LOUISVILLE, Ky — With the deployment of an additional 33 linemen to North Carolina on Sunday morning, Kentucky’s electric cooperatives now have 143 linemen assigned to co-ops in South Carolina and North Carolina following Hurricane Matthew.  This is the largest number of Kentucky cooperative linemen deployed out of state since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Among the new deployments is a crew of five Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation workers who departed early Sunday morning to travel to North Carolina to assist with power restoration.

“JPEC is part of a network of more than 900 electric cooperatives across the nation,” said Dennis L. Cannon, JPEC’s president and CEO.  “During emergencies, we help each other restore power quickly and safely.”

The JPEC workers will be restoring power for Pee Dee Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) in Wadesboro, North Carolina. As of Saturday evening, approximately 40% of Pee Dee EMC’s 20,000 consumers were without power.

Coordinated by the Safety and Loss Prevention Team of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, the mutual aid effort is in response to requests from affected electric cooperatives.

Here’s a breakdown of the assignments:

South Carolina [110 linemen]

• Berkeley Electric Cooperative:
  •  South Kentucky-8
  • Licking Valley-6
  • Clark-6
  • Cumberland Valley-13
  • Warren-8
  • Farmers-8
  • Jackson Energy-13
• Aiken Electric Cooperative:
  • Nolin-16
  • Blue Grass-8
• Palmetto Electric Cooperative:
  • Owen-14
  • Shelby-4
  • Salt River-8

North Carolina [33 linemen]

• South River EMC:
  • Fleming-Mason-5
  • Big Sandy-4
  • West KY-5
• Pee Dee EMC:
  • Jackson Purchase-5
  • Meade-2
  • Kenergy-12
• Pennyrile Electric Cooperative crews are assisting a municipal system in Florida.

All four of the Kentucky electric cooperatives who had planned to compete in the KC International Rodeo have instead sent linemen from their rodeo teams to assist with this storm restoration (Nolin, Owen, Clark & Blue Grass).

“KAEC commends the sacrifice and commitment of linemen crews and staffs from our member cooperatives across the commonwealth who are demonstrating the co-op spirit to help our co-op brethren affected by Hurricane Matthew,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of the statewide association.

LOUISVILLE, Ky — As of noon Saturday, October 8, 111 linemen from 12 Kentucky electric cooperatives are deployed to South Carolina to assist in recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Coordinated by the Safety and Loss Prevention Team of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, the mutual aid effort is in response to requests from affected electric cooperatives. In advance of potentially damaging weather events, out-of-state crews are requested to travel to the area, then workers are on call depending on the severity of the destruction and path of the storm.

KAEC has additional offers of assistance from six more Kentucky co-ops with 35 additional linemen ready to go.

Kentucky co-op crews now assigned to Berkeley Electric Cooperative in South Carolina:  South Kentucky, Cumberland Valley, Jackson Energy, Licking Valley, Clark, Warren & Farmers.

Five co-ops who were initially assigned to an electric cooperative in Florida, have been reassigned to other electric cooperative service areas in South Carolina.
Kentucky crews assigned to Aiken Electric Cooperative:  Nolin & Blue Grass
Kentucky crews assigned to Palmetto Electric Cooperative:  Owen, Shelby & Salt River

“May the Kentucky electric cooperatives employees who leave their families to restore power in areas damaged by Hurricane Matthew return safely home after helping cooperative families in need,” said Clarence Greene, KAEC Director of Safety and Loss Prevention.

KAEC is preparing for the likelihood that North Carolina co-ops may also be asking for assistance.  Crews from Kenergy, West Kentucky, Jackson Purchase, Meade, Fleming-Mason & Big Sandy electric cooperatives have all offered to assist.

All four of the Kentucky electric cooperatives who had planned to compete in the KC International Rodeo have instead sent linemen from their rodeo teams to assist with this storm restoration (Nolin, Owen, Clark & Blue Grass).

“KAEC commends the sacrifice and commitment of linemen crews and staffs from our member cooperatives across the commonwealth who are demonstrating the co-op spirit to help our co-op brethren affected by Hurricane Matthew,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of the statewide association.

