The INDEPENDENT, February 21, 2008
Page 15
Power of the People
By W. Marc Farmer,
General Manager,
West Oregon Electric Cooperative
Where Do We
Go From Here?
Like many of our members,
we are busy trying to recuperate
from the flood and decide what
our next move will be. As a result
of the December 2006 wind
storm and the wind and flood from this last storm, we
have several significant challenges we are working on
at the same time. When I say significant, it is due to
that fact that, collectively, the cost is over $10 million
dollars. I will walk through each of them with you, their
dollar impact, and what we have been doing to ad-
dress them. I have presented each of these chal-
lenges to our local, county, state, and federal elected
officials and are seeking their assistance.
The first challenge comes from the December 2006
wind storm which damaged much of our main trans-
mission line running from Timber to Elsie. This 16-mile
line goes cross country through heavily wooded areas
where the right-of-way is only 40 feet and the trees on
both sides of the line are over 100 feet. Though I only
got a “C” in geometry, I am smart enough to figure out
that when the winds blow and the trees fall, the trees
are going to take out our transmission line every time.
We have one shot under current FEMA rules to under-
ground this line, and for the next 40 to 50 years elimi-
nate this problem. While it is more expensive than put-
ting it back up overhead, it will pay for itself many
times over in fewer repairs and replacements. This
project will cost about $3 million. FEMA will cover
about $1.5 million, leaving us with the challenge of
finding the other half. I have met with the Oregon Eco-
nomic Development Department, and Oregon Depart-
ment of Energy to see if they can offer any assistance.
We may qualify for some Pass Through Business Tax
Credits, and I am working on the paperwork to see
how much we might obtain. Steve Scott is working on
mitigation funds to add to our underground project. We
project WOEC will need to spend at least $250,000
which we have already incorporated into our business
plan and budget. We will be seeking state assistance
on the remaining balance of about $750,000.
The second challenge comes from finding sources
of funds to be able to offer energy assistance to our
members who have extremely high bills due to using
electric heat to dry out their homes from the flooding.
Most of our members will experience higher electric
bills, because of the colder weather we had this winter
compared to others. We will not be providing assis-
tance for weather-related increases, but hope to find
funds to assist our flooded members. We will know of
our success in the next 60 to 90 days. We will be work-
ing with those members, regardless, to allow them
time to pay their bills. We are hoping to raise about
$170,000.
Challenges number three and four have to do with
maintaining service to our members during a flood and
other emergencies. The Vernonia Substation sits in
the flood plain and was flooded both in 1996 and 2007.
This time, the water was high enough to get into the
reclosures and short out our substation. As this sub-
station is also due to have its transformer replaced, it
should be obvious to all that it would make no sense
to place a brand new $425,000 transformer back into
the flood plain.
Our backup substation we call East Substation, (by
the Chinese Restaurant across town), is also located
in the flood plain. Our plan is to build a new main sub-
station for Vernonia out of the flood plain, turn the cur-
rent substation into the backup, and remove the East
substation. We already own property that would be a
perfect fit to relocate and build the new Vernonia Sub-
station. The cost of this project is $1,779,000. I have
submitted a request for $1.5 million through a federal
appropriations bill to pay for most of the costs, with
WOEC paying the balance. We won’t know for a few
months whether we are successful or not.
The fourth challenge is our headquarters. WOEC
needs to be able to remain focused on trying to keep
the power on for our members, not on which boat to
take staff out in as we did this flood. I have identified
two options. Option one would be to relocate our head-
quarters to higher ground. I have already selected
property for this purpose that would keep us within city
limits for continued convenience to our members, and
is perfect for our offices and warehouse. Projected
costs of this project are about $5.2 million. As state
and federal dollars do not pay for “bricks and mortar”,
we will need to be creative in securing funds for a new
building. Option two, if we are not able to find funding,
would be to upgrade our current building (as it is over
50 years old) to hold a second story and move all es-
sential services upstairs. We would have to replace
other parts of the building, including the roof. to meet
load and seismic requirements. An elevator would also
be required for handicapped access. Flood prevention
measures would need to be included to protect as
much of the first floor as possible. These measures,
along with the cost of the second floor would be ap-
proximately $2 million. We are developing plans for
both options while we pursue funding. Which option
we choose will depend on how much money we are
able to secure.
The objective in all of these options is to obtain
funding from other sources as much as possible in-
stead of placing the burden on our members. While it
is a large challenge, it is one worth devoting the time
and energy necessary to achieve these goals. Our
success is vital to both you and us. We will do all we
can, and check every possible avenue to obtain the
funds we all need for the future of WOEC.
Take Izaak Walton League of America’s “Clean Boats Challenge”
The BoatU.S. Foundation for
Boating Safety and Clean Wa-
ter has joined the Izaak Walton
League of America’s campaign
to help stop the spread of
aquatic invasive species and is
urging all recreational boaters
who trailer their vessels to take
the League’s “Clean Boats
Challenge.”
The challenge is a quiz at
http://www.CleanBoats.org that
educates boaters and anglers
on how to inspect and clean
their boats to ensure that lakes
and streams are protected from
non-native, aquatic hitchhikers.
“Taking the Clean Boats
Challenge will give boaters and
anglers the information they
need to make personal choices
that can help stop the spread of
invasive species,” said Boat-
U.S. Foundation Director of
Clean Water Programs Susan
Shingledecker.
In addition to the short and
easy-to-complete Clean Water
Challenge, the Web site also
includes information on how to
clean a boat properly and some
tips for trailer boaters. For ex-
ample, it is recommended that
a boat and motor be drained
and inspected for mud or plant
life before departing the launch
ramp. It then should be allowed
to dry completely for five days
before launching into a different
body of water.
The Web site has links to a
clean boat video demonstra-
tion, and maps identifying the
locations and spread of inva-
sive species. An educator’s re-
source guide is also available
at the Web site. Boaters can
even take an online “Stop
Aquatic Hitchhikers Pledge.”
The Izaak Walton League is
one of the nation's oldest and
most respected conservation
organizations with a grass-
roots network of over 40,000
members and over 300 local
chapters across the U.S.
The BoatU.S. Foundation for
Boating Safety and Clean Wa-
ter is a national 501(c)(3) edu-
cational and research organiza-
tion that operates more than a
dozen programs including the
only accredited, free, online
general boating safety course,
a low-cost EPIRB rental pro-
gram, the “Help Stop the
Drops” national clean fueling
campaign, a free kid’s Life
Jacket Loaner Program, and
has awarded hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars in grants for
boating safety and environmen-
tal projects.
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