New Braunfels Utilities Launches Effort to Collaboratively Manage Water Resources

August 22, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
August 22, 2023

Texas public power utility New Braunfels Utilities, the City of New Braunfels, Texas, and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority on Aug. 15 launched an interagency program to collaboratively manage water resources.

The program’s launch “comes after several years of planning by the three agencies and additional partners who identified the primary challenges facing New Braunfels’ water resources and the strategic and actionable ways the agencies could work together, and with the community, to address these challenges,” said a news release related to the unveiling of One Water New Braunfels.

This work is captured in the One Water New Braunfels Roadmap and additional details are provided in the One Water New Braunfels Roadmap Report.

One Water is a globally recognized integrated approach to water planning that is being adopted by communities across the country, the news release said.

The Water Research Foundation defines One Water as an integrated planning and implementation approach to managing finite water resources for long-term resilience and reliability, meeting not only the economic needs but also community and ecosystem needs. The One Water methodology requires thinking of water as a single system and recognizes that all water flows — including stormwater, rainwaters, and wastewater — are viable water resources.

One Water New Braunfels was made official through action by NBU Board of Trustees and GBRA Board of Directors earlier this summer and a recent vote by the New Braunfels City Council to approve an interagency agreement.

The agreement outlines the governance and management of the One Water New Braunfels program and establishes an advisory council and a working group responsible for continued development and implementation of the New Braunfels One Water Roadmap.

A Program Coordinator will manage day to day operations of the program, support the efforts of the advisory council and working group, and serve as primary liaison with the community at large.

Department of Commerce Unveils State Allocations for $42.45 Billion High-Speed Internet Grant Program

June 27, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
June 27, 2023

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration on June 26 announced how it has allocated $42.45 billion of funding to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories to deploy high-speed Internet service to everyone in America.

States, D.C., and territories will use the funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to administer grant programs within their borders.

Awards range from $27 million to over $3.3 billion, with every state receiving a minimum of $107 million. A total of 19 states received allocations over $1 billion with the top 10 allocations in Alabama, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The funding will be used to deploy or upgrade broadband networks. Once deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used to pursue eligible access-, adoption-, and equity-related uses.

States, D.C., and territories will receive their formal notice of allocation on June 30, 2023.

Under the infrastructure law, eligible entities have 180 days from the date of that formal notice to submit their Initial proposals describing how they propose to run their grant programs.

Eligible entities can begin submitting their initial proposals starting July 1, 2023.

Once NTIA approves an initial proposal, which will occur on a rolling basis, eligible entities will be permitted to request access to at least 20 percent of their allocated funds.

Details related to the BEAD allocation for the states, D.C., and territories, as well as the total Federal investment in high-speed internet in each State and Territory are available here.

David Osburn Installed as Chair of APPA’s Board of Directors

June 21, 2023

by Jackson Bedbury
APPA News
June 21, 2023

David Osburn, general manager of the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority in Edmond, Oklahoma, on June 21 was installed as the new chair of the American Public Power Association’s Board of Directors at APPA’s National Conference in Seattle, Washington.

Osburn was introduced at the conference’s closing general session by the Board’s outgoing chair, Tony Cannon, general manager and CEO of Greenville Utilities Commission in Greenville, North Carolina.

In his speech, Osburn spoke of his relationship with public power, referencing his first position in Crawfordsville, Indiana, as the place where he fell in love with public power. Speaking about his time there, Osburn said, “I learned what it’s like to be part of a community.”

Describing his vision for the coming year as chair, Osburn emphasized the need for public power to “celebrate the past but focus on the future.” He cited examples of service through innovation at the City of Comanche (900 meters), which installed a DC fast EV charger to demonstrate its commitment to innovation, and Ponca City (16,000 meters), which introduced free citywide WiFi, as well as the Northern California Power Agency, a joint action agency with 14 members, which leveraged an APPA Demonstration of Energy Efficiency and Developments program grant to research green hydrogen production, generation, and storage.

In reference to their respective initiatives and projects, Osburn said, “These are…public power systems, big and small, being progressive.”

