Electric City Power, Incorporated (The Corporation): Regular meeting of the Board of Directors Great Falls Civic Center, Gibson Room
CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM
ROLL CALL: Directors present: Chairman Bob Pancich, George Golie, Bill Ryan, Dawn Willey, and Randy Gray. Also present were the ECPI Executive Director, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and the Operations Supervisor.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Executive Director Coleen Balzarini had no report.
Guidelines for Public Discussion. George Golie read the guidelines for public discussion aloud and moved to adopt the guidelines. Dawn Willey seconded the motion and the guidelines were unanimously approved.
Approval of Board Minutes from October 2, 2006. Dawn Willey moved to accept the minutes and Bill Ryan seconded the motion. The October 2nd minutes were unanimously approved.
Approval of Board Minutes from November 6, 2006. George Golie moved to accept the minutes and Randy Gray seconded the motion. The November 6th minutes were unanimously approved.
Engineering RFP
Executive Director Coleen Balzarini reviewed and explained the ECPI Engineering RFP to the Board. She stated it is required for financing the City’s portion of HGS. It will clarify the costs, revenues, feasibility of the City’s participation in this project. It will also ask the participant to submit a schedule for the City to follow as it moves forward with its financing goals. It is a “Professional Services Contract” which will be sent to six firms, including RW Beck and Black and Veatch, both of which the City has worked with before.
Bill Ryan made a motion to recommend the RFP to the City Commission. Randy Gray seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved
George Golie researched the current proposed legislation that could affect Electrical consumers in MT. There are currently 1652 legislative requests pending. Several that relate to energy are: HB25, LC89, 205, 244, 370, 563, 872, and 920.
Chairman Bob Pancich attended the Cascade County Commission hearing relating to a re-zoning request for the property on which the proposed Highwood Generating Station will be situated. He commented that the county was clear about voting free from environmental concerns, as they will be addressed by the State and Federal governments. He also noted that the rezoning was approved without relocation of the plant outside of the Lewis and Clark Trail. Executive Director Balzarini commented later in the meeting that the plant and the rail spur are being moved out of the trail area. The four wind turbines will remain in their originally proposed locations or very close to the same locations.
City Operations Supervisor Martha Cappis gave a brief overview of the Governor’s Advanced Coal Technologies Meeting held in Helena on November 21st. She stated that the group who presented at the meeting is working together to help find financing options for public/private partnerships in the construction of such plants. More information is available at www.gpisd.net.
City Manager John Lawton spoke about the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) program and noted that Senator Baucus assisted with an allocation for the SME wind turbines. These are interest free bonds which will be used to construct the 4 turbines at the HGS site.
Public Comment
Larry Rezentes asked several questions regarding the financial statements of ECPI and the article written in the Great Falls Tribune. He questioned the prepaid water credit to SME and how it was to be repaid, and also the financial feasibility of SME. Balzarini responded, along with Lawton. Rezentes questioned the timing of the financing and what if the bonds are not saleable. He also asked of the probability of selling GO debt to finance. Balzarini responded that this project is on a very tight timeline, and the City does not intend to finance the project with General Obligation bonds.
Richard Liebert asked where the wind turbines would be in regards to the Lewis and Clark Trail. Balzarini stated that the plant and the rail spur were being moved out of the trail area, but not the wind turbines. He also asked about ECP’s conservation incentive credits. Balzarini stated that the credits would be a worthy goal, but ECP doesn’t have the money to initiate that program at this time.
Mary Jolley requested a copy of a feasibility study approved by the Commission on November 4, 2003 regarding clean coal technology. Balzarini was not aware of which study she was referring to, but would get her this information. Jolley also stated that County Commissioner Joe Briggs had mentioned that he is forwarding the public comments from the rezoning to the city. Balzarini was not aware of these being received by the city.
Stewart Lewin asked the Board to consider a “Plan B” for the project if HGS is not built. He asked what the status of the wind turbines would be and if they could be transferred to another entity from SME.
Neil Taylor asked what would happen to the CREBS money for the wind turbines if the plant is not built. Balzarini stated that would be SME’s decision. John Lawton stated that the turbines are intended to use SME’s transmission lines. Taylor also brought in an article from Charlie Christensen, MD Pediatrician regarding Mercury Toxicity to the Developing Brain for the Board’s review. Taylor questioned the sale of the City’s water rights to SME. Balzarini clarified that the City is not selling the water rights, just raw water.
Ken Thorton stated that the carbon tax is a fact and that within the next 5-10 years; there will be a charge of $5-10/ton. He asked if this scenario was included in the analysis of HGS. Balzarini responded yes it will be considered through the independent engineer’s analyses.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 PM. The next meeting is set for January 8, 2006 at 5:30 in the Gibson Room of the Great Falls Civic Center.
Agenda Packet (516K scanned PDF)
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