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February 2016

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Contents Volume 70, Number 2, February 2016

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Staff

Editor Wayne Price

Editorial Assistant Tina Schweitzer Published by the

Visit us at www.nrea.org General Manager Troy Bredenkamp

Vice President/Secretary David Keener, Niobrara Electric Association, Inc. Treasurer Butch Gray, Cornhusker Public Power District.

Branched Oak Farm

The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by Quad Graphics, 2300 Brown Ave., Waseca, MN 56093. 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. Rates: $10 for one year; $15 for two years; $20 for three years, plus local and state tax.

Branched Oak Farm is a certified organic dairy in Lancaster County, about 16 miles north of Lincoln, Neb. They specialize in European farmstead cheeses such as Mozzarella, Camembert, Gouda, Swiss and Quark. Krista and Doug Dittman own and operate the farm.

The Electric Grid in the Digital Age

Reliability and security concerns have reshaped the electric grid’s regulatory and operational structure, and renewable energy, environmental requirements and new technology are changing many aspects of the industry.

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.

Features

Departments EDITOR’S PAGE

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by Pat Keegan

RECIPES

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS

On the cover Ben Gotshall milks the cows at Branched Oak Farms near Raymond, Neb. See the related story on page 6. Photograph by Wayne Price.

February 2016

Zip up your thermal envelope to save energy EDITOR’S PAGE

or most of my childhood my bedroom did not have heat or air conditioning. The house was a two-story farmhouse that had a propane stove and a window air conditioner in the kitchen. I guess the idea was that the air would make its way to the other rooms. Unfortunately the only way it could make it upstairs to my bedroom was if the door at the bottom of the stairs got left open, which didn’t happen very often. I have a strong suspicion that the house was lacking in proper insulation. But watching the curtains flutter during a good breeze outside seemed to be an indicator of something much worse...air invasion. One of the biggest culprits to having high energy bills is having an uninsulated, unsealed building envelope. There are many ways to lower home energy bills, but first you have to identify and stop air infiltration. A home’s “thermal envelope” separates you from outside elements. It’s like wearing a nice coat when it’s cold: If you zip up your coat, you’re snug and warm, but if it hangs open, you’re left freezing. By properly sealing the building envelope and creating air barriers, and then installing insulation, you keep hot air out in summer and cold air out in winter. Sealing your home’s thermal envelope involves applying caulk and foam to cracks

F by Wayne Price

and gaps and correctly installing insulation. If the insulation isn’t put in well, it’s not doing its job. Typically, incorrectly placed insulation leaves gaps between walls and doors or windows, or where the ceiling meets the walls. If there’s a gap in insulation, heat gets through. These gaps can range from the thickness of a sheet of paper to much larger holes, like where your cable or telephone wires enter the house. Understanding that you have air infiltration is only half the battle. You have to find and stop the invaders. The first step requires putting a ‘tight lid’ on a house because heated air rises and will work its way out of the living space. If your local public power district or electric cooperative offers home energy audits, take advantage of them. A blower door test will show you how much air flows in and out of the house each hour. And while the home is depressurized, you or your energy advisor can walk through the house with a special smoke pencil to see where you’re having air flow. A thermal imaging camera is even more dependable for locating air flow. The bottom line: If air is getting through, your energy bills will go up and you won’t be comfortable.

NREA President Ron Jensen, 76, passes away

Ronald Curtis Jensen, 76, of Burwell, Nebraska died January 7, 2016. Jensen was first elected to Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District board of directors in November, 1984, beginning his first 6-year term on January 21, 1985. He had been re-elected five times over these past 31 years. He was elected vice president of the board in January, 1997, and then elected president of the board in January, 2000, where he served until his death. He had just been elected president of the board of the Nebraska Rural Electric Association last December, a feat he had been pursuing for several years. Jensen was born February 11, 1939 in Ord, Nebraska to Curtis and Grace (Hughes) Jensen. He graduated from North Loup High School in 1956. He was working as a carpenter when he married Georgene Kelley on August

20, 1961 in Burwell. They lived in Valley County where he worked for a cattle feeder. He was drafted into the United States Army and heand Georgene lived in Germany for two years. After he was honorably discharged he worked for Cox and Horner Irrigation and later purchased the business. He enjoyed all Nebraska sports and hunting. He was a member and president of the Nebraska Well Drillers Association, Loup ValleyPublic Power District, the Burwell School Board and the Ord Co-Op. He is survived by his wife Georgene Jensen of Burwell. Three children, Wade and Holly Jensen of Burwell, Mark and Randi Jensen of Burwell and Kelley and John Ostrom of Dodge City, Kansas. Sixteen grandchildren and a sister, Kathy and David Gottlob of Canada.