Linemen from Kentucky’s Electric Cooperatives are heading south to assist with damage inflicted by Hurricane Matthew.   Following requests sent ahead of the storm by co-ops in Florida and South Carolina, nine Kentucky electric co-ops are sending workers to provide manpower and assistance for an area of the country that is expected to be hit by the hurricane today.

Over 80 co-op linemen left Friday morning, travelling toward South Carolina and the area between Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida as part of a staging effort by co-ops there.  Prior to a storm, affected co-ops will often ask for out-of-state crews to travel to the area.  Workers are then on call depending on the severity of the destruction and path of the storm.

“KAEC meets several times a year with other states across the south – including Florida and South Carolina – to get together the contingency plans and action plans that we are exercising now,” said Robert Thornton, a member of KAEC’s Safety and Loss Prevention Team. “Georgia has not pre-staged crews at this time, but if something happens on that coast, other Kentucky crews could potentially be dispatched as well.”

The Kentucky crews are working with co-ops further inland than some of the areas already experiencing severe storms on the coast.  Clay Electric Co-op in Florida and Berkley Electric Co-op in South Carolina are likely to receive the bulk of Kentucky workers.

As of Friday morning, more than 500,000 homes and businesses have been reported without power in Florida.  Governor Rick Scott of Florida has urged evacuations and President Barack Obama declared an emergency for the state.  Kentucky co-ops heading to the area include employees from South Kentucky RECC, Cumberland Valley RECC, Jackson Energy, Nolin RECC, Owen Electric, Blue Grass Energy, Salt River Electric, Shelby Energy, and Pennyrile RECC.

A team of three Clark Energy employees outperformed 23 other teams from 15 Kentucky electric cooperatives to capture the first place team award at the 2016 Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo July 29-30. This was the 12th year for the rodeo and Shelby Energy Cooperative hosted at the Shelby County Fairgrounds.

The Clark Energy team—journeyman linemen David Dennis, Raymond Turner and Kevin Vance—completed a series of tasks–hurtman pole swap and and two “mystery” events concocted by the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives safety and loss prevention staff–in a time of 30 minutes and 26.38 seconds and a perfect score of 400.

Phillip Cornell, an employee of West Kentucky RECC, was named the top apprentice lineman. Cornell completed a series of four tasks–hurtman rescue, skills climb, de-energizing a line, and cutout & feed change–in 23 minutes and 46:55 seconds and a perfect score of 400.

Jackson Energy’s Jeremy Rayborn was named top journeyman lineman. Rayborn completed the same four tasks as the apprentice competition in 21 minutes and 53.53 seconds and received a perfect score of 400.

“The rodeo is not a speed event,” says KAEC’s Director of Safety and Loss Prevention Clarence Greene. “It’s a test of safety skills and dexterity. The journeyman tasks are really hard because the linemen have to wear rubber gloves to do the same work that the apprentices do in just leather gloves.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” says Chris Perry, president and CEO of KAEC/UUS. “We celebrate the best of the lineman in our electric cooperative program through professionalism, safety and the cooperative spirit.”

The 2017 Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo will be in London, KY and hosted by Jackson Energy.

To learn more about the rodeo, click “Safety” above and choose “Kentucky Lineman’s Rodeo” from the drop-down menu.

Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are sponsoring 43 World War II, Korean and Vietnam war veterans who will travel from Lexington to Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Aug. 27, as part of this year’s Honor Flight—a one-day tour of war memorials erected in their honor in the nation’s capital.

This is the sixth year Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are sponsoring an Honor Flight, but it is the first year of partnering with Winchester-based Honor Flight Kentucky, which was founded in December 2015.

Veterans on this year’s flight will include:

• David Settles, 92, of Versailles who served in the Army during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. On one day alone in World War II he was shot eight times and drove the lead vehicle during the Allied advance through the Ruhr Valley. He then boarded a ship toward Japan and was in the Pacific when the atomic bomb ended the war. He was awarded 16 medals and retired a full colonel.

• David Downey, 90, of Paris who served in the Navy during World War II, Korea and Vietnam. As an African American, he battled discrimination while serving in Pearl Harbor. After World War II, he rejoined the Navy in 1949, served in Korea and in Vietnam with later famous quarterback Roger Staubach. Staubach at that time was in charge of supplies at the Da Nang dock, and he signed the papers that sent Downey home two months early.

