A pair of F-22 Raptors based at Tyndall Air Force Base engage in maneuvers near Panama City, Florida.

PHOTO COURTESY U.S. AIR FORCE

Co-op Opens Panama City Office PAGE 4 The Trip of a Lifetime PAGE 6

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

N OV E M B E R 2011

Energy SmartsMaking the Most of Your Electricity

Good Habits Start YoungAmericans spend up to 25 per-cent of their electricity budgets on lighting, so it pays to keep energy efficiency in mind.

Your worst choice is the typ-ical incandescent bulb. About 10 percent of the energy that goes into it comes out as light. Ninety percent becomes heat.

Compact fluorescent lamps last up to 10 times longer than incandescents and use one-fourth the wattage to provide the same level of light. The key is to find the bulb with the lowest wattage that delivers the desired light output.

Choosing an efficient lamp is just the start to energy sav-ings. Follow these tips to get the most light for your money:

• Let the sun shine in.Daylight is the least expensive and most pleasing light source.

• Direct light to the task. Efficient fixture designs typi-cally are more open and use highly reflective surfaces. Direct light to surfaces and tasks, not to the floor.

• Stay in control. The simplest way to save is to turn lights off when you are not using them. Motion sensors, switch timers and conveniently located light switches all help reduce “on time” of lights.

• Keep rooms light and low. Spaces with dark surfaces

and high ceilings are harder to light efficiently than spaces with low ceilings and light-colored surfaces.

Saving energy is a learned behavior. Find out how Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative can help you lead by example at www.TogetherWeSave.com.

Side Roads 10In the Kitchen 16Florida Gardener 18

Festival Roundup 22Outdoor Pursuits 24Parting Shot 30

Inside

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32

Also In This Issue

November 2011Vol. 1, No. 1

State BecomesHollywood East 12Florida aggressively pursues movie projects to bolster the state’s economy and its reputation as a movie-making mecca.

Florida Currents is published monthly by five rural electric cooperatives serving consumers throughout Florida. The publication is made possible by your friends at Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative in an effort to keep you informed of events and issues at your cooperative.

Florida Currents is produced with the assistance of Ruralite Services Inc. Formed in 1954, the not-for-profit Oregon-based cooperative corporation serves the communication needs of consumer-owned electric utilities in nine states. Today, Ruralite works with 58 electric utilities in Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

Postmaster: Please send address changes to Ruralite Services, P.O. Box 558, Forest Grove, OR 97116-0558.

HOW TO CONTACT FLORIDA CURRENTS

Have a problem receiving your edition of Florida Currents? Utility members should contact the local utility office listed on the back cover. Nonmembers should contact Ruralite Services, P.O. Box 558, Forest Grove, OR 97116-0558; (503) 357-2105; email info@floridacurrents.com.

Extra copies: $2 each, pre-payment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year. Contact Ruralite Services.

Reprint permission: Direct all requests to Ruralite Services.

MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS

Please do not send unsolicited materials. If interested in writing for Florida Currents, query first. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for writer’s guidelines. Address requests and queries to Ruralite Services.

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© 2011 Ruralite Services Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

N O V E M B E R 2011 3

In another privatization move by a defense facility, the U.S. Air Force signed a 50-year agreement with Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative to oper-ate the electric and water dis-tribution systems on Tyndall Air Force Base.

When a military base is privatized, a public utility assumes ownership and opera-tion of the base’s electric, water, wastewater or natural gas sys-tems for a specified time.

Tyndall AFB serves as home to the 325th Fighter Wing, whose primary mission is providing “air dominance” training for F-22 Raptor pilots and support personnel.

Nationwide, at least 22 elec-tric co-ops—either individu-ally or through consortiums—serve 21 military compounds

in 15 states. Most are a result of a 1997 U.S. Department of Defense directive aimed at turning largely neglected utility services over to “local entities with the expertise to maintain them appropriately.”

“This is an agreement that has been many years in the making,” says Gulf Coast Electric CEO/General

Manager Michael White. “We’ve always been proud of our ability to deliver depend-able utility services to our membership, and now we’re blessed with the opportunity to provide the same level of commitment to the federal government.