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Farm to fork Branched Oak Farm offers certified organic dairy products

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Left: Ben Gotshall milks the herd of Jersey cows twice a day. Below: Krista and Doug Dittman started Branched Oak Farm in 2003. Bottom: Katie Justman, right, and Angie Kubalek work on an order of mozzarella for a local restaurant.

he owners of Branched Oak Farm are taking their cheese and other farm fresh products straight to the table with the opening of the Hub Cafe in Lincoln. The cafe is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;farm to forkâ&#x20AC;? business where nearly all of the food served is grown or produced right in the area around Lincoln. The Hub Cafe is located at 21st and Q streets. Cafe fare includes locally roasted specialty coffee drinks. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus feature delicious, locally-sourced small plates for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. All-day brunch on the weekends will be offered as well as happy hour selections weekday afternoons. The cafe will open early February, Wednesday-Sunday 7:30am-10pm. Branched Oak Farm is a certified organic dairy in Lancaster County, about 16 miles north of Lincoln, Neb. They specialize in European farmstead cheeses such as Mozzarella, Camembert, Gouda, Swiss and Quark. Krista and Doug Dittman own and operate the farm, which was purchased from his grandfather. The farm is served electrically by Norris Public Power District.

More on Page 8

February 2016

Left: Drew Nelson shapes mozzarella into a ball. Center: The Hub Cafe is located at 21st and Q Streets in Lincoln. Right: Ben Gotshall feeds the cows after milking. Bottom: Krista Dittman stretches fresh mozzarella cheese.

Branched Oak Farm From page 7 When they moved to the farm in 1999 Krista was working as a German teacher at Doane College. They started with grass-fed beef and a few free-range chickens and made the switch to a dairy operation in 2003. They visited dairies in Wisconsin, California, and Vermont to learn the art of cheese-making. The 240 acre farm is divided into pasture and CRP land. Ben Gotshall manages the 50 head of Jersey cows. There are 29 cows in the A-team used for the farm’s milk production. The B-team cows are breeders and nurse cows. The cows are milked twice a day in a New Zealand style milking parlor that has seven milking stations. They are milked year-round in order to keep the commercial accounts active throughout the year. Jersey cows are a smaller breed and cheaper to keep. They produce 3 to 4 gallons of milk per cow per day. The pasture ground is fenced off into smaller sections where the cows are allowed to graze, rather than having the entire pasture available all at once. “Doug is a soils guy,” said Krista. “The cheese we make is only as good as the soils we have.”

The Dittmans are committed to being good stewards of their land. Everything is done with a purpose in mind. Doug is planting burr oak trees throughout the pasture to create an “oak savannah” to provide shade and shelter for the cows. Chickens on the farm produce eggs and help keep the grasshopper population down. Bluebird boxes are located on fence posts around the farm to attract these beautiful birds. “We want to preserve the land and create farmstead products that are healthy and wholesome,” Krista said. “People like knowing where their food is coming from.” Most of the milk produced by their herd of cows is used exclusively in their farmstead cheeses. Krista makes 12 varieties of cheese including Camembert, similar to Brie; Havarti; Mozzarella; and Gouda infused with nettles in the spring and with cumin in the fall.

Some of the milk is used to make yogurt or is sold in bottles. “We have a huge advantage, starting with good milk,” Krista said. “We have the champagne of milk, high quality and grass-fed.” The cheese, aged or not, starts at the curd stage. But from there, the process changes. The cheese is put into a form that’s the shape of a loaf or a round, depending on the cheese, and the curds get pressed into it for anywhere from two to 18 hours. After the pressing, the cheeses go into a salt brine, and based on weight, stay there from 24 to 72 hours. Cheeses to be aged come out of the brine, are dried on boards and then are placed in a climatecontrolled room on wooden shelves, where they will stay for a minimum of 60 days or as long as 14 months. A portion of the cheese they make is sold directly to restaurants in Lincoln and Omaha. They also sell ground beef and they have added pork products. The pigs are a nice compliment to the dairy operation because they eat the whey that’s produced from the cheese process. The “Inconvenience Store” is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the farm, 17015 N.W. 70th St., near Raymond. You can also buy their products in Lincoln at Open Harvest, Ideal Grocery, and Whole Foods.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Highway bill streamlines safety rule for oil by rail by Blake Sobczak

