Rural Electric Nebraskan March 2010

March 2010

March 2010 3

“The Rural Voice of Nebraska”

Volume 64, Number 3, March 2010

Features

Grappling with a changing energy future 6

Public power districts and electric cooperatives, along with otherelectric utilities, have launched several initiatives to limit car-bon emissions while keeping electricity flowing and your electricbill affordable. They are also focusing technology-driven activi-ties on energy efficiency.

10 ways to curb your carbon footprint 12

Smart landscaping can save energy, save you money and reduceyour household’s greenhouse gas emissions. But most folks arealmost clueless when it comes to caring for their lawns and gar-dens in an environmentally friendly manner. Freelance writerJohn Bruce shows you how to reduce the carbon footprint in yourbackyard. .

Departments

On the cover

A Sandhills crane stops for an evening meal in an alfalfa field near ElmCreek, Neb. Photograph by Scott Casper at scottcasperphotography.com

Contents

EDITOR’S PAGE 4

SAFETY BRIEFS — Murphy 16

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS by James Dulley 18

RECIPES 20

ADULT PEN PALS 21

MARKETPLACE/CLASSIFIEDS 22

Staff

Editor

Wayne Price

Editorial Assistant

Kathy Barkmeier

Published by the

Nebraska Rural

Electric Association

Visit us at www.nrea.org

General Manager

Jay Holmquist

President

Barry DeKay,

Niobrara Valley EMC

Vice President/Secretary

Gary Dill,

Roosevelt Public Power District

Treasurer

Randy Papenhausen,

Cedar-Knox Public Power District

Published monthly by the Nebraska Rural Electric

Association, 1244 K Street, Box 82048, Lincoln,

Nebraska 68501, (402) 475-4988.

Advertising in the Rural Electric Nebraskan doesnot imply endorsement for products by theNebraska Rural Electric Association.Correspondence should be sent to Wayne Price,Editor, Rural Electric Nebraskan, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.

The Rural Electric Nebraskan is printed by JacobNorth Companies, Box 82046, Lincoln, NE68501. Form 3579 should be sent to the RuralElectric Nebraskan, Box 82048, Lincoln, NE68501.

Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. POST-MASTER: send address changes to the RuralElectric Nebraskan, 1244 K Street, Box 82048,Lincoln, NE 68501.

Publication numbers are USPS 071-630 andISSN 0193-4937.

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

Rural Electric Nebraskan4

EDITOR’S PAGE

by Wayne Price

y duties as editor of the RuralElectric Nebraskan magazinerequire me to drive a lot. I’ve spent

my fair share of time behind the steeringwheel in pursuit of articles and photographs,driving up and down Nebraska’s interstate,highways and gravel roads. Even a few min-imum maintenance roads, although I try toavoid those in the spring since they are usu-ally impassable. I’m just amazed at the things I’ve seen

other drivers doing behind their steeringwheel. I have seen some funny things butmostly they’ve been a bit scary and down-right dangerous. Many drivers out therethink nothing of talking on their cell phonewhile driving. Some even think reading thenewspaper or a book while they’re driving isjust fine. I must admit these kinds of irre-sponsible drivers are a pet peeve of mine. According to a national survey performed

by FindLaw.com, nine out of 10 driversreport they have been involved in distractingand potentially dangerous activities whiledriving. While many states and municipali-ties are passing or considering laws torestrict activities, such as sending text mes-sages or using cell phones while driving, thesurvey found that nearly all drivers (91 per-cent) admit to trying to multitask whilebehind the wheel, with potentially danger-ous consequences. I am not without fault as a driver myself.

The two highest scoring events in the surveywere drinking a beverage and eating. I’mguilty of doing both of those. Eating sun-flower seeds while I’m driving long distancesis a vice I just can’t seem to break. “Multitasking may be great in the office,

but is often dangerous and illegal behind thewheel,” said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorneyand editor with FindLaw.com. “Many statesand localities have laws specifically prohibit-ing activities such as using a cell phone orsending a text message while driving. Inaddition, several states have laws that holddrivers accountable for distractions thatcould contribute to an accident.” Certain distracting activities are particu-

larly prevalent among younger drivers. Morethan half of drivers between the ages of 18and 34 say they have sent or received a text

message while driving. One out of ten admitto having sent or received emails or surfedthe Internet while behind the wheel.According to the FindLaw survey, the most

common events people say they haveengaged in while driving are: • Drinking coffee or beverages - 81 percent • Eating - 76 percent • Talking on a cell phone - 66 percent • Sending or receiving text messages - 29

percent • Applying makeup - 11 percent (21 per-

cent of women drivers) • Sending or receiving email - 8 percent • Reading a book or newspaper - 7 percent • Surfing the Internet - 5 percent In January, the Transportation

Department began prohibiting truck andbus drivers from sending text messages onhand-held devices while operating commer-cial vehicles.The prohibition applies to drivers of inter-

state buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds.Truck and bus drivers who text while driv-ing commercial vehicles may be subject tocivil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750,the department said.The trucking industry supports limiting

the use of electronic devices that distractdrivers. The trade association for the wire-less industry, CTIA, also supports a ban ontexting and e-mailing while driving.Research by the Federal Motor Carrier

Safety Administration shows that driverswho send and receive text messages taketheir eyes off the road for an average of 4.6seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting,the department said. At 55 miles per hour,this means that the driver is traveling thelength of a football field, including the endzones, without looking at the road, thedepartment said.Nebraska state law defines reckless driv-

ing as “any person who drives any motorvehicle in such a manner as to indicate anindifferent or wanton disregard for the safe-ty of persons or property shall be guilty ofreckless driving.” In my mind, a person driv-ing down the highway at 60 miles per hourwhile reading a book that’s resting on thesteering wheel is showing a disregard for thesafety of everyone else on the road.

