mozzarella
Parmesan cheese
Cook pasta to al dente; drain. Sauté onion and pepper, add beef, and brown. Add pepperoni, spaghetti sauce, and shredded mozzarella. Combine all ingredients except Parmesan and put into a large prepared casserole dish; top with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for approx. 30 minutes or until cheese has melted.
DONUT MUFFINS
RECIPE COURTESY OF CATHY SKAIFE, PLATTEVILLE
“These mu ns are so good and use no eggs…which is helpful for people who have an egg allergy.”
MUFFINS
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup our
Mix the rst three ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in milk, then mix in the baking powder and our until just combined. In a mu n tin with liners, ll each liner 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 20–25 minutes or until done.
TOPPING
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
While mu ns are baking, place melted margarine/butter in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon. Remove mu ns from the pan then dip top of each mu n into the melted margarine/butter. Roll the top of the mu n into sugar-cinnamon mixture and let cool. NOTE: This recipe only makes 6 mu ns, so I usually double it to make a dozen.
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1
GROWING TO THE TUNE OF SUCCESS
AT 2024 FARM TECHNOLOGY DAYS READY FOR A FESTIVAL ATMOSPHERE
Farm Technology Days (FTD) has always been in tune with the times. This signature celebration of Wisconsin’s agriculture industry has been showcasing the latest and greatest developments in farming each year since the event was first launched as Farm Progress Days in 1954.
This year’s FTD, held August 13–15 in Cadott, promises to be a real showstopper thanks in part to its unique location on the 360-acre Chippewa Valley Music Festival grounds, with the adjoining fields of Close Farms used for field demonstrations and crop exhibits.
The joint host sites are both members of Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative (CVEC). Records indicate this is likely the first time this storied event has been held on CVEC lines, although as a rural electric provider that was literally built by area farming families, the coop has long been a supporter of Farm Technology Days.
“At Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative, our team works every day to power rural progress. Our cooperative was founded by farmers in the 1930s, so it seems like a natural fit that this year Farm Technology
Days is in the heart of our service territory,” said Russ Falkenberg, president/CEO of CVEC. “Over the years we have built the infrastructure to allow for events of this magnitude to be held in our rural area. We are looking forward to the event and are proud to play a small role in helping to bring thousands to the Chippewa Valley to enjoy the place our team calls home.”
A Powerful Boost
CVEC’s role has actually been anything but small. The co-op is a major sponsor of the event and has been working behind the scenes for the past year and a half preparing the grounds to meet the needs for a spectacle that attracts tens of thousands of visitors over its three days.
“In the past, Farm Technology Days has used generators for power source, and so they came to us probably 18 months ago and wanted to know the possibility of connecting to the grid for the power,” explained Nic Alberson, CVEC’s operations manager and a member of this year’s FTD committee. “We were excited for that, and we worked with Chippewa
Valley Music Festival and ended up putting in two temporary services in the grounds, utilizing existing infrastructure.”
An additional primary extension was also to be added, he noted. The enhanced electrical service will better facilitate one of the event’s newer offerings: an alley of food trucks offering a wide variety of foods rather than the usual food tents that were operated by volunteers. This new approach to FTD’s food service was introduced last year and is being expanded for this year.
Benefits of these improvements to the grounds’ electrical system will be felt long after FTD is over.
“The best part of it is we’ll be able to leave some of the infrastructure in place and have the music festival possibly utilize it so it’s not a
wasted effort,” Alberson said. The electrical infrastructure, as well as the fest grounds’ established road system, will make for a particularly visitor-friendly event this year. The existing crushed-granite roads that cross the fest grounds eliminate the yearly worry about a possible downpour leaving vendors and visitors alike to navigate thick mud as they trek through the FTD site.
