Section L - The Mining Journal

2015
ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENTS
SECTION L
PROGRESS
Tuesday, March 31
A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE MINING JOURNAL
ALSO
INSIDE
Under an arrangement announced this
month, We Energies will continue to
own and operate the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette, with Cliffs Natural Resources as its electric customer.
The arrangement will continue until a
replacement natural-gas fueled cogeneration plant is built on Cliffs property
and put on line by 2020. (Journal file
photo)
UPPCO transition
PAGE 2L
Alger Delta
upgrading service
reliability
Also:
BLP running second unit
PAGE 3L
ATC realeases
10-year energy
assessment
PAGE 8L
Breakthrough
Agreements point to a solution to U.P. power issues
By JOHN PEPIN
Journal Staff Writer
In January, a package of four key agreements was announced — which will involve
hundreds of millions of dollars — proposing
the basis for a comprehensive solution to
the Upper Peninsulas electric power crisis.
That crisis, which has emerged over the
past couple of years, has centered on expected customer rate increases associated
with continued subsidized operation of the
aging coal-fired Presque Isle Power Plant in
Marquette and finding eventual replacement electric power generation or transmission options for the future.
Under the agreements, Cliffs Natural Resources would purchase a significant majority of its power from the Presque Isle
plant until the facilitys retirement in 2020. A
replacement natural gas-fired cogeneration
power plant would be built, owned and operated by Invenergy on Cliffs property in
Marquette County. We Energies and Integrys-owned electric businesses in Michigan
– including the Presque Isle plant – would
be sold to the Upper Peninsula Power Co.
ending Presque Isle subsidy payments. Ob-
The Cliffs Natural Resources Empire and Tilden mines in Marquette County are
We Energies biggest consumers of electricity from the Presque Isle Power Plant.
Shown here is a view of the Empire Mine located in Palmer. (Journal file photo)
jections by Cliffs and state officials to the
merger of Wisconsin Energy and the Integrys Energy Group would be removed.
Earlier this month, the agreements were
reworked with UPPCO no longer purchasing the plant. We Energies will continue to
own and operate the facility, with Cliffs as
its customer.
State officials said the new electric power
generation would eliminate the need to
spend at least $500 million to build new
transmission line projects to bring power to
the region from coal-fired plants in Wisconsin.
“This is a critical development for the Upper Peninsula and our entire state. I commend all involved parties for their commitment to finding a solution and thank them
for their many efforts in reaching this accord,” Gov. Rick Snyder said. “The solution
these agreements advance ensures reliability, rids the U.P. of years of unaffordable
charges, improves the environment and
most of all gives the U.P. the power and
ability to adapt to the future.”
The agreements reached in principle were
announced jointly by Snyder, Attorney Gen-
eral Bill Schuette, Wisconsin Energy Corp.
(We Energies), UPPCO, Invenergy and
Cliffs.
Final agreements are expected to be
reached by the end of June.
Valerie Brader, deputy legal counsel and
senior policy advisor to Snyder, said the
agreements are complicated and it will take
time to perform the necessary due diligence.
“It will take a lot of work just to get them
done in the second quarter, but all the parties are committed to working as quickly as
possible to get this done,” Brader said.
Though the agreements include a number
of contingencies, and will be subject to further discussion and refinement, Snyder said
the hard work and efforts of all those involved means he is “personally very optimistic” about the ability to bring the transactions to fruition and secure the required approvals from federal and state decisionmakers.
John Pepin can be reached at 906-2282500, ext. 206. His email address is
jpepin@miningjournal.net.
2L -— The Mining Journal -— Tuesday, March 31
PROGRESS2015
UPPCO transition
New leadership team is proud to be part of tradition
The Upper Peninsula Power Co. was formed through the merger of three smaller utilities in 1947 and was acquired by Integrys in 1998. The sale of the company will include
offices and Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Partners intends to maintain UPPCOs Michigan headquarters and offices and, for customers and stakeholders, “it will be business
as usual.” (Journal file photo)
The Hoist Dam in Marquette County is one of a half-dozen Upper Peninsula Power Co.
generation facilities in the region. The company provides electricity to 52,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the U.P. (Journal file photo)
By JOHN PEPIN
Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — In August, Upper Peninsula
Power Co. officials said
the sale of the utility to
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Partners, announced
earlier in the year had
been completed.