MMulti-tasking is dangerous behind the wheel

Grappling with a changing energy future

or decades, rural electric utilitiesacross the country have relied onfossil fuels to do most of the

grunt work, burning coal andnatural gas to create steam,spin turbines, and generateelectricity. While fossilfuels remain the mostcost-effective way tocreate massiveamounts of electrici-ty, that may not bethe case in thefuture. Looming govern-

ment regulationstargeting climatechange and carbondioxide will add tothe costs of operat-ing fossil fuel-firedpower plants. As thecost of generatingelectricity goes up, thecost to consumersinevitably goes up with it.As a result, public power dis-tricts and electric cooperatives,along with other electric utilities,have launched several initiatives tolimit carbon emissions while keepingelectricity flowing and your electric billaffordable.

Looming RegulationsIn December 2009, the U.S.

Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) declared thatsix greenhouse gases,including carbon diox-ide, are “endangeringpublic health andwelfare” of currentand future genera-tions. Emissionsfrom motor vehi-cles of four ofthose green-house gases,including car-bon dioxide,were also said tocontribute to airpollution.The action comesin response to a2007 U.S. SupremeCourt decision(Massachusetts v.

EPA) that opened thedoor to regulation of

greenhouse gases under thefederal Clean Air Act.“The Clean Air Act as written

was never designed to deal with carbondioxide, and it could be awkward at bestand probably a disaster, at worst,” warns

Rural Electric Nebraskan6

Grappling with a changing energy future

F

Searching for new ways to keep electricity affordable in the face of federal carbon regulation

by Scott Gates

Glenn English, CEO of theArlington, Va.-based National RuralElectric Cooperative Association(NRECA).In addition to potential carbon

regulation from EPA, Congress ismulling over its own set of regula-tions, and English urges PPD andelectric co-op members to continueto ask that any resulting legislationbe fair, affordable, and technologi-cally achievable. If passed,Congressional legislation shouldalso preempt use of any other exist-ing laws—like the Clean Air Act—inorder to avoid a regulatory disasterthat would only add to costs for con-sumers.“Regulation of carbon dioxide as a

pollutant will occur with or withoutcongressional input,” Englishexplains. “But Congress must notsimply add new legislation on top ofold regulations. Any climate changebill should become the roadmap—the single strategy—for reducingcarbon dioxide emissions at federal,state, and local levels. By stayingengaged in the process, we can havea measureable impact on the out-come in order to keep electric billsaffordable.”

A Smarter Way of Doing BusinessOnce regulations are in place,whether under the Clean Air Act orfrom Congress, public power dis-tricts and electric co-ops will befaced with the daunting task ofmeeting our nation’s growing elec-tricity demands while finding clean-er ways to burn fossil fuels. Sincecoal, natural gas, and other fossilfuels currently account for morethan 70 percent of all electricitygenerated in the United States, newtechnology will be key to keepingthe lights on. Cleaner use of fossilfuels, an increased use of renewableenergy, and a big commitment toenergy efficiency will all be neces-sary.Public power districts and electric

co-ops, as they have done fordecades, are indeed focusing tech-nology-driven activities on energyefficiency. Simply using electricitymore efficiently in residential, com-

mercial, and industrial sectors couldlead to total energy savings of 236billion kWh by 2030, according tothe Electric Power ResearchInstitute (EPRI), a non-profit, utili-ty-sponsored consortium based inPalo Alto, Calif., whose membersinclude public power districts andelectric co-ops. That’s a lot of power:equivalent to the electricity used ina year by New York City—14 timesover.A more efficient electric grid—

often called a “smart grid”—couldprovide rural electric utilities with a

big payoff. More than 50 co-ops andpublic power districts in 15 statesrecently captured U.S. Departmentof Energy smart grid investmentgrants, a part of the AmericanRecovery and Reinvestment Act of2009 (better known as the federalstimulus bill).The not-for-profit utilities are

receiving more than $215 million ofthe $3.4 billion total awarded,amounts they will match with theirown funds.

March 2010 7

Please turn to page 8

Paul Cowan, a journeyman/lineman at Seward PPD, removes the cover to show

the computerized interior of a smart meter. Photograph by Wayne Price

In addition, NRECA’s CooperativeResearch Network (CRN) received a$33.9 million smart grid grant for awide-ranging project that bringstogether 27 electric co-ops in 10states. Local co-ops will match thegrant money awarded, creating apool of nearly $68 million for tech-nology development.“Cooperatives, who are leading

the industry in the deployment ofsmart meter infrastructure, havethe potential to drive the nationaleffort to understand which smartgrid technologies work best and arecost effective,” remarks NRECA’sEnglish.Public power districts and electric

co-ops are well-positioned toadvance the implementation of asmart grid. Their use of advanced, or“smart,” electric meters, a funda-mental smart grid technology,jumped from 3.8 percent in 2006 to16.4 percent in 2008—well abovethe industry as a whole—accordingto the Federal Energy RegulatoryCommission (FERC). Approximatelyhalf of all public power districts andelectric co-ops have installed atleast some advanced metering infra-structure (AMI) on their systems,and some 30 percent of rural electricutilities have begun to integrateAMI with other systems, accordingto NRECA. AMI includes devicesand software applications thatenable two-way communicationswith smart meters and provide elec-tric utilities, using frequent meterreads, with near real-time oversightof system operations.Seward Public Power District is

one such utility that has integratedadvanced metering into its operat-ing system. They have installedmore than 4,000 smart meters andplan to install another 1,000.“We’re able to show a customer

the exact amount of electricity theyhave been using during a given peri-od,” said Tim Pozehl, a consumerservices representative at SewardPPD.