All-Electric Homes to Drones Because
FTD showcases cutting-edge technology, yearly visits always reveal something new. A look through past FTD programs is a journey through the evolution of agriculture, with each event highlighting not just technological
advancements but also the latest trends in farming. This year’s event will have a special focus on smaller, more affordable technology geared to those with smaller agriculture operations who might also be holding jobs off the farm.
Among the key features will be demonstrations on the use of drones, which are quickly becoming popular tools in agriculture thanks to their
The existing infrastructure of the Chippewa Valley Music Festival grounds, with adjoining farm elds of Close Farms, will make for an especially visitor-friendly Farm Technology Days event. The expanses of green will be transformed into a festival atmosphere for the event. Photo on opposite page courtesy of Andrew Falkenberg; photo below courtesy of Farm Technology Days
Right: Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative and Touchstone Energy will be bringing the Touchstone Energy hot-air balloon to Farm Technology Days.
ability to provide real-time data about crops and soils. There will even be an obstacle course where adults and youth alike can try their hand at operating a drone.
“Anybody of any walk of life can go there and just have a good time and take in the scenery and the things that are available
That’s a far cry from the 1968 Farm Progress Days, the first to be held in Chippewa County. That event, covered in this very publication, featured an all-electric home that was built specially on the site, with a sign outside the house proudly proclaiming “Now! Electric heat for every room in your home.” It was touted as a “major attraction” of that year’s show, with visitors waiting in lines to get inside.
for entertainment.”
–Rob Moody, FTD Committee Member
Incidentally, that year’s event could also have benefitted from this year’s crushed-granite roadways, as the constant rain and subsequent mud reportedly hampered the festivities and caused the cancellation of planned field demonstrations.
Family Fun The focus may be on farming, but there’s fun to be had for all ages and interests at FTD.
“Anybody of any walk of life can go there and just have a good time and take in the scenery and the things that are available for entertainment,” said Rob Moody,
a member of the FTD planning committee. “There’s just a lot going on.”
FTD officials announced that all 497 commercial vendor spots had sold out by early July. Among them is an exhibit hosted by Chippewa Valley Electric Cooperative and Ntera, the co-op’s joint venture with Citizens Connected that brings fiber-fast rural broadband to underserved areas of the Chippewa Valley.
CVEC’s exhibit will feature live high-voltage safety demonstrations, put on each of the three days of the event. A special attraction of CVEC’s booth will be the Touchstone Energy hot-air balloon; weather permitting, visitors may be able to take a tethered balloon ride for a bird’s-eye view of the fest grounds.
Other exhibits will also offer hands-on activities, with opportunities to test drive various tractors, vehicles, and other equipment.
For the younger visitors, there will be a petting zoo and a kiddie tractor pull. Children can also travel through FTD with an adventure passbook, collecting stamps at each site on the grounds and turning in their completed passbook for a prize.
Whatever tune you march to, you’ll find that Farm Technology Days will be pulling out all stops for a great performance.—Mary Erickson
For more information about Farm Technology Days, including ticket purchases and a map of the festgrounds, visit wifarmtechdays.org or call the State Wisconsin Farm Technology Days office, 920-644-3551.
Field demonstrations are a big part of every Farm Technology Days event. Photo courtesy of Farm Technology Days
Farmall loads up the Fall-weather fun!
My Apple Spice & Everything Nice” Issue 3
Too Cute To Spook” Issue 2
What a wonderful way to celebrate all you have to be “ ankful” for!
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CLASSIFIEDS
WANTED: Paying cash for WWII ags, daggers, swords, guns, etc. Also, lever-action ri es. 715-340-1974.
WANTED: DEER TAGS, BACK TAGS. Trapping, bear, hunting licenses. Otter, sher, bobcat tags, party permits, old traps. 715255-9284 David Schober, W4234 Rock Creek Rd., Loyal, WI 54446.
CHAINSAWS WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. Buying 1 or 100 McCulloch, Pioneer, Jonsereds, Echo, STIHL, Homelite, Remington, Mall. Buying all brands and sizes. Non-running, running, siezed, parts. Let me know what you have - will travel. Call Chainsaw Mike at 715-828-9414.