“This is a win-win project for GCEC and the Air Force. The contract will assist in keeping the cooperative finan-cially sound for many years to come. We are proud to call Tyndall Air Force Base a mem-ber of Gulf Coast Electric.”

Tyndall AFB joined the co-op on June 1 as a single member with about 200 electric meters and 50 water meters. These are master meters that serve hundreds of facilities and homes.

During the transition—which began September 28, 2010, when the award docu-ment was executed—the co-op gathered information and prepared procedures and business processes.

GCEC personnel is working on installing meters, rebuilding

Co-op Opens Panama City Office

An F-22 Raptor comes in for a landing at Tyndall Air Force Base.Photos courtesy U.S. Air Force and Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

Contract with U.S. Air Force prompts addition to GCEC

Gulf Coast

4 N O V E M B E R 2011

some power lines, making safety improvements, and upgrading water equipment and lines to serve as a quality water source for the base.

A team consisting of employees from the co-op’s engineering, mapping, office services and service depart-ments are collaborating on the project. Other employees are assigned as needed.

The cooperative’s line crews have received training to famil-iarize them with the base’s electric and water systems.

Additional employees were brought onboard to handle the increased workload.

An electric and water crew

stationed on-site is respon-sible for responding to power outages and ensuring the base has quality drinking water.

Co-op staff assigned to the account work out of Panama City at a new district office at 6423 East Highway 98.

It is the third full-service center for GCEC members. The cooperative’s headquarter office is in Wewahitchka, and a district office is in Southport.

“This is an exciting time for Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative and its mem-bers,” White said. “Our new center is open to all GCEC members, including Tyndall Air Force Base. All of the

services available at our Southport and Wewahitchka locations are also available at the new Panama City office, including bill pay, requests for new service, security lights and surge protection.”

The contract value is esti-mated at $140 million. The agreement was several years in the making. Work began to acquire the contract in February 2004.

The cooperative is com-prised of more than 16,000 member-owners. n

Above, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative opened a new district office in Panama City to serve Tyndall Air Force Base. Members of the 325th Fighter Wing are trained in F-22 Raptors, top.

The Panama City office is open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The telephone number is (850) 481-1188.

N O V E M B E R 2011 5

Savannah Harper and Seth Scheuermann recently trav-eled to Washington, D.C., as winners of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s Youth Tour competition. GCEC’s competition is part of a National Rural Electric Cooperative Association pro-gram that draws about 1,500 students from across the country to the nation’s capital each June.

Eleventh-graders whose parents are mem-bers of GCEC are eligible to compete.

Contestants are interviewed by a panel of three judges from the electric coopera-tive industry. Two winners are chosen for the all-expenses-paid trip.

While in Washington, students toured the Holocaust, Newseum and Smithsonian

museums; Arlington National Cemetery; the Iwo Jima Monument; the U.S. Capitol area; the mall; the Korean, Lincoln, Vietnam, FDR, Jefferson and World War II memorials; Mount Vernon; and the National Cathedral. They also enjoyed the U. S. Marine Corps Sunset Parade, and a boat cruise and dance on the Potomac River. They ended their trip by seeing the musical “Wicked” at the Kennedy Center.

A highlight was the National Youth Day rally. “We were proud to have Savannah and Seth represent Gulf

Coast Electric Cooperative in Washington,” said Kristin Evans, GCEC manager of marketing and member services.

The Washington Youth Tour program started in 1958 when 34 students from Iowa and a handful of chaperones visited Washington for a week. In 1964, NRECA began to coordinate the trip. Since then, thousands of young people have experienced this once-in-a-lifetime oppor-tunity to visit our nation’s capitol and learn about our government. n

A Trip of a LifetimeLocal students visit nation’s capital as representatives of Gulf Coast Electric

Above, Seth Scheuermann and Savannah Harper at the White House. Below, the entire Florida delegation at Mount Vernon.Photos by Kim Gay

Gulf Coast

6 N O V E M B E R 2011

Streetlights make our roadways and sidewalks safer for vehicles and pedestrians. An outdoor light on your property also can provide a sense of security and keep you from fumbling for your keys in the dark. However, these benefi ts can’t be realized if a light is inoperative.

