All Entries Tagged With: "WildEarth Guardians"
ARPA Lighting Project Completed in Lamar Library
Improved and lower cost LED lighting fixtures are now evident in the libraries of Arkansas River Power Authority member communities. The year long conversion project is coming to a close after the court-mandated project was announced last year. A dedication ceremony was held at the Cultural Events Center in Lamar, adjacent to the Lamar […]
Butterfly Discovery at Sand Creek Massacre NHS
This regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia) marks yet another unique visitor to Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site. The National Park Service noted its outstanding colors and photographed it in Colorado’s Kiowa County for the first time. Unfortunately, regal fritillaries continue to decline in number and area. As in the picture, milkweed can draw this species […]
ARPA to Decide on Future of the Lamar Repowering Project
Arkansas River Power Authority General Manager, Rick Rigel, briefed members of the Lamar Utility Board regarding what may become of the Lamar Repowering Project. There are basically two alternatives to consider. One would be to place the plant in cold standby until approximately 2024 with no guarantee that it will perform up to expectations at […]
PCDI Annual Banquet set for LCC Wellness Center March 5
The annual Prowers County Development Incorporated banquet meeting will be held Wednesday, March 5 at 6:30pm at the LCC Wellness Center. PCDI Executive Director, Lance Benninghoff said the keynote speaker is Marci Penner of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Penner will discuss succession planning and how to preserve and sustain rural culture. Benninghoff said he will […]
ARPA Resolves Years Long Legal Battle with WildEarth Guardians
ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority and the Lamar Utilities Board have ended their legal battles dating back to 2009 with the environmental group, WildEarth Guardians, over the emissions levels from the Lamar Repowering Project. The agreement resolves two lawsuits filed against the utilities relating to air emissions levels. The utilities groups will pay $450,000 […]
Electricity=1, Snake=0
Power was disrupted to the southern section of Lamar mid-morning this past Sunday, May 26, when a snake managed to gain access to the LAMFO substation of Lamar Light and Power. The unauthorized entry came at a price as the snake was zapped as it tripped the main transformer, causing an outage that […]
LUB/ARPA Award Student Scholarships
The February 2013 financial report for Lamar Light and Power was presented to utility board members during their meeting, Tuesday, May 14. Total operating revenue for February is $992,696 with operating costs of $800,987 for a gross operating profit of $191,710. The net income for the month was $58,968. Year to date operating revenues for […]
Lamar Light and Power Testing New LED Streetlights
Some portions of Lamar will appear different under new street lights that are being tested by Lamar Light and Power. Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, informed utility board members, four light pole locations have had regular wattage lights replaced with LED versions. The intersections are at Parmenter and 4th Street, Oak Street and Division Street, East […]
No Leeway for Electric Rate Reductions in Near Future
The Lamar Repowering Project and the debt service needed to pay the construction bonds is here to stay, whether the plant is producing electricity or placed in cold storage. And if the rates for purchasing power from a grid, as is being done now seem high, the rates would probably be higher if the […]
ARPA Responds to U.S. District Court Ruling
ARPA Responds to U.S. District Court Ruling On September 28, 2012, the U.S. District Court in Denver issued a ruling that the Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) and Lamar Utilities Board (LUB) violated the Clean Air Act by operating the Lamar Repowering Project without a determination that it met the “maximum achievable control technology” standard. […]
U.S. District Judge Rules Against Lamar Light Plant for Emissions Violations
ARPA, Arkansas River Power Authority, and members of the Lamar Utility Board, are holding an executive session meeting, Tuesday, October 2, to discuss options in light of a Friday, September 28, 2012 ruling by U.S. District Judge, David Ebel regarding the Lamar Repowering Project. Lamar Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh said the meeting was called […]
Lamar Utility Board Reviews Customer Disconnect Policies
Most of the discussion during the August 29 Lamar Utility Board meeting focused on items not specifically on the agenda. Lamar Light Plant Superintendent Houssin Hourieh discussed the rules and regulations pertaining to policies for re-connect and disconnect for electric service, mostly for residential customers. The Light Plant follows at 70 page document set […]
ARPA/Repowering Project Letter of Support from Area Mayors
The Lamar City Council recently ratified Mayor Roger Stagner’s signature on a letter in support of ARPA’s efforts to put the Repowering Project back on line. The coal fired plant has been out of operation since early 2011. It is not currently able to produce electricity at full capacity, or achieve full output without exceeding the limitations of the state-granted […]
ARPA Files Notice of Intent to Sue Trinidad over Breach of Fiduciary Duties
The Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) notified the City of Trinidad April 30 it intends to file a lawsuit against Trinidad for a breach of fiduciary duties. ARPA recently discovered that Trinidad legal counsel has been assisting the environmental group Wildearth Guardians (WEG) with its lawsuit against ARPA. Although Trinidad has complained that ARPA has […]
LUB Discusses YTD Financials and Potential Legal Actions
The Lamar Utility Board members held a very brief general meeting, Tuesday, April 10, before they went into executive session to discuss three areas: Colorado Beef Rate Adjustment Request; Repowering Project and WildEarth Guardian Litigation. In each case the executive session was to discuss legal advice on specific legal questions. Board members hope to discuss […]
ARPA Motion to Dismiss WildEarth Guardian Lawsuit Denied
Representatives of the Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) and the Lamar Utilities Board (LUB) expressed disappointment that their motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the WildEarth Guardians (WEG) in early 2011 was denied. ARPA sought to dismiss the lawsuit because the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is already actively addressing the […]
ARPA & WildEarth Guardians Unable to Reach Settlement
Lamar, Colorado, January 25, 2012. ARPA Press Release Representatives of the Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) participated in a court-ordered settlement conference on January 23, 2012 in an effort to resolve WildEarth Guardians’ pending lawsuit regarding alleged Clean Air Act violations at the Lamar Repowering Project. The conference did not result in a settlement. “We […]
Lamar Utility Board Reviews Financials and Repowering Project Capacity
The Lamar Utility Board held a brief meeting Tuesday, October 25, and postponed the swearing-in of new board member, Ron Cook until the November 15 meeting. A reorganization of the board will take place at that time when members will elect a new chairman and vice-chair as well as appoint an attorney, superintendent and authorize check […]
Lamar Light and Power Replacing Burned Poles
The Lamar Utilities Board meeting on Tuesday, June 28, covered a limited agenda, before moving into executive session for discussions. A dozen power poles were burned during the Ft. Lyon fire this spring, and the board authorized $16,961 to replace the custom-made transmission structures. The delivery date will take three to four weeks, according to […]