Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

10700 Fairgrounds RoadP.O. Box 477

Huntingdon, PA 16652-0477814/643-2650

1-800-432-0680www.valleyrec.com

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FOR ALL who share myinterest in our national pas-time, let me remind you …baseball season is rightaround the corner!

Over the years, I canremember times when I’vebeen upset by an umpire’sdecision. I know umps areneeded to enforce the rulesof the game, but I’ve seenquite a few blown calls.

In many ways, umpiremistakes mirror what’s going on withgovernment regulation regarding electricutilities and electricity production. TheU.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) writes the rulebook for powersuppliers. But EPA also serves as anumpire, enforcing the rules of the game.

At Valley Rural Electric, we’re com-mitted to keeping your electric billaffordable. So you can understand whyI get upset when I see EPA leaders mak-ing bad calls that put pressure on howmuch you pay for power.

Over the past two years, Congressdebated, but never passed, a comprehensiveclimate change bill. Instead, EPA steppedforward and has now fielded a team ofnew regulations. Out of these “players,”three could hit electric bills out of the park.

Clean Air Transport Rule: This rulekicks in next year and aims to cap powerplant emissions of sulfur dioxide andnitrogen oxides in 31 eastern states(including Pennsylvania). EPA claims therule, when combined with other stateand federal measures (such as rules formercury emissions), will reduce sulfurdioxide emissions from power plants by71 percent and nitrogen oxides emissionsby 52 percent from 2005 levels by 2014.However, it will cost utilities $2.8 billionevery year to comply, an expense thatwould ultimately be paid by consumers.

Cooling Water Intake Requirements:Power plants use water from lakes or

rivers to cool generating equipment.While screens and various componentsprevent fish and other wildlife fromentering water intake pipes, EPA thinksthis equipment could be improved. Aproposed rule was introduced last monthand the impact could be severe. TheNorth American Electric Reliability Cor-poration, the nation’s bulk power gridwatchdog, claims if this rule is strictlyenforced, one-third of U.S. electricitycapacity may need to be retired. If thathappens, how — and at what cost —would generation needs be met?

Coal Ash: To ensure the safe disposalof fly ash and other residues (bottom ash,scrubber sludge and slag) produced bycoal-fired power plants (known as coalcombustion residuals or CCRs), EPA isconsidering whether or not to designatethe materials as hazardous waste. Com-plying with this rule could cost billionsand would also halt recycling efforts.Right now we use one-third of all fly ashas a Portland cement substitute — andfor every ton of concrete replaced by flyash, a ton of greenhouse gas emissions isavoided. On four prior occasions — mostrecently under the Clinton Administra-tion in 2000 — EPA determined CCRs donot warrant regulation as a hazardouswaste. Not only did EPA find that CCRsrarely, if ever, exhibit a hazardous wastecharacteristic, the agency also concludedstates can safely manage CCRs underfederal non-hazardous waste rules.

At Valley Rural Electric, we strive tokeep you informed about governmentregulations that will increase the cost ofelectricity. We’re joining co-ops nationallyto ask Congress for a much-needed time-out in the game — a two-year morato-rium on EPA regulation of carbon diox-ide and other greenhouse gases. A delaywould give lawmakers the opportunity tofashion climate change legislation thatprotects you, our consumers, and keepselectric bills affordable. l

M A R C H 2 0 1 1 • P E N N L I N E S 14a

One of 14 electriccooperatives servingPennsylvania and

New Jersey

COOPERATIVEconnection

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T & C E O

Environmental umpire making bad callsValley

Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

by Wayne MillerPresident & CEO

SEVEN POINTS MARINA atRaystown Lake, served by Valley RuralElectric Cooperative, was recently votedNo. 1 large marina in the nation byMarina Dock Age Magazine.

On Jan. 28, the award of 2010 Marinaof the Year was presented to the facilityduring the International Marina andBoatyard Conference, held in Fort Laud-erdale, Fla.