UPPCO was sold to the
Balfour infrastructure equity investment fund by
Chicago-based Integrys
Energy Group, returning
UPPCO to its original status as a Michigan-headquartered
energy
provider.
Under terms of the
sales agreement announced in January
2014, the purchase price
was about $298.8 million
for UPPCOs electricity
distribution operations,
excluding its American
Transmission Co. holdings.
UPPCOs assets include seven hydroelectric
generation
facilities,
3,300 miles of electric
distribution lines and 58
distribution substations.
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Partners is an infrastructure equity investment fund, focusing on
investments in energy,
utilities and transport infrastructure in the U.S.,
Canada and Europe. The
fund has offices in New
York and London.
No changes were expected for UPPCO customers as a result of the
sale.
UPPCO said the leaders of the utility will include CEO Barbara
Siehr, CFO Steve Manz
and Chief Operating Officer Keith Moyle.
“Our new leadership
team is proud to be part
of a tradition of delivering
safe, reliable power to the
many customers we are
privileged to serve,” Siehr
said in a news release.
“Together with our team
of very talented and dedi-
cated employees we look
forward to building a new
Upper Peninsula Power
Company. We will also
continue to be involved in
the communities we
serve.”
Siehr and Manz are new
to UPPCO and jointly being more than 50 years of
utility and energy experience to the company.
Siehr is a native of
Manitowoc, Wisconsin,
who has held leadership
positions in operations, finance and information
technology for companies —regulated and unregulated— including the
Wisconsin Power and
Light Co. and Alliant Energy Corp.
She most recently was
managing partner and
founder of the energy
consulting firm, Siehr
Strategic Partners, her
UPPCO bio said.
Manz is from Windsor,
Ontario, and has served
as president CFO for nu-
merous publicly traded
corporations in the mining industry and has been
involved in permitting and
development of power
generation. He has consulted on numerous power and industrial developments, according to a bio
provided by UPPCO.
Moyle, a Calumet native, has been with UPPCO since 2006, when he
became general manager of the utility.
“Upper Peninsula Power Company has a rich
history,” Moyle said. “We
will continue our dedication to customer service
and process improvements to help reduce
costs.
“UPPCO will also continue to keep environmentally friendly energy
in our generation mix including our hydroelectric projects that provide
clean, renewable power
and offer recreational
opportunities to the public as well as contribute
to the tax base. UPPCO
will also keep up its ongoing communications
with policymakers about
the unique challenges
and issues we face operating as a regulated
utility in the Upper
Peninsula.”
The Upper Peninsula
Power Company was incorporated in 1947
through a merger involv-
ing three smaller electric
companies:
the
Houghton County Electric Light Co., the Copper District Power Co.
and the Iron Range
Light and Power Co.
UPPCO has 123 employees and serves
roughly 52,000 electric
retail customers. Its service territory measures
4,460 square miles and
covers 10 counties in
the U.P. The utility was
acquired by Integrys in
1998.
John Pepin can be
reached at 906-2282500, ext. 206. His email
address is jpepin@miningjournal.net.
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The Mining Journal -— Tuesday, March 31 -— 3L
PROGRESS2015
Alger Delta upgrading
service reliability
By JOHN PEPIN
Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — The Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association is undertaking a nearly $1 million project to upgrade the reliability of its electric service between Rapid River in Delta County and Trenary in Alger County.
The $989,300 project — was set to begin in January
and be finished by November — was approved by the
Alger Delta board of directors as part of a $7 million,
4-year Construction Work Plan adopted in October
2013.
“This is an investment that will pay permanent dividends by providing operational flexibility and reducing
TOM HARRELL
distribution expense” Alger Delta Cooperative Electric
Association CEO Tom Harrell said in a news release.“The funds for the project come in the form of a loan from the Rural Utilities
Services, which is part of the (U.S.) Department of Agriculture.”
The work will improve Alger Deltas electric power distribution lines along U.S. 41
and some lines in areas adjacent to the highway. Trees will be trimmed and rightof-way areas will be cleared, new utility poles will be set; existing power poles will
be replaced and new overhead or underground electric lines will be installed.
Several area contractors are expected to be involved in the project.
