Laserfiche WebLink
west <br />~i~,~icipal <br />~, <br />~~nsmission <br />roup <br />March 27, 2006 <br />To: MMTG members <br />From: Anne Kimber, Chair <br />Re: Membership and Dues letter for 2006-2007 <br />I am writing to you to tell you about MMTG's past and present, and to ask you to <br />participate in its future. <br />MMTG began because a group of about 124 municipal utilities, about 1,300 MW of load <br />in three states. We demanded participation and investment rights in a new company, <br />TRANSLink, which would have constructed new transmission in our region. The group <br />believed that joint action leading to ownership of transmission was the right path to: 1) <br />solve transmission problems that limited our access to power supply; 2) provide us with <br />transmission revenues as a way of lowering our utilities' costs; and 3) to ensure we had a <br />strong voice to tell regulators of the problems we face with access to power supply and <br />transmission. TRANSLink failed, but most of the MMTG members did not give up -you <br />continued to support transmission ownership efforts through your dues and participation <br />in the organization. <br />Through your continued support, MMTG achieved in 2005 two essential victories rooted <br />in the TRANSLink effort: 1) we signed an agreement with MidAmerican for new <br />transmission investments; and 2) we became core participants in CAPX 2020 in <br />Minnesota. Through projects with these two entities we will have transmission ownership <br />and participation in planning. In addition, MMTG has become a credible voice for <br />municipal utilities with state and federal regulators, either alone, or with other <br />transmission-dependent utilities in the region. <br />It hasn't been easy or cheap to break new ground as we have. For example, a new joint <br />financing agency (the Iowa Public Power Agency) will make its first investments as a <br />result of our work. Will Kaul of Great River Energy described CAPX as a "faith-based <br />organization" and it's an appropriate term for MMTG as well -it's been faith and <br />volunteer dedication that has provided a "laying on of hands" to keep the effort going. I <br />am proud to work on this effort, and I am committed to making the next year of MMTG's <br />existence as productive as in 2005. <br />In 2006 MMTG was organized into anon-profit corporation. In March it filed for tax- <br />exempt status as a 501 C(6) association - a similar legal structure to IAMU and MMUA. <br />As such it will be an advocacy group that will negotiate on your behalf. <br />MMTG c/o IAMU 1735 NE 70th Avenue, Ankeny Iowa 50021 Phone: 515/289-1999; <br />FAX 515/289-2499; Anne Kimber email: akimber@iamu.org <br />