Readings are automaticallyentered into the billing system atthe end of a billing cycle to generatea customer’s bill. This saves bothtime and money for the district. Allresidential customers of SewardPPD are part of the smart metersystem.Smart meters, which can help con-

sumers save money by lowering util-ity operation costs, will be a big partof CRN’s project as well: approxi-mately 132,000 are planned forinstallation. Other cost-saving com-ponents include 18,000 load controlswitches; nearly 4,000 in-home dis-plays, smart thermostats, and otherpersonal energy managementdevices; and 2,800 ZigBee gateways(a wireless protocol for low-cost, low-power sensor networks such asthose used with household electron-ics and appliances) to conduct “real-world testing of two-way demand-response programs, including allrelated software and cyber securityissues.”“This represents the first opportu-

nity for a nationwide pilot that testsend-to-end smart gridconnectivity�from a power plant allthe way to a consumer’s home,”relates CRN Executive Director EdTorrero.

Generating InnovationWhile technology will get electrici-ty to your home more efficientlyand help consumers use it moreefficiently, new methods of generat-ing electricity are also being tested.Looming regulations make carbondioxide-mitigation research a prior-ity for any future fossil fuel-firedpower plants.Tri-State Generation and

Transmission Association, aWestminster, Colo.-based genera-tion & transmission co-op that sup-plies wholesale power to 44 localelectric distribution co-ops in fourwestern states, has recently joinedwith EPRI to host a study that willconvert a 245-MW coal-fired powerplant into a “hybrid plant.”Escalante Generating Station in

Prewitt, New Mexico, will utilizesolar thermal technology—usingmirrors to reflect sunlight to heat aliquid and create steam—to scaleback the burning of coal when pos-sible. The hybrid plant will worklike this: on a hot summer after-noon, when the sun is scorching, airconditioners are on full blast, andelectricity demand peaking, solargeneration will switch on so lesscoal needs to be burned. When thesun goes down and the flow of solar

Rural Electric Nebraskan8

A Changing Energy FutureFrom page 7

Cowan can monitor each of the installed smart meters from a computer in the

Seward Public Power District office.

March 2010 9

power begins to drop, the coal gen-eration side of the plant steps up tokeep electrons flowing.In this way, plant operators will

be able to scale back carbon dioxideemissions while also using lessfuel.Dick Shirley, general manager of

Grants, N.M.-based ContinentalDivide Electric Cooperative, whichreceives power from Tri-State G&T,is encouraged by the project. “WhileI believe we’re going to continue torely on coal-based power plants fora large portion of our electricitysupply, we obviously have to lookbeyond fossil fuels to other, moresustainable forms of energy.”

Scott Gates writes on consumer andcooperative affairs for the NationalRural Electric CooperativeAssociation, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit public power districts andelectric cooperatives.

Rural Electric Nebraskan10

hen money is tight, everydollar counts in the familybudget, so I thought this

would be a good time to review howyour PPD or Cooperative manages theratepayer money that flows throughtheir hands.Public power districts were created

60 years ago by the State of Nebraskato provide safe, reliable electricity atthe lowest possible cost. There isn’t apower district in the state of Nebraskathat doesn’t have that goal or some-thing similar in its mission statement. With the lowest possible cost as one

of our primary goals, PPDs are bynature fiscally responsible and thepeople who run them -- the boards ofdirectors elected by consumers -- areby nature fiscally responsible people.They pay the same rates you pay. Theygo to the same coffee shops and buytheir gas at the same stations.With the directors being a conserva-

tive bunch of people, the managersthey hire to run day-to-day operationstend to be same way. So exactly what do we do to hold

down costs? We are required to have a detailed

budget process, an annual audit andtransparency. PPDs that serve ruralNebraska are required by state law toget public bids for everything over$250,000. The handful of cooperativesthat serve Nebraska must obey strictlender requirements to assure soundfinances, and they, too, are governedby state and bylaw requirementsrequiring financial disclosure.We pride ourselves on having dedi-

cated employees and invest in train-ing them to make sure their knowl-edge is up-to-date and that theyunderstand new equipment andindustry practices. By having lowturnover, long-term employees,ratepayers save big dollars in the longrun. Stupid mistakes in this businesscan cost a lot of money!