In addition to Rapid River and Trenary, customers in the Maple Ridge and Rock
areas are also expected to benefit from better power reliability with the projects
completion, according to Harrell.
“Over the last two years, weve had some lengthy outages in the Maple Ridge
and Trenary areas.Two of them happened in January 2014 during the coldest days
of the winter.(Cooperative) members arent satisfied with that kind of service, and
rightfully so,” Harrell said.“This project will rebuild part of the line along U.S. 41
and that will become a new tie-line between our Stonington substation and the
Maple Ridge area.We expect the new tie-line to improve service quality and reliability.”
In 2013, Alger Delta upgraded the transformers in its Stonington substation.The
new tie line will enable the cooperative to provide electric service to the Maple
Ridge area from its Stonington substation because the transformer upgrades added
enough capacity to include Maple Ridge consumers.
Alger Delta officials said the cooperative will keep the existing Maple Ridge delivery point until the new project is completed and then all the consumers will be
switched over to the Stonington substation.
Part of the project may require a power outage. However, Alger Delta officials
plan to notify consumers far in advance. Lane closures and other traffic delays on
U.S. 41 are not expected during the work.
The Gladstone-headquartered Alger Delta cooperative serves about 10,000 power consumers situated across six central Upper Peninsula counties.
John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. His email address is
jpepin@miningjournal.net.
Paddling Michigan
BLP running second unit
Kayak trips to
to help maintain power
Pictured Rocks and Grand Island.
reliability in cold weather
By JOHN PEPIN
Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — Marquette Board of
Light and Power officials
were running
a
second
unit at the
Shiras
S t e a m
Plant
to
help ensure
power reliability
under some of this
winters
cold
wintry
weather conditions.
Erik Booth, BLP manager of planning and utility
compliance, said the
plants Unit 2 is primarily
used for reliability purposes during extremely cold
events, hot events when
electrical demand is high
in the summer and during
times when the other
generating assets at the
BLP are down for scheduled maintenance.
“This unit also protects
and insulates the Marquette community and
the nine surrounding
townships served by the
BLP from the System
Support
Resources
(Presque Isle, Escanaba
and White Pine power
plants subsidy) charges
that are such a concern
for the rest of the Upper
Peninsula ratepayers,”
Booth said.
Booth said the unit will
be used periodically, as
needed, throughout the
winter.
“Unit 2 has been well
taken care of through the
years which is good because it proved extreme-
ly valuable during last
winters Polar Vortex
when this unit was utilized for more
820
than
hours over
a
threem o n t h
t i m e
span,”
B o o t h
said. “We
certainly
dont live in
an area that
could handle a
significant power outage
in the winter weather conditions that we endure so
the efforts at the BLP always revolve around the
reliability of the electrical
system.”
Booth said Unit 2 has
proven to be “significantly
valuable” when there
have been constraints on
the electrical grid and
when electricity prices on
the grid have risen.
“Its an excellent source
to keep costs down and
reliability up,” Booth said.
“Additionally, if the transmission system has any
issues, we can supply all
of our own electrical
needs with the generating
assets of the BLP.”
Among those assets,
there are three generating units at the Shiras
Stream Plant. In addition,
the BLP has a 24megawatt
combustion
turbine it can dispatch if
needed to help maintain
electric reliability.
The BLP also has two
hydroelectric facilities,
which are currently providing a total of 1.5
megawatts of power.
Booth said the Forestville
Hydroelectric Plant is rated at 3.2 megawatts and
the Tourist Park Hydroelectric Plant is rated at
0.75 megawatts. Booth
said both facilities are in
excellent condition.
The BLP serves about
17,000 customers in the
city of Marquette and all
or parts of Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, West
Branch,
Richmond,
Chocolay,
Skandia,
Sands and Forsyth townships.
John Pepin can be
reached at 906-2282500, ext. 206. His email
address is jpepin@miningjournal.net.
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TOGO’S - proudly serving the
U.P.’s Original Submarine
Sandwich for over
50 years!
