FMPA Weekly
A weekly e-newsletter for FMPA members
April 8, 2013
LAST WEEK
APPA Public Communications Roundtable
Diane Nelson attended the American Public Power Association’s Public Communications Committee meeting last Friday in Washington, D.C. Participants at this annual roundtable discussed issues common to communications and marketing departments at community-owned electric utilities. Discussion topics included: 1) communicating the value of public power, 2) educating elected and appointed officials on the public power business model, and 3) the efficacy of community sponsorships.
Oxidation Catalyst Project
FMPA recently completed the installation and testing of oxidation catalysts on the Medium Speed Diesel Units 1 and 2 at the Stock Island Generating Facility in Key West. The oxidation catalysts were installed to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new air emission requirements for reciprocating inteal combustion engines. Both units exceeded EPA’s requirements during testing, resulting in an 80% decrease in air pollutant emissions. Contact: David Schumann
THIS WEEK
MEAG Vogtle Units 1 and 2
FMPA, on behalf of the All-Requirements Project and five FMPA members, will respond this week to a Request for Proposals for the purchase of capacity and energy from Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia’s (MEAG) ownership share of Vogtle Units 1 and 2 beginning as early as Jan. 1, 2014, through the life of the facility. The nuclear operating license for Unit 1 currently expires in January 2047, and the license for Unit 2 expires in February 2049. MEAG is looking for transactions with a target size of 100 MW, although bids of lesser or greater sizes will be considered. MEAG hopes to contact respondents selected for further negotiations by the end of April. Contact: Michele Jackson
Member City Visits
Bud Boudreaux and Fred Bryant travel to Ocala on Monday for a member city visit. On Wednesday, Bud and Fred will visit the Town of Havana. On Thursday, Bud will be in Chattahoochee and Quincy, and on Friday, he travels to Blountstown.
ARP Telephonic Rate Workshop
The ARP Executive Committee meets Monday at 2 p.m. via conference call for the monthly All-Requirements Project rate workshop. The agenda includes: 1) an update on natural gas markets, FST and liquidity, 2) an overview of March operations, loads, costs and rate calculations, and 3) estimated rates for April through June. The full agenda package is available on the Member Portal. Contact: Jim Atz
All-Requirements Project Weekly Load Statistics
The weekly update of the All-Requirements Project historical load graph has been posted on the Member Portal. The graph is updated through April 7. Contact: Jim Atz
Special Dates
Congratulations to Michell Bosch, who celebrates nine years with FMPA on Friday, April 12.
COMING UP
Policy Makers Liaisons Committee
The Policy Makers Liaisons Committee will meet April 17 in Gainesville to tour the Gainesville Renewable Energy Center biomass power plant. Lunch will be served at noon. The meeting and tour begins at 1 p.m. RSVP to Sue Utley so that FMPA has an accurate count for lunch and the transportation needed to tour the plant. Contact: Mark McCain
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors will meet April 18 at 10 a.m. at Bushnell City Hall. Contact: Nick Guarriello
ARP Executive Committee
The All-Requirements Project Executive Committee will meet April 18 at Bushnell City Hall at 10:30 a.m. or immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. Contact: Nick Guarriello
Hazardous Waste Workshop
FMPA will host a Hazardous Waste Workshop on May 9 at 9 a.m. in the Board room. State and federal regulations require strict management and disposal procedures when handling hazardous waste materials, such as solvents, cleaners, paints and fluorescent light bulbs. Daniel Stoehr of Daniels Training Services will discuss state and federal regulations and methods for managing these materials. Discussion topics will include: hazardous waste, used oil, waste storage, labeling and disposal training requirements, and emergency response procedures. The cost is $225, and http://www.fmpa.com/index.php/component/registrationpro/?view=event&did=53>registration; is required. Contact: Sharon Smeenk
INDUSTRY NEWS
EPA Seeks Supreme Court Review of CSAPR Ruling
The several” rel=”nofollow”>http://environblog.jenner.com/files/here-14.pdf>several environmental groups filed petitions last Monday with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to review the U.S. Court of Appeals’ decision to vacate EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The proposed rule would have established tighter restrictions on sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants in 28 states. The Court of Appeals on Aug. 21, 2012, vacated CSAPR saying EPA exceeded its statutory authority when it adopted the rule. EPA and the environmental groups are appealing to the Supreme Court that the Court of Appeals overstepped its authority and committed fundamental errors that, if left in place, will gravely undermine EPA’s enforcement of the Clean Air Act. Respondents in the case have until April 29 to file a response to the petitions.
Gulf Power to Close Coal-Fired Plant
Gulf Power announced March 22 that it will close its 100 MW coal-fired power plant located in Sneads, Fla., by April 2015. The company said stricter regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will force the closure of Plant Scholz, which came online in 1953. When Gulf Power evaluated the cost to retrofit the plant to meet EPA regulations, the utility decided it was in their customers’ best interest to close the plant. The plant will continue to operate over the next two years until it is closed.
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 Ryan Dumas or Allison Briggs in FMPA’s Public Relations Department.
Want more background on the names and terms used in this newsletter? Check out FMPA’s 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: Ryan Dumas or Allison Briggs
Florida Municipal Power Agency
8553 Commodity Circle
Orlando, FL 32819-9002
Tel 407 355-7767
Fax 407 355-5794
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