$305 billion transportation funding bill that President Obama signed into law last December is set to tweak parts of a sweeping oil-by-rail safety rule enacted earlier this year. The five-year highway reauthorization, dubbed the “Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act,” or the FAST Act, would close what critics saw as a loophole in new Department of Transportation regulations to retire older, explosionprone tank cars. Recent crude and ethanol rail accidents, including a 2013 oil train derailment and explosion in Canada that killed 47 people, have drawn heightened scrutiny to tank car safety across North America. In a rule responding to these disasters, DOT set deadlines for phasing out certain tank car models from crude, ethanol or flammable liquid service. The complex schedule drew criticism from many industry and environmental groups for its scope: The rules apply only to “highhazard” trains with 20 or more crude-laden tank cars in a row, or 35 cars total spread throughout the train. There is an additional category for high-hazard flammable “unit” trains of 70 or more loaded cars. The FAST Act cuts through these distinctions by requiring all tank cars to be upgraded by DOT’s deadlines “regardless of train composition.” The bill nixes the ability for shippers to keep using outdated tanks by stringing 19 or fewer cars together, dodging DOT’s threshold. Oil and tank car industry sources said the legislation will do little to change shippers’ approach to the tank car deadlines, the first of which looms in 2018. Tom Simpson, president of the Railway Supply Institute, noted that tank car owners

February 2016

don’t get to decide how their equipment is assembled into a train. To be on the safe side, they would treat the deadlines as though they applied to all cars, the logic goes. Simpson said he thought DOT’s “high-hazard” designations “were unworkable, in that any tank car at any time could be in a unit train.” In the first quarter of 2015, about 100,000 shipments of flammable liquids moved in small batches that would not have fallen under DOT’s rule, according to figures from the Association of American Railroads. AAR has also supported the FAST Act on the grounds that it closes a “gap” in DOT’s original approach, a spokesman noted. “The AAR’s position has always been that the tank car rule was a good start, but didn’t advance safety as much as it could,” said Ed Hamberger, AAR president. Enacting the FAST Act puts the United States on a closer footing with Canada, where tank car rules apply to all cars carrying crude, not

just groups of 20 or more. Karen Darch, village president of Barrington, Ill., which has seen various hazardous liquid traffic pass by in the past, said she was “really pleased that the legislation does cover that loophole.” “It makes the law apply to all tank cars, so we were really happy to see that, as well as a few other parts of the FAST Act that went beyond where the rules are,” she said. Those areas include adding “thermal blankets” on new tank cars to lower the chance of a breach in a fire. The bill also requires extra top fittings protection for older cars that get repairs. Finally, the legislation gives chemical shippers until 2029 -- an extra four years compared to DOT’s rule -- to fix or scrap older-model cars used for less-flammable liquids. An industry source said the updates provide some welcome “breathing room” for repairing cars that aren’t hauling crude or ethanol. Source: EnergyWire

Monarch butterfly population to get boost from seeding project at Beatrice Power Station An iconic insect on the decline in Nebraska will be getting an opportunity to grow. 50 acre tract of land near Beatrice, owned by Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), will become a new breeding ground for the Monarch butterfly. NPPD and the Save Our Monarchs Foundation have joined together in an effort to provide a viable location to encourage the growth of the Monarch butterfly and other invertebrates. NPPD has signed an agreement with the Foundation to utilize approximately 50 acres of unused land west of its Beatrice Power Station to seed for milkweeds and other native flowering plants in an effort to help the Monarch butterfly population grow. NPPD Board member Mary Harding was first approached about the possibility of utilizing any available NPPD land. “This is a worthwhile environmental project that will help the Monarch population in Nebraska into the future,” she explained. “This is a great project for NPPD to be involved with the Save Our Monarch Foundation and is a great opportunity to help

replenish a population that has been declining in the state and throughout the country.” NPPD initially worked with the Foundation to find a location that would be suitable and provide a large enough area to develop a new habitat “In many of our locations where we have a power plant we also have land that is not being used and acts as a buffer area,” said Rocky Plettner, environmental specialist for NPPD. The District looked at numerous locations and decided on a former sandpit area along the Big Blue River west of the Beatrice Power Station. “Nebraska sits in the heart of the Monarch butterfly flyway, and is a significant reproductive and migratory area for these iconic insects. Monarchs and other pollinators play a powerful role in the cycle of life that sustains us, while healthy, balanced ecosystems of native plants provide vital benefits to Nebraskans, from the clean water we drink to the clean air we breathe,” said Program Director for the Save Our Monarchs Foundation, Randall

Rocky Plettner, an environmental specialist at NPPD, (right) and a worker for Save Our Monarchs cover a section of unused land with seed for milkweed and other native flowering plants at the Beatrice Power Station.