It’s an honor that’s been shared overthe years by marinas in places likeKapolei, Hawaii; Riviera Beach, Fla.; LasVegas; Charleston, S.C.; and the affluentNew York Hamptons.

“To receive this honor at this time inmy life and after all these years is gratify-ing,” says marina founder James Filson.

He and his family have been in themarine business for 65 years. Filson, 86,continues to work at Seven Points alongwith his son, BJ, and two daughters, PaulineFilson Hetrick and Pam Filson Prosser.

A family-owned and family-friendlyfacility, Seven Points Marina offers sea-sonal houseboat and pontoon rentals, amarina store and restaurant. Facilities

are open annually from April to October.“My father and mother started in the

marine industry in 1946 and we threechildren were expected to contribute tothe success of the business while wewere young,” says Pam, who also servesas the marina’s spokesperson. “Thatblossomed into a passion for the indus-try for all the kids.”

Originally named Jim’s Anchorage,the marina was once located on the oldRaystown Dam. Jim, a native of Altoonaand a history and science school teacherin Huntingdon, loved the water andspent his summers building the marinabusiness. The first Jim’s Anchorage con-sisted of one small wood building, asteep dirt launch ramp and six docksaccessible by a dusty, red shale road. Jimopened for business with an initialinvestment of $500 for the purchase ofland and four used rowboats. By 1952,he was operating a snack bar and asmall store selling and servicing boatingequipment.

The Filson marina gradually devel-oped into a popular boating, water ski-

ing and fishing center, offering a widerange of activities. Home of theRaystown Boat Club and the RaystownSki Club, the original marina featuredski shows, boat tours, jeep tours over-looking the lake and dances during thesummer. By 1960, Jim’s Anchorage hadexpanded to include a boat and motordealership, three different areas forcampers and trailers, three additionalboat docking areas, a 140-slip marina,rental cottages, and 350 acres of land.The original marina was located aboutthree miles north of the current marina.Before the new dam was constructed bythe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, thelake was about eight miles long with 30miles of shoreline. Today, it is the largestinland lake in Pennsylvania with 118miles of shoreline and more than 30miles of navigable water.

The Filson family was discouraged tolose the original business as a result ofthe dam’s construction, but Jim’s luckturned when he became the winningbidder for the Seven Points Marina con-cession on the new Raystown Lake. (The

14b P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 1

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

2010 LARGE MARINA OF THE YEAR: “Seven PointsMarina has a rich tradition on Lake Raystown. Stillfamily-owned 65 years later, the marina has spentyears serving customers, perfecting the practices of good hospitality,” says Marina Dock Age Magazine Editor Anna Townsend.

Risingabove

rest theSeven Pointsnamed nation’sNo. 1 marina

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

M A R C H 2 0 1 1 • P E N N L I N E S 14c

MEMORY LANE: The Raystown Ski Club’s ski shows were once a favorite attraction at the originalmarina. “I tried out for this part for three years and was so excited to be able to do this in a skishow,” says Pam Filson Prosser (center), current marina spokesperson and daughter of marina founderJim Filson. “I had a ski on for take off, then dropped this ski and twirled up on the bar to do acrobat-ics. I remember how thrilled I was to be able to do this.” Shown with Pam are Bob Stultz ofHollidaysburg, left, and Bo Shellington of Altoona.

YOU WON’T WANTTO MISS THIS.

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PLUS$15 bill credits

and stainless steelcoffee mugs for all

registered memberswho attend!

More details comingin the mail soon!

old marina is 100 feet under the watertoday.)

Seven Points Marina now has 661docks that are rented seasonally, 20 tran-sient docks and 265 rack or dry storagedocks. In addition, there are 19 house-boats, nine pontoons and six utility boatsthat are available for rent daily. A restau-rant and store are also on the property aswell as the largest breakwater on the lake.This 500-foot breakwater is home to manyprivate houseboats and helps protect therest of the marina from rough water.