MARQUETTE
1000 North Third Street
(906) 226-6535
Tummy T. Togo
HARVEY
Corner of M-28 & US 41
(906) 249-1455
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Marquette
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Main Office
American
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515
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15 Front Street
Marquette,
MI 49855
150 Greenwood Street
Ishpeming, MI 49849
L’Anse
American Legion
15 Front Street
L’Anse, MI 49946
Escanaba
Iron Mountain
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804 Ludington Street
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200 W. Ludington Street
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Celebrating 28 years of serving Upper Michigan
4L -— The Mining Journal -— Tuesday, March 31
PROGRESS2015
Our Businesses, Our People, All Local
1846
1855
Est. 1833, Paris, France
Est. 1845, St. Louis, Missouri
Est. 1855, Upper Peninsula
249 W. Washington St.
P.O. Box 430
Marquette, MI
(906) 228-2500
(800) 562-7811
118 W. Division St.
Ishpeming, MI
(906) 486-4401
No one else even
comes close!
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1893
St. Vincent DePaul
Thrift Stores
1874
1887
UNITED
People.
Community.
Commitment.
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
We believe in all of them.
112 E. Euclid St.
Ishpeming
www.ishpresbyterian.org
Trust & Wealth Management
Online Banking • Bill Pay
Home Mortgage and
Business Loans
Visit Us At:
www.rangebank.com
2119 Presque Isle, Marquette
1896
1891
T h e P e te r W h ite
P u b lic L ib r a r y
2 1 7 N . F ro n t S t.
M a rq u e tte , M I 4 9 8 5 5
( 9 0 6 ) 2 2 8 -9 5 1 0
www.pwpl.info
1896
1898
WAWONOWIN
COUNTRY
CLUB, INC.
Marquette
Elks 405
906-485-5660
127 Front St
Marquette
226-7611
1900
1903
1910
Getz’s
Bjork &
Zhulkie
™
Mark Canale, Managing Director
Jerry Pennock and
Charli Lynn Peters, Directors
226-2711
526 N. Third St., Mqt
www. canalefuneral.com
1899
137 W. Washington,
Downtown Marquette
226-6110
donckersonline.com
CLOTHIERS
218 S. Front St.
Downtown Marquette
906.226.3561
1401 Presque Isle Ave
Marquette, MI
nmu.edu/why
getz.com
1914
1915
3432 Co. Rd. 478,
Champion, MI
FUNERAL
HOME
INC
400 N 3rd St,
Ishpeming, MI 49849
(906) 486-8911
www.bjorkandzhulkie.com
1918
“A Step Ahead
Since 1910”
135 W. Washington
Marquette
906-228-4530
1928
ATHAM
O-OP STORE
FUNERAL
HOME, INC.
Groceries • Supplies • Hardware
Our 100th Anniversary
106 West Main Street,
P.O. Box 146, Negaunee
145 W. Spring St.
Marquette
906•226•3571
marquettehistory.org
www.koskeyfuneralhome.com
Email:
email@koskeyfuneralhome.com
Mon.-Sat. 7 AM - 8 PM,
Sunday 9 AM - 5 PM
200 Hancock St.
Hancock, MI 49930
(906) 482-1550
www.vollwerth.com
1936
1937
1938
1939
Northern
Stationers
Est. 1939
M-94, Chatham • 906.439.5151
of Marquette, Inc.
1015 N. Third St.
Marquette
906-226-6575
200 Meeske Ave.
Marquette
906-225-1363
luteysflowershop.com
www.jilbertdairy.com
1939
Blue Cross
Blue Shield
Blue Care Network
of Michigan
bcbsm.com
1942
Workplace & Office
906-475-4631
Bartanen’s
Auto Body
106 Coles DR, #2
Marquette
1495 US 41 West
Ishpeming, MI 49849
228-7702
906-486-8314
1942
1942
ST. MICHAEL
CATHOLIC
CHURCH
429 W. Washington St.
Marquette
(906) 228-8865
215 W. Washington St.
Marquette, MI 49855
(906) 226-6610
www.foyeins.com
401 W. Kaye Ave.
Corner of Kaye and
Presque Isle Ave.
906-228-8180
www.StMichaelMqt.com
The Mining Journal -— Tuesday, March 31-— 5L
PROGRESS2015
Our Businesses, Our People, All Local
1946
1947
A U.P. Tradition Since 1946
2164 US 41 W
Marquette
906-226-5040
1952
107 E. Division St.
Ishpeming, MI 49849
906-485-4565
1954
1949
1950
ISHPEMING • 485-5563
1419 North Second Ave.
MARQUETTE BUILDERS
EXCHANGE
MARQUETTE • 228-0624
3225 US 41 West
Commercial Construction
Plan Room
(Inside Walmart)
REPUBLIC • 376-0988
279 W. Kloman Ave.
www.trunorthcu.org
(906) 226-1140
www.mqtbx.org
1954
1956
U.S.
