6.1. ERMUSR 02-15-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MMUA is also keeping an eye on what could become major developments in the future. An example is our participation in the fledgling Minnesota Smart Grid Co- alition. We participated in various meetings, and MMUA subsequently played a role in funneling `smart grid' grant dollars to Rochester, Ely, Brainerd and Shakopee. Our participation with the Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTS) led to a $25,000 grant to New Ulm High School (matched by the New Ulm Public Utili- ties Commission) for a carbon dioxide reduction project. MMUA made several CERTS energy efficiency programs available to municipal utilities, including: refrigerator recycling, vending machine efficiency programs and a programmable thermostat program. Tecltinical Analysis Our engagement with state government also led to a seat on the Governor's Workforce Development Council committee developing energy sector partnerships. This group is working with a $6 million federal stimulus grant to develop education and training for Minneso- tans in renewable energy, energy efficiency and biofuels industries. MMUA's Director of Energy Services also serves as our primary technical analysis for federal and state legisla- tion and proposed regulations. He works closely with the MMUA government relations staff to ensure that they have the best information available regarding the impact of proposed legislation and regulations. Jagusch meets frequently with state and federal lawmakers and their staffs to help them understand the scientific underpinnings (or lack thereof) of various proposals. He spends a lot of time working closely with staff from the American Public Power Association, dealing with federal EPA rules and proposed rules. RICE Rule Included in this effort is working with APPA and Mid- west municipal utilities on strategies to deal with the Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine (RICE) rule. This rule has many public power systems in the Midwest very concerned. The rule's stringent emissions require- ments will in many cases require expensive retrofits that may render some municipal plants obsolete. MMUA is participating in an APPA task force that will be working with EPA in an attempt to soften the impact of the rule. Since the rule hits the Midwest particularly hard, the Midwest municipal utility associations are also working together to bolster the APPA effort. Member Assistwice Despite the busy schedule, Jagusch always has time to help an MMUA member. He worked with dozens of MMUA members in 2010 and looks forward to doing so again in 2011. "I will help whomever calls," he said. Safety and Training Over the past fifteen years MMUA's safety and training program has evolved under the leadership of Safety and Training Director Mike Willetts from modest beginnings into a comprehensive and highly respected program that is viewed as a national leader among municipal utility organizations. Sa/ety Management Program MMUA's Safety Management Program is widely recog- nized as an innovative and effective model for provid- ingintensive, effective, safety management services to small, rural communities. The Safety Management system offers a consistent and comprehensive safety pro- gram for all city departments. The program emphasizes the development of a safety culture and includes month- ly employee safety training, development of a function- ing and effective safety committee, safety audits/mock OSHA inspections, accident investigation, safety grant application mentorship,standardized recordkeeping system, customized safety manual system, on call 24/7 for any and all safety services, and many more services. MMUA's Regional Safety Coordinator becomes an inte- gral part of the city's safety team. With the struggling economy and deep cuts to state aid, cities all across the region are looking to find savings wherever they can. We think that it's a strong tribute to the quality of our program that participation in the safety management program has remained quite stable in these difficult times. At the end of 2010 MMUA's Safety Management Program was serving 119 cities in Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Nearly all of those cities are participants in one of MMUA's 13 Safety Management Groups. Training Center MMUA operates a comprehensive, state-of-the-art train- ing center on a 20-acre campus in Marshall. Now in its second decade of operation, the training center continues 10 - 2010 Year in Review MMUA's Mike Willetts along with Buffalo's Terry Nelson and Joe Steffel, from left to right, at the 2010 T&0 Workshop.