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FROM YOUR BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
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Board
Meeting Summary
January 28, 2003
The meeting was
called to order at 7:00 pm by President Alicia Bonesteele,
with all members present. On behalf of the board, Bonesteele
offered condolences to Paul Ennor, whose mother passed away.
The meeting agenda was approved. The
Consent Calendar was approved with the exception of Financial
Reports; Operation Reports; Annual Customer Contact Summary;
and Member Services Report, which were removed at the request
of management for year-end discussion.
The Financial Report was given by
Jack Belleque; he provided a summary of the year-end reports
and stated that the numbers were close to projections. Issues
discussed in his presentation included: kilowatt-hours sold;
revenue; long term debt; net margins; write-offs; and
revolvement of capital credits over a ten-year period.
Operations Manager Roger Kuhlman
reported that 2002 was the second year in a row that Salem
Electric experienced no lost-time accidents. In addition, he
said 2002 was the third year in a row that Salem Electric
received Oregon OSHA’s Sharp award for safety.
Kuhlman said capital expenditures
were 75% of budget. New service was provided to 217 lots in
2002. Kuhlman also stated that the average annual power
interruption time per customer was only 7.39 minutes. In
response to a question from Bonesteele, Kuhlman reported that
392 lots are to be developed near the West Salem High School
over the next ten years.
Cindy Lenker reviewed the Annual
Customer Contact Summary, reporting that in 2002 Salem
Electric received a total of 387 contacts, including 167
complaints (high bills, voltage, damage), 114 inquires or
comments, and 78 compliments.
Member Services Manager Terry Kelly
described the contents of the monthly conservation statistical
reports and called attention to year-end numbers. The report
tracks kilowatt-hours saved, projects completed, and estimates
vs. actual incentives.
Helen Findley, Special Services
Representative, described the two heating assistance programs
provided by Salem Electric. The Dollar Check-Off Program,
which is administered by The Salvation Army, raised over
$13,000 and benefited 126 members. The in-house heating
assistance pro-gram helped 1,000 members last year at a cost
of $180,000.
Leadership Youth Representative
Francisca Tapia reported on her month’s activities, which
included speaking before the Salem-Keizer School Board and
working at the First Citizens Banquet on January 24.
General Manager Bob Speckman reminded
the board of the upcoming Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative
Association (ORECA) Legislative Day at the State Capitol.
Speckman reported on recent meetings of the Government Affairs
Committee and The Action Committee for Rural Electrification
(ACRE) committees. He mentioned proposed changes to ACRE
guidelines for providing financial support to candidates.
Speckman said plans are underway for
the 2003 annual meeting in May.
New Business: Beach requested that
the board policy regarding the purchase of company vehicles be
placed on next month’s agenda.
The meeting adjourned at 8:57 pm.
Jeff Anderson
Secretary/Treasurer
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Wind Power versus Bird
Power: What is the answer?
Years ago, in the
1980s, when the first major wind turbines were erected in
Altmont Pass, California, I considered them to be a blight to
the landscape, an ugly misuse of land and environment. Many
years have gone by; my education has been enhanced by my
readings of the many publications I receive noting the need
for wind power to supplement our hydropower. I have, of
course, changed my perspective and assessment of those
windmills, those whirly gigs on the hillsides that provide
part of the lifeblood electricity for us all.
One concern still remains in the back of my mind: what about
the birds? Of course, human comfort and existence must come
foremost, but what about our avian species?
A recent article in an electric co-op
publication prompted me to do a bit of Sherlock Holmes
investigation. I contacted Gerry Smith, retired State Forester
and an accomplished bird expert, a member of the local chapter
of the Audubon Society since 1969 and a former president. His
phone rings off the hook with questions, and mine was one. I
shared the article with Gerry and he concurs with the
information in the publication.
Wind turbines continue to kill avian
species, but proper siting of the wind turbines could reduce
mortalities. With hundreds of deaths per year, including
Golden and Bald Eagles, many studies are being made to seek
solutions to the problem. Moving the location of the turbines
about 75 meters from the ridgeline could significantly cut
back on avian deaths.
According to Gerry Smith, hawks and
eagles have a certain flight pattern; they siphon through a
gap, where turbines would not be welcome. There is a fall
migration, September and October, when you can see Sharp
Chinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks and Bald Eagles at Bonnie
Butte near Mt. Hood. These tend to congregate on mountain top
ridges, which are the preferred locations for wind turbines.
Occasionally Paragrin Falcons have stopped by the area and
have decreased in number, not from wind machines, but from
poisons in the environment. Much money has been spent to bring
back this species.
A surprise to me was the flight
patterns of such species as hawks and thrushes that fly at
night, swirling around an area, deciding where to go.
Studies, for what they may be worth,
indicate that not just wind turbines kill birds. Approximately
80,000 communication towers in the U.S. kill between forty and
fifty million birds a year that fly into these structures.
Tall buildings, and even the windows of houses contribute to
avian deaths. The Fish and Wildlife Agency recommends strobe
lights be placed on high communication towers and wind
turbines. The Federal Aviation Administration requires red
incandescent lights. These two entities are not in agreement
at this point, but plan to meet soon to work out a compromise
solution.
Meanwhile, your electric co-op is
doing all it can to protect birds (and squirrels) from the
hazards of electrical installations. Mark Gehlar, a co-op
member and former president of Salem Electric’s Board of
Directors, gave a large parcel of land in West Salem to the
local chapter of the Audubon Society for a bird refuge. He is
whole-heartedly supportive of all that has been done to
protect the wildlife in our area and respects the work that
Salem Electric has accomplished.
Spring seems to be on its way, and so
are the birds. Keep those feeders full.
Alicia Bonesteele
President
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