Rates are set and finances managedconservatively to keep expenses lowerthan revenue. That extra revenue, thedifference between income andexpenses, is called margins in ourbusiness. Power districts and coopera-tives reinvest margins in their sys-tems to improve reliability and do themaintenance necessary to protect thesystem from the ravages of age, use,and weather. Cooperatives from timeto time return a portion of those mar-gins to their members. Those refundsare called capital credits. In a PPD,there are no such refunds; instead con-sumers realize the benefit in the formof rates that are lower than they oth-erwise would have been.Public power districts and electric

cooperatives are ongoing entities. Theyhave been around for over 60 yearsand will still be around 100 years fromnow. That’s why it is so important toplan for the future and fund projectsfor the long term to ensure a continu-ally operating business.When it comes to planning, I often

describe our method as follows: weplan for something, then we plan somemore, and then we plan some more.We do that planning because large

dollars are involved in building, oper-ating, and maintaining power plants,high voltage transmission, and thedistribution lines and substations thatbring the power to your door. Beforewe spend money we want to makesure we have found the best solutionfor the long term, so we take the timeto do it right the first time. During this planning we continually

look for alternatives that allow us tomaximize our existing equipment anddelay expensive projects. We build onlywhen it’s absolutely necessary and weprioritize projects to get the best cost-benefit ratio.We partner with other power dis-

tricts and pool our purchases withother utilities to buy in bulk.

We have invested in technologywhen it was needed. Back in the 1970srural power districts and cooperativesinvested in technology to control elec-tric use (in industry jargon, to controlload). By shifting more load to thenight time, we’ve delayed the need tobuild a power plant equivalent to alarge coal plant. That is a large coalplant worth of avoided cost that intoday dollars amounts to nearly $750million in savings.These days we are investing in new

technology that will enable us to con-trol load more effectively and to readthe meter “by remote control.” Thatwill provide us with information thatwill help us serve you better and giveus data to plan how to cost-effectivelymeet your needs. The result of this conservative man-

agement is that Nebraska electricrates are among the lowest 10 percentin the nation. Your local power districtor cooperative generally operateslocally on 35 cents of every dollar youpay. The remainder goes to generatewholesale power and get it to localsubstations. We do all of these things to manage

your money conservatively withoutoften stopping to explain it. It is somuch a part of our corporate culturethat we perhaps might be guilty of justassuming that you know about it. Iknow that every single one of my fel-low PPD managers joins me in sayingthat we welcome your questions andcomments.

GUEST EDITORIAL

Looking out for you

W

Rick Nelson

General Manager of Custer PPD

Rural Electric Nebraskan12

re you concerned about curb-ing your carbon footprintwhen doing outdoor chores?

If you answered yes, you are notalone. The National GardeningAssociation (NGA) finds that nine in10 Americans believe it’s importantto maintain their landscapes in away that benefits the environment. It’s true that smart landscaping

can save energy, save you moneyand reduce your household’s green-house gas emissions. But most folksare almost clueless when it comes tocaring for their lawns and gardensin an environmentally friendly man-ner.The NGA’s recent Environmental

Lawn and Garden Survey asked arepresentative sample of U.S. house-holds, “How environmentally friend-ly do you think are the practices cur-rently used to maintain residential,commercial and municipal lawnsand landscapes?” NGA found only one out of five

respondents give current lawn andlandscape maintenance practices apassing “green” grade. Homeowners can’t control how

commercial and public lawns aremaintained, but they do have con-trol over their own backyards. Tomeasure how “green” homeownersare in caring for their lawns andlandscapes at home, NGA askedrespondents with a yard or gardenwhich environmentally friendlylawn, garden and landscape prac-tices they follow.The result? Most homeowners fol-

low only a sixth of the environmen-tally friendly lawn, garden andlandscape practices recommendedby the NGA.

While most homeownersanswered that they water theirlawn and plants only when neededand keep yards well maintained toadd beauty to their homes andneighborhoods, only about half saythey follow pesticide and fertilizerlabels carefully. Fewer than half fol-low the recommended practices ofleaving grass clippings on theirlawns and keeping fertilizer, pesti-cide and yard and pet waste out ofwater sources and off pavement. Similarly, fewer than half sur-

veyed said they apply mulches; go tothe trouble of choosing the rightplants for their climate, sun/shade,soil and rainfall; or cut their lawnsat the highest recommended mowersetting.

Less than a third answered thatthey recycle yard waste by compost-ing or check to ensure they are usingthe most appropriate method beforeapplying insect or weed control prod-ucts. Only about a quarter use onlywell-adapted or native plants in theirlandscaping and remove poorlyadapted, exotic or invasive plants.Fewer — just a fifth of survey respon-dents — said they take time to learnabout ways to care for their lawn, spe-cific plants, soil or wildlife at home.Most troubling, the survey findings

suggest the majority of householdswith a yard or garden follow only asmall fraction of these environmen-tally friendly lawn, garden and land-scape practices recommended by theNGA.

10 ways to curb yourcarbon footprintin your backyard

by John Bruce

A

Above: Feed and water plants regularly to produce foliage and flowers.

Top: A mulching mower will reduce the amount of grass clippings. Photographs

provided by The Scotts Company

March 2010 13

“There’s a real need for improve-ment in people’s appreciation for theimpact each of us can have on theenvironment in our own backyards.Most homeowners have a lot tolearn about ‘green’ lawn and land-scape practices,” says Mike Metallo,NGA president.The NGA survey asked respon-

dents, “How knowledgeable wouldyou say you are about how to main-tain your home lawn, garden andlandscape in an environmentallyfriendly way?” Most homeownersreplied that they aren’t very knowl-edgeable.The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company,

in partnership with Keep AmericaBeautiful, educates homeownersacross the country about how water-ing, feeding and lawns and gardenscan work together to maximize theenvironmental benefits of greenspaces. They’re learning easy waysto maintain a healthy lawn andbeautiful garden and conservewater.“As the leader in our industry, it’s

our job to educate homeowners onsustainable lawn and garden prac-tices,” says Rich Shank, chief envi-ronmental officer at ScottsMiracle-Gro. “Good stewardship is a priorityat Scotts, and we believe that simplechanges will result in a positiveimpact on the environment.”Beginning with advice from

ScottsMiracle-Gro, following are 10ways homeowners can be environ-mentally friendly when caring fortheir lawns and gardens.