Gilbert. “Finding available land from a public entity where we could plant the necessary seeds for milkweed and other pollinator plants was our program’s goal, and the willingness of NPPD to assist us is invaluable to our organization. Actions like these will help make a significant impact on the recovery of the Monarch butterfly population.” Monarch butterflies made headline news in 2014 when the numbers of them hibernating in Mexico plunged to the lowest level since record-keeping began, down 90 percent since 1996. One of the primary causes of this decline is the loss of milkweed (the Monarch caterpillar’s only source of sustenance), which is disappearing across the country, with over one million acres of habitat lost since 2008 in Nebraska alone. After hibernating in Mexico, the Monarchs begin their long journey north in February or March. In the spring, this same generation of Monarchs will settle in the Monarch flyway, which includes Nebraska. These butterflies will reproduce, laying their eggs only on milkweed, and create subsequent generations that will return to Mexico in the fall. There are up to five successive generations of Monarchs born before the migration begins. It is still unknown how the Monarchs find their way back to Mexico each year, and their migration remains one of Earth’s great animal mysteries. The Save Our Monarchs Foundation assessed different parcels of land owned or controlled by NPPD in several distinct ecosystems throughout the state. The Beatrice location will be the first site of intensive, high-density seeding of native milkweed and pollinator plants under this project created to serve as an example of the habitat restorations that other rightof-way and public landholders in Nebraska could undertake. Research findings from the monitoring of this and subsequent NPPD restoration sites will be compiled in order to share, with the goal of inspiring similar restoration efforts.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

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How the vast electric grid got ready for the digital age by Paul Wesslund

he 211,000 miles of highvoltage transmission lines—that are part of the network that brings electricity pretty much wherever and whenever you want it—are going through a massive makeover to keep up with equally profound changes in the world of energy, environmental rules and digital technology. Annual spending to modernize the transmission system in the U.S. quintupled from 1997 to 2012. The financing structure for that increase of more than $11 billion has changed from one where electric utilities were in charge to one involving a variety of entrepreneurs. Reliability and security concerns have reshaped the grid’s regulatory and operational structure, and renewable energy, environmental requirements and new technology are changing many aspects of the industry. These changes to the way the grid operates bring new complexities. Here are a few facts about the intricate electric grid: • The science of electricity is that it must be used at the same time it’s created, requiring mind-boggling coordination between power plants that might be hundreds of miles from where you decide to turn on your TV. • According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in addition to transmission lines, the electric grid is made up of 6.3 million miles of smaller distribution lines and more than 6,000 power plants. • That network delivers electricity to 159 million homes, businesses and industrial plants. If you ask me, all this adds up to an electric utility revolution. But Paul McCurley, chief engineer and acting director of Energy and Power for the

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, calls it an “evolution” that he explains by referring back to the 1990s, when deregulation was changing the shape of industries from airlines to telephones. One of the forms deregulation took for the electricity industry was to change who was in charge of building transmission lines. Traditionally, the utilities that generated electricity and delivered it to homes and businesses also built the transmission lines that carried it from power plants to distribution wires. But a series of court cases and new rules allowed entrepreneurs to build, finance and make money off those high-cost projects. Two other long-term developments intersected with this reshaped landscape of electric transmission ownership. One was a reaction to a few notable power blackouts, beginning with a 1965 outage that affected 30 million people in the Northeast United States. Nearly 40 years later, in 2003, a tree branch fell on a power line in a Cleveland suburb, triggering a series of shutdowns that swept through Canada to New England and New York City, cutting power to 50 million people. That event accelerated a regulatory process that by 2007 established mandatory reliability standards enforced by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), a not-for-profit corporation funded through assessments of the utilities and others that are part or the electricity system. Those standards cover everything from regional planning and coordination to tree trimming.