If you know of a malfunctioning outdoor light in our service territory, please let us know so that we can make sure it is repaired. When reporting a light out, please provide: The specifi c street address of where the light is located. A description of where the light is located on the property. A description of the nature of the malfunction or failure of illumination of the light.

Suffi cient contact information, including your name, address, telephone number, GCEC account number and email address so cooperative personnel can contact you should there be any questions.We appreciate your help. Safe, reliable service. That’s our

promise.

Don’t Be Left in the Dark! Make Sure We Have Your Phone NumberIf you have ever had to report a power outage outside of our normal business hours, you have experienced our automated power outage reporting system. It is capable of answering up to 96 calls at once, and can call back some 30 residences at a single time to verify your power has been restored.

We are able to identify your location and other pertinent information by capturing your phone number when you call to report a problem. If we do not have your current phone number listed in our system, you will be identifi ed as not listed, impairing our response time as it relates to your needs.

To ensure we have your correct information on fi le, please complete the form below and return it with your electric payment or mail it to Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; ATTN: Kristin Evans; P. O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409. We will make sure the information on your account is correct so your power is restored as quickly as possible when an outage occurs.

Name:

Mailing address:

Physical address of service location:

GCEC account number:

Service location phone number:

Cell phone number:

Light Out? We Need to Know

To report an outdoor light that is inoperative or malfunctioning, call:

Panama City—(850) 481-1188 Southport—(850) 265-3631; (800) 568-3667Wewahitchka—(850) 639-2216; (800) 333-9392

N O V E M B E R 2011 7

The McIntosh Power Plant includes four natural gas-fired combustion turbines and the United States’ only compressed air energy stor-age unit, and one of only two in the world. The other is located in Huntorf, Germany.

The unit captures off-peak energy at night, when utility system demand and costs are lowest. Compressors force air into an underground stor-age reservoir at high pressure. PowerSouth uses the stored energy during intermediate and peak energy demands to generate electricity.

The CAES plant burns roughly one-third of the natural gas per kilowatt-hour of output compared to a conventional combustion turbine, thus producing only about one-third the pollutants.

The CAES generator is capable of producing up to 110 megawatts of electrical power within 14 min-utes of startup during periods of high peak demand. This gives PowerSouth a cost-effective way to meet reserve requirements. Total plant capacity is 710 megawatts—enough to power about 710,000 homes.

The natural-gas fired, simple-cycle units are

classified as peaking units. They are designed to provide additional electricity to the PowerSouth sys-tem during peak usage periods—usually short peri-ods during early morning or evening hours. Their short start-up time makes them suitable for continu-ous, peaking and emergency operation.

Here is a timeline of the facility’s development:• September 8, 1988—Cavern construction begins

for the CAES unit.• December 1988—The well is completed.• Early 1989—Cavern solution mining and plant

construction begins.• 1990—Cavern solution mining is completed, and

cavern dewatering begins. • 1991—Plant construction is complete.• March 1991—Initial plant operation begins.• May 1991—The CAES unit is commercial.• September 1991—The plant is dedicated.• February 1997—Initial construction begins on

Units 2 and 3.• August 1997—Generators and combustion tur-

bines are in place for Units 2 and 3.• February 1998—First fire for Unit 2.• April 1998—First fire for Unit 3.• June 1998—Units 2 and 3 are commercial.• June 2009—Construction begins on Units 4 and 5.• December 2009—New substation is energized.• January 2010—Unit 4 generator arrives.• July 2010—Fuel gas air blowdown is successful. • January 1, 2011—Units 4 and 5 are commercial.• April 2011—Units 4 and 5 are dedicated.

McIntosh Plant Provides Peak Power

The McIntosh Power Plant has four natural gas-fired combustion turbines and the nation’s only compressed air energy storage units, for a total of five units.

