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Corn Belt Power 161 kV line to be upgraded

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Above | This map shows the Corn Belt Power 161 kV transmission line path being rebuilt as part of a 345 kV line. Approximately 140 miles of Corn Belt Power line are included in the MidAmerican Energy/ITC projects. Construction began in November and is slated for completion in May 2017.

Construction on IOU transmission project begins, incorporates Corn Belt Power 161 kV line

W ork on an investor-owned utility transmission project that will incorporate some of Corn Belt

Power’s 161 kV transmission line began in November, south of Corn Belt Power’s Burt Switching Station. The contractor building the line — EC Source — is working on a 28-mile stretch that leads toward Corn Belt Power’s Hope Switching Station southeast of Humboldt. Plans are for this section of line to be rebuilt by March 2015. To serve expected growth in renewable energy generation, MidAmerican Energy Company and ITC Holdings Corporation are building 241 miles of new 345-kilovolt transmission line in Iowa. The projects will incorporate nearly 140 miles of Corn Belt Power Cooperative’s existing 161-kilovolt transmission line. The projects will improve system reliability, relieve existing congestion, improve utilization of existing generation, optimize wind generation placement and allow for regional delivery of renewable generation. Two of the “multi-value projects” – also called MVPs – are located in Iowa and involve Corn Belt Power lines. MVP 3 extends 145 miles from O’Brien County to Kossuth County and then south to Webster County. MVP 3’s path will incorporate 102 miles of Corn Belt Power’s 161 kV line starting near Wisdom Station and continuing on to these switching stations: Osgood, Burt, Hope and Webster. MidAmerican and ITC will remove Corn Belt Power’s existing H-structures that are configured with two wooden poles and replace them with single-pole steel structures. The double-circuit line will carry the investor-owned utilities’ three

345 kV phases on one side and Corn Belt Power’s three 161 kV phases on the other side. The wooden H-structures in Corn Belt Power’s existing line, placed approximately 600 feet apart, average 70 feet tall and include 800 poles total. The 644 new steel monopoles that will replace the H-structures will be 120 feet tall and will be placed 1,000 feet apart. Each steel pole will require a concrete pad foundation, roughly six feet in diameter. No guy wires or anchors will be installed. MVP 4 will include 190 miles of 345 kV line and will incorporate 37 miles of Corn Belt Power’s 161 kV line in the eastern part of the cooperative’s service territory. Corn Belt Power’s line from Emery Substation to the Hampton Tap to the Franklin Substation will be removed and replaced with the same steel monopole line design.

Combined, MVP 3 and MVP 4 will rebuild approximately half of the 161 kV transmission line Corn Belt Power owns and maintains. Kevin Bornhoft, vice president, engineering and system operations, Corn Belt Power, explains the advantages of the project: “Our conductors on some of our lines are approaching 50 years old. They will be replaced entirely at MidAmerican’s and ITC’s cost. The new conductor is much larger and will almost double our capacity.” MidAmerican Energy and ITC have solicited additional easements since Corn Belt Power’s existing right-of-way is voltage specific to 161 kV. Corn Belt Power will maintain ownership of the 161 kV conductor and insulators on the new line. Line maintenance and vegetation management will be handled jointly among the utilities.

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member service success as he retires

Above | Darrell Goff, executive vice president and general manager, Prairie Energy Cooperative, will retire in January after 37 years with Hancock County REC and Prairie Energy.

Goff celebratesGoff celebratesA poster prominently displayed

throughout the offices at Prairie Energy Cooperative says, simply

and succinctly, “Every decision I make shall be based on what is best for the member/owners of this cooperative.” Darrell Goff, executive vice president and general manager, Prairie Energy, points to the results of that strategy — an impressively high score of 90 on the American Customer Satisfaction Index and the many positive member comments gathered in other research — as key measures of success at his cooperative. As he prepares to retire Jan. 5 after 37 years with Hancock County REC and its merged successor Prairie Energy, Goff says providing excellent member service has been the highlight of his career.

“Our members appreciate what we do for them. I think we respond to their wants and wishes in a timely fashion and we treat them with respect. It’s like we’re a family — that’s an advantage of being a smaller co-op,” Goff explains. While working as a high school math teacher and coach at Meservey-Thornton in 1977, Goff heard from John Clemons — then the president of the school board and also a Hancock County REC director — that the co-op was looking for an office manager. “I didn’t know how to manage people or a debit from a credit, but I knew math and figured I could learn. Deetta Hartwig, who was there before me, showed me everything,” Goff says. Goff ’s predecessor at the co-op was a woman, as is his successor. Becky

Bradburn has been hired as Prairie Energy Cooperative’s next manager and starts work there in December. “She’s inheriting a pretty good operation. We’re in good shape financially. Our members appreciate what we’re doing. We have reliability that’s more than adequate,” he says. His advice to his successor? “We have long-term employees who believe in the philosophy of a cooperative. They are quality people who don’t need to be micromanaged. They know what they’re doing.” It was the employees’ dedication, in fact, that Goff points to as one of the main reasons the consolidation of Hancock County REC and Wright County REC into Prairie Energy Cooperative was successful in 2000. “There were many hours that went into making it fit together,” Goff recalls. “It took time, but it was the right thing to do. I’m proud of the work by the employees to make it happen. “The consolidation was highly successful. We have terrific system reliability. We promised to keep both locations open and that continues. Our directors represent all of the areas of our system and employees live in Garner, Clarion, Belmond, Kanawha and Eagle Grove. We’ve had no major injuries or lost-time accidents and for that our directors get credit because anytime we’ve asked for safety equipment, it’s always been provided.” In his retirement, Goff plans to spend time with his two grandchildren, visit northern Minnesota in the summer and possibly Arizona in the winter. He also plans to volunteer. Meanwhile, the philosophy of serving members will continue on at Prairie Energy, where every decision is made in the best interest of those who own the cooperative.

