6.1a ERMUSR 02-14-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING TO: FROM: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Troy Adams,P.E.—General Manager John Dietz—Chair Al Nadeau—Vice Chair Daryl Thompson—Trustee MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: February 14, 2017 6.1a SUBJECT: Staff Updates—General Manager DISCUSSION: • The Board of Directors of the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency(MMPA)met on January 24, 2017 in Shakopee,Minnesota. Commissioning work continues on the Agency's 46 MW Shakopee Energy Park project. All five engines have been fired. The project remains on schedule and on budget. The Board was also informed that commissioning of the 78 MW Black Oak Wind Farm,with which MMPA has a 20- year power purchase agreement, was completed on December 23,2016. Dan Boyce, an MMPA Board member for over twelve years who is about to retire from East Grand Forks Water&Light, was presented with a Board Service Award. • In late 2016 the Commission gave staff direction on issuing an early 2017 Power Cost Adjustment(PCA)credit. Staff is getting ready to process this PCA credit.And before sending that through, I want to talk through the numbers with the Commission at the time of the Commission Meeting. • The 2017 Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association(MMUA)Legislative Rally in St. Paul on January 31 —February 1 was productive. Attached is the MMUA 2016 Year in Review. The key legislative issue for ERMU in 2017 is small cell distributed antenna systems. In 2016 a bill was introduced that targeted at municipal's rights for local control regarding cell attachments to public infrastructure and access for cell tower to be located within road right-of-way.And now again in 2017 a bill has been introduced that would amend the state's right-of-way management law. The bill,HF 739 and SF 561,would allow cell equipment to be placed on power poles, streetlights, and"any other property a local government unit has an interest in and has made available for commercial purposes."It would also prevent or severely limit municipals from using their local authority to negotiate rates and maintenance requirements for emerging wireless infrastructure.This is an issue for ERMU and for all Minnesota municipal utilities. Staff will keep the commission updated as this develops. ATTACHMENTS: • MMUA 2016 Year in Review 1111 P D M E D E D D Y Page 1 of 1 NATURE �v Reliable Public Power Provider POWERED To SERV E 139