PowerSouth’s natural gas-� red facility features the nation’s only compressed air storage unit

Where Does My Power Come From?Most people don’t stop to think about this. Electricity has evolved from a luxury to a necessity we depend on every day. We expect it to be readily available. On the rare occasions it is not, a phone call is made, and right away someone is dispatched to correct the problem.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is one of 20 member-owners of PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, a generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Andalusia, Alabama. PowerSouth is owned by 16 distribution electric cooperatives and four municipalities in Alabama and northwest Florida. Together these utilities serve more than 1 million end-users in 39 Alabama and 10 Florida counties.

With this month’s issue of Florida Currents, we start a series featuring PowerSouth’s six generation facilities. This month: McIntosh Power Plant.

Gulf Coast

8 N O V E M B E R 2011

H2O Plus, a new program available to you from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, has the potential to dramatically reduce the demand for electricity.

We need your participation!Using energy wisely has never been eas-

ier. A device is installed on your electric water heater that allows our power sup-plier to cycle your unit for short periods.

By managing energy use when demand is high—when you and your neighbors are using the most electricity—our supplier can reduce demand when electricity is most expensive, putting off the need to build facilities to generate more power, alleviating or pushing those costs out to the future. An added benefit is reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, thereby helping our environment.

You still will have enough hot water for showers and household chores. In fact, you shouldn’t even notice a difference in the amount of hot water available.

For more information, please call GCEC’s Member Services Representative Manuela Heyn. She will take down your information and, after ensuring the pro-gram is a good fit for your household, schedule someone to come to your home and install the device at no cost to you. In fact, for your participation, GCEC will make a one-time credit of $25 to your electric bill. We look forward to hearing from you soon. n

H2O PLUS For RentHorse barn with five stalls, padlock and about 4 acres of pasture in Wewahitchka, one block from the old courthouse. Lease by the stall with dis-count for multiple horses. Call (704) 334-0341.

For SaleOne high and dry cleared acre with 16x80 three bedroom, two full bath home. All large rooms; laundry room; two sheds, one with 6,000 BTU A/C; above-ground pool; and set up for camper. Greatly reduced to $33,500 due to medical rea-sons. Call (850) 769-1424 for more information. Ask for Lynn.

Two quarter horses and a pony. Ride well on trails, very gentle, good for lessons. Call (850) 773-1957.

One-acre lakefront lot in the Leisure Lakes gated community. Located on the largest lake. Call (850) 722-4886. Ask for Pete.

Miniature donkeys. Jacks and Jennys, black, brown, grey and paints. All ages. $300 and up—make great pets. Also standard donkeys. Call (850) 899-7424. Ask for Betty.

½-acre corner lot. Call (850) 639-2220.

Two side-by-side lots, each 50x135, cleared, roots removed, surveyed, high and dry, near post office and stores in Fountain, Florida. $21,000 for both lots. Call (850) 265-5061.

Glass insulators, $2 each; antique, beveled 48x30 mirror, $49; new wire Cadillac hubcaps, $30 each; two 4-foot lighted Christmas trees for doorway, $40. Call (850) 271-0549.

MiscellaneousHave dump truck; need full-time work. Call (850) 773-4654.

Tree trimming, hedge trimming, leaf cleanup, debris and junk removal. Licensed and insured. Call (850) 272-2762.

Trading Post is a FREE service to members of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative. To submit an item, please complete the form below. GCEC reserves the right to reject any and all ads. Due to magazine deadlines, it may take two months from the time of submittal for your ad to appear. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE.

Please circle the category that applies:

For Rent For Sale Free Miscellaneous Trade Wanted

Items:

Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip:

Phone:

Mail your ad to: The Trading Post; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409; return with your electric payment; or email ad information to tradingpost@gcec.com.

Office numbersSouthport—(850) 265-3631; (800) 568-3667Wewahitchka—(850) 639-2216; (800) 333-9392Panama City—(850) 481-1188

Gulf Coast

Trading Post

N O V E M B E R 2011 25

By Kristin Douglas Evans

Award-winning novelist Michael Lister’s new novel, “The Big Goodbye,” is a romantic mystery-thriller that brings North Florida of the early 1940s vividly alive in inventive and exciting ways.