Osburn also urged members to make use of their APPA memberships. He noted the value of DEED program grants in facilitating innovation among DEED members, which then benefits all of public power.

Osburn has been with OMPA since 2007, and he has served on APPA’s Board of Directors for eight years, from 2004 through 2007 and continuously since 2018. He was appointed Vice Chair of the Board of Directors in 2021. Osburn has also served on APPA’s Executive Committee, Awards Committee, Business Planning Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, CEO Climate Change and Generation Policy Committee.

APPA Names 2023-2024 Officers

Nicholas Lawler, general manager of Littleton Electric Light and Water Departments in Littleton, Massachusetts, is chair-elect for 2023-2024.

John Haarlow, CEO and general manager of Snohomish County PUD in Everett, Washington, is vice chair. Tony Cannon, general manager and CEO of Greenville Utilities Commission in Greenville, North Carolina, is immediate past chair. Layne Burningham, president and CEO of Utah Municipal Power Agency in Spanish Fork, Utah, is treasurer.   

Osburn chose five members of the board to serve with the officers on the APPA Executive Committee. They are: Daniel Beans, electric utility director of Roseville Electric Utility in Roseville, California; Chuck Bryant, general manager of Carthage Water and Electric Plant in Carthage, Missouri; Jonathan Hand, executive director of Electric Cities of Alabama in Montgomery, Alabama; Thomas Kent, president and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District in Columbus, Nebraska; and Michael Peters, president and CEO of WPPI Energy in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.  

Newly elected to the APPA board this year are: Rosemary Henry, executive director of the Wyoming Municipal Power Agency in Lusk, Wyoming; Stephen Morrison, director of utilities for the Borough of Ephrata, Pennsylvania; and Amy Zubaly, executive director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association in Tallahassee, Florida.

Seven board members were re-elected to new three-year terms: Chuck Bryant, electric superintendent of Carthage Water and Electric Plant in Carthage, Missouri; Bret Carroll, chief executive officer of Conway Corporation in Conway, Arkansas; Edward Gerak, executive director of the Irrigation and Electrical Districts Association in Phoenix, Arizona; David Leathers, general manager of the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities in Jamestown, New York; Gary Miller, general manager of Bryan Texas Utilities in Bryan, Texas; Debra Smith, CEO and general manager of Seattle City Light in Washington; and Lynne Tejeda, general manager and CEO of Keys Energy in Key West, Florida.

APPA board members are chosen to represent 10 regions across the country.

Twenty Individuals, Eight Utilities Win National Public Power Awards

June 20, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
June 20, 2023

Twenty individuals and eight utilities were recognized for service to the American Public Power Association and the public power industry during APPA’s National Conference in Seattle, Wash., on June 20.

The individuals and utilities recognized at the ceremony were: 

Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award
This award is the highest award granted by the American Public Power Association. The award recognizes exceptional leadership and dedication to public power.

• Jolene M. Thompson, President & CEO, American Municipal Power, Inc., Columbus, Ohio
• Thomas J. Heller, President & Chief Executive Officer, Missouri River Energy Services, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award
This award recognizes people who have made substantial contributions to the electric utility industry, with a special commitment to public power. 

• John M. Benavente, P.E., General Manager, Guam Power Authority, Barrigada, Guam
• Mike Hummel, Retired CEO & General Manager, Salt River Project, Phoenix, Arizona
• Bill Bottiggi, General Manager, Braintree Electric Light Department, Braintree, Massachusetts

Alan H. Richardson Statesmanship Award
This award recognizes public power leaders who work to achieve consensus on national issues important to public power utilities.

• Ewell Lawson 

Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award
This award recognizes managers of small utilities serving fewer than 2,500 meters. These managers have a very small staff and must assume multiple roles.

• Dale Detmer, Plant Operations Manager, City of Breese Utilities, Breese, Illinois
• Kyle Francis, Assistant Village Administrator, Village of Versailles, Ohio
• Barry Hodges, City Clerk/Administrator, City of Minneapolis, Kansas
• Barry Baker, Electric and Water Superintendent, Town of Etna Green Electric Utility, Etna Green, Indiana
• Jamie Jones, Assistant City Manager/Director of Utilities and Public Works, City of Newberry, Florida Utilities and Public Works Department, Newberry, Florida
• Dennis J Klusmeyer, City Superintendent, City of Shelbina, Missouri

Harold Kramer-John Preston Personal Service Award 
This award recognizes individuals for their service to the American Public Power Association.