Ski & Snowboard
Hall Of Fame
1440 W. Ridge St.
Suite B
Marquette, MI
& Museum
1230 West Washington
Marquette • 228-9850
610 Palms Ave.
P.O. Box 191
Ishpeming, MI 49849
5096 US41 South
Harvey • 249-9680
Now serving you in 2 locations!
www.marquettecomm.org
906-485-6323
www.SkiHall.com
Munising 387-3839
Trenary 446-3301
www.UMCCU.org
1958
1958
1959
PIZZA
FATHER
MARQUETTE
CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
906.225.1129
fathermarquette.org
1962
Marquette
Veterinary Clinic
Dr. Edward G. Brauer II
2270 U.S. 41 South
Marquette, MI 49855
249-1456
Blueprint copy & Scan Services
LOUNGE
Owner Clark E. Lambros
bought Bimbo’s Pizza in 1959.
In 1971 he renamed the
restaurant Vango’s and added
his mother’s Greek recipes to
Vango’s famous menu.
Marquette’s Oldest Restaurant
www.marquettevetclinic.com
927 N. Third St., Mqt.
Eat-In / Delivery
228-7707
1963
1964
(906) 228-6355
holidaytravelvacations.com
1961
Thill’s
Fish
House
Lower Harbor
Downtown
Marquette
226-9851
1964
Ben Franklin
CRAFT CENTER
100 Coles Drive,
Marquette
226-9613
1001 W. Washington St.
Marquette
906-226-7728
MARQUETTE
1000 North Third Street
(906) 226-6535
HARVEY
Corner of M-28 & US 41
(906) 249-1455
www.TogosToGo.com
www.mathewsfloorfashions.com
1025 W. Washington St.,
Marquette
228-9311
1965
1971
1966
1966
1967
423 W. Washington St.
Marquette
1414 W. Fair Avenue
Marquette
(across from Ramada Inn)
906.225.0522
Open 7 Days 7am-2pm
906•225•3905
800•628•3333
www.penmed.com
Family owned & managed.
2 5 2 3 U S 4 1 W ., M a r q u e tte , M I
1972
1972
1973
(906) 228-2280
www.cedarmi.com
• Specialty Groceries
• Catering
HOUSEHOLD
APPLIANCE
2152 US 41 West
Marquette, MI
906-226-2169
www.householdmqt.com
1225 W. Washington
Marquette
906-228-8242
250 W. Hampton St.
Marquette, MI 49855
Economy & Quality.
906-226-2131
6L -— The Mining Journal -— Tuesday, March 31
PROGRESS2015
Our Businesses, Our People, All Local
1973
1973
1973
1975
216 S. Main St.
Ishpeming, MI 49849
2552 US Hwy 41 W.
Marquette, MI 49855
5 E. Baraga Ave.
L’Anse, MI 49946
906-485-6420
graybillandmead.com
Richard M. Graybill,
Daniel D. Mead
Amy Schultz
Dakota Evans
1978
Negaunee
Vet Clinic
802 South Lake St.
P.O. Box 308
Marquette, MI 49855
Email:
lakesuperiorpress@chartermi.net
www.lakesuperiorpress.net
NegauneeVet.com
Complete Pet Health Care!
1900 US 41 West
Ishpeming, MI 49849
phone 906-485-1051
fax 906-485-4372
www.rlbalconi.com
1978
1978
1980
East 30 US 41
Negaunee, MI 49866
906-475-7851
500 N. Third St.
Marquette, MI 49855
Formerly Employee
Benefits Agency Inc.
228-3232
2684 U.S. 41 West,
Marquette, Michigan
schwalbachkitchens.com
Each Office Independently
Owned & Operated
620 S. Lake St., Marquette
228.6255 • 888.269.7620
www.upprimerealty.com
www.44n.com
www.upbuilders.org
1980
1981
914 N. Third St.
Marquette, MI 49855
PH. (906) 226-7680
FAX (906) 226-7750
www.upembroidery.com
1983
1516 Birch Ave
Marquette
Serving the
Central U.P.
with trusted
reliable service.