Acclaimed writer Ace Atkins calls the book “tough and violent, with snappy dialogue and great atmosphere, beauti-ful women with hidden agendas and a long-lost world that we mostly know through ancient postcards and faded photographs.”

It features Panama City, Wakulla Springs, Wewahitchka, Lynn Haven, Panama City Beach and landmarks such as the Dixie Sherman Hotel, downtown Panama City, Wainwright Shipyard, Tyndall Field and the Cove Hotel.

“I love Panama City and the surrounding area,” Michael says, “and I’ve written about it quite a bit in my contemporary novels such as ‘Thunder Beach,’ but I really don’t think there’s ever been a more exciting and explosive time than during World War II.”

In “The Big Goodbye,” which bestselling author Jason Starr calls “stylish, retro, and highly entertaining,” someone is follow-ing Lauren Lewis. She ducks into the office of private investiga-tor Jimmy “Soldier” Riley—not to hire him, but to find out if he is the one following her. Back when they were lovers, he told her if he ever decided to, she would never know he was there.

It is 1940s Panama City. The world is at war, and the grow-ing Panhandle paradise is doing its part. Tyndall Field is train-ing pilots. Wainwright Shipyard is building battleships. The

Naval Section Base is protecting vessels in the Gulf. The Dixie Sherman Hotel is hosting celebrities such as Clark Gable. Harry Lewis,

a wealthy banker, is running for mayor, unaware his wife is running for her life.

With a secret to hide and a husband running for mayor in a city exploding

and expanding like no other time in his-tory, Lauren doesn’t want trouble, but

she is about to get a double-barrel full of it. Only one man can help her, and though it might destroy him,

he doesn’t mind. Better to die than be the walking wounded.

The story of a guy, a girl and a gun, “The Big Goodbye” is

Florida Noir at its finest.“I’ve been writing about the Panhandle

for a long while now,” Michael says, “but this is the first time I’ve done so through historical fiction. It was a lot of fun, and I’m very happy with the result. This is one of my favorite books I’ve writ-ten, and I’m particularly fond of Soldier and Lauren and North Florida of the 1940s, which I feel is a main character in the novel.”

Asked why he wanted to write about a hard-boiled private detective in the 1940s, Michael says, “I absolutely love and have studied for a long time both film noir and the classic hardboiled detective genre. ‘The Big Goodbye’ gave me the opportunity to explore and pay homage to both. This book is equally influenced by both—by films such as ‘Laura,’ ‘The Maltese Falcon’ and ‘In a Lonely Place,’ and by writers such as Raymond Chandler, Ernest Hemingway, Robert Parker and Graham Greene.”

Michael’s study of and love for film noir and classic detec-tive fiction shine through. Noted author Victor Gishler calls Michael’s new novel “a seductive mix of sudden violence and raw emotion ... ‘The Big Goodbye’ is a much-welcome contri-bution to the hard-boiled P.I. tradition. Cool stuff.”

“Stepping back in time was an absolute blast,” Michael says. “I hope to give readers a visit to a very cool era in a cool and thrilling way. To me, this book is equal parts romance, mystery, thriller and historical novel. It has to be to do justice to such an amazing time.” “The Big Goodbye” is available in hardback, paperback and eBook formats such as Kindle, Nook and iPhone. Michael will read from and sign the book at several events throughout the Panhandle during the next several months. Later this year, Gulf Coast State College will produce a play based on the book. The adaptation by Michael will be directed by Jason Hedden. For more information, visit www.MichaelLister.com.

Panhandle’s Past Comes to Life

Naval Section Base is protecting vessels in the Gulf. The Dixie Sherman Hotel is hosting celebrities such as Clark Gable. Harry Lewis,

a wealthy banker, is running for mayor, unaware his wife is running for her life.

