District Meetings Held in JanuaryFebruary 2016

District meetings were held in Districts 2, 6 and 8 with directors up for election in 2016.Members heard reports from General Manager Wade Hensel, and Board President Duane Ehrich.

Member Services Manager Dave Sunderman, Office Manager Sandy Sowieja and Operations/Engineering Manager Mike Heidemann was on hand to answer questions.

The following candidates will go before the membership at the annual meeting on Saturday, April 9, 2016: District 2 - Harlan Lanz, Incumbent and District 6 - Blake Meshke, Incumbent and District 8 - Duane Ehrich, Incumbent and David Lein.

Thanks to all the members that attended their District Meeting.

BENCO Electric Cooperative Link

Harlan Lanz, IncumbentNominee District 2

Blake Meshke, IncumbentNominee District 6

Duane Ehrich, IncumbentNominee District 8

David Lein Nominee District 8

District 6 Meeting

District 8 Meeting

District 2 Meeting

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDMankato, MN 56001

Permit No. 47

P.O. Box 8Mankato, MN 56002-0008

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

This newsletter is published monthly by BENCO Electric Cooperative, PO Box 8, Mankato, MN 56002-0008.

Office Hours: Mon -Fri - 8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Phone: 387-7963 or 1-888-792-3626

Outages/After Hours: 387-7964 or 1-888-792-3626

Dave Sunderman - Member Services Manager Kathy Gerber - Editor

Board of Directors:Duane Ehrich - President - District 8Scott Johnson - Vice President - District 9Harvey Hesse - Secretary - District 5Harlan Lanz - Treasurer - District 2, Coop Network DirGarfield Eckberg - District 1Brad Leiding - District 3 - GRE DirectorJohn Wells - District 4Blake Meshke - District 6Gary Stenzel - District 7Wade Hensel - General ManagerJohn C. (Chuck) Peterson - Attorney

Board Meetings: The last Thursday of each month - members are welcome to contact directors with items of interest or concerns in advance of the meetings.

What’s Cookin’: Wild Rice SoupFrom the Kitchen of: Darcy Roll

You can receive a $10 credit on your electric bill, if your recipe gets printed in the newsletter.Send your favorite recipes to:

Kathy, BENCO Electric, PO Box 8, Mankato, MN 56002

3/4 lb bacon, cooked 1 onion 1-1/2 c celery 1 c raw wild rice, cooked 2 can mushrooms3 cans cream of potato soup 1 pint half and half1 c water1-1/2 c American cheese/Velveeta

Mix all together in a large pot and simmer on stove top until hot.

What’s Cookin’ in your Kitchen

February 2016 www.BENCO.coop Page 6 February 2016 www.BENCO.coop Page 5

It’s a common sight to see semi trucks hauling grain near the farming community of Spiritwood, N.D. That area became busier last summer when farmers started delivering corn to the Dakota Spirit AgEnergy ethanol biorefinery which began operations.

The area has always been rich in corn production. In fact, Stutsman County produced about 18.6 million bushels of corn in 2014, the latest year for which figures are available.

“Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has created a market for virtually every bushel of corn produced in the county,” said Terry Wanzek, farmer and state senator for District 29, which includes Jamestown, N.D.

That benefits farmers, but also local cities, counties, the state and region.“These kinds of projects help everyone because Dakota Spirit AgEnergy takes a

local commodity, corn, and they add value to it to produce the end products of ethanol, distillers grains and corn oil that are transported locally and out of state,” said Wanzek.

Dakota Spirit AgEnergy is owned by Midwest AgEnergy Group, an Upper Midwest biofuels enterprise owned by BENCO Electric’s wholesale power provider, Great River Energy, and other accredited investors.

Dakota Spirit AgEnergyThe 65 million gallons of high-octane ethanol Dakota Spirit AgEnergy produces

each year is blended with gasoline. The distillers grains are used for cattle feed. Corn oil is essential in the production of biodiesel.

The primary input to make those products is corn—23 million bushels per year,

Spiritwood Activity Strengthens Local Economy

grown locally. This results in a strong, year-round market for local farmers.Dakota Spirit AgEnergy is operated by 38 employees who live near the plant and operate it in an efficient manner. “Our highly skilled employees work very hard to efficiently produce high-quality renewable products from about 70,000 bushels of corn per day,”

said Jeff Zueger, chief operating officer of Midwest AgEnergy Group.The ethanol biorefinery has a much larger impact beyond its plant site as the business generates about 2,000 indirect jobs through farming,

transportation and other businesses that support the plant and employees.Spiritwood StationThe ethanol biorefinery would not exist without Great River Energy’s Spiritwood Station at center of it all. The 99-megawatt combined heat and

power plant, which was commercialized on Nov. 1, 2014, generates electricity for the regional market and process steam for Dakota Spirit AgEnergy and an adjacent malt plant.