Feed regularly. Maintaining ahealthy lawn or beautifulgarden involves regular feed-

ings. A healthy lawn is able toabsorb and use water more efficient-ly and recover from drought quicklyonce water becomes available.Plants must receive nutrients toproduce foliage, flowers and fruit.

Water wisely. Remember,pumping water requirespower. Rely on rainfall for

watering lawns and gardens asmuch as possible. Before watering,watch for signs of lack of water suchas dry soil or wilting. For your lawn,the time between needed irrigation

is up to 20 days for heavy, clay soilsand about 5 days for light, sandysoils.

Mow high. Set your mowerto its highest appropriatesetting. Longer grass blades

promote deeper roots that helpretain moisture. Mow St. Augustineand buffalo grass at 3 inches, 1 inchfor Bermuda grass and 2 inches forcentipede and Zoysia grass.

Leave grass clippings on thelawn. Recycled grass clip-pings return organic matter

and nutrients to the soil. It’s an easyway to save clean-up time andimprove your soil quality. Leavingthe clippings on the lawn doesn’tcause thatch build up, but it doesmake lawns healthier. Soil organ-isms recycle the clippings into freefertilizer.

Keep fertilizer on the lawn.Sweep fertilizer and grassclippings off driveways,

sidewalks and curbs and back ontoyour lawn. Making it a habit pro-tects rivers, lakes and streams bykeeping nutrients on the lawn.

Choose the right plants.Pick easy-to-grow plantsand lawn types that are well

adapted or native to your region.Avoid plants with known pest prob-lems.Additionally, the Pew Center for

Global Climate Change, on the Webat pewclimate.org, provides a num-ber of tips and suggestions for howto reduce your lawn and gardengreenhouse gas emissions.

Be green in your yard. Use apush mower, which, unlike agas or electric mower, con-

sumes no fossil fuels and emits nogreenhouse gases. If you use apower mower, a mulching mowerhelps further reduce grass clippings.

Compost your food and yardwaste. Doing so reduces theamount of garbage sent to

landfills and reduces greenhousegas emissions. The EnvironmentalProtection Agency’s GreenScapesprogram, online at epa.gov/green-scapes, gives tips on how to improveyour lawn or garden while also ben-efiting the environment.

Apply mulch to your yardand garden. Use mulch tohelp moderate soil tempera-

ture and retain moisture during dryweather, reducing the need forwatering. Learn all about mulch,plus free sources of mulch, from theU.S. Department of Agriculture atnrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/mulching.html.

Plan your landscapewisely. Choose plantsthat are low-mainte-

nance and require less water andfewer pesticides. In some parts ofthe country, lawns use 2-3 times asmuch water as other plants and canresult in 50 percent more waterwaste from evaporation, runoff, overspray and over watering. Learnmore at the Regional WaterProviders Consortium’s Web site,conserveh2o.org/outdoors/land-scapes/plants. Lawns in the Midwest and

Northeast typically do not requiresupplemental irrigation, using lesssupplemental irrigation than orna-mental plantings. The statistic ismore the result of practice than anagronomic requirement.John Bruce is an editor, writer and

gardener.

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Add mulch to the garden to moderate

the temperature of the soil.

March 2010 15

ach year member systems ofthe Nebraska Rural ElectricAssociation accept applications

from area high school students toattend the NREA Youth Energy Campat the State 4-H Camp in the HalseyNational Forest. The 2010 YouthEnergy Camp will be July 19 - 23.The popular week-long camp is set

up to give young people a betterunderstanding of electricity, powergeneration and the rural electricprogram. Our goal is to offer a pro-gram that challenges participantseducationally, recreationally andsocially. The Youth Energy Camp is estab-

lished as an operating power districtand provides a “hands-on” approachto member-owned businesses. Thestudents will join other high schoolstudents from Nebraska andWyoming, along with adult coun-selors and junior counselors. Theadult counselors are employees ofrural electric systems who donatetheir time and talents to the camp.The junior counselors are selectedby their peers to return to nextyear’s camp. On the first day of camp, a board

of directors is elected to oversee theoperation of the newly formed elec-tric power district. The board thenchooses a general manager to over-

see the committee activities and actas a liaison between the counselorsand campers. Every participant has a role in the

workings of the camp. Students canparticipate in the Ambassador com-petition or actively seek a position onthe Board of Directors. Each studentmust also volunteer to serve on atleast one of the committees responsi-ble for various aspects of the campactivities. There is even a talentshow where the campers can showoff their various talents.