1982
RESTAURANT
& LOUNGE
1106 N. Third
Marquette, MI
228-5012
’
S
TINO
BAR & PIZZA
Elder Law Firm of
Anderson Associates
www.thecasa.us
1983
1984
434 U.S. 41 East,
Negaunee, MI 49866
1986
906-228-4236
marvdemilio.com
1986
Creative
Interiors
V o te d A m e r ic a ’s C o o le s t
Je w e lr y S to r e in 2 0 0 4 .
www.swailes.com
249-5016
1 1 8 W . W a s h in g to n S t.
M a rq u e tte , M I 4 9 8 5 5
( 9 0 6 ) 2 2 8 -5 7 7 5
w a n d w je w e le r s .c o m
1986
1987
29 years
serving you!
6 3 8 5 U S 4 1 S .,
C h o c o la y T w p .
6 M ile s S o u th
o f M a r q u e tte
( 9 0 6 ) 2 4 9 -3 4 4 4
1988
P ro files
gn
In Hair Desi
Commercial
Residential
(906) 228-9478
1984
Marv DeMilio, Agent
712 Chippewa Square
Marquette
(906)-228-3737
1985
Let us cure your
hunger pains!
“For your peace of mind”
148 W. Hewitt Ave.
Marquette
(906)228-6212
At The
Marquette Mall
1982
Eat at
Casa
Calabria
(906) 228-6426
1984
(906) 228-5230
226-3602
412 S. Front St.
641 W. Washington St.
Marquette, MI 49855
across from the
Father Marquette Statue
on Front Street
www.selectrlty.com
1989
econo
foods
Fresh Savings...Now!!
1401 O’Dovero Dr.,
Marquette
226-3500
TadychsEconofoods.com
The Mining Journal -— Tuesday, March 31-— 7L
PROGRESS2015
Our Businesses, Our People, All Local
1989
1993
1996
Westwood Mall
Marquette
354 US 41 East
Negaunee, MI 49866
906-475-4900
Westwood Mall
Marquette
(906) 226-8900
(906) 225-9600
www.jandronsfinejewelry.com
“Your Second Nature
is our First Priority!”
www.jandronsfinejewelry.com
1997
1997
1998
1996
Marquette
906-869-8008
1998
CRAM’S
General Store
and
Hungry Hollow Cafe
Marcia Dionne CTA
Travel Consultant
429 N. 3rd St.
Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906) 226-9899
OPEN 7 DAYS
A WEEK!
123 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette
upchildrensmuseum.com
226-3911
2000
2001
3020 US 41 W
Westwood Mall
Marquette
906-225-9752
Joe & Kathy Cram
Big Bay • 906-345-0075
cramsgeneralstore.com
2002
2004
PEPP
MOTORS
Dale Carrier, Owner
354 US 41 East
Negaunee, MI 49866
906.228.7279
2203 US 41 W., Marquette
877.676.0586
5 miles West of Marquette on US 41
2006
2006
130 W. Baraga Ave.
Marquette, MI 49855
906-225-5020
906-475-4900
Enjoy us by the cup,
or by the pound!
119 W. Baraga Ave.
www.gardenbouquetanddesign.com
226-2112 • Open Mon.-Sat.
M-F 9am-6pm,
Sat. 10am-5pm
2008
2008
911 Lakeshore Blvd.
Marquette, MI 49855
ALL MAKES & MODELS
630 S. Lake St.
(ACROSS FROM THE POWER PLANT)
349 US 41 East
Negaunee
MARQUETTE, MI.
226-6563
www.joesautocare.com
906-475-6608
2008
2008
116 S. Main St
Ishpeming, MI
49849
486-6607
www.cocosup.com
2009
2009
9535 US-41 S.
Skandia, MI 49885
521 N. Third St.
Marquette
906-226-8224
942-7176
amcafeup.com
View us on Facebook!
www.mainstreetcosmetology.com
2009
2009
Upper
Peninsula
Abatement
Company Inc.