• Ken Powell, 96, of Lexington who served in the Army during World War II. He left Boston Harbor in February 1944 and eventually saw action after landing on Omaha Beach in Normandy. He earned five medals for heroic actions.

• Francis Nello, 92, of Garrett who served in the Pacific for the Navy during World War II and who saw the famous raising of the flag by the Marines atop Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi. He also fought at Okinawa and earned medals recognizing his military service.

The veterans will fly from Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport to Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., where they will board two buses for a full day of honors and sightseeing. They will visit the World War II and Korean War memorials on the National Mall. The group will also tour memorials dedicated to those who served in the Air Force and Marine Corps in Arlington, Va.

The day will culminate with viewing the changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Honor Flight representatives will participate in a wreath-laying service at the tomb. Volunteers representing (Co-op) and the other co-ops will accompany the vets as guardians, to ease their travel and, if needed, push their wheelchairs.

To further honor this year’s Honor Flight participants, (Co-op) is helping to organize a special welcome for their return. Families, friends and supporters are invited to arrive at Blue Grass Airport by 9 p.m. on Aug. 27 to greet the veterans when their flight arrives from Washington. There will be additional parking available at the airport to accommodate the crowd.

The Honor Flight sponsored by Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives is part of a larger national network that has 127 chapters in 41 states. The inaugural Honor Flight took place in May 2005, when six small planes flew out of Springfield, Ohio, taking 12 veterans. Since the 2005 inception nearly 180,000 veterans have participated in the program.

Farmers RECC and East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) joined the City of Glasgow on August 5, 2016 to celebrate the successful launch of the cooperative’s landfill-gas-to-electric (LFGTE) power plant.

The plant, located at the city’s Glasgow Regional Landfill, is fueled by methane gas from the landfill. Completed earlier this year, the plant can generate up to 1 megawatt of electricity, and Farmers RECC distributes the power to its members.

“This project is a shining example of how our organizations can work together to innovatively address our needs and benefit the entire community,” said Bill Prather, president and CEO of Farmers RECC. “We are proud to generate renewable energy for Farmers RECC members.”

Representatives from EKPC, Farmers RECC and the City of Glasgow gathered at the plant today for a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony. They were joined by Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Charles Snavely, along with other dignitaries from the local community and state and federal government.

The project began as a result of extensive discussions between Farmers RECC and the City of Glasgow.  Farmers RECC was interested in the production of energy from renewable sources and the city of Glasgow was interested in capturing the landfill’s methane gas.

EKPC, which is owned by Farmers RECC and 15 other electric cooperatives around the state, has years of experience in operating LFGTE plants at landfills around Kentucky. The plants are fueled by methane, a flammable gas produced as organic waste decays within landfills. Methane gas often is flared off as a waste product.

As a result of the discussions, EKPC agreed to construct and operate the plant, and will purchase methane gas from the City of Glasgow. The gas is piped to the plant, where it fuels the generator. Farmers RECC is purchasing all of the renewable energy produced by the facility to provide to its members. In addition, the plant serves as a source of backup electric power for the city’s nearby sewage treatment plant.

“EKPC is delighted to help Farmers RECC and the City of Glasgow put the landfill’s methane gas to work for the entire community as a fuel to generate electricity,” said Anthony “Tony” Campbell, EKPC’s president and CEO.

In May, Farmers RECC received the Silver Switch Award from the Rural Electricity Resource Council, which recognized the depth of cooperation required to complete the project, as well as the unique nature of the renewable electricity produced.

The Glasgow facility is EKPC’s sixth LFGTE plant. The others are located at landfills in Boone, Laurel, Greenup, Hardin and Pendleton counties. Together, the six plants have the capacity to generate up to 14.6 megawatts of electricity.

The Glasgow LFGTE plant is EKPC’s only facility that delivers its electric power to the local co-op.

Currently, the Glasgow LFGTE plant generates enough electricity to have any one of the following annual environmental impacts:

• Offset greenhouse gas emissions from more than 1 million miles driven by an average passenger vehicle; or
• Offset CO2 emissions from more than 50,000 gallons of gasoline consumed; or
• Offset CO2 emissions from more than 1,000 barrels of oil consumed.

