FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
Dec. 28, 2009
LAST WEEK
Brightening the Holidays for Central Florida Children
FMPA employees delivered toys, clothes and shoes Dec. 17 to grant the holiday wishes of 75 children from the Children’s Home Society of Florida. The Children’s Home Society of Florida is an organization that protects children at risk and strengthens families. FMPA employees organize frequent fundraising events throughout the year to raise money for worthy causes. This year, employees raised nearly $16,000 for three local charities, including Heart of Florida United Way, The Russell Home for Atypical Children and the Children’s Home Society of Florida.
Solar Photovoltaic Demonstration Center Update
Contractors completed wiring and testing last week for a solar photovoltaic demonstration center in Key West, Fla. The solar panels were energized last Wednesday at 9 a.m. Next steps will include a test in January to verify the system’s installation and operation, as well as developing an educational kiosk to appear inside the Eco-Discovery Center. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
Transco Station 85 South
FMPA filed an intervention at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in support of a natural gas pipeline expansion project at Transco Station 85 South. The ARP Executive Committee directed staff in August to work to obtain firm natural gas transportation capacity from this pipeline expansion. Contact: Richard Montgomery
Letter to Fort Meade Posted on Member Portal
FMPA staff mailed a written response to the city of Fort Meade on Dec. 16, as directed by the ARP Executive Committee. FMPA’s letter addresses issues raised in a Nov. 24 letter from the city, and it requests a face-to-face workshop between FMPA’s leadership and the Fort Meade City Commission. A copy of FMPA’s response has been posted on the Member Portal.
FGT Rate Case
FMPA submitted its first data request to Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) on Dec. 17 in preparation for testimony development for FGT’s ongoing rate case. Contact: Richard Montgomery
Regulatory Compliance Workshop
FMPA hosted a regulatory compliance workshop Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, and member participation in the program was excellent. Participants’ evaluation forms for the program provided positive feedback. In 2010, FMPA plans to offer this workshop biannually, instead of once a year, and to introduce a new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission compliance workshop. Contact: Frank Gaffney or Cara Gowan
THIS WEEK
Annual Report
FMPA’s fiscal 2009 Annual Report is nearing completion. A draft of the report is currently under review by FMPA’s senior management team, and the project is on schedule to be distributed in early-February. Contact: Diane Nelson
Happy New Year
FMPA’s offices will be closed Thursday and Friday. Best wishes to all for a safe and happy new year.
Member Portal Spotlight: Commonly Used Documents
Want to see what resources other members and employees are checking out on the Portal? Visit the Commonly Used Documents box, which appears in at the bottom of the Portal’s homepage. It provides a list of which documents are currently popular on the Portal.
All-Requirements Project Load
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through Dec. 27, 2009. Contact: Jim Atz
COMING UP
Grant Application Workshop
FMPA hosts a grant application workshop Jan. 7 at the Agency from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Employees will assist members with developing grant applications for various projects and with using FMPA’s application templates to apply for the State of Florida’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
NESC Summary of Change Proposals Workshop
FMPA has tentatively rescheduled its NESC Summary of Change Proposals workshop for a webinar Jan. 6 and Jan. 7. The course will review the 2012 National Electric Safety Code (NESC) change proposals. Contact: Mike Siefert
ARP Business Model Working Group and PMLC
FMPA’s ARP Business Model Working Group and Policy Makers Liaisons Committee (PMLC) will hold a concurrent meeting Jan. 27 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at FMPA. Participants will discuss FMPA’s rate-setting process.
Audit and Risk Oversight Committee
Mark your calendars: FMPA’s Audit and Risk Oversight Committee meets Jan. 27 in the Board room at 10 a.m.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Seminole Electric Cooperative Cancels Coal Project
Seminole Electric Cooperative announced Dec. 18 that it has cancelled plans to build a coal-fired generating unit in northeast Florida. “This is a business decision and it is because of the uncertain regulatory and legal environment, said spokesperson Jeff Fela, according to the Palatka Daily News. Fela noted that all court challenges against the project by environmental groups had been resolved in Seminole’s favor earlier this year. The $1.4 billion project would have added 750 megawatts to the cooperative’s Seminole Generating Station in Palatka, which is home to two existing coal-fired units.
FMPA Weekly is published by FMPA for employees and goveing boards of FMPA member utilities. Questions or comments about this newsletter may be directed to Diane Nelson or Beth Pangbo in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s new Glossary, which features some of the most frequently mentioned committees, companies, places and terms, or contact the person named in each FMPA story to lea more. (Click here for the Staff Directory).
Have a question, comment or story idea for the newsletter? FMPA welcomes your feedback at any time. Contact Diane Nelson.