Municipal Power News Volume 21, Issue 1

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1 Williamsport Light and Water Municipal Power News Volume 21, Issue 1 Community library receives national recognition for local efforts People are taking notice of the Williamsport- Washington Township Public Library, and not just within town The Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library recently won the four-star library designation from the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service for the second time. limits. For the second time in recent years, the community library won the four-star library designation from the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. The index is a measurement tool that compares public libraries across the nation. The Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library received its most recent accolade in part because of its programming for all ages and its partnerships with the community. In 2014, the library hosted over 100 programs, garnering an attendance of approximately 10,000 people. Library Director Christopher Brown said much of the library s success would not be possible without the library s partnerships with community departments and the library s many volunteers.the library Speak up for your community - STOP SB 309 Town needs park board volunteers to create waterfall walking trail In order for a walking trail around one of Williamsport s greatest natural assets to become a reality, the Williamsport Town Council is seeking community volunteers to sit on the reestablished Williamsport Park Board. The four member board will initially be responsible for hiring a consultant who will help the community apply for funds to create the trail around the town s waterfall. - continued on page 8 - continued on page 8 Reach out to your legislator today to: - Protect local jobs - Keep electric rates low - Prioritze customers Go online to Read more about the issue on pages 4 and 5 in this newsletter!

2 The Municipal Power News is a periodic publication of the Indiana Municipal Power Agency and the 60 communities it serves. IMPA: Your Indiana Power Partner Page 2 IMPA to harness Editor: Niki Dick Manager of Marketing Communications niki@impa.com Correspondent: Emily Atwood Communications Specialist emilya@impa.com Send submissions and comments to: N. College Avenue Carmel, IN Printed on recycled stock. The Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) is a not-for-profit organization that provides an economic, reliable and environmentally-responsible power supply to its members. IMPA member utilities purchase their power requirements through IMPA and deliver that power to the residents and companies in their service territories. IMPA is proud to be your Indiana power partner. IMPA COMMUNITIES Advance Anderson Argos Bainbridge Bargersville Blanchester, OH Bremen Brooklyn Brookston Centerville Chalmers Coatesville Columbia City Covington Crawfordsville Darlington Dublin Dunreith Edinburgh Etna Green Flora Frankfort Frankton Gas City Greendale Greenfield Huntingburg Jamestown Jasper Kingsford Heights Knightstown Ladoga Lawrenceburg Lebanon Lewisville Linton Middletown Montezuma New Ross Paoli Pendleton Peru Pittsboro Rensselaer Richmond Rising Sun Rockville Scottsburg South Whitley Spiceland Straughn Tell City Thorntown Tipton Veedersburg Walkerton Washington Waynetown Williamsport Winamac more sun energy Another new year means another phase of solar parks for your community s wholesale power provider, the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA).The Agency closed out 2014 with the addition of three new solar parks in its member communities of Frankton, Rensselaer and Richmond. Each of the solar parks in these communities generates one megawatt (MW) of power, totaling three MW of generation for IMPA s power supply portfolio. Now in 2015, IMPA is focused on constructing solar parks in more of the communities it serves with power. IMPA hopes to have solar parks in Crawfordsville, Peru and Tell City constructed by midyear with a total of 10 MW of Rensselaer Crawfordsville Tell City The solar panel icons represent where the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA) already has a solar park. The red dots represent the locations of IMPA s second phase of solar park construction. generation sourced from solar energy by year s end. In order to keep these solar projects as cost effective as possible, resulting in low, stable electric rates, IMPA conducted much of the engineering and project planning in house. Through this process, IMPA also expanded its knowledge of solar power and the processes needed to successfully complete parks of this scale. Where IMPA did rely on outside expertise, the Agency worked with local contractors in the communities to keep costs down and to give back to the businesses in those communities. Additionally, the Agency did not accept any government subsidies for the construction of the parks. Going forward, IMPA will build on this knowledge to create best practices so that the solar parks may be constructed economically and efficiently to bring the customers of the communities it serves with an even more diversified power supply portfolio. Peru Frankton Richmond