A highlight of the camp involves atour of the Kingsley Hydro Stationat Lake McConaughy and GeraldGentleman Station, a coal-firedpower plant at Sutherland, Neb.High school students who attend

the energy camp may compete for achance to participate in the

National Rural Electric CooperativeAssociation’s Youth Tour inWashington D.C. with expenses paidby the Nebraska Rural ElectricAssociation. Three students are cho-sen as part of the Ambassador com-petition held during camp.The competition involves submit-

ting an application at camp, pre-senting a self-introduction speechand delivering a five-minute speechon an assigned topic. Each campervotes for three candidates followingthe speech with the top male, topfemale and person with the nexthighest vote total becoming nextyear’s ambassadors. The top sixfinalists and ties are invited toreturn to next year’s Youth EnergyCamp as junior counselors.Recreational activities include

basketball, volleyball and canoeing.Camp expenses and transporta-

tion are provided by each sponsor-ing rural electric system. Highschool freshmen, sophomores andjuniors whose families are cus-tomers of NREA member systemsmay apply. Eligible students mustcontact their rural electric systemby May 14. For more information about

attending Youth Energy Camp, sendthe form below to your rural electricprovider.

EA camp for kids who like to think

Name ________________________________ Age _______ Current Grade ________

Address ___________________________________ Phone number (____)__________

City ________________________________________ State _____ ZIP __________

Name of parents or guardian ______________________________________________

Sponsoring rural electric system ___________________________________________

2010 Youth Energy Camp RSVP Form

and havea week of fun!

Rural Electric Nebraskan16

SAFETY BRIEFS

airpins, the building blocks for many fancy “dos,”are perfect for holding back unruly tresses. Butthese slender, metal objects are also easy for

children to manipulate. As a result, hairpins are thedominant household item improperly stuck into electri-cal outlets. Each year, approximately 2,400 children—an average

of seven a day—receive emergency room treatment forinjuries caused by inserting conductive material intoelectrical outlets, according to a 10-year report releasedby the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC). More than 70 percent of these incidents occur athome, with adult supervision typically present. The end result? About 95 percent of the time children

receive a burn, according to CPSC. Though ranging inseverity, a significant number of serious and fatal burnsoccur, and even minor injuries can leave emotional trau-ma. Pediatric burns can be particularly serious, becausea child’s skin is thin and offers little resistance to elec-tric flow or heat. The danger of electrical outlets isn’t new; parents

often use plastic outlet caps to cover outlets when “child-proofing” a home. Unfortunately, the Electrical SafetyFoundation, Inc. (ESFI) claims plastic caps are not thesafest option since they can easily be removed by ayoung child. Instead, ESFI suggests installing tamper-resistant outlets.Although normal looking, these types of outlets

include a shutter mechanism to protect against harmfrom inserting foreign objects. The spring-loaded systemonly allows electricity to flow when you apply equalpressure to both sides of the outlet, as happens when you

plug in an electrical device. During unused conditions,both shutters are closed. For public power district and electric co-op consumers

with brand new homes, tamper-resistant outlets mayalready have been installed; the 2008 NationalElectrical Code requires them. However, these outletsare cheap—costing as little as $2 at some retailers—andcan easily be incorporated into older homes.

HInvest in safety with tamper-resistant outlets

March 2010 17

s you warm yourself and yourfamily indoors during thewinter months, don’t get

burned. Stay safe around heaters, stovesand other hot objects. Some tips:• Keep your space heater several

feet away from yourself, your furni-ture and draperies while it’s turnedon. And never leave a child alone ina room with an operating spaceheater. • Don’t try to balance a child in

one arm and a cup of hot coffee ortea with the opposite hand. • Avoid loose clothing while cook-

ing or tending to the fireplace. Puton a short-sleeved shirt to cut yourrisk of catching your clothes on fire. • Turn pot handles away from the

edge of the stove to avoid knockingpots over. • Teach kids respect for fire: Let

them know it’s dangerous and notsomething to play with or around.

Don’t get burned

A

Rural Electric Nebraskan18

: We just built a house and itneeds a lot of landscaping. I

want to plan and plant it all myself.I’ve heard proper landscaping canimpact my utility bills. What aresome basic efficient landscaping tips?

: People tend to appreciate land-scaping for its aesthetic value,

but proper landscaping also impactsthe energy efficiency of your house.From an overall environmentalstandpoint, good landscape designalso minimizes the need for mowingand other lawn care. This not onlysaves you time, but you may be ableto get by with a push mower or a bat-tery-operated mower to eliminategasoline costs.In addition to increasing the effi-

ciency of your home, wise landscap-ing can reduce the need for watering.In the past, this was an issue prima-rily for the Southwest. Today, watershortages are an issue across thenation. Even if there’s adequatewater available, it takes largeamounts of energy at municipalwaterworks facilities to process andpump domestic water.Proper landscaping includes the

use of ground cover, dwarf and full-size shrubs, climbing vines, andtrees. Ground cover is typically sometype of plant, grass, or gravel. Theselection you make depends on yourclimate and specific house. Withinthe same neighborhood, a combina-tion which works best for one housemay not be the best for a home justone street away.In general, try to use low-growing

ground cover plants or gravel insteadof grass. Other than some uniquetypes of grass, most common speciesof grass require maintenance. Grassis still the best choice for areas ofyour yard where children play or pets

roam, but try to keep it to a mini-mum.In all but the most humid climates,

placing low-growing ground coverplants near your house helps keep itcool during summer. The leaves blockthe sun's heat from being absorbedinto the ground, and they give offmoisture. This evaporation of waterfrom the leaves, called transpiration,cools air near the home—similar towhen we perspire.

