5.6. ERMUSR 04-08-2014 A4h
Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Jennie Nelson— Executive Administrative
John Dietz—Chair Assistant
Al Nadeau— Vice Chair
Daryl Thompson—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
April 8, 2014 5.6
SUBJECT:
Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship Award
BACKGROUND:
On January 8, 2013,the Utilities Commission approved ERMU participating in the Minnesota Municipal
Utilities Association(MMUA) Tom Bovitz Memorial Scholarship. This award program is offered by
MMUA to promote public power and increase goodwill within public power communities. High school
seniors that are a customer or have a legal guardian that is a customer of a MMUA member municipal
electric or gas utility would be eligible. Because ERMU is a MMUA member, high school seniors that are
ERMU customers or those who have a legal guardian that is an ERMU customer are eligible. The Utilities
Commission approved ERMU awarding a local winner a $500 scholarship.
DISCUSSION:
Staff advertised for the scholarship in the fall of 2013 and spring of 2014 through the Current and
Connector newsletters and the ERMU website. Students were required to submit a 500-700 word essay on
the topic "Municipal Utilities: Good for All of Us."
Staff has reviewed the submissions and has chosen the following essay to receive the award per ERMU
policy. This student did his homework and researched ERMU as well as related public power and energy
conservation to his daily life. This is a testament to the benefit of educating our customers and community
about the advantages of public power.
ACTION REQUESTED:
The following essay will be submitted to MMUA for consideration for their scholarship. No commission
action is required.
ATTACHMENT:
• "Municipal Utilities: Good for All of Us" Scholarship Essay Submission
!P O W E R E D I
VT Page 1 of 1 NATURE
Reliable Public
Power Provider POWExEe To SERVE
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Municipal Utilities: Good for All of Us
Municipal utilities serve the community I live in and all across this great
stale of Minnesota.They provide a valuable service not only in power,
water,sewer and refuse amenities they educate,Siandally assist and
protect the environment.
Educating the community is a highlight for municipal utiities.The 21st
century public wants to be involved in preserving the environment and is
eager to learn what they can do to facita le environmental protection.
Municipal Willies provide opportunities for learning at al ages.As an
example in my community; Elk River,there is a learning center available at
the Etc River Landfill to enlighten the public on energy conservation and
facts on recycling and renewable energy. Etc River also has informative
posters,newsletters and community action to support energy stewardship.
Municipal utilities offer financial assistance for the public.This can be
through rebates for purchasing LED light bulbs and Energy Star
appliances.Other firanaal assistance programs amiable in Elk River
(ERMU)indude counseling for family budgeting,Community
Wealherization Program and the Cold Weather Rule program to help low
income families prevent overwhelming issues with utility NI payments.
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Along nth the Salvation Army,a program calecl Heat Share is also
avaiable for low brooms families to help pay for utility bus during the cold
winter months. My family participates in the ERMU Air Condition Cycling
Program during the summer months to help oft load demand for electricity
during the hot summer months.This is one way my family participates in
responsble energy consumption.
Presenting the environment is on everyone's agenda. Municipal utities
do their part by implementing recycling programs,water conservation
programs and researching more efficient and environmentally friendly
energy forms. Again, my home town of Ek Fiver stands out in Ws efforts
for environmental preservation programs.Elk River participates in methane
gas recycing from the Elk River Landfill.The methane gas is derived from
decomposing garbage at the landfill site.This contrbutes 26 mien kiowatt
hours or 15%of Ek River's energy. Elk River also has a Wind Turbine that
produces energy from a free natural resource, the wind. Wrrd Energy
production is a low cost and environmentally friendly form of energy.
Mother alternate energy souse in Elk River is the utiizadon of refuse-
derived fuel Woddng along with Great River Energy, Elk River Municipal
Unties uses this energy source from shredded and dehydrated solid
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waste,burning it to provide energy to the public_This helps keep the
garbage out of the landfil and enhances the erwironment for years to
Since 1997, Elk Ri er has been designated`Energy City'.As Energy
City, Ek River Municipal lilies and the community has demonstrated
cuing edge renewable enemy options and honorable distinction in
producing dean,localy generated energy that is available to the
community it serves_This decreases the amount of energy needed to be
suppled by other outside sources,controlling energy costs.
I am an Eagle Scout wrdh Troop 99 in Elk River.Through out my Cub
Scout and Boy Scout training we are taught to respect the environment,be
conservative and demonsirata good citizenship.The Boy Scouts of
America slogan is"Do a Good Turn Daily.`On a daily basis,municipal
utSes all across Minnesota provide the pubic with quality energy choices
as part of a civic duty. In a sense,'Doing a Good Turn Daily'. I am proud of
Ek River Municipal(Miles'and other municipal utilities across the state for
tree'efforts to ive up to the demancing responsibility of meeting the energy
needs of their conrnuniy.Elk River Municipal Utilities and the other state
wide community municipal utiil yes should be applauded for proviking safe,
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reliable,cod effective and quality long term electric and water utiily service
to all of us.Municipal Utilities:Good for all of us.
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