Electric City Power, Incorporated (ECPI): 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, and Dawn Willey. Also present were the ECPI Executive Director, City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Administrative Officer and the Operations Supervisor.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT
Executive Director Coleen Balzarini reported that the City Commission had retained R.W. Beck, Inc. to conduct an independent engineering analysis of the proposed Highwood Station as part of the City’s due diligence to proceed forward. Five national firms submitted proposals in response to the City’s RFP including R.W. Beck, Black & Veatch, Burns & Roe, HDR, and Sargent & Lundy. The City interviewed two of the firms and R.W. Beck was selected. The analysis will be divided into two phases. Phase I is anticipated to be complete by February 1, 2007 and will provide a general assessment of the project’s viability. At the conclusion of Phase I, the Independent Engineer will provide the City with a written report, stating its conclusions and recommending a course of action to the City. She noted that if the City receives a favorable Phase I report, Phase II will commence immediately and will provide supporting work for our financing, marketing and contracting efforts with electric customers.
Balzarini said that the timing of the study is appropriate as SME is near completion of final contracts for the major plant components: the boiler island and steam turbine generator.
George Golie commented that Beck’s experience with analysis of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) projects is impressive.
The Executive Director then reported on ECPI’s customer base development efforts. She reported that staff has met with the Airport Authority and has received a letter of intent for a long term supply contract that will serve all of the Airport’s tenants. Staff has also met with the Great Falls Public School District and several of its other customers to discuss long term supply contracts to support the City’s portion of financing for Highwood Station.
Balzarini also reported on two legislative proposals that would enhance the City’s role as an electricity supplier. The first is LC 2079 which enhances the City’s ability to serve mid-size customers by amending the current annual MW cap on customer migration allowed from default supply when the customer is a government entity. The second is LC 2081 which would allow homes and small businesses to have Electric City Power, Inc. as their electricity supplier.
Balzarini next reported on a pilot project by the Alstom company that aims to capture carbon dioxide from a CFB boiler. She noted that Alstom had submitted the favorable bid to furnish and erect the Highwood Station boiler island.
Balzarini then gave the Board an update on the City’s work to provide public information relating to Highwood Station and respond to citizen concerns. City staff and professional experts will respond to concerns and questions at future City Commission meetings.
The Executive Director informed the Board that the Electric City Power, Inc. annual report for 2006 was filed with the Montana Secretary of State’s Office. The State has also requested tax information for ECPI as part of the report.
Approval of Board Minutes from December 4, 2006. Dawn Willey noted that in the December 4th minutes, under Board Member Reports, that there should be “several [legislative requests] that relate to energy are:” listed before the bills are enumerated as HB25, LC89, 205, 244, 370, 563, 872, and 920. George Golie moved to adopt the minutes as amended and Bill Ryan seconded the motion. The December 4, 2006 minutes were approved unanimously.
Chairman Bob Pancich noted that Outlook 2007 economic summit produced by the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research will be held in Great Falls on January 24th, 2006 at the Hampton Inn. He urged other board members to attend.
Public Comment
Rich Liebert noted that the Alstom company produces hydroelectric generation equipment. He asked the board if ECPI would use locally produced renewable energy. Executive Director Balzarini responded that after ECPI has a base load resource, it would add renewable resources to its portfolio. Liebert then asked if Representative Deborah Kottel could sponsor the City’s legislation because she serves as the Chairman of the Airport Authority Board, an ECPI customer. Bill Ryan responded that Kottel stands to receive no personal gain, so there doesn’t appear to be any conflict of interest. City Manager John Lawton also noted that the Airport’s contract for supply service is not contingent on passage of this bill. Mr. Lawton added that the City speaks almost weekly with various renewable energy developers who would like to team with Highwood Station for some of their firming needs.
Charles Bocock had several questions for the Board. He first asked if SME has a transmission interconnection agreement with NorthWestern Energy. Coleen Balzarini advised him that most of the work had been completed in developing the agreement and SME has reserved all of the transmission capacity it needs and that the R.W. Beck study will provide an in-depth review of the transmission arrangements for the project.
Ken Thorton noted that methane is produced by cattle and can be mitigated through changes in their feed. Flatulence from cattle is a serious contributor to climate change, he added. He stated that Alstom’s pilot project to capture carbon dioxide from a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler is still in preliminary stages. He also noted that smaller generation facilities that are spread apart geographically could be useful.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 PM. The next meeting is set for February 5, 2006 at 5:30 in the Gibson Room of the Great Falls Civic Center.
Agenda Packet ( 818k scanned PDF)
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