Farmers RECC is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, serving more than 25,000 services across eight Kentucky counties, with a mission to provide reliable, competitively-priced energy that will enhance the quality of life for its member-owners and communities.

East Kentucky Power Cooperative is a not-for-profit , member-owned cooperative providing wholesale electricity to 16 owner-member distribution cooperatives that serve 530,000 Kentucky homes, farms, businesses and industries across 87 counties. EKPC provides power through coal-fueled plants located in Mason and Pulaski counties; natural gas-fueled pea king units in Clark and Oldham counties; renewable energy plants in Barren, Boone, Laurel, Greenup, Hardin and Pendleton counties; and more than 2,800 miles of transmission lines. Together, EKPC and its 16 owner-member cooperatives are known as Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. Visit EKPC at www.ekpc.coop.

For more information, contact:
Nick Comer, External Affairs Manager
Office (general): (859) 744 – 4812, ext. 450
Office (direct): (859) 745 – 9450
Mobile: (859) 333 – 8735
nick.comer@ekpc.coop

East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) today filed a request with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) to construct an 8.5-megawatt solar project in Clark County, Ky.

If approved, the cooperative solar installation will be located next to EKPC’s headquarters facilities, adjacent to Interstate 64 and U.S. 60, about two miles east of Fayette County. With more than 32,000 photovoltaic panels covering 60 acres of land, the installation would be one of Kentucky’s largest solar farms.

“This project fits well with EKPC’s strategic goal to diversify our generation portfolio while addressing the desire among some co – op members for renewable alternatives and also providing a valuable carbon-free source of energy,” said Anthony “Tony” Camp bell, EKPC’s President & CEO.

The project is proposed as a cooperative solar arrangement, whereby retail members of participating electric distribution cooperatives can purchase a license for a portion of the solar project’s gene rating capacity. Then, the y would receive credits on their monthly electric bill for the value of the energy from their proportional licensed share. Licenses will be valid for 25 years.

“Retail members of our owner-member co-ops will be able to voluntarily participate in a renewable energy program that is competitive with rooftop solar ,” said David Crews, Sr. Vice President of Power Supply.

The cooperative solar arrangement also provide s an opportunity to participate in renewable generation for co-op members whose premises are not conducive to solar panels, such as apartments or heavily shaded areas. Participants also will benefit from the project’s economies of scale.

In 2013, a collaborative group of stakeholders focusing on renewable and demand-side management issues recommended EKPC establish a solar project with participation of retail members.

Meanwhile, the federal Clean Power Plan, which is being challenged in court, mandates dramatic reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from electric utilities.

The estimated cost of the solar installation is $17.7 million. EKPC plans to finance the project by issuing New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds to take advantage of federal incentives that can offset much of the interest expense.

For more information visit EKPC at www.ekpc.coop.
East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Winchester, is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative providing wholesale electricity to 16 owner-member distribution cooperatives that serve 530,000 Kentucky homes, farms, businesses and industries across 87 counties. EKPC provides power through coal-fueled plants located in Mason and Pulaski counties; natural gas-fueled peaking units in Clark and Oldham counties; renewable energy plants in Barren, Boone, Laurel, Greenup, Hardin and Pendleton counties; and nearly 2,800 miles of transmission lines. Together, EKPC and its 16 owner-member cooperatives are known as Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin has appointed Jackson Energy President & CEO Carol Wright to serve on the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education.

The 16-member board coordinates postsecondary and adult education in the state.

The council is composed of 13 citizen members, one student and one faculty member, all appointed by the governor. The additional member, the commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Education, serves as a non-voting member.

Wright has been appointed for a term expiring in December 2021. She has served as president and chief executive officer of Jackson Energy Cooperative since 2013, and has more than 26 years of experience in the electric utility industry.

Wright is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where she earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. She also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Sullivan University.

Wright served on the committee to establish the Lineman’s Training Program at Somerset Community College and also served as chairman of the Lineman Training Program board.

“I am honored to be selected to serve on the Council,” Wright said, “and look forward to working to improve educational opportunities in Kentucky.”