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WANTED: COLLECTOR LOOKING FOR VINTAGE SPORTS CARDS 1986 or older. 608-343-3503.
50 YEARS OF ANTIQUE OLD TOOLS , AC machinery, milk cans, steel wheels, old lumber pallets. 608-687-3022.
WANTED: BEAR TRAPS, large odd traps, and lever-action ri es. Traps for sale: beaver, coyote, and Newhouse traps. 715-563-6658.
E-BIKES FOR SALE. Let me get you on the right e-bike. Recycle Bike Shop Mobile, Boyceville, WI. Call or text Bicycle Larry 715-702-1452.
WANTED: CHILDREN’S PEDAL CARS, pedal boats, pedal planes, pedal tractors. Consider parts or cars any condition. Leave message. Karl. 608-482-4783.
2022 GRAND DESIGN SOLITUDE RV, fth wheel, model 310GK. One owner. Immaculate. Under 4,000 miles. Must see. $72,000. 608-317-2273.
MAILBOX DOOR NOT STAYING CLOSED? Strong add-on magnet. No tools required. Rural style mailboxes. www.MAILNUT.com 715-967-2448.
GARAGE FLOOR COATINGS, tougher than epoxy, salt and oil resistant. We grind and repair concrete before we coat it. Call 715-321-2188.
WANTED: FORD TRACTOR, running or not. 600, 700, 800, 900, etc. Also, parts. Call Mark. 715-835-1305 (Home) / 715-577-7249 (Cell).
WANTED: GATOR UTILITY CART, John Deere, etc., 2 or 4-wheel drive. Call Mark. 715-835-1305 (Home) / 715-577-7249 (Cell).
Plants & Shrubs
MCKAY NURSERY COMPANY - WISCONSIN GROWN SINCE 1897. Provider of quality shade & ornamental trees, fruit & owering trees, evergreens, shrubs, perennials, ground cover, and vines. Design services & delivery available. Contact Eric at ezlandscapewi@gmail.com or call 608387-4287. “Your McKay Independent Sales & Service Provider.”
Real Estate
5 ACRES, WEST PEPIN COUNTY, small house with 640 sf garage. Last appraisal $263K, sell $245K. 612-805-2685 FSBO.
Whether you’re hosting a simple family cookout or a full-out summertime bash, make sure your outdoor party space is safe!
l Make sure ground fault circuit interrupters are installed on all outdoor outlets, and test them before any get-together.
l If you need to (temporarily) add extension cords for additional lighting and decorations, use cords that are marked for outdoor use.
l If you need to reach up high to string lights or hang banners or balloons, do not use a metal ladder near any electric wiring.
l Use gas or charcoal grills outside, where there’s plenty of ventilation. Don’t use electric grills if it’s raining.
Classi ed ads reach more than 152,000 mailboxes. RATES: For non-members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $25 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $1.25 each. For members of Wisconsin rural electric co-ops: one insertion, $14 minimum (up to 20 words); additional words, $.70 each. Count name, address, and phone number as part of ad. Please include zip code. FOR PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP, please include your address label from your copy of the magazine. FREQUENCY DISCOUNTS: 2% discount for 3 months; 5% for 6 months; 10% for 12 months. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the ad is to appear. All classi ed ads must be paid in advance. There is no agency discount on classi eds. Make check or money order payable to: WECA. Mail to: WECN—Classi eds, Attn. Jennifer, 6405 Century Ave., Ste. 102, Middleton, WI 53562. Ph: 608-467-4638. Email jennifer@weca.coop. We reserve the right to refuse ads.
l Whatever the type of grill, make sure it’s clean and working properly. Keep a tidy grill station, free of ammables such as decorations or towels.
