Success Stories for Missouri

Heavy Rains, Tornadoes Rake Midwest: Violent storms that spawned dozens of tornadoes, heavy rain and flooding raked the Midwest March 11, killing at least 10 people, injuring hundreds and knocking out power to thousands.

The worst-hit region appeared to be south-central Missouri, where at least seven deaths and 42 injuries occurred, prompting Govenor. Matt Blunt to seek a federal disaster declaration for the state. The storm toppled several utility poles of at least five Missouri electric co-ops, which appealed to the statewide association for emergency work crews from other co-ops to assist in the recovery.

"It was bad. We had considerable damage across the state," said Rob Land, director of risk management and training for the statewide, based in Jefferson City.

Land said that Ozark Electric Co-op (MO-030), Mt. Vernon, Missouri, were losing about 100 poles that uprooted or snapped. Co-ops reporting losses of 60 to 80 poles included: Consolidated Electric Co-op (MO-036), Mexico; Missouri, Central Missouri Electric Co-op (MO-040), Sedalia; Missouri, Howard Electric Co-op (MO-022), Fayette; Missouri, and Osage Valley Electric Co-op (MO-037), Butler, Missouri.

Land said that despite extensive property damage, most customers were without no more than five to six hours.

Sweeping eastward into Illinois, the storms hammered Illinois Rural Electric Co-op (IL-018), Winchester; Illinois, Rural Electric Convenience Co-op (IL-023), Auburn; Illlinois, and Menard Electric Co-op (IL-021), Petersburg, Illinois.

The worst damage appeared to be inflicted on Menard, where about 70 poles were snapped, knocking out power to 5,500 at its worst. Service to all but about 700 was restored within 18 hours, said Lynn Frasco, general manager at Menard. Frasco said crews from adjacent co-ops were aiding in the restoration.

"We have maybe 50 poles that have snapped out due to the tornadoes or straight line winds. You can almost trace the path of the storm by looking at our pole damage," Frasco said.

Compliments of NRECA's "Electric Co-op TODAY", March 17, 2006 edition, Volume 12, Number 11.

March 2006

Missouri Co-ops Plan to Harvest Wind: Some of Missouri's most bountiful farm fields will soon be sown with wind turbines that will enable Associated Electric Cooperative, MO-073, to reap a renewable harvest of electricity.

The Springfield, Missouri, based G&T, joined developers and investors January 31, 2006, in a signing ceremony with Matt Blunt at the state capitol.

The G&T will buy all the electricity generated from a 50 MW project near King City, Missouri. Named Bluegrass Ridge in tribute to the farming community's historical role in bluegrass seed harvesting, the project is being funded and constructed by Missouri based developer Wind Capital Group and John Deere Wind Energy.

"Associated Electric Cooperative is committed to providing affordable, renewable energy options to our customers," said Jim Jura, CEO. "We are particularly pleased that the wind energy we are purchasing is harvested in our service area and that this investment will be staying here in our own communities."

When completed in late 2006, the project will consist of 24 turbines, and will produce enough power for up to 30,000 homes.

"Wind is a clean, renewable source of affordable electricity, which has the added benefit of strengthening rural communities and helping Missouri farmers," said Tom Carnahan, the project developer and president of Wind Capital Group. "I am very proud to be working with Missouri's electric cooperatives and John Deere Wind Energy to bring this first project to our state."

Compliments of NRECA's "Electric Co-op TODAY", February 3, 2006 edition, Volume 12

February 2006

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