The second development was a change in what was being expected of the grid. Instead of transmission lines carrying electricity from power plants to distribution lines, rising demand for electricity and the regional planning rules had electricity being routed around the nation in new ways. The grid also had to start accommodating a larger number of dispersed power plants that ran on natural gas, which offered more flexibility than coal in operating response, ease of construction and meeting environmental rules. Increases in solar and wind power meant more transmission lines to carry electricity from the windy prairies and sunny deserts to the places where people live and use electricity. Smart grid technology and distributed energy also added two-way flows of both electricity and digital information as customers with smaller solar and wind generators became interested in selling their electricity back to the utility. Utility experts warned that the grid was not built for these new uses and desperately needed upgrades to accommodate increasing numbers of intermittent resources. With reliability rules in place and options for nonutility financing, transmission construction started to take off. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that spending on new electricity transmission by major investors and privately owned companies increased from $2.7 billion in 1997 to $14.1 billion in 2012. NRECA’s McCurley calls the past 25 years of change to the transmission system a “success story” for making the network more reliable and better able to plan for the future.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

February 2016

high-tech

Residential lighting goes

ntil recently, homes were lit with a single technology— incandescent lamps. This is the bulb that generations of Americans learned by, lived by—and even ate by. But those days are long gone. Over the past 20 years, electric coops have promoted efficient lighting by adding CFLs to the mix. In 2012, about 30 percent of U.S. residential sockets were filled with CFLs, with incandescents making up the remaining 70 percent. Today, LED bulbs and fixtures are increasingly preferred in many residential and commercial applications for their efficiency, quality of light and compatibility with automatic controls. Changes to federal lighting standards went into effect for incandescent bulbs in 2007, when Congress passed and President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), which included provisions to reduce the energy use of everyday light bulbs. At the same time, through industry efforts and government investment, LEDs dramatically improved in performance and dropped in price, making them appealing options for many applications. In the first quarter of 2015, traditional incandescents accounted for just nine percent of the market share in household lighting. EISAcompliant halogen incandescent replacements made up more than 44 percent of the market, with CFLs at 40 percent. And although the

percentage of LED sales has increased dramatically over the last year, they made up just over 6 percent of the market share in the first quarter of 2015. LEDs offer features beyond energy efficiency. Some LEDs are part of a system that allows the user to turn off lamps – or even change their color – via a smartphone app. This makes the LED lamp more of a consumer electronic than just a light bulb. LEDs are essentially computer chips, so they are more difficult to produce than incandescent bulbs. This is one product where cheaper versions often produce a life span and color that is not what the consumer wants. Higher quality LEDs from reputable brands—such as GE, Philips, Cree and Sylvania to

name a few—have tested well. However, some fixtures inside the home do not work well with LEDs. Consumers with older dimmer switches often find that they must purchase newer switches to work with the LEDs. Consumers should pick LED lamps that come with a solid warranty in case there is a problem with quality. What’s next? While LEDs are still on the cusp of becoming our everyday lighting, there are other technologies in development. Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) are similar to LEDs in that they are solid-state devices that produce light when current passes through them. But unlike LEDs, they are made up of multiple, organic semi-conductive layers that produce diffused light. OLEDs are extremely thin and flexible, which has enabled them to be effectively used in displays, like mobile phone screens and TVs. Manufacturers are developing OLED lighting as well—primarily for decorative architectural panels at this point, although some OLED lamps are available today. It appears that the age of the LED has begun. They are shatter resistant and have a long life. And yes, some even come with their own app.

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Why rural electric utilities replace utility poles SAFETY BRIEFS

ou probably donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay much attention to the utility poles found throughout the state, but did you know these tall structures are the backbone of our rural electric distribution network? Strong, sturdy utility poles ensure a reliable electric system, which is why we routinely inspect the thousands of poles found on power lines in Nebraska. Throughout the year, crews check poles for decay caused by exposure to the elements. They know which poles are oldest and conduct inspections through a rotational process. Typically, a standard wooden distribution pole is expected to last more than 50 years. Occasionally, poles need to be replaced for other reasons besides decay and old age. Weather disasters, power line relocation and car crashes are potential causes for immediate replacement. When possible, the local rural electric system communicates when and where pole replacements will take place so that you stay informed of where crews will be working. Here is a quick breakdown of how

crews replace a utility pole: When a pole needs to be replaced, crews will start the process by digging a hole, typically next to the pole being replaced. The depth of the hole must be 15 percent of the new poleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s height. Next, the new pole must be fitted with bolts, cross arms, insulators, ground wires and arm braces â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all of the necessary parts for delivering safe and reliable electricity. Then, crews

safely detach the power lines from the old pole. The new pole is then raised and guided carefully into position, and the lines are attached, leaving the new pole to do its job. So, the next time you come across a utility crew replacing a pole, use caution and know that this process ensures a more reliable electric system for you, a rural electric consumer.