The Nov. 4 election brought about sweeping change predicted by most pollsters. In the U.S. Senate, control of the chamber switched from Democrat to Republican and the Republicans grew their majority in the

U.S. House of Representatives to a number not seen in 80 years. While many changes occurred at the federal level, at the state House and in the governor’s office the outcome was essentially status quo with the state Senate still being controlled by the Democrats by a margin of 26-24 and the state House remaining in control by the Republicans who increased their margin by four. Gov. Terry Branstad won with a wide margin. Iowa had a hand in the national story with State Sen. Joni Ernst winning the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin. Republican Rod Blum won Iowa’s 1st Congressional District vacated by Congressman Bruce Braley. The seat being vacated by retiring Congressman Tom Latham was retained by the Republicans with the victory by David Young.

Elections bring changes to Iowa delegation

Above | Wearing their green Rural Power shirts, Jo Ann Neppl, left, communications specialist, Midland Power Cooperative, and Kathy Taylor, right, vice president, corporate relations, Corn Belt Power Cooperative, meet with Joni Ernst, now U.S. senator-elect, during a campaign stop in Dakota City Oct. 30.

Joni Ernst

Transmission line undergoes reconductoring in northern part of system

Corn Belt Power crews have been working on reconductoring sections of 69 kV transmission line in the northern part of Corn Belt Power’s system, increasing the capacity of power the lines can carry and improving reliability of service.

One mile of 69 kV line from Truesdale to Buena Vista was completed in November. Linemen modified two poles and strung larger conductor that will carry more current. The section of line was targeted for reconductoring due to occasional overloads in the area from increased system loads and wind generation. Only a few poles needed to be reconfigured since an earlier road-widening project had prompted a rebuild of the line. In December, crews plan to start reconductoring a seven-mile section of 69 kV line from Fostoria to Milford Junction. Much of the line, originally built in the 1950s, will be reconfigured with larger poles placed closer together. Crews will also install larger conductor to increase capacity. The section of line was identified for upgrading so it may be used to support an outage that could occur on the 161 kV system around ITC’s Triboji Switching Station. The north end of the line will interconnect with Corn Belt Power’s new Okoboji Switching Station, now under construction.

News

People with positive attitudes have better health, more friendships and more peace. They are more energetic,

higher achieving and more successful. That’s according to the I Act University training titled, “Finding Happiness in the Craziness of Life,” held Oct. 22 and 30 at Corn Belt Power. Essentially, an event someone experiences only partially determines whether that person experiences happiness. The person’s reaction also determines the outcome of that event. An individual’s reaction is most often a choice, and that choice has much to do with the attitude of the person involved. Attitude is defined as “the energy that fuels your thoughts, feelings and actions, based upon your expectations and perceptions.” A Gallup Poll asked respondents “How important is attitude in becoming successful?” Eighty-nine percent ranked attitude as the most important element for success. The training explored five things people can do to have a positive attitude and be happy, despite crazy times:• Listen to yourself. What are you saying? Try to avoid negative self talk.• It’s not about stuff. It’s about relationships with faith, friends and family.• Have a great attitude of gratitude.• Have goals.• Enjoy the ride!

to Note

Duane Arnold Energy Center refuelingThe refueling outage that began at the Duane Arnold Energy Center Oct. 4 will include replacement of one third of the uranium fuel. Additionally, turbine blade modifications will be made on the two low-pressure steam turbines and both reactor feed pumps will be replaced. The project is anticipated to be completed with the unit back in service by late November. Corn Belt Power Cooperative is a joint owner of the plant, along with NextEra Energy and Central Iowa Power Cooperative. ■

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I Act University explores the root of happiness

Happiness trainingAbove | Kathy Peterson, right, facilitator, PeopleWorks, discusses individual attitude choices during the training “Finding Happiness in the Craziness of Life.”

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Jamie Taylor, apprentice lineman, works on reconductoring line near Truesdale Substation Nov. 12.

The power of human connections

Dean Jensen, line foreman, and Mark Saxton, journeyman lineman, Corn Belt Power Cooperative, demonstrated the Touchstone Energy Cooperative value of commitment to community by volunteering to hang new baseball field

lights at Emmetsburg High School. Corn Belt Power provided use of the truck. Jensen says, “Giving back to the community when they need our help is important. They had nowhere else to turn and we were happy to help them out.” Saxton adds, “I volunteered to help fix the lights at the Emmetsburg High School baseball field because it is good to give back to the community.”

Touchstone Energy Co-op Values | Integrity | Accountability | Innovation | Commitment to Community

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Howard Henkelvig, left, apprentice lineman, and Dean Jensen, line foreman, adjust the tension on wire reels while reconductoring near Truesdale Substation Nov. 12.

Watts Watt is published monthly for employees and associates of Corn Belt Power Cooperative, 1300 13th St. North, Humboldt, Iowa 50548-0508. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Copyright 2014 Kenneth H. Kuyper, Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy D. Taylor, Editor; Vice President, Corporate Relations; CCC Marena Fritzler, Graphic Designer

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