3 IMPA: Your Indiana Power Partner Page 3 Frequently asked questions about IMPA s solar program Q: Who owns the solar park? IMPA will own and operate the solar parks. The parks are located in communities that IMPA serves with power (Members). Each IMPA Member holds a seat on the IMPA Board of Commissioners and has input into all decisions that the Agency must make. In this way, each Member owns a portion of the solar park. The cost of the construction and maintenance of the property will be paid for by IMPA. Q: Could my home be connected to an IMPA solar park? The output from each solar park will be placed on the community s local electric distribution system, which in turn is connected to the high voltage power transmission system ( The Grid ) and becomes part of all electric generation that is attached to the system. As electricity from the solar panels will join with electricity generated by other facilities on the transmission system, it is impossible to tell if the electricity generated by the solar park is specifically powering any particular home or business. Q: Will having a solar park in my community lower my electric bill? A solar park in your community will have very little impact on your electric bill.impa is dedicated to providing low cost, reliable and environmentally responsible power to its member communities.electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is more expensive than traditional resources.the construction of this solar park, and the other parks planned in IMPA communities, is meant to further diversify IMPA s portfolio of power supply resources, adding additional green energy as we prepare for the possibility of future, more restrictive, federal or state requirements. IMPA s solar projects will be blended with its other resources, and through this initiative and others, IMPA will strive to keep its electric rates amongst the lowest in Indiana. Q: Will there be any noise? Capturing the sun s power through solar cells does not make noise in itself, but there can be a hum produced when the electricity is transformed to be used in our homes and businesses. This sound, similar to other electric equipment in neighborhoods and businesses, is not particularly loud. Steps will be taken at the solar parks, through enclosures and the facility s physical layout, to reduce any noise. Q: What about glare? Glare is produced by reflected sunlight.the more sunlight a solar panel absorbs, the more electricity it can produce.today s solar panels absorb all but about 30 percent of the sunlight that hits them.what is left is just a little bit more than the glare from the sun hitting grass or trees. Q: Is there any danger in having the park in our community? A solar park is about as safe as a generating facility can be.there are no air emissions from the facility.there are no chemicals. No trucks will be coming and going on a daily basis once construction is complete.the power will leave the park on lines just like the power lines in your neighborhood.

4 IMPA: Your Indiana Power Partner Page 4 Senate Bill 309 will NOT work Senate Bill 309 will prohibit Indiana s municipal electric utilities from extending their electric service territory upon annexation, except upon mutual agreement.but mutual agreement won t occur because the rural electric membership cooperatives (REMCs) and investor-owned utilities (IOUs) have publicly stated that they don t want to lose one single customer - ever.indiana s municipal electric utilities are willing to give up their automatic right under the current law, but not at the expense of the customers. If an amendment to SB 309, which would protect customers interests is not accepted, Indiana s municipal electric utilities cannot support the bill. If the REMCs and IOUs have publicly stated they don t want to lose one customer ever, why will they ever mutually agree? Now I m stuck in the middle and left out in the cold. Do a utility companies profits matter more than customers? I wish my newly annexed neighbors could enjoy the same great electric service I receive. Senate Bill 309 will: - Cost jobs in your community. - Require your new neighbors to unfairly pay 30% higher electric rates. - Curb the future growth of your community. - Force customers to move if they want low- cost, reliable electricity from their municipal power provider. - Give all of the power to the state s largest utilities, which already provide power to 93% of Indiana s electric customers. If annexed, I ll still have to pay 30% higher electric rates? Don t I get to have an opinion?

5 IMPA: Your Indiana Power Partner Page 5 and customers will lose I wish I could take advantage of that community s low electric rates when annexed. Welcome to your municipal electric community, home of low-cost, reliable, locally serviced power. Right now, your community s electric utility serves all citizens in the municipality. But if the state s largest utilities have their way, newly annexed citizens and your new neighbors would be prohibited from receiving electricity from their homegrown, local utility. THAT IS NOT FAIR. Take action to protect one of your community s greatest assets. Contact your legislator to oppose SB 309 today. Go to for more information. I want to be annexed and receive municipal electric service, but now I can t. Do my legislators really think that giving all of the power to the largest electric utilities creates balance?