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Keeping your pets (and your energy bill) comfortable by Pat Keegan I recently adopted a dog, but I Q :work during the day. I want to make sure he stays comfortable without making my electrical bill go haywire. Can you offer any tips? : Congratulations on your new

A furry family member! It’s a good idea to think about your energy bills. I remember working with a homeowner concerned about their high energy bills and discovered an uninsulated double garage was being heated all winter to keep the dog warm! Keeping your pet comfortable and entertained when you’re away doesn’t have to take a bite out of your energy bill. Pet owners often assume their indoor pets want the same level of cooling and heating as the rest of the family. However, most dogs and cats can be comfortable with a wider range of temperatures. An exception might be an older pet or one with medical issues, which might require consultation with your veterinarian. Here are a few tips to keep your pet cozy without cranking up the thermostat: • A cozy, insulated doghouse might be all your outdoor dog needs, except on the very coldest days. • Make sure that your indoor pet has a warm place to sleep, like a pet bed with a blanket. Consider giving him a few sleeping options throughout your home in different temperature zones, so your pet can adjust his comfort as needed. • If you have a very drafty home or an older pet who may appreciate more warmth, a heated pet bed or bed warmer will use far less energy than running your central heating high all day. This solution can also be good for those who keep their pets in

the garage and worry about them staying warm enough. Instead of heating a large, uninsulated space, provide a nice warm bed! If you only plug in the heated beds when needed, they will use far less energy. Those with unique pets, like birds or lizards, may need to keep them in warmer environments. Consider moving these pets to a room that can be easily kept warm, but note that this may change over the course of a year. David Bopp, an energy advisor at Flathead Electric Cooperative in Montana, shared that he performed an energy audit for a member with tropical birds kept in a sunroom at more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. While this temperature was easy to reach in the summer, winter weather – combined with the sunroom’s windows – resulted in very high heating bills. Pet doors are popular, but they can also be a major air leak that drives up your energy use. When

purchasing a pet door, make sure it has energy-efficient features, like thick construction, weather sealing and the ability to be closed off when not in use. Some newer models have magnet or battery locks: a small magnet or sensor on your pet’s collar opens the door, and the rest of the time, the door is shut tight, keeping out other critters – as well as blowing wind and snow! Some people also leave their televisions or radios on while they’re away, thinking that the voices will keep their pets from being bored (and destroying their shoes!). However, there are ways other than flipping a switch to keep your pooches and kitties entertained. Exercising your pet when you’re home and giving them a variety of toys or a nice perch to see out a window when you leave will be more entertaining and less energy intensive than a TV. If you must leave something on when you’re away, try soothing, calm music instead of a blaring TV. We all love our furry family members, but remember, keeping them comfortable doesn’t mean you have to pay more on your monthly bill.

Prepare for the dog days of summer

When summer comes, you don’t need to leave the air conditioning on full blast for Spot and Fluffy. Dogs and cats have higher body temperatures than humans, and they are comfortable with temperatures between 78 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, dogs and cats sweat differently than humans, so running fans will not have the same effect it has on you. Other ways to keep your pets comfortable when it’s warm out include: • For indoor pets, keep shades drawn and direct light filtered. Provide cool areas to rest, such as a basement or a tile floor with a cooling mat. For outdoor pets, provide a shady spot with plenty of airflow, such as under a tree or a tarp. • Give them plenty of water, perhaps with ice, and cool treats, like peanut butter popsicles. • Exercise pets during the cooler parts of the day to prevent heat fatigue.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

IANR establishes Nebraska State Climate Office he Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has established the Nebraska State Climate Office within the UNL School of Natural Resources. The office will serve as the primary source of climate information for Nebraska. By forming a state climate office, IANR is adding resources to help the state climatologist serve the needs of Nebraskans. Initially, employees in the office will be focused on identifying services, monitoring climate and user engagement, especially in the agriculture sector. “People use climate data for many different reasons so we’ll be assessing who’s regularly using our data and identifying ways we can better serve them,” said Martha Shulski, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources and the newly named state climate office director and state

climatologist. Primary groups the state climate office will support include Nebraska Extension, UNL departments in need of timely weather and climate data for research and extension and a wide range of external stakeholders. The data managed by the state climate office will come from a network of weather stations, termed the “Nebraska Mesonet,” at locations across the state. The network is made up of 69 stations that are supported by the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and individual station cooperators such as some of the Nebraska Natural Resource Districts. Previously the network was managed by the High Plains Regional Climate Center. However, these operations will transition to the state climate office, which will allow HPRCC to focus on needs for a broader region which includes Nebraska, North

Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Kansas. “Nebraska is a state with excellent natural resources,” said IANR Associate Vice Chancellor Ron Yoder. “The Nebraska State Climate Office will ensure that we continue to manage those resources efficiently.” The office will hold a membership with the American Association of State Climatologists, which works to support a society in which climate-sensitive decisions are guided by science-based information derived from historical and current observed climate and scenarios of future climate. Along with Shulski, others working in the state climate office will be Al Dutcher, associate state climatologist; Stonie Cooper, mesonet technical administrator; Glen Roebke, mesonet manager; and partial appointments for Shellie Hanneman, HPRCC data quality technician; and Eric Hunt, research applications specialist. In addition, several faculty members will have affiliations with the office.

Clogged, Backed—up Septic System…Can anything Restore It? Dear Darryl DEAR DARRYL: My home is about 10 years old, and so is my septic system. I have always taken pride in keeping my home and property in top shape. In fact, my neighbors and I are always kidding each other about who keeps their home and yard nicest. Lately, however, I have had a horrible smell in my yard, and also in one of my bathrooms, coming from the shower drain. My grass is muddy and all the drains in my home are very slow.

My wife is on my back to make the bathroom stop smelling and as you can imagine, my neighbors are having a field day, kidding me about the mud pit and sewage stench in my yard. It’s humiliating. I called a plumber buddy of mine, who recommended pumping (and maybe even replacing) my septic system. But at the potential cost of thousands of dollars, I hate to explore that option. I tried the store bought, so called, Septic treatments out there, and they did Nothing to clear up my problem. Is there anything on the market I can pour or flush into my system that will restore it to normal, and keep it maintained? Clogged and Smelly – 2PDKD, NE

February 2016

DEAR CLOGGED AND SMELLY: As a reader of my column, I am sure you are aware that I have a great deal of experience in this particular field. You will be glad to know that there IS a septic solution that will solve your back-up and effectively restore your entire system from interior piping throughout the septic system and even unclog the drain field as well. SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs deliver your system the fast active bacteria and enzymes needed to liquefy solid waste and free the clogs causing your back-up. This fast-acting bacteria multiplies within minutes of application and is specifically designed to withstand many of today’s anti-bacterial cleaners, soaps and detergents. It comes in dissolvable plastic packs, that you just flush down your toilets. It’s so cool. Plus, they actually Guarantee that it restores ANY system, no matter how bad the problem is.

SeptiCleanse® Shock and Maintenance Programs are designed to work on any septic system regardless of design or age. From modern day systems to sand mounds, and systems installed generations ago, I have personally seen SeptiCleanse unclog and restore these systems in a matter of weeks. I highly recommend that you try it before spending any money on repairs. SeptiCleanse products are available online at www.septicleanse.com or you can order or learn more by calling toll free at 1-888-899-8345. If you use the promo code “NESEPT ”, you can get a free shock treatment, added to your order, which normally costs $169. So, make sure you use that code when you call or buy online.

Down Home Recipes

Make your game day party extra ‘super’ hen game day arrives and friends and family are gathered around the big screen to cheer your team to victory, the only thing missing is some great grub to make the celebration complete. Putting together an all-star spread is actually easier than you may think. Simple recipes featuring high-quality ingredients make it possible to serve up big flavor without a lot of fuss. Follow these tips to score a game day menu that will let your guests enjoy themselves to the fullest.

Create a DIY pizza station Prepare dough ahead of time or purchase individual serving size crusts and invite guests to make their own personal pizzas. Provide an array of fresh veggies, meats and herbs for endless combinations. Don’t forget plenty of quality cheese, and for a special twist, add some unexpected flavors, such as Jarlsberg Brand Cheese. Best known as a classic wedge, this nutty, mild cheese is also wonderful shredded for a uniquely delicious pizza flavor. Get guests started with this Cheese and Mushroom Pizza and then invite them to get creative on their own.