Spiritwood Station is the only major power plant in eastern North Dakota, and it is operated by 30 people who primarily live within 30 miles of the site. “The employees enjoy living in this area and working at the plant. They exhibit a great team effort when operating the plant because they realize the significant impact that it has on the region,” said Jeff Krumwiede, leader, plant engineering, Spiritwood Station.

Local impacts Dakota Spirit AgEnergy provides a strong economic impact at the local level, especially the farming community. “Farmers need every advantage

that they can get in the current farm economy, and with Dakota Spirit AgEnergy, they are able to market their corn locally and with low transportation costs,” said Connie Ova, president of the Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation.

High tech plantsSpiritwood Station is one of the cleanest coal-based plants in the world. In fact, it is compliant with the requirements of EPA’s Clean Power Plan to

reduce carbon dioxide emissions. “We receive a lot of positive feedback from people who visit the plant,” said Krumwiede. “Visitors are impressed with how the plant operates and how it generates electricity and steam in a highly efficient manner.” Dakota Spirit AgEnergy also has low carbon intensity, because the biorefinery uses steam from Spiritwood Station instead of owning and operating its own boiler. Ethanol produced in Spiritwood is shipped to markets in the United States and internationally that require lower carbon fuels.

Future growthMark Klose, chairman of the Stutsman County Commission, said a major benefit of the new facilities in the Spiritwood area are the high quality,

good paying jobs, which benefit all of Jamestown and Stutsman County. The success of the projects is due in large part to strong public/private partnerships. “All groups worked together to make possible a strong value-added ag processing plant that is benefitting farmers and businesses that serve those farmers,” said Klose.

Those partnerships will be essential for continued growth through the Spiritwood Energy Park Association, an industrial park developed by Jamestown Stutsman Development Corporation and Great River Energy. The 551-acre, multi-tenant industrial park provides energy and transportation infrastructure well suited for industrial operations.

“The key to growing an agriculture-based community is diversification, and that includes finding ways to add value to local commodities,” said Ova. “Diversification is important if we are to add good quality jobs in the Jamestown and Stutsman County area.”

According to farmer and North Dakota State Senator Terry Wanzek, Dakota Spirit AgEnergy has boosted an already strong market for corn in eastern North Dakota. Photo: Terry Wanzek

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From the BoardThursday, December 17, 2015

Duane Ehrich Presided

The board reviewed and approved:• The minutes of the November 24

board meeting.• Capital Credits to estates totaling

$3,471.68.The 2016 budget and work plan was

reviewed and approved.Sandy presented write-offs and they

were approved.Wade reviewed a conference

call with Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) on the net metering cost recovery.

Wade updated the board on SMEC activities including the CFC/RUS buy down and allocation of transaction costs.

Chuck reviewed recent legal work for the cooperative.

Directors’ reports were as follows:Brad reported on the December

GRE Board meeting. CTV directors reviewed the recent

CTV board meeting including the sale of the Welcome Tower.

Harlan reported on Cooperative Network.

John reported on MREA.Harlan reported on a director

training he attended.

February 2016 www.BENCO.coop Page 2 February 2016 www.BENCO.coop Page 3

PCA UpdateActual PCA for January

$0.0260Estimated PCA for February

$0.0267Estimated PCA for March

$0.0210

The Power Cost Adjustment (PCA) is due to changes in the monthly wholesale rate from our power supplier, Great River Energy (GRE).

JKaren Jacobson, Tarpon Springs FLJesse E. Jenkins, MankatoRandy G. Johnson, MankatoJoyce A. Juliar, PembertonKKenneth Kain, N. MankatoBrian Ketel, ChaskaOrdean Klingbeil, WellsDavid Knutson, Eagle LakePaul A. Koffman, Spencer IABruce Korth, Ladson SCMarlen Koschnick, Good ThunderJeff Kowitz, Fergus FallsGordon Kragness, BricelynJoyleen Kranz, MankatoLJackie B. Lageson, MankatoAnna Langevin, MankatoGerald B. Lawton, MankatoDouglas M. Legg, Quincy FL

Where, Oh Where?The following is a list of former BENCO Members whose capital credit checks were returned by the post office as undeliverable. Any information you can give us to help locate them would be greatly appreci-ated. Please contact Lori at 387-7963 or 1-888-792-3626.HDorethea Hadlick, Blue EarthTodd Hall, MankatoThomas W. Hallifax, PlymouthJoe Halpern, MankatoLinette Hamer, N. MankatoMarisol Hernandez, MankatoJenalle S. Hatch, Lake CrystalDon E. Haubrich, Las Vegas NVVirgil D. Helton, Blue EarthDaniel Holman, N. MankatoChing-Chieh Hsiao, MinneapolisIPatti Indre, Colonge