WAUTIER WELLNESS
email:
dale@upabatementco.com
349 US 41 East
Negaunee, MI 49866
Phone: 906-250-6710
Fax: 906-475-4902
228-2680
1950 US 41 West
Marquette, MI
906-226-1062
2011
2013
CHIROPRACTIC
Gwinn
55 W. M35
346-9000
Ishpeming
1000 Country Lane, Suite 250
486-2000
www.wautierwellness.com
www.wautierwellness.net
NEW OWNERS
Shelly & Dave Thibeault
204 Cleveland Ave.,
Ishpeming, MI 49849
486-4797
2013
1224 Wright St. Ste. C
Marquette
2873 US 41 West
Marquette, MI 49855
(906) 226-2169
www.artvan.com
906.273.0696
PeakGymFit.com
8L -— The Mining Journal -— Tuesday, March 31
PROGRESS2015
ATC releases 10-year
energy assessment;
U.P. projects included
By JOHN PEPIN
Journal Staff Writer
MARQUETTE — The American Transmission Co. — which owns almost 3,000
miles of electric transmission lines — recently released its new 10-year system assessment, which includes projects planned to improve system reliability for the Upper Peninsula.
Company officials said the new 17-page report describes “the need for continued
investment to address not only reliability needs, but also to respond to an evolving
regional energy market and changes in public policy concerning air quality rules
and renewable energy standards.”
"The energy landscape in which we operate today looks vastly different than it
did when we began operations in 2001," Ron Snead, ATC vice president of system
planning, said in a news release. "The grid is being asked to perform in ways it was
not originally intended. We continue to work with our interconnected customers to
meet their reliability needs and to share information about how changes in their operations impact our system."
In the recent report, projects and proposed work planned for five zones are detailed. The service area for ATCs transmission lines includes the U.P., the eastern
half of Wisconsin and north central Illinois.
In all, the new planning analysis calls for $3.3 billion to $3.9 billion in infrastructure investment, including $1.4 billion in specific network projects, $1.2 billion in
maintenance, $500 million in regional Multi-Value Projects and $200 million to $800
million in other capital projects.
"Transmission remains a good value for electricity consumers," Snead said,
adding that transmission costs within the ATC service territory remain about 8 to 9
percent of a retail customer's electric bill.
Since 2001 — when ATC was formed as a utility focused on transmission only —
the company has upgraded more than 1,824 miles of transmission lines; improved
165 electric substations and built 48 new transmission lines stretching a distance
of 600 miles.
The U.P. is situated within ATCs Zone 2, which also includes a portion of northern Wisconsin. The report said ATC delivers power in the zone with various transmission facilities, including Morgan-Plains and Plains-Dead River 345-kilovolt lines
and 138-kilovolt lines elsewhere, including facilities linking the U.P. with the Lower
Peninsula.
“There are a number of transmission system performance issues in Zone 2, including limited ability to import or export power, generator instability, overloaded
power lines and equipment, low system voltages and chronic limitations to transmission service,” the report stated.
According to ATC, primary drivers of those issues include a mismatch of load to
generation in the U.P. and aging facilities in poor or obsolete condition.
Additional studies — including those by ATC and the Midcontinent Independent
System Operator — found several voltage and thermal limitations in the region.
The ATC report said the most severe of the limitations occur during off-peak periods. Peak usage is during the winter.
Between 2014 and 2023, ATC projects population to grow annually about 0.4 percent and employment to grow about 0.8 percent. Marquette County is projected to
have the largest increase in employment. Through 2024, electric load in the zone
is predicted to increase by 0.5 percent each year.
There are seven U.P.-related projects for Zone 2 briefly described in the ATC report. Among them, there are four planned projects, one provisional project and two
asset renewal projects.
John Pepin can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. His email address is
jpepin@miningjournal.net.
Thanks to all our loyal customers for
choosing Domino’s as your pizza
delivery company!
Every order is treated like it’s being made for our families
in other words with pride just for you!
We don’t ever forget that we couldn’t do all we do,
without the hard work and dedication of our entire crew!
Thank you for
braving the
elements another
year with
smiles on, and
representing not
only the Domino’s
brand but also the
Lambert familly.
A Michigan Company for over 50 years!
Locally owned by
Adam & Bobbi
Lambert!
641 W. Washington St.,
Marquette • 228-4630
www.dominos.com