Top it off right No game day party is complete without chips and dip. Take your nachos to another level with premium toppings such these Barbecue Chicken Nachos. Other upgraded topping options: grilled steak or chicken, grilled corn and onions, a variety of flavorful cheeses, homemade guacamole, diced fresh veggies, seasoned olives and spices, such as Cajun or Caribbean jerk. Source: Jarlsberg.com

Barbecue Chicken Nachos 1 rotisserie chicken 1 cup barbecue sauce nacho chips 1 cup shredded Jarlsberg cheese 1/4 cup chopped green onion sour cream (optional)

Jalapeno Poppers 16 whole jalapeno peppers, rinsed and drained 2 logs (4 oz. each) fresh Goat cheese 1 cup shredded Jarlsberg cheese

Heat oven to 350 F. Pull white meat off rotisserie chicken and place in mixing bowl. Add barbecue sauce to pulled chicken and gently mix together. Scatter nacho chips on oven-safe dish and place pulled chicken on top. Shred cheese with grater and coat top of chicken. Place in oven for approximately 10 minutes. Sprinkle green onion on top and serve with sour cream, if desired. 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup diced scallions dash of hot sauce cilantro leaves Using small sharp knife, cut slit down one side of each pepper. Leave stem intact and remove seeds and veins.

Rural Electric Nebraskan

Reader Submitted Recipes

1 4 1 1/2 1 1/4 3 2-3

Chicken Mami

(14 ounce) package of egg noodles skinless/boneless chicken thighs (equal to 2 cups) quarts chicken broth medium carrot, sliced thin diagonally head savoy cabbage, cut in thin strips scallions, sliced thin diagonally cloves garlic, mashed and fried til golden brown Fish sauce ground white pepper 1 boiled egg

Cheese & Mushroom Pizza 1

5 2 8

8-10 2

premade pizza dough (14-16 ounces) tablespoons tomato sauce diced Roma tomatoes ounces shredded Jarlsberg cheese ounces grated Parmesean cheese sliced mushrooms teaspoons oregano arugula (optional)

Heat oven to 425 F. Follow premade pizza dough instructions on package. Spread thin layer of tomato sauce and fresh tomatoes on uncooked pizza dough, sprinkle with cheeses, top with mushrooms and finish with oregano. Bake pizza in oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Garnish with arugula, if desired.

In bowl, mash all cheeses, onion and hot sauce. Divide among peppers, stuffing each generously. Refrigerate. (Note: Recipe can be made ahead to this point.) Arrange peppers in heavy aluminum foil packet. Grill 8-10 minutes, or until cheese begins to melt. Garnish with cilantro.

February 2016

Start by boiling the chicken in about 1 cup salted water until all pinkness is gone. Take chicken out of the cooking liquid. Add broth to the same pot at this point. Cool chicken enough to handle, then debone, shred and set aside. Bring your stock to a simmer. Boil egg in salted water then peel and slice when cooled. In the same pot you boiled the egg, poach the carrots and then cabbage. Poach carrots for 3 to 5 minutes and the cabbage just until it turns bright green. Prepare noodles according to package instructions, then transfer to individual bowls. Around the noodles distribute shredded chicken, poached vegetables and scallions. Top with a slice of the hard-boiled egg. Ladle the hot, simmering chicken broth over the top. Top with fried garlic and season to taste with white pepper and fish sauce. Serve immediately.

Gina James, Oconto, Nebraska

1 1/4 4 3/4

Perfect Cornbread

cup sifted all-purpose flour cup sugar tsps. baking powder tsp. salt

1 2 1 1/4

cup yellow cornmeal eggs cup milk cup shortening

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix flour with sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in cornmeal. Add eggs, milk and shortening. Beat only until smooth. (Do not overbeat.) Pour into greased 9” X 9” X 2” pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Jean Reiman, Naper, Nebraska

1 1 1 1 2-3

Chocolate Sweetheart Cake

box chocolate or red velvet cake mix jar butterscotch ice cream sauce can sweetened condensed milk tub Cool Whip Heath bars, crushed

Prepare cake as directed on the box. After taking the baked cake out of the oven, make holes in the top of the cake about 2 inches apart. (Use some kind of round handle to make the holes, like a wood spoon.) Pour butterscotch sauce and sweetened condensed milk over the top of the cake. Spread tub of Cool Whip over that and top with crushed Heath bars. Refrigerate for several hours, then serve.

Marie Bortner, Hershey, Nebraska

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