With a secret to hide and a husband running for mayor in a city exploding

and expanding like no other time in his-tory, Lauren doesn’t want trouble, but

she is about to get a double-barrel full of it. Only one man can help her, and though it might destroy him,

he doesn’t mind. Better to die than be the walking wounded.

Florida Noir at its finest.“I’ve been writing about the Panhandle

Walk the mean streets of wartime Panama City with Jimmy ‘Soldier’ Riley, a wounded, woman-haunted knight errant in Michael Lister’s resonant new series

Author Michael Lister.Photo by Pam Lister and Adam Ake

Gulf Coast

26 N O V E M B E R 2011

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, is devoted to four core values that ensure the best quality and superior service for our members. Being committed to the community

is one of the values GCEC strives to fulfill by vol-unteering time to help teach others about the

environment and energy issues, sponsor-ships and donations to local charities.

GCEC recently helped raise funds for Project Helping Hand—a member assis-tance program started in 2004.

Working with Family Service Agency, Project Helping Hand provides tem-

porary assistance to GCEC’s members in need. Funds raised are shared only with

GCEC members.The program helps the elderly, disabled, low-

income, ill, military and others who are experienc-ing financial difficulty paying their utility bills.

In August, the Southport and Wewahitchka offices sold spaghetti dinners to each office and throughout the community to raise money for Project Helping Hand. Employees from each office helped circulate information about the fundraiser, prepare the dinners and deliver them. Thanks to the employees’ efforts and the support of the

our members. Being committed to the community is one of the values GCEC strives to fulfill by vol-

unteering time to help teach others about the environment and energy issues, sponsor-ships and donations to local charities.

Project Helping Hand—a member assis-

in need. Funds raised are shared only with GCEC members.

The program helps the elderly, disabled, low-income, ill, military and others who are experienc-ing financial difficulty paying their utility bills.

In August, the Southport and Wewahitchka offices sold spaghetti dinners to each office and throughout the community to raise money for Project Helping Hand. Employees from each office helped circulate information about the fundraiser,

The Florida Department of Community Aff airs off ers a couple of programs for assistance with home energy needs.

The fi rst is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP off ers home energy assistance. It is for crisis or emergency assistance and off ers utility bill payment, utility deposits, fees for restoring power, fans, and repair or replacement of heating and cooling equipment.

The second is the Weatherization Assistance Program. The extent of services to be provided by WAP is contingent on available funding, but services can include repair or replacement of ineffi cient heating and cooling units; measures to control air infi ltration, including weather stripping, caulking, thresholds, minor wall, ceiling and fl oor repairs, window and door replacement; installation of attic

and fl oor insulation; repair or replacement of water heaters; installation of solar screens; application of solar refl ective coating to manufactured homes; and installation of attic ventilation. For more information on WAP, including a client intake form, visit www.fl oridacommunitydevelopment.org/wap.

For information about these programs, please contact the agency for the county you live in:

XX Bay: Bay County Council on Aging Inc. 1116 Frankford Ave., Panama City (850) 769-3468

XX Calhoun: Calhoun County Boardof County Commissioners20859 Central Ave. East, Room 309, Blountstown (850) 674-4551

Need Financial Help With Home Energy Needs? Programs are Available

Gulf Coast

28 N O V E M B E R 2011

community, GCEC raised more than $1,000 for Project Helping Hand. GCEC appreciates everyone’s support in making the dinners a great fundraiser.

If you would like to make a donation to Project Helping Hand, beginning November 28, GCEC will begin a light bulb campaign. Members can buy a red or green light bulb at any office and write their name on it. The bulbs will be displayed through-out the offices. Money raised will benefit Project Helping Hand.

Members also can stop by any of the offices and make a one-time contribution or agree to have a reoccurring amount of $1, $3 or $5 added to their monthly electric bill. This money will be placed in the Project Helping Hand account.

If you are interested in contributing, but unable to make it to one of our offices, please contact a cus-tomer service representative in our Southport office at (850) 265-3631, Wewahitchka office at (850) 639-2216 or our Tyndall office at (850) 481-1188.