6 IMPA: Your Indiana Power Partner Page 6 Appreciating lineworkers for their dedication to reliable electricity When the weather is at its worst, your municipal electric community s lineworkers are there, restoring power.when your community seeks growth, your local lineworkers are there, installing new electric system equipment. When your community needs them most, your lineworkers are there. Lineworkers take risks every day to ensure that each household and business in your community receives power. Nationwide, lineworkers will be recognized for their service on April 18, Nationally, on April 18, 2015, lineworkers will be appreciated for their hard work, innovation and dedication. However, it is every day that your dedicated lineworkers risk their lives in order to provide your community with reliable power. Working on power lines requires the utmost skill, expertise, teamwork and patience. Indiana s municipal electric utilities lineworkers receive much of their training to become the best lineworker that they can be through the Indiana Municipal Electric Association (IMEA).Several times a year, IMEA holds training sessions on climbing poles, setting transformers, reacting properly to emergency situations, and so much more. Nationwide, there are approximately 115,000 lineworkers who take daily risks to provide power. These lineworkers work on 9 million miles of wire, 170 million wooden poles and 2.7 million transmission towers in service across the United States.To show appreciation for your lineworkers on April 18, 2015 or anyday, post pictures onj social media using the hashtag #thankalineman. To learn more about National Lineman Appreciation Day and the history of America s lineworkers go online to What kind of work lineworkers may do in your community - Maintain the electric system s poles, lines and equipment like transformers. - Trim trees to prevent power outages. - Manage the community s substations to ensure that power is reliably entering the community from the transmission system to then be distributed to your home or business over the local power lines. - Restore power if lost during a storm, vehicle accident or winter weather, such as ice. - Read meter usage data and transmit it to the utility billing office. - Maintain the community s traffic lights and streetlights. - Hang the annual holiday lights. - Set up electric service for new customers. AND SO MUCH MORE!

7 IMPA: Your Indiana Power Partner Page 7 Test your knowledge of your community s wholesale power provider! Test your knowledge of your community s wholesale power provider, the Indiana Municipal Power Agency and you could win a prize! Send your answer to the question below to IMPA, and we will randomly select winners from all of the correct entries to receive an energy efficiency prize pack.please send your name, address and address with your answer to: niki@impa.com OR MPN Energy Efficiency Quiz North College Avenue Carmel, IN Question: What is the relationship between your community and the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA)? A.IMPA supplies my community with low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible power. B. My local electric utility purchases all of its power requirements through IMPA. C. IMPA is a not-for-profit organization just like my local electric utility and does not have any shareholders. D. All of the above Cooking Corner INGREDIENTS - 4 large eggs - 2 cups powdered sugar - 2 1/2 cups flour drops anise oil - 1 tsp baking powder Have a favorite recipe you would like to share with other readers? Send it to: Emily Atwood N. College Ave. Carmel, IN or to emilya@impa.com Soft Springles Recipe by: Ruth Stallman, Jasper, Indiana Apricot-Pecan Chicken Salad INGREDIENTS -1 C coarsely chopped pecans - 3 C chopped cooked chicken - 1 C chopped dried apricots - 1/4 C mayonnaise - 1/4 C sour cream - 2 Tbsp. dijon mustard - 2 Tbsp. honey - salt and pepper to taste DIRECTIONS - Preheat oven to 325 degrees. - Beat eggs until light in color. - Add sugar, stirring until soft and fluffy. - Add flour, baking powder and anise oil. - Drop teaspoons of mixture onto a greased cookie sheet. - Bake for 10 minutes or until light brown. Recipe by: Millie Julian, Scottsburg, Indiana DIRECTIONS - Heat pecans in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring often for 4-5 minutes or until toasted. - Stir together chicken and next 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in pecans. - Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve. - Dish may be stored in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 3 days.

8 Indiana Municipal Power Agency N. College Ave. Carmel, IN PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage PAID Indianapolis, IN Permit # 9555 Inside Pages 2-3 IMPA solar park program Pages 4-5 Senate Bill 309 will not work Page 6 Appreciate your lineworkers The Municipal Power News is published by the Indiana Municipal Power Agency and Williamsport Light and Water. IMPA Commissioner: David Banta Municipal Power News Community library receives national recognition - continued from page 1 also functions as the Warren County Learning Center, in which the facility helps preserve local heritage and provide life enriching educational possibilities. Together, the library and learning center s motto is learning is for a lifetime. That is evident by the wide variety of programs offered. The Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library plays host to the all ages summer reading program, Dungeons and Dragons game group, holiday open houses and festivities, quilting classes, cultural dinners, computer classes and much more. To learn more about the library s upcoming offerings, or the learning center s new programs, visit the library at 28 East Second Street, go online to or like the library on Facebook by searching for its page at Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library. IMPA: Your Indiana Power Partner Williamsport Page 8 Park board volunteers needed - continued from page 1 The Town hopes that the walking trail would improve residents quality of life, educate walkers on the community s historic places marked along the trail and increase physical fitness. Park board members will be required to meet a minimum of four times annually to not only discuss the walking trail project, but also to establish rules governing the park and recreation facilities, make recommendations to the town council and track annual expenditures.the Town council will appoint the park board members, which will serve staggered terms. One member will serve for one year, another two years, another three years and the final appointee will serve four years. Those interested in serving on the Williamsport Park Board should contact the town hall office at (765) or by stopping in at 29 North Monroe Street.