The Filsons say they are still commit-ted to serving customers and practicinggood hospitality. Over the years, themarina has become not only a social hotspot, but also an economic engine for thelocal tourism industry.

Over the next 10 years, plans for themarina include researching and design-ing a floating facility for administrativeoffices and a rental center as well as arestaurant and floating pier. l

Information and photos courtesy of theFilson family. Susan Penning contributed tothis article.

14d P E N N L I N E S • M A R C H 2 0 1 1

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS:Are you looking for new experiences and new friends this summer? Ifso, the 2011 Rural Electric Youth Tour might be for you!

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative will sponsor students fromthroughout the cooperative’s eight-county service territory on an all-expenses-paid trip to the nation’s capital June 12-17.

The Rural Electric Youth Tour has brought high school students toWashington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s. More than 40,000students from rural areas and small towns across America have partic-ipated in this unique program.

During Youth Tour, students learn about the important role electriccooperatives play in their communities. They also gain a personalunderstanding of American history and their responsibilities as citi-zens by meeting their representatives and senators and exploring thesights around the nation’s capital.

It’s not unusual to see a former Youth Tour participant who is a con-gressional aide on Capitol Hill. In fact, several former Youth Tour stu-dents have gone on to serve in the highest ranks of our government,including the U.S. Senate.

Juniors and seniors interested in joining the Youth Tour delegationshould meet the following criteria:

Any high school junior or senior whose parent or guardian is amember or employee of Valley REC is eligible to apply.

Students will be required to submit a transcript along with addi-tional information to the co-op selection committee.

Selections will be based on academic achievement as well as partici-pation in extracurricular activities and/or community service programs.

Students interested in attending Youth Tour this year shouldvisit their high school guidance counselor’s office today to apply.Slots are filling up fast and final selections will be made withinthe next few weeks.

For more details, visit youthtour.coop or call Valley Rural ElectricCooperative at 800/432-0680, extension 163.

Spring marks a perfect time of year to make yourhome more energy efficient. Here are five quick tipsthat will save both electricity and money:

1. Seal cracks and gaps around your home. Asyou put away your storm windows, consider addingweather stripping around leaky doors and caulkingaround window frames. A typical Valley REC mem-ber can save more than $200 annually by taking thissimple step. Not particularly handy with tools? VisitTogetherWeSave.com, a website sponsored byTouchstone Energy® Cooperatives, to view a videothat shows how to use a caulking gun to seal upleaks around vents, ductwork and windows.

2. Change filters regularly. Replace furnace andair conditioner filters monthly. Dirty filters restrictair flow and reduce the overall efficiency of yourheating and cooling system by making it workharder on hot summer days.

3. Clean the refrigerator inside and out. Now isa good time to not only throw out that leftover fruit-cake, but also to check the temperature setting. Ide-ally, a refrigerator’s temperature should be between37 and 40 degrees for maximum operating efficiency.And don’t forget to pull the unit away from the walland carefully vacuum the coils. When you move itback, don’t push it flush against the wall; air shouldcirculate around the coils.

When it’s time to replace that old refrigerator, besure to buy one that’s Energy Star-rated. These energy-efficient appliances can save you as much as $100 a year.

4. Think sun block. By pulling down the shadeson your windows this spring and summer, you couldsave about $35 a year. Plus your house will staycooler and more comfortable.

5. Enjoy spring breezes. Use a clothesline duringwarmer months and let sunlight and fresh breezesdry clothes naturally. You’ll reduce your electric billby not running a dryer and add a genuine cleanscent to your family’s laundry.

You can learn more about how to lower yourmonthly energy bill by visiting TogetherWeSave.comor by calling an energy advisor at Valley Rural Elec-tric at 800/432-0680.

Information from Touchstone Energy

Last chance to apply forthis year’s Youth Tour

Five ways to SPRINGinto energy efficiency

VIPS: Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D) speaks to recent Youth Tour students duringtheir visit to Capitol Hill, a key part of the Youth Tour agenda.