NextEra Energy Solutions launches $7.5M MPISD renovation project

©2013 Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune
BUSINESS
MOUNT PLEASANT, TEXAS 75456
WWW.DAILYTRIBUNE.NET
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2013 PAGE 11A
NextEra Energy Solutions launches
$7.5M MPISD renovation project
Using an innovative financing
approach,
the
Mount Pleasant Independent School District (ISD)
partnered with energy savings specialist NextEra Energy Solutions to upgrade
lighting, replace aging HVAC
equipment, lower operating and maintenance costs,
and deliver a significantly
improved educational environment for Mount Pleasant
students and staff.
The $7.5 million project,
which will benefit almost
all of the district’s buildings,
produces a positive cash flow
in each of the 15 years of the
contract term. The district
will see more than $500,000
per year in savings, thus exceeding the total cost of the
project. Construction began
in April 2012 and is scheduled to be completed by the
summer of 2013.
“The improvements and
savings at almost every facility in the District are
remarkable, and more important, measurable,” said
MPISD Supt. Dr. Lynn Dehart. “A renovation of this
magnitude would not have
been possible without the
expertise of NextEra Energy
Solutions and the close working relationship we created.”
Like many school districts
throughout the country, the
Mount Pleasant ISD had an
aging infrastructure, limited capital budgets, and expanding educational needs.
Critical improvements were
needed, but a bond referendum or other tax-based solution was not an option.
Working closely with the
District, NextEra Energy
Solutions created a multi-
phase plan under which renovations would be done using
a performance contracting
agreement. Over the performance period of the contract,
savings are guaranteed by
the implementation of spec i f i c
energy
c o n s e rvation
m e a sures
(ECMs).
A d ditional
savings
w i l l
come in
DeHart
the form
of rebates from the local utility and by taking advantage
of a Department of Education loan program. NextEra
helped the school district apply for utility rebates as well
as a funding mechanism
known as Qualified Zone
Academy Bonds (QZAB).
The federal QZAB program
enables qualifying schools to
borrow at nominal interest
rates (as low as zero percent)
for costs incurred in connection with improving energy
efficiency, implementing renewable energy measures,
and teaching STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and
math) academic curricula.
As part of the QZAB process, NextEra committed to
make an in-kind contribution of products and services
equal to 10 percent of the
overall project cost. This included two 10-kW solar arrays that not only produce
electricity, but also provide a
teaching platform to support
STEM curricula.
Real-time
information
NETCU to be honored for excellence
in service to local Hispanic families
Due to its exceptional service to the Hispanic community, North East Texas Credit Union (NETCU) will earn
the distinction of receiving
the Juntos Avanzamos, or
“Together we Advance”, designation on Wednesday, Jan.
23, in Mount Pleasant, at the
future location of the credit
union’s seventh branch at
the corner of North Johnson
and 18th St.
North East Texas Credit
Union (NETCU), which offers a suite of products and
services tailored toward the
Hispanic market, is one of
21Texas credit unions to
have earned this designation
from Texas Credit Union
League.
In order to earn the designation, credit unions must
complete a rigorous applica-
tion process to demonstrate
they have the capacity, commitment and compassion to
meet the financial services
needs of Hispanic families.
The League will present
NETCU with the Juntos
Avanzamos flag to be flown
above the credit union as a
signal to the Hispanic community that North East Texas CU offers affordable and
friendly financial services
tailored to their needs.
“We strive to serve people
of all walks of life, and this
designation will announce
to the community that we
are ready, willing and able to
continue to serve and partner with the Hispanic community,” said Kay Stewart,
CEO of NETCU.
Being a part of the Juntos
Avanzamos “family” means
that North East Texas CU
offers top quality services to
Hispanic members, including:
• Bilingual services and
information;
• Affordable products and
services that fit the needs of
Hispanic families; and
• Important financial information to empower Hispanic families.
The Texas Credit Union
League is the state trade association serving more than
500 credit unions in Texas. Organized in 1934, the
Texas Credit Union League
supports credit unions, notfor-profit,
member-owned,
volunteer-directed
cooperatives, which in turn are
owned by over 7.4 million
members. For more information, visit www.tcul.coop.
Anthony V. Greco,
M.D., F.A.A.D.
Board Certified by the
American Board of Dermatology
Leadership Mount Pleasant, Class 15
is under way!
So, what is
Leadership
Mount Pleasant? The purpose is threefold: to find the
finest leaders
and
potential
leaders and to
prepare them
to participate in
community-oriented decisionmaking activities and positions; to
foster increased understanding of the
opportunities and challenges affecting the Mount Pleasant community
and surrounding area; and to foster
community involvement and the exercise of civic responsibility by class
members. So, short answer….find the
best leaders possible to lead Mount
Pleasant into the future!
The Leadership participants will
learn about everything Mount Pleasant - history, government, economy,
social issues, needs, and opportunities. They will brainstorm with current
leaders and find ways to be a part
of the future of Mount Pleasant. But
most importantly, they will develop
leadership skills to enable them to
participate in all aspects of the community.
This year’s Leadership Mount
Pleasant, Class 15 includes: Andrew
Hoeniges, Guaranty Bond Bank;
Anna Ingram, NTCC; Cole Becket,
American National Bank; Garland
Hutson, Priefert Manufacturing; Jacob
Butler, Pilgrim Bank; Janie Redfearn,
Redfearn Property Management; Julio Ramos, Two Senioritas; Kandice
Pryor, TRMC; Kelly Coke, Texas A&M
Texarkana; Matt Klump, Expert Computing; Missy Walley, Chapel Hill ISD;
and Tim Wilson, Northeast Texas
Small Business Administration.
