All Entries in the "Energy" Category
Wind Farm Eyed for South of Granada
Dr. Nick Azari, CEO of Arion Energy, LLC has requested a letter of support from the Prowers County Commissioners, part of the needed process to secure a permit to proceed for an application to construct a wind farm that will serve Colorado Springs. Azari spoke by phone to the commissioners and Lisa Nolder, Executive Director of PCDI […]
Lamar Sales Tax Shows Modest August Gain
Year-to-date Sales and Use Tax collections for the City of Lamar were 2.34% above last year at this time, for an increase of $55,784.12. City Sales Tax collections for this past August were up 0.50% for a gain of $1,254.56 from the August 2010 collections. Total Sales Tax and Use Tax collections were up […]
Urban Renewal Tax Funds Allocated to Cow Palace Inn Sewer Repairs
The Lamar Redevelopment Authority Board approved a funding request from the new owners of the Cow Palace Inn. The interior and exterior sewer lines at the motel need replacing before the motel’s comprehensive re-opening can be completed. The owners, Palace Holdings, LLC, can fund the interior project, but have requested that the cost of connecting […]
LUB Approves 2012 Budget, Price Hikes Coming Next Month
Utility Board members voted to approve the 2012 Budget as presented by Superintendent Rick Rigel. There was an update made on raw materials used by the Repowering Project, such as coal and limestone. The Operations budget includes total revenues in excess of $15.4 million of which $14.6 is derived from retail electric sales, with gas […]
Holly Town Board Discusses Utility Rate Options
The future structure of some utility rates occupied the attention of the Holly Board of Trustees at their regular meeting, Wednesday, October 5. At issue is the potential loss of electric revenue to the city from use of the proposed solar array for the new high school. School board members and representatives from Adolfson & […]
Holly Board of Trustees Meets Oct 5
AGENDA FOR REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE HOLLY BOARD OF TRUSTEES Wednesday, October 5, 2011 100 Tony Garcia Drive – 7:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Addition(s) to Agenda 5. Approval of 9/7/11 Regular Board Meeting Minutes & 9/26/11 Special Meeting Minutes 6. Approval of current bills; […]
2012 Lamar Light Plant Budget Outlined
The Lamar Utilities Board reviewed the 2012 budget for Lamar Light Plant and Repowering Project operations this past Tuesday, September 27. Superintendent Rick Rigel said the budget is funded primarily by retail electric sales amounting to $14.6 million and total revenues should be in excess of $15.4 million. Residential customers will account for $5,237,000; Commercial […]
New Website Developing for PCDI
Final changes are underway for the new website for PCDI, Prowers County Development Incorporated. Executive Director, Lisa Nolder, informed the board during their monthly meeting Tuesday, September 27, that the improved site will be online for users by next week with necessary updates. Administrative Assistant Carla Scranton said a new software package will now allow […]
College’s WPA Renovation Project Set to Start in October
The historic preservation architects hired to outline a renovation project on the WPA buildings on East Maple Street in Lamar will begin their initial work in early October, according to John Marrin, President of Lamar Community College. Marrin was providing a monthly briefing on LCC activities to the Prowers County Commissioners this past […]
Prowers County Backs Tri State Transmission Project
The Prowers County Commissioners joined with several other counties this past week, offering a resolution of support for the Tri State G & T, Tri State Lamar-Front Range Transmission Project. The project will develop a high voltage electricity transmission system by 2018 across eastern and southern Colorado. Fourteen counties in eastern Colorado, including six in […]
Bill Wootten Replaced on Lamar Utilities Board
Michael Bryant, former Lamar city councilman and director of the Prowers Medical Center Foundation, replaced Bill Wootten as a member of the Lamar Utilities Board during their regular meeting, Tuesday, September 13. Wootten had stepped down from the board over a year ago, but a replacement wasn’t approved until just recently. Another opening is also […]
Farm Regs and Dollars Discussed with Senator Bennet in Lamar
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is wrapping up the week prior to Labor Day with a three-day tour of southern Colorado to conduct a Farm Bill listening session and get input from farmers and ranchers. Bennet, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee told the gathering of some two dozen persons in Lamar on Thursday, […]
August Has Mixed Precipitation Levels for Southeast Colorado
The National Weather Service precipitation reports for southeast Colorado for August do not offer any trend or pattern, compared to last year. Most communities received less rainfall this past August than a year ago, but some went against the trend: August 2010 August 2011 Eads 0.67 2.66 Haswell 1.13 2.74 John Martin Dam […]
LCC, Modern and Historical Perspectives Being Pursued
Old and new will mix at Lamar Community College this fall and next year. LCC President John Marrin said plans are underway to conduct an almost year-long observance of the college’s 75th anniversary next year. He outlined some of the plans for the Prowers County Commissioners this past Thursday, August 26. Marrin said the college had 31 students […]
LUB Approves Customer Rate Increase
Lamar Utilities Board members approved a 2.5% rate increase effective November 1, 2011. This will be combined with an Emergency ECA, Electric Cost Adjustment of 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour up to a 12 month period. The increase for an average residential customer will amount to about $10 per month. During the board’s meeting, […]
Water Deal, Benefit or Drawback?
Karl Nyquist How can taking water off the land be good for the agricultural economy in Prowers County and southeast Colorado? That was the question Karl Nyquist of GP Resources, LLC attempted to answer during a Q & A session at the Lamar Community Building Tuesday night, August 16. Nyquist told a full house, including […]
Lamar Utility Revenue Report – July 2011
Lamar utility water sales were off by 14.72% for July, 2011 when compared to last year. Water revenues last month were $177,353.34 compared to July 2010 of $207,955.77. Year to date water revenue is up 1.22% over last year with 2011 at $842,772.55. Revenues on trash collections were up compared to last year, $94,063.13 to […]
Lamar Utilities Board Discusses Potential November Rate Increase
Editor’s Note: Light Plant Superintendent Rick Rigel pointed out that potential rate increases at this time have not been finalized. Mr. Rigel stated that although purchased power costs will have an impact on future rate increases, the ones given in this article are not set in stone. Rigel added that he believed […]
It’s a Brand New Alta Vista School
Alta Vista students, staff and teachers are getting a brand new school this August, estimated at $6.1 million. The summer long renovations are just about finished, as outlined by Alta Vista administrator, Talara Coen during a brief tour of the project this past Thursday, August 4. Construction costs are covered by a […]
Lamar Light & Power Continues to Restart Repowering Project
Photos Courtesy of Lamar Light and Power – Click on a picture to see a larger image. Additional equipment tuning and modifications are needed to get the Repowering Project back online. The plant has been offline since a December power outage, and engineering firms have been working to prevent future, similar problems. It has not been easy, […]