Members also can sign up to make donations by clipping out the form at the right and returning it to the cooperative.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative would like to thank all of its members for their continued support of Project Helping Hand. n

XX Gulf: Capital Area Community Action Agency Inc. 309 Office Plaza Drive, Tallahassee (850) 222-2043

XX Jackson: LIHEAP—Jackson County Senior Citizens Organization Inc. 5400 Cliff St., Graceville (850) 263-4650 or 263-2774 WAP—Tri-County Community Council Inc. 302 North Oklahoma St., Bonifay (850) 547-3688 or (800) 395-2696

XX Walton/Washington: Tri-County Community Council Inc. 302 North Oklahoma St., Bonifay (850) 547-3688 or (800) 395-2696

Weatherization Worksin Florida

Project Helping Hand

Name: __________________________________________________

GCEC account number: ____________________________________

Mailing address: ___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Telephone number: ________________________________________

Signature: ________________________________________________

I pledge to have the following amount added to my utility bill each month and deposited into the Project Helping Hand account. I understand this is a perpetual agreement, and I must notify Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative by phone or mail to remove this reoccurring donation from my bill.

Select donation amount: ____ $1 ____$3 ____$5

Cut out, complete and return this form with your electric payment or mail to: Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; Attn. Kristin Evans; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409.

N O V E M B E R 2011 29

Offices722 West Highway 22P. O. Box 220Wewahitchka, FL 32465(850) 639-2216 or (800) 333-9392 9434 Highway 77 P. O. Box 8370Southport, FL 32409(850) 265-3631 or (800) 568-3667

6243 East Highway 98Panama City, FL 32404Phone: (850) 481-1188

www.gcec.com

ceO/General ManaGerMichael E. White

TrusTeesPresident Rupert BrownVice President Eddie Jones Secretary Kinnith DanielsTreasurer Waylon GrahamDoug BirmnghamJimmy BlackRobert ByrdGary CoxGus Wise Jr.

Trustees normally meet the third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. CST. The board meets at the Wewahitchka office in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and the Southport office in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September and November).

The mission of GCEC is to continually evaluate and implement technologies and seek solutions that fulfill a diversified memberships’ changing expectations for cost-effective, dependable utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency continues to keep electric utilities busy with aggressive regulations. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative and our wholesale power provider, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, are tracking several regulatory measures that have the potential to raise the price of electricity for consumers.

EPA’s utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule—one of the most stringent rules ever proposed—is making its way toward becoming final. This rule would require any company operating a boiler to install equipment to reduce mercury, hydrochloric acid and particulate matter. Similar MACT rules would affect pulp and paper companies, the steel industry and chemical manufacturers.

This rule comes with a hefty price tag. EPA estimates it will cost $10.9 billion for compliance. The New York Times reported that as many as 50,000 workers in the utility, mining and railroad industries could lose their jobs as a result of this rule.

The National Economic Research Associates estimates the utility MACT rule would cause average retail electricity prices to increase by 14.5 percent by 2016—or $14.50 for every $100 on your power bill. For many Americans already feeling the effects of the recession, a 14.5-percent increase in their electric costs would be devastating.

President Obama himself embraced the need to closely scrutinize the cost and economic impact of new environmental regulations. He said government agencies should “tailor its regulations to impose the least burden on society.” GCEC encourages EPA to honor the spirit of the president’s position and rethink the utility MACT rule.

GCEC agrees utilities should ensure their operations have a minimal impact on the environment, and I’m proud of the accomplishments of our industry during the past 30 years. I believe energy providers should play an active role in planning for future energy needs. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative supports initiatives that protect our ability to provide our members with reliable, affordable energy.

Laws such as utility MACT threaten our very way of life. Making electricity more expensive would be detrimental for both consumers and the economy. I urge you, as consumers of energy, to take an active role in energy-related issues. Familiarize yourself with the issues, ask questions and vote for political candidates who support initiatives to protect reliable, affordable electricity.

Proposed Utility MACT Rule Threatens Our Way of Life

Rupert Brown

GCEC President’s Message

FL-154

32 N O V E M B E R 2011