This year the Chamber also has
a Junior Leadership Mount Pleasant
class running simultaneously. This
year’s Junior Leadership participants
include: Chance Chapman, Chapel
Hill High School; Kennedy Redfearn,
Chapel Hill High School; Cindy Cruz,
Mount Pleasant High School; and
Damian Perez, Mount Pleasant High
School.
The Chamber is thrilled to have
such an outstanding Leadership class
and looks forward to seeing them participate in the Mount Pleasant community!
1604 N. Jefferson
Mt. Pleasant, Texas 75455
903-572-8567
info@mtpleasanttx.com
Medical & Surgical Dermatology
Center of Northeast Texas, P.A.
For the care & treatment of skin, including:
• Moh’s Surgery for Skin Cancer
• Mole Removal & Acne
• Laser Hair Removal
• Photofacial & Leg veins treatments
• Microdermabrasion
• Thermage®
• Restylane®, Botox® & Dysport®
• Radiesse, Juvéderm™
• PrevageTM MD & MD Forte Products, Revalé Skin™
(903) 577-8878
108 West Pleasant St. • Mt. Pleasant
Most Insurances accepted
www.dermatologycenteroftx.com
www.dailytribune.net
C
A
R
D
about the solar panels and
their savings profile is available through all the district’s
computers and is used for
classes on sustainable energy production and other
topics.
The work at the Mount
Pleasant ISD encompassed
over 20 buildings, including
elementary, middle and high
schools as well as special
education, administration,
warehouse, and sports facilities. The total savings result
from lower energy costs, reduced maintenance expense,
and capital cost avoidance
over 15 years.
The renovation program
also delivered other tangible benefits besides energy
conservation and reduced
maintenance costs for older
equipment. The addition of
high-efficiency HVAC units
markedly improved environmental conditions while saving energy.
Students
and
staff
throughout the district now
enjoy brighter, more consistent and uniform light levels
in all buildings that were
upgraded. Energy efficient
floodlights, which will improve security and safety in
outdoor areas of school facilities, were added as part
of the project. A building
automation system was also
installed, enabling central
control of the district buildings.
NextEra Energy Solutions
provides innovative energy
efficiency, water conservation and renewable solutions
for municipal, education,
healthcare, federal government, commercial and industrial customers.
Jetton and Reilley are recognized for
ten years of service at Pilgrim Bank
Carrie Jetton and Debbie Reilley were presented
with ten-year service pins
by Michelle Owens, Pilgrim Bank Vice President
and Corporate Operations
Services Officer, during an
employee meeting at the
Pilgrim Bank South office
in Mount Pleasant.
Jetton, Executive Administrative Assistant, joined
Pilgrim Bank on October
21, 2002 as a teller at the
Midtown branch in Mount
Pleasant. She continued to
take on more responsibilities when she transferred
to the Mount Pleasant
South office, including
serving as a Financial Services Representative and
Account Services Representative prior to being
selected for the administrative assistant position
to the CEO and CFO in
September 2006.
Her responsibilities include special projects, handling information requests,
preparing reports and correspondence, and liaising
with board members. She
also assists customers with
account openings and savings investments.
Reilly joined Pilgrim
Bank on September 18th,
2002, and is a member
of the Account Services
team at the South office
in Mount Pleasant. Her
responsibilities
include
customer research, state
filings, backup for daily
reports and Online Banking help-line, in addition
to customer service and
general clerical tasks.
She began her ten year
career at Pilgrim Bank in
the note department working on a special project,
and then transferred to
Account Services in 2005.
Pilgrim Bank is a 102-
Courtesy Photo
Carrie Jetton (left) was presented a ten-year service pin
by Michelle Owens, Pilgrim Bank Vice President and
Corporate Operations Services Officer.
Courtesy Photo
Debbie Reilley (left) was presented with ten-year service
pin by Michelle Owens, Pilgrim Bank Vice President and
Corporate Operations Services Officer.
year old bank with seven east Texas and the Texas
offices located across North- Panhandle.
S&P 500 slips from
its five-year high
Hearts for Hospice Ball
Benefiting Cypress Basin Hospice
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Mt. Pleasant Civic Center
For ticket information please call
Ball Chairman Karen Neeley at
903.572.3948
By STEVE ROTHWELL
AP Business Writer
NEW YORK - Stocks were
mixed on Wall Street Friday, pulling the Standard
& Poor’s 500 index below
a five-year high reached
the day before, as investors
waited for a clearer picture
on the outlook for corporate
earnings.
The S&P 500 fell two points
to 1,470 as of 1:18 p.m. Eastern. It closed at 1,472 Thursday, its highest level since December 2007. The Dow Jones
industrial average rose fell a
point to 13,470. The Nasdaq
composite index dropped two
points to 3,119.
Fourth-quarter earnings
reports started coming in
this week, but investors
don’t yet have a clear picture
on the outlook for U.S. companies. While Wells Fargo
disappointed the markets,
aluminum company Alcoa
gave stocks a lift earlier in
the week after it matched
analysts’ expectations and
said that demand was increasing.
Currently, analysts expect
fourth quarter earnings for
S&P 500 companies to grow
at a rate of 3.2 percent, according to S&P Capital IQ.
That compares with a growth
rate of 8.4 percent for the
same period last year.
“You’ve been hearing comments that earnings season
is going to show a continued
contraction in the rate of
growth,” said Robert Pavlik
of Banyan Partners. “People
are conflicted, they are worried, but at the same time
they don’t want to be missing out on the action in the
overall market.”