Golden Valley has been patiently awaiting this day for nearly 2 years. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has issued the final draft Title 5 Air Quality Operating Permit for the Healy Power Plant which includes Unit #1 and the Healy Clean Coal Power Plant. 

"This doesn't make it a done deal," said President and CEO Brian Newton, "but it's certainly a step in the right direction. This allows us to move forward with the goal of restarting HCCP." ADEC held a public hearing in November of last year regarding the renewal of the Air Quality Operating Permit for the Healy Power Plant. Since then, they have been reviewing and addressing the comments and came to their final decision on August 9. 

ADEC has passed the final draft to the Environmental Protection Agency for their review. The EPA has at least 45 days to review the draft. Should they accept ADEC's decision, ADEC will have the opportunity to issue a final renewal permit to Golden Valley for the co-op's Healy Power Plants. 

For additional information, contact Corinne Bradish at cabradish@gvea.com or 907-451-5676. 

This evening, ten judges from GVEA's Member Advisory Committee counted ballots and certified the election results for 17 proposed bylaw amendments. All amendments passed. The addition of a RoundUp program was approved by 71 percent of the vote. Also, 70 percent of voters approved removing the debt limit from the Bylaws. This gives the board the authority to set and control the cooperative's debt limit through board policy. 

"A Member Advisory Committee Task Force reviewed the bylaws and unanimously recommended members approve all amendments. It looks like they took this to heart. This is great news for our co-op and our community," said President Bill Nordmark, Board Chairman. 

Bylaws, the rules and regulations adopted by a cooperative for its internal governance, are enacted by the membership. A MAC Task Force and the board review the bylaws every few years. If significant updates or changes are suggested, a membership vote is held. This year, several common themes emerged from the MAC committee's evaluation of the bylaws. These included transparency, bringing the language up-to-date and moving towards strengthening co-op governance ensuring an ethical and experienced board of directors.  

Ballots were mailed out May 4, 2010 and 15 percent were returned. This year, the cooperative offered one lucky voting member a free year of electricity. The winner will be announced June 9. 

For additional information: Corinne Bradish at cabradish@gvea.com or (907)451-5676. 

One might say the only way to move is Forward. It's not the only way, but it's the best way. Forward is more than a direction. It is a perspective - one that is active and innovative. And those are two elements Golden Valley dedicated its efforts to throughout 2009.  

At the GVEA Annual Members' Meeting on April 27, members heard about the possibility of the co-op taking on the largest wind project in Alaska. The project is called Eva Creek. 

GVEA Board Member Rick Schikora explained, "Golden Valley has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to add a significant amount of renewable energy to our mix - at a very affordable cost. A number of factors have come together to make this project viable." One of these factors is an extremely low interest rate offered by the Rural Utilities Service. 

"We need to move on this project because interest rates could rise at any time," said GVEA President and CEO Brian Newton.  

Though wind power is expensive to build, once built, it is a very inexpensive source of power. In fact, aside from operations, maintenance and loan repayment costs, it's free. 

As usual, many members participated in member comments.  

New this year, the co-op gave away a used truck as well as a framed print to a lucky Co-op Connections Card holder. Chris Olsen was the winner of a 1992 Ford Ranger and Martin Qualle won the Alaskan print. 

The following members won this year's cash drawings: Hank Statscewich, $250; Gordon Heppner, $250; Anna Rosas, $250; Juanita Akins, $250; Marianne Bowers, $500; Claribell Rivera Trochuck, $500; and Jaime Bourque, $1,000. 

A total of 1461 members attended the meeting.  

Fairbanks, Alaska: Golden Valley Electric Association is offering new SNAP supporters a chance to win a 12-week share of produce from Rosie Creek Farm this summer. To be eligible for the drawing, GVEA members must sign up to support the co-op's renewable energy program, SNAP, by May 1.  

For as little as $2 per month, members can support local solar and wind power generated by nearly forty local producers. Last year, these producers generated enough renewable energy to power 15 average Interior residences for a year. 

"This is a chance to do something good for the planet and for your dinner table," said Marketing & Communications Coordinator Dianne Porter. Members may sign up for SNAP at GVEA's website: www.gvea.com, by calling (907) 452-1151 or at the Annual Members' Meeting on April 27 at the Carlson Center. 

Rosie Creek Farm's organic seasonal vegetables include: salad greens, braising greens, lettuce, broccoli, beets, onions, pumpkins, tomatoes, snap beans and much more. Weekly distribution sites: two in Fairbanks, one at the farm and one at Denali National Park.