In hot, humid climates, gravelwhich is shaded from the sun can bemore effective than ground coverplants. Using gravel also eliminatesthe need for watering, but it mayincrease the air temperature aroundyour house. The thermal mass of thegravel stores the afternoon sun'sheat, causing the heating effect tolast into the evening. Though nothelpful during summer, during win-ter gravel provides an advantage.When selecting ground cover

plants, consider their specific charac-teristics (mature size, water needs,propagation, foliage density, etc.) Tominimize the watering requirements,group the plant types based on their

watering needs.Dwarf shrubs are ideal for energy-

efficient landscaping because theyremain small at maturity (2 to 3 feethigh). Plant some near the housefoundation and some further awayfor windbreak ramps. Since they staysmall, they require little care and lit-tle watering.In addition, dwarf shrubs can cut

your utility bills year-round. The sillplate, the bottom frame along ahome’s foundation, remains one ofthe greatest air infiltration pathwaysinto many houses. Planting dwarfshrubs near the house, especiallyevergreen varieties, can block theforce of cold winter winds and reducethe amount of air leaking in.As a windbreak ramp, dwarf

shrubs can be planted to the north-west side of taller shrubs and trees.These smaller plants begin directingthe cold winds upward toward thetops of taller trees. The upward windpath continues over the top of yourhouse, not against it.Planting climbing vines on a trellis

can create effective shading to reducethe heat buildup on a wall duringsummer. In most climates, locate thetrellis close to the house to also takeadvantage of transpiration cooling.In humid climates, locate the trellis alittle further away from the wall.This allows the air flow to carry themoisture away, but still providesgood wall shading.Climbing vines are often more

effective than trees for shade becauseyou can target specific windows andareas of your house where heat pro-duces the greatest problem.Deciduous vines which lose theirleaves during winter are best so thewinter sun still reaches the house.One with a robust stem structure canhelp disrupt the force of winterwinds.

CUT YOUR UTILITY BILLS

Cut your energy costs with landscaping

by James Dulley

Q

A

Send inquiries to James Dulley, RuralElectric Nebraskan, 6906 RoyalgreenDr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 or visitwww.dulley.com.

The deciduous trees on the south

side of the home allow the sun's heat

through during winter. Evergreens are

located to the northeast. Photograph

provided by James Dulley

March 2010 19

runing plants can be an exer-cise in self doubt. Will I cut toomuch or too little? Will I snip

the right limbs at right locations?Will I get so clip-happy that myshrubs are bald? Relax. Pruning doesn’t have to be

an onerous task.The first rule of prudent pruning is

to have a plan and a goal before youmake the first cut. Decide in advanceif you are pruning to reshape a plant,remove dead or diseased limbs, reju-venate a neglected plant or inducemore blooms or fruit.The second rule is to remember

that pruning is good for most woodyplants. It stimulates growth, removesdead or dying limbs and allows forbetter air movement and light pene-tration into a plant’s interior.The third rule is to remember that

more is less, and less is more.Frequent, light pruning is usuallymore effective for trees, plants andshrubs (and even some annual flow-ers that benefit from deadheading orpinching back to promote bettergrowth and blooming) than occasion-al extreme pruning. There are two basic types of prun-

ing procedures—thinning and head-ing. Thinning allows you to removeselect limbs and shoots from insideand outside the plant canopy so thatplants look more kempt, but stillretain their natural form. You takeout entire limbs and stems, cuttingthen right where they join otherlimbs or the trunk, but doing so selec-tively so the general shape of theplant is not altered.Heading, on the other hand, usual-

ly involves cutting the tops (andsometimes sides) off of plants togreatly reduce their size and volume.This promotes more vigorousregrowth than thinning, but alsocauses the plant to form a dense, com-pact growth habit that changes itsnatural shape. Heading is often thebest way to rejuvenate plants thathave gotten too big and gangly orsimply need a fresh start. It is alsothe basic premise used to hedge

shrubs along walkways and in formalgarden settings. Regardless of whether you thin or

head your plants, follow the “rule ofthirds”—reduce the size of the plantor the number of stems on a plant byno more than one-third each time youprune. The next big issue is the timing of

your pruning activity. You can prunedead or diseased limbs at any timeduring the year, but more extensivepruning should be done at fairly spe-cific times of year depending on theplant. Timing varies depending onlocal climates, so it’s always safer tocheck with local plant experts for alocal timetable.

PTurn pruning chore into an artistic exercise

Mom’s Quick Lasagna

Marcia Welniak, Elyria, Nebraska

Cook beef and onion; drain. Stir in pasta, seasoning mix, water, tomatoes,spinach, mushrooms & onion. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and sim-mer 10-13 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in cottage cheese andParmesan cheese. Transfer to 2 (8 inch) square baking dishes. Sprinklewith Mozzarella cheese. Cover and freeze on casserole for up to 3 months.Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350 for 15-20 minutes. To usethe frozen casserole: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking(do not thaw), cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Uncover and bake15-20 minutes longer until heated through.

