Public input part of Tri-State resource planning
 In mid-July, Tri-State completed a series of six public meetings that took place over a 12-week period and involved nearly 100 individuals. The G&T conducted the public participation process to solicit input on its 2010 Resource Plan that it is required to file with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission this fall and also to the Western Area Power Administration in early 2011.This resource planning process not only meets the association’s regulatory compliance obligations, but it also produces data that will inform Tri-State’s business strategy development. The process has been lauded by the public participants for its transparency and professionalism.All materials and presentations are available for download on Tri-State’s web site at www.tristategt.org/ResourcePlanning.The process will continue through the summer as Tri-State staff members work to draft the filing that will project future needs and assess assets to meet the needs of Tri-State’s member systems reliably and affordably.Another public meeting to review the draft resource plan is anticipated to be held this October once Tri-State’s board of directors has reviewed it.
Co-ops help sponsor national rodeo event
 On behalf of its Wyoming Touchstone Energy member co-ops, Tri-State and Basin Electric this past Tuesday helped sponsor a day at the 62nd annual National High School Finals Rodeo event taking place in Gillette, Wyo. Approximately 1,500 contestants -- cowboys and cowgirls -- from 41 states, Canada and as far away as Australia competed in the week-long event for their share of thousands of dollars in college scholarships.The Touchstone Energy balloon team also was on-hand at the fairgrounds and gathered quite a crowed early in the morning, before having to pack up and forego an evening appearance due to inclement weather.The NHSRA is one of the fastest growing youth organizations in the nation, sanctioning more than 1,100 rodeos throughout the year for its membership in excess of 10,500 students. Based in Denver, the NHSRA is governed by a national board of directors, which consists of one member from each state or province.
Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp grooms leaders
 For nearly 40 years, high school students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming have traveled to Clark, Colo., to spend five days learning about electricity, cooperatives and leadership as part of the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp.The campers - totaling more than 80 this year - are all from electric co-op-served households in the states from which they hail. From a tour of Craig Station and Trapper Mine, to a day spent rafting down the Colorado River, the camp proves to be both educational and fun for participants.Each camper is sponsored by their electric co-op, which enables them to attend the camp at no cost. In addition to sponsorships, Tri-State and a number of its Colorado and Wyoming member-systems attend camp as counselors, spending the week chaperoning, presenting and ensuring the camp runs smoothly.
Kit Carson Windpower construction wrapping up
 Duke Energy's Kit Carson Windpower project, from which Tri-State will receive the generation output, is now in the last stages of major construction, according to Scott Fernau, senior transmission project manager. All 34 turbines are in place and are undergoing testing procedures. Tri-State's adjacent Landsman Creek Substation, which will put the wind generated-electrons on Tri-State's Burlington to Big Sandy 230 kV transmission line, in now under construction. It is scheduled for completion in October. According to Fernau, this two-month window between October and December will mainly serve as a testing period for Duke to conduct final testing of their system using the back-fed power from Tri-State's substation. The Kit Carson Windpower project is scheduled to begin commercial operation by year-end, producing up to 51 megawatts under optimal conditions.
Balloona Vista a top weekend draw
 The Rotary Club of Buena Vista, Colo., with the help of several local businesses including Tri-State member co-op Sangre De Cristo Electric Association, hosted the town's fifth annual Balloona Vista event last weekend, drawing interest from the local community and surrounding areas. The Touchstone Energy balloon was included among the 15 balloon crews that participated in the three-day festival.With spectacular Mount Princeton -- one of Colorado's famous 14ers -- serving as a perfect backdrop, the pilots and crews met at the local rodeo grounds three straight mornings at 6 o'clock to take advantage of the perfect weather conditions for a sensational launch into a beautiful Colorado sky.The Saturday evening "glow" drew the largest crowd, as approximately 200 people ventured out to see the magnificent site of several inflated -- but tethered balloons -- light up night at the fairgrounds while listening to music and enjoying refreshments offered by local vendors.
Nucla-Sunshine transmission line construction progressing on schedule
 Contract construction crews are making good progress on Tri-State's 51-mile Nucla to Sunshine 115-kV transmission line now underway in southwestern Colorado's Montrose and San Miguel counties, according to Pat Dille, transmission project manager.Shown in this photo are workers contracted by General Cable to trench and install a total of 10 miles of the line that will be underground. The remaining 41 miles of line will be strung on overhead single-poles, H-frames and some steel structures.The three-year project also involves upgrades to the Nucla switchyard and the Norwood, Wilson Mesa and Sunshine substations.
Co-op Connections Card provides big savings
 Since it was first introduced a couple of years ago, the Touchstone Energy Co-op Connections Card has paid for itself numerous times over. The “loyalty card,” which Touchstone Energy cooperatives make available to their member-consumers at no charge, provides cardholders with significant discounts at local retailers in the co-ops' individual service territories as well as numerous national deals with hotel chains, rental car companies and other product and service providers.Today more than 300 co-ops have distributed in excess of 26 million cards to their consumers, with deals and discounts being offered by more than 19,000 local businesses and nearly 100 national shopping links.One of the most valuable aspects of the program comes from an arrangement with New Benefits, Ltd., which entitles cardholders to valuable pharmacy discounts at more than 48,000 national and regional stores across the country as well as independent pharmacies nationwide. To date, electric co-op consumers throughout the United States have saved more than $20 million in medical prescription costs, thanks to the Co-op Connections Card.Currently nine of Tri-State’s 42 member Touchstone Energy co-ops utilize the card, which has had several positive effects, including increasing member identity and engagement, promoting local businesses and of course, the pocketbook savings for the consumer – totaling more than $151,000 to-date! More information about the card program can be found at www.connections.coop.
Craig Station’s coal supply operations featured
 The major mining operations that fuel Tri-State's Craig Station, including Trapper Mine in which the G&T holds an ownership stake, were the subjects of a recent three-part newspaper feature on coal mining in Moffat County, Colo.
In addition to including a number of photos of the facilities, the Craig Daily Press articles involved personal interviews with those who work in the coal industry, as well as facts and figures relating to the impact on the region's economy.
To view the series, follow these links:
San Luis Valley REC launches energy outreach program
 Faced with growing numbers of residents unable to afford heating costs and rising amounts of uncollected debt, a Colorado electric co-op has come up with what it hopes will be a long-term solution to the twin problems.Set to start today, July 1, the ultimate goal of the Energy Foundation, created by Tri-State member San Luis Valley REC (Monte Vista, Colo.), is to help needy member-consumers keep future heating costs down through in-home weatherization. Veterans, through a local green jobs training group, will supply the labor; Operation Roundup funds and federal stimulus dollars will pay for it all."The idea is if we can begin to mitigate some of the energy bills by weatherizing homes, we can begin to eliminate the need for shut-offs and high energy bills," said John Villyard, CEO of San Luis Valley REC. "It's a big circle that will take a long time and some effort, but we have to start somewhere."
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