• Cynthia Clemmons, Manager of Legislative & Regulatory Regulations, Lakeland Electric, Lakeland, Florida
• Keith Cutshall, Chief Operations Officer, CDE Lightband, Clarksville, Tennessee
• Srinivasa Venigalla, Deputy General Manager, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Fort Defiance, Arizona

Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award
This award recognizes elected or appointed local officials who have contributed to the goals of the American Public Power Association.

• Janie Martinez Gonzalez, Board Chairman, CPS Energy, San Antonio, Texas
• Will Purser, Retired Chairman EN Executive Board, Energy Northwest, Richland, Washington

Robert E. Roundtree Rising Star Award
This award is a scholarship presented to future leaders in public power. The recipient receives a stipend to travel to an APPA conference or training program to advance their education and development in public power.

• Katie Arnold, Director of Business Services, Mason County Public Utility District No. 1, Shelton, Washington

Mark Crisson Leadership and Managerial Excellence Award 
This award recognizes managers at a utility, joint action agency, or state or regional association who steer their organizations to new levels of excellence, lead by example, and inspire staff to do better.

• Dale Lythjohan, Retired General Manager, Cedarburg Light & Water Utility, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
• Mike Muirhead, Director of Public Works and Utilities, City of Garden City, Garden City, Kansas

E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award
This award honors American Public Power Association member systems with outstanding accomplishments.

• CPS Energy, San Antonio, Texas
• Shrewsbury Electric & Cable Operations, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
• Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio

Sue Kelly Community Service Award
This award recognizes utilities for their “good neighbor” activities that demonstrate commitment to the local community.

• Austin Utilities, Austin, Minnesota
• Blanding City, Utah
• CDE Lightband, Clarksville, Tennessee
• Kerrville Public Utility Board, Kerrville, Texas
• Long Island Power Authority, Uniondale, New York

Energy Innovator Award
APPA’s research program, Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED), nurtures innovation in public power. Each year, the program recognizes innovative utility projects with this award.

• New York Power Authority, White Plains, New York 
• Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Fort Defiance, Arizona
• Stowe Electric Department, Stowe, Vermont

Traverse City Light & Power Lineworkers Help to Rescue Bear from Tree

May 17, 2023

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
May 17, 2023

Lineworkers from Michigan public power utility Traverse City Light & Power recently helped to rescue a bear from a tree by successfully working with a city biologist to tranquilize the bear and bring it safely down from the tree.

Daren Dixon, Operations Manager for Traverse City Light & Power, told Public Power Current that reports came in of a black bear roaming streets of Traverse City’s Central Neighborhood on the morning of May 14. City police responded to the reports and the bear wound up climbing a tree.

Along with the police, officials from the city’s Department of Natural Resources Department and firefighters were onsite.

Dixon received a call that morning indicating that the Traverse City streets department needed help from the utility and asking for the utility to bring a bucket truck to get a DNR biologist closer to the bear to tranquilize it.

Traverse City Light & Power Lead Lineman Josh Patzer and Apprentice Lineman James Johnson responded with a bucket truck. 

“We used the bucket to bring the biologist up closer to the bear. The biologist had to use four darts to tranquilize the bear, who was fighting the sleep due to noise from the crowd and surrounding areas,” Dixon said.

Mattresses were borrowed from a neighbor, a county commissioner, to put under where the bear was falling asleep, he noted.

Johnson and a biologist then tried get the bear down from the tree. “The apprentice wanted to put a running bow on the bear, but the biologist indicated that he was concerned about going around the bear’s chest for breathing purposes,” Dixon noted.

With the line around the animal’s abdomen, the biologist and Johnson dislodged the animal’s paw from the tree and the bear fell from about 30 feet but landed on the mattresses.

The DNR loaded the bear into a specialized cylindrical holding crate and relocated the bear about 60 miles away from the city.