2 pounds ground beef1/2 cup chopped onion1 package lasagna dinner mix2 1/4 cups hot water2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained1 package (10 oz) frozen choppedspinach, thawed & squeezed dry

1 cup mushrooms1/2 cup chopped green onions1 cup cottage cheese1/4 cup Parmesan cheese1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarellacheese

Rural Electric Nebraskan20

DOWN HOMERECIPES

1 pound ground beef1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese2 egg whites or 1 whole egg2 tablespoons water3 cloves garlic, minced, divided1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon pepper2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced

tomatoes with basil, garlic and oreganoor other seasoned tomatoes, undrained1 pound small red-skinned potatoes (1-

1/2 to 2-inch diameter), cut into quartersGrated Parmesan cheese (optional)Chopped fresh oregano (optional)

Combine ground beef, bread crumbs,1/4 cup cheese, egg whites, water, 1 clovegarlic, salt and pepper in large bowl,mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into12 two-inch meatballs. Heat large non-stick skillet over medium heat until hot.Place meatballs in skillet; cook 5 to 8minutes or until browned on all sides. Add remaining 2 cloves garlic, toma-

toes and potatoes; bring to a boil. Reduceheat; cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutesand until potatoes are tender. Uncover;continue simmering about 5 minutes oruntil sauce is slightly thickened, stirringoccasionally. Season with salt and pep-per, as desired. Sprinkle meatballs with cheese and

oregano, if desired, before serving.

Saucy Skillet Meatballsand Potatoes

Recipe provided by theNational Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Bing Cherry Salad

Jenny Bergt, Amherst, Nebraska

Measure juice from cherries and pineapple. Add enough water to make2 cups. Bring to a boil. Dissolve Jell-O in this, then cool, and add 7-up.Mix fruit and pecans with Jell-O. Let set. Top with the following mixture: 2 (3 oz) packages cream cheese, 1 (8 oz)

carton Cool Whip, and 1 1/2 cups small marshmallows. Refrigerate.

1 lb can Bing Cherries, pitted,drained1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple,drained1 (3 oz) pkg. Black Cherry Jell-O1 (3 oz) pkg. Raspberry Jell-O2 cups 7-up (1 lg bottle)1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Topping:2 (3 oz) pkgs. cream cheese1 (8 oz) carton Cool Whip1 1/2 cups small marshmallows

Correction

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

March 2010 21

To appear in print

The Rural Electric NebraskanAdult Pen Pal Service is exclusivelyfor member-readers ages 18 and over.To be considered for use, submissionsmust: (1) Identify rural electric sys-tem providing magazine; (2) Include$6 to cover mail forwarding costs; (3)Be 25 words or fewer; (4) Include fullname and mailing address (will notbe used in magazine); and (5) Be firstperson, submitted directly by personto receive responses. Acceptance,editing and issue scheduling is at edi-tor’s discretion.Address all submissions to Rural

Electric Nebraskan Adult Pen PalService, P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE68501. All responses received by theAdult Pen Pal Service are routeddirectly, postage paid, to the responsenumber assigned to each submission.

To write

To respond to one of the adult penpal requests, write letter, place inenvelope, seal and affix first classpostage. Address to full, correctresponse #, c/o Rural ElectricNebraskan Adult Pen Pal Service,P.O. Box 82048, Lincoln, NE 68501.Your letter will be forwardedunopened. Do not send money oradditional postage; forwarding is pre-paid. Enclose your full mailingaddress for return correspondence.Once again . . . it is very important

that all responses carry the fullresponse number—both month andnumber—to be properly forwarded.

Abbreviation CodeC — Christian; C/W — Country-western;D — Divorced; F — Female; M — Male; NS — Non-Smoker; ND — Non-Drinker;

R&R — Rock and roll; S — Single;W — White; Wid — Widowed

MAR- 1: WidCWF, NS, 72, enjoyfamily time, dancing, playing cards,dining out, and quiet times. Lookingfor a companion with similar inter-ests. Call or write. Photo optional.

MAR - 2: DWM, 45, NS/ND, 5’10”,180 lbs, from northeast Nebraska. Ihave no children, but would likesome. I like small towns, antiques,animals, restoring vehicles, and gar-dening. Please send photo andphone number.

MAR - 3: DWCM, 36, NS, familyorientated with two children thatlive in my home. Love the outdoors.Looking for honest caring woman toenjoy life with. Please send recentphoto, and phone number.

MAR - 4: Starting anew! WCM, 57,NS/ND. Enjoys hunting, fishing,camping, grillin’, 2 steppin’, andmore. Also life partner who likeschildren. Go Big Red!

MAR - 5: WidWM, N/S, Socialdrinker, 69 years old. Looking forWF, 64-70 for companionship. Likescamping, having fun with familyand friends, TV, and just hangingout. Send photo/ telephone number.

MAR - 6: SWM, educated, eccen-tric, plays guitar and sings, likes BigBand, Sinatra, Beatles. Nice lookingfor 60ish, central Nebraska, goodcook, liberal, tall, thin (seeks same)and healthy. I am a thinker, talker,and good listener. Send info andphone or photo, please.

MAR – 7: If you would appreciate a“special someone”, this lady is theone. Wid, mid-60s, ND/DS, fromnorth central Nebraska. I enjoycards, walks, good movies, drives,and most of all family. Honesty &kindness a must. Let’s begin asfriends. Please send photo.

MAR – 8: WF, 62, NS/ND, 5’8”medium built from centralNebraska would like to meet nicegentleman 60-70 to have fun with,dinner and movies, travel or juststay home. I like cooking, Nebraska

football, and CW music. Please sendphone number and photo.

MAR – 9: Northeast Nebraskablonde, mid-30s, tall, single Mom oftwo young boys looking for a hefty,tall, hardworking, loving farmer,mid-30s to 40s to share her life with.Willing to learn new things.Friendship and more. Picture andphone number a plus.