Tamara Lent, Longmont COJennifer Levine, MankatoZane E. Levine, WellsTammy M Liebl, MankatoPennie Lottman, MankatoDawn Lowe, MankatoDorothy Luhring, Good ThunderMBrendan T. Maher, MankatoJames Marlquist, ScandiaHoward Mann, N. MankatoMyron J. Marshall, WyomingMasaharu Marsuura, Eden PrairieMichele McCabe, MankatoPaul McLean, Denver CODennis R. Mensing, MankatoMichael W. Merkel, Franklin TNSheila M. Michels, St. PeterEllen Mills, MankatoWilliam Muldoon, Madison LakeRoger B. Murphy, Lake Crystal

February 2016 www.BENCO.coop Page 4

2015 Outage ReportThe 2015 report summarizes the number of outages by category

as required by the Rural Utility Services (RUS) and compares the averages over the last five years.

BENCO Electric Cooperative is committed to reducing the number of hours you are without electricity. Some of the programs which help accomplish this include: tree trimming, vegetation management, replacement of failing underground cable, and replacement of old and deteriorated poles and wires.

Average Outage Hours Per Consumer

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

5 Year Avg

0.168

0.004

0.000

1.145

0.076

0.279

0.023

0.032

0.013

0.037

0.025

0.026

0.096

0.00

0.109

0.429

0.46

0.219

1.259

1.12

0.829

0.829

1.90

1.187

1.547

1.156

0.952

2.94

2.461

1.711

TotalsAll OtherCausesYear Power

SupplierStorms Prear-

ranged

Mark your Calendar!

BENCO Electric Annual MeetingApril 9, 2016

Verizon Wireless Civic Center, Mankato

Air Source Heat Pumps: The Best of Both Worlds

A smarter solution is available for members seeking a way to more efficiently heat and cool their home year-round: air source heat pumps (ASHPs).

Able to deliver hyper-efficient home heating and air conditioning, ASHPs help members realize savings in energy consumption as well as cost. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an ASHP can reduce electricity use associated with home heating and cooling by up to 72 percent. Since heating and cooling account for more than half the total energy consumed in a typical household, members can realize tremendous savings by making the switch.

While earlier generations of ASHPs were primarily used in the southern part of the U.S., new generation ASHPs can be used in nearly all parts of the country. They are an especially viable option for Midwestern homes during the spring and autumn months when outdoor temperatures are milder.

How it worksASHPs use the same technologies that are found in refrigerators and air

conditioners, and deliver cooling and heating by moving heat to and from the outdoor air. During the summer when cooling your home, the ASHP works just like a central air conditioner, moving heat from inside your home and transferring it outside. An ASHP has the ability to reverse this process for heating: the ASHP harvests heat from outside air – some systems can provide heating in temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit – and transfers it into your home. The result is that homeowners are able to run their furnaces less and get extremely efficient heating.

Both of these options can be controlled from a thermostat while the home heating function is also able to work in tandem with conventional gas furnaces. The product will automatically select the most ideal balance between the two sources to maintain the most efficient heating combination based on a homeowner’s desired indoor temperature.

ASHPs contain two sets of coils, a compressor and a fan that circulates cooled or warmed air. The key to its ability to heat or cool is a special reversing valve that changes the refrigerant flow’s direction, allowing the unit to seamlessly switch between air conditioning and heating.

Benefits to membersMembers can realize savings of up to 30 percent on home cooling

expenses by installing an ASHP instead of other conventional air continued on page 4

Air Source Heat Pumps: The Best of Both Worldscontinued from page 3

conditioning units. And by moving heat, the ASHP is able to transfer a greater amount of energy than it consumes, which means that an ASHP can have effective heating efficiencies of 300 percent or more.

ASHPs provide a safe, environmentally friendly solution for home comfort conditioning as well. They don’t use an open flame or create products of combustion – such as carbon monoxide and other emissions – so there is no need for venting , and their extended equipment life means less pollution associated with discarding old units or parts and manufacturing their replacements.

The warmth provided by ASHP technology is superior in quality compared to conventional furnaces. The heat distributed by ASHP is distributed more evenly and holds its moisture better, resulting in more natural, comfortable warmth.

Conservation a state priorityIn 2007, the Minnesota Legislature passed the Next Generation Energy Act which established energy savings goals

and conservation spending requirements for all of the state’s utilities. Great River Energy and our all-requirements member cooperatives have reached the goals and requirements each year since the law took effect.

Since 2010, Great River Energy’s members have realized more than half a billion kilowatt-hours in energy savings. In addition, we have realized significant savings at our generation and transmission facilities. The annual savings associated with these programs exceed the total annual sales of several of our smaller member cooperatives. Great River Energy’s members surpass their energy savings goals by engaging consumers and working to identify cost-effective energy efficiency investments. Excess energy savings are applied to the energy savings goals for subsequent years, as the legislation allows.

A smarter solution is available for members seeking a way to more efficiently heat and cool their home year-round: Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) let the outside air heat and cool your home.

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