Source: SafeElectricity
Safety
WISCONSIN EVENTS August 2024
Various dates Together Farms Burger Nights— Mondovi. W93 Norden Road. Thur & Fri open at 4pm, Sat & Sun open at noon. Fri & Sat: live music. Sun: BOGO free kids meals. 715-210-4740.
1–3 Blues on the Chippewa—Durand. Memorial Park, 4–10 p.m. Free admission, but donations accepted. Music lovers gather for a weekend of great music.
2–4 Heroes Ride Bike Tour—Neillsville. The Highground Veterans Memorial Park, all-day. Starts at 5 different locations across the state and ends at The Highground, lunch and a short ceremony. 715-743-4224.
3 Curtiss Corner Quilt Show—Curtiss. Community Hall, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Teddy Bears & Foster Care Community Service Project. Demonstrations, craft sale, drawings, lunch served.
8 Flying Tacos Social—Necedah. Airport, 5–7 p.m. Come share your love of flying with other like-minded people. On the menu: tacos. 630-222-0682.
8–11 NHRA National Open—Eau Claire. Rock Falls Raceway, 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. National Hot Rod Association regional competition. Experience 200 mph cars, classic muscle, and fun! 715-875-4233.
9, 10 Electric Vehicle Wisconsin Road Trip Event— All-day. Drive from Madison around the state, stopping in Wausau for an EV car show. All electric-only cars (no hybrids or plug-in hybrids). 715-697-4991.
10 Sherwood Township 150th Celebration— Pittsville. W739 State Hwy 73, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Table service, pulled pork, and dish to pass. Local history, door prizes. 715-937-3891.
10 Strawberry Shortcake Fundraiser—Fifield. Old Town Hall Museum, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Strawberry shortcake and ice cream sales. 715-339-2415.
10 Sadistic Century—Menomonie. Dunn County Rec Park/Fairgrounds, 6:15 a.m.–4 p.m. A fun road bike ride on hilly, smooth, quiet roads in Western Wisconsin. Routes include 200 km, 100 mi, 100 km, and 60 km lengths. Meal served after the ride. 715-330-4646.
10 Young Eagles Rally—Necedah. Airport parking lot (790 W Middle St), 6 a.m.–12 p.m. Youth ages 8–17 will have a chance to take to the skies. Legal guardians must be present to sign permission slips. 630-222-0682.
15 Summer Outdoor Book Sale—Onalaska. Library, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $5 bag sale after 4:30 p.m. 608-781-9568.
16 Red Hot Chilli Pipers Concert—Reedsburg. Area High School CAL Center, 7–9 p.m. Directly from Scotland is a 9-piece ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers with rock anthems and more. Tickets $25–$35. 608-768-8928 ext. 1190.
16, 17 Rummage-Craft-Bake Sale—New Lisbon. Winding Rivers United Methodist Church (located 3/4 mile down the road behind McDonald’s), 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Lunch available. 608-562-3487.
17 Rhythm & Books Music Festival—Cable. Recreation Park, 2–8 p.m. Talented artists, lawn games, book sale, and “make it and take it” activities for all ages. Food available. Adults $10; youth are free.
17 Phillips on Tap—Phillips. Elk Lake Park, 4–10 p.m. Join us for loads of fun, music by Boogie & the Yo-Yoz, tasty food, and craft beer from local breweries.
17, 18 Church Picnic—Custer. Sacred Heart Church, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Mass w/Polish Hymns at 10 a.m., chicken and ham dinner 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Music noon until 7 p.m. Food, bingo at 1 p.m., raffles, children’s games. Sunday horseshow tournament and $10K cash raffle drawing at 7 p.m. 715-600-6942.
18 Import FACEOFF—Eau Claire. Rock Falls Raceway, 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Coolest import cars in the nation converge for outlaw-style competition. Drag racing and car meet for all ages. 715-875-4233.
21 Music in the Park—Durand. Memorial Park, 6–9 p.m. Join the Durand Improvement Group and the Whitesidewalls. Free admission. BYO lawn chair.
