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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2002)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, February 20, 2002 Business Notos___________________________________________ WOEC diversifies with NoaNet rural telecommunications project In keeping with West Oregon Electric Cooperative’s strategic vision to enhance the rural lifestyle and diversify the co op’s business opportunities, the board of directors approved participation in the Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet). The NoaNet project will provide improved telecom munication services in rural ar eas through fiber optic cable leased from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). “We are excited about the opportunity to partner with oth er electric cooperatives across Oregon to enhance telecom munications service and add a valuable asset to rural commu nities and their economic de velopment efforts,” said Robert VanNatta, West Oregon Elec tric board president. The members of NoaNet Oregon are nonprofit, commu nity-owned electric coopera tives. Co-ops can use the NoaNet fiber optic system for utililty purposes such as real time metering and energy man agement. In addition, NoaNet will make excess capacity available to others on a cost- based, nondiscriminatory ba sis. For example, communities might use the NoaNet system to interconnect schools, hospi tals, judicial systems, libraries and emergency services. Utility members and cus tomers of NoaNet will develop and operate communication systems within their own ser vice areas that will connect with the NoaNet backbone system. Since NoaNet’s licensed fibers run mainly through rural areas, this new system is well suited to meet the future telecommu nication needs of rural commu nities. These communities are often not economically attrac tive markets for most telecom munication companies. By pro viding access to advanced broadband telecommunication facilities on an open, cost- based principle, NoaNet promises to help their utilities, customers and Oregon’s rural communities. Last year, as the board of di rectors considered the NoaNet Bretthauer opens Oregon’s first alternative fuel station Bretthauer Oil Company, which owns Vernonia 76 Ser vice and began delivering pe troleum products over 75 years ago, has now opened the first commercial compressed natur al gas (CNG) fueling station in Oregon. The station, located just east of Cornelius Pass Road at 21180 NW Amberwood Drive in Hillsboro, is considered a major step in promoting alter native fuel use in the state. “Bretthauer’s alternative fuel station is an investment in Ore gon’s air quality and indepen dence from foreign oil prices,” said Mark Kendall, senior ener gy analyst with the Oregon Of fice of Energy. “Compressed natural gas or CNG is the cleanest burning alternative fuel available." On-road vehicles using tradi tional fuels produce more than 60 percent of all carbon monox ide pollution. Studies have shown that dedicated CNG ve hicles reduce exhaust emis sions of carbon monoxide by approximately 70 percent and of carbon dioxide (the principle greenhouse gas) by up to 30 percent, compared with gaso- line-powered vehicles. Com pressed natural gas can be used in an internal combustion engine with few modifications. The City of Hillsboro and the Port of Portland are purchasing alternative fuel vehicles to use CNG. Northwest Natural, which provided technical assistance for the project and will provide the fuel, will also refuel its vehi cles at the station. project, the co-op’s members approved a bylaw change that would allow the board to ex plore other beneficial business opportunities, including the NoaNet project. Those revi sions passed by nearly a 3-1 margin. “For West Oregon Electric, the NoaNet project provides an opportunity to diversify its busi ness plan,” said Russell Green, West Oregon Electric general manager. “Our business plan shows that our NoaNet cus tomers will benefit from com petitive pricing and quality ser vice, while our electric ratepay ers will see long-term benefits as we achieve greater econo mies of scale." As a NoaNet member, West Oregon Electric became an eq- Seminar on legal traps for employers A free seminar for employ ers - Six Snafus “Legal Traps Employers Should Avoid” - will be presented by Chet Nakada, of the Bureau of Labor and In dustries, Wednesday, March 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Columbia Tech Center, 375 S. 18th in St. Helens. Registra tion begins at 9:00 a.m. The seminar is sponsored by the Oregon Employment Department, Management & Training Corporation and the St. Helens/Scappoose Cham ber of Commerce, with a grant from the Regional Workforce board. Make reservations by Feb ruary 25, by contacting either Diana Riggs Nish at 503-397- 6495 or Jeanette Sharing- housen at 503-397-4995 x-26. P ay those C hristmas B ills ... uity partner, providing cash as part of its participation. The co op is also responsible to guar antee a portion of the construc tion loan for the project. Finally, West Oregon Electric must build its own “middle mile” fiber network in order to serve cus tomers. Revenues from the sale of telecommunication ser vices will cover costs associat ed with the project. The cooper ative is able to take advantage of this unique opportunity be cause of funds provided by a recent financial settlement with Portland General Electric relat ed to the proposed purchase of their electric facilities in Colum bia County. No electric ratepay er revenues are being used for this project. Small Woodlands Association expands annual seedling tree sale The Columbia County Small Woodlands Association will hold its fourth annual tree sale from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 9, in the Hi-School Pharmacy parking lot in St. Helens. Species of trees at the sale will include improved Douglas fir, giant sequoia, coast redwood, incense ce dar, noble fir, Norway maple, red maple, ponderosa pine, western red cedar, quaking aspen, maidenhair tree, little- leaf linden, Colorado spruce, Danish noble, “flame" maple, red oak, Chinese dogwood and pin oak. The number of improved Douglas fir seedlings has been increased significantly from former years, since the supply had been exhausted early during prior sales. Oth ers should be in adequate supply, however, purchasers are advised to arrive in the morning to assure availability. Tree planting directions will be distributed and quali fied foresters will be on hand to answer questions about selection, suitability, planting and care. Most of the seed lings are bare root, although a limited number of several species are prepotted. The nonprofit Small Wood lands Association promotes family forestland owners’ un derstanding of responsible land stewardship on parcels of 5 to 5,000 acres. Nearly 150 families In Columbia County are active in the orga- nization^ which sponsors tours, speakers and other ed ucational activities for mem bers and friends. Over the past several years, members have planted over a quarter of a million improved Douglas fir seedlings, which are grown under contract for the Associ ation. For more information, call President Rod Nastrom at 503-397-5997 or Paul Nys at 503-556-8800. VERNONIA INN Enjoy a quiet weekend with us. FULL SIZE, IN ROOM $55w HOT TUBS $80“ REG. ROOM $ 4 5 “ Queen Beds • Private Bath • Separate Entrance Cable TV • Phones • Handicapped Access CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST FOR RESERVATIONS CALL with a CU B ill P ayer L oam VERNONIA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Serving the Nehalem Valley since 1940 6 2 2 BRIDGE STREET, VERNONIA • 5 0 3 -4 2 9 -8 0 3 1 1-800-354-9494/503-429-4006 GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE 9 0 0 MADISON AVE., VERNONIA, OR 9 7 0 6 4 Just one block off scenic Nehalem River Hwy. (Oregon 47)