22–25 Corn Fest—Loyal. Downtown area, 12 p.m.–12 a.m. Midway rides every day. Thurs., city-wide garage sales and church services. Fri., mini rods/lawn mower pulls and entertainment by Boogie and the YoYo’s. Sat., all-you-can-eat corn on the cob 12–6 p.m., horse pulls, truck pulls, bingo, and evening music. Sun., parade, kids pedal pulls, sweet corn, charcoal chicken, and entertainment by Red Higgins and the Freedom Train. 715-937-3060.
23, 24 Clearwater Jazz and Art Festival—Eau Claire. The Brewing Projekt. Fri. evening 15 bands on 3 stages and on Sat. from 12–10 p.m., plus 20 fine art exhibits 12–7 p.m. Free admission; rain or shine.
24 Coon Valley Celebration—Coon Valley. Downtown area, 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Waffle breakfast at the Village Hall, parade, antique tractor show, brats and hamburgers at the American Legion Hall, classic car show, softball tournament, beard contest, live music, food vendors, kids’ games, bags tournament in the Village Park, and more.
24 Death’s Door BBQ—Washington Island. Airport, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. A Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned competition with $8K in prize money. Over 30 teams from around the country will compete. BBQ and product sales all day. Live music, vendors, arts and crafts, kid’s activities, and raffles. Free admission and parking. 920-847-2784.
31 Railroad Museum Show & Sale—Colfax. Fairgrounds, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Train show and sale celebrating the museum’s 25th anniversary. Train artifacts and models for viewing and purchase, including miniature ride-ons. Admission $5 for ages 14 and up; children free. To display, sell, or for more info, call 715-962-2076.
31 Flea & Craft Market—Coloma. Community Park, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Food and beverages available.
Upload events directly to the wecnmagazine.com through the “Events” tab.
Wisconsin Events is a public service for our readers. Due to space limits, we may need to eliminate details, so be sure to include a phone number (with area code) where callers may obtain more info. If we receive more listings than space allows us to print, we reserve the right to select those we believe will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. Please no virtual events. Events can also be mailed to: WECN, Events, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200. DEADLINE: 1st of the month prior to the month in which the event is to appear.
Upload events to wecnmagazine.com
Kids and Critters August 2024 YOUNG
Upload photos directly to wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab.
Send photos of kids with animals, along with a brief description, to WECN Magazine, 6405 Century Avenue, Suite 102, Middleton, WI 53562-2200. Please include the name of your electric co-op. Photos will be returned. If in good-resolution, electronic format, photos may also be uploaded via wecnmagazine.com through the “Submit a photo” tab. By submitting, sender implies that he/she has rights to and owns the image, and grants WECN permission to use the image. By submitting, the parent or legal guardian also authorizes us the right to publish the image.
1. Georgie and Allie are all smiles with their Dutch shepherd, Lia. Photo submitted by Grandpa John Nicholas Schweitzer, a member of Richland Electric.
2. Legend gives his best friend, Ivy, a birthday hug. Photo submitted by Grandma Shari Hebert Schmitz, a member of Clark Electric.
3. Walker and his best friend, Rebel, share a cucumber.
submitted by Erin McElhenny from Eau Claire Energy.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SAFETY CROSSWORD PUZZLE
As you gear up for a new school year, remember to practice electrical safety in the classroom and at home. From powering electronic devices to spending time outdoors with friends, always play it safe around electricity.
Read the clues below to complete the crossword puzzle, then double check your answers in the key.
ACROSS:
1. Never insert anything other than this into an electrical outlet.
4. When outdoors, stay away from these big green boxes that lower electricity voltage. DOWN:
1. Never play around these when you’re outside; you can get hurt!
2. Don’t yank on a when unplugging it. Instead, grab the base and pull from there.
3. Always make sure your hands are before plugging anything in.
