Conference on Alternative & Renewable Energy in Utah

A conference examining the current status and future of providing green and clean energy throughout Utah. Hosted by Michael Orton, with representatives from

  - Utah Clean Energy Campaign
  - Envision Utah
  - Shoshone Energy (Geothermal)
  - Wasatch Wind
  - Rocky Mountain Power
  - Solar Unlimited
  - State of Utah
  - Milford Wind
  - Utah State University

The Conference on Alternative & Renewable Energy in Utah was held at Snow College Richfield on November 8, 2008, and was made possible by a generous grant from The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Visit www.careinutah.org for more information on this conference. Below is video coverage of the event:

Welcome and introduction to the conference from Tim Wagner, Utah Clean Energy Campaign and the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club:

Kevin Fayles of the State of Utah’s Envision Utah project, discussing trends in growth within the State of Utah:

Dave Olive of Shoshone Energy discusses the group’s geothermal projects:

Christine Watson Mikell of Wasatch Wind shows an amusing and interesting video, then speaks on the company’s various wind energy projects including their project in Spanish Fork Canyon:

Mark Cox of Rocky Mountain Power discusses the company’s Net Metering, Blue Sky, and other programs:

Gerald Whipple of Solar Unlimited speaks on net metering and how the company helps businesses and homes live off the grid. Local resident Walt Saunders also offers some insights into his own solar water heating project:

Elise Brown of the State of Utah talks about tax credits and incentives for renewable power projects, net metering, the free state Anemometer Loan Program, the Utah Renewable Energy Zones, and the promising potential of Concentrating Solar Power projects in Utah. Ed Ponds also talks about his own wind measuring efforts here in Sevier County:

Andy Swapp, a teacher at Milford High School, explains how a class project using the Utah Anemometer Loan Program led to the enormous Milford Wind Power project, now underway:

David Drake, from Utah State University extension here in Sevier County, explains how local farmers can become energy independent by producing their own biodiesel fuel:

Interstitial: Solar Unlimited:

Interstitial: Utah State University Biodiesel Project:

Interstitial: Health Professionals Opposing Pollution:

Centracom expanding, upgrading television and broadband access

CentraCom Interactive, the area’s leading television and broadband provider, is expanding and upgrading its offerings.  [Disclosure: Ideal Living broadcasts local television programming on Local10, a CentraCom-owned channel.]

CentraCom is creating a direct fiber optic connection from downtown Salt Lake City to their Sanpete County offices to bring statewide television channels to the area in pristine quality.

The cable TV provider is also reportedly considering offering broadband Internet access to several new communities during the coming year — with the growing city of Monroe said to be on the short list.  

The company is also promoting its HD sports broadcasts, which are transmitted at the highest-possible quality.  ”We don’t compress our ESPN-HD, so it can be viewed at homes with incredible detail,” said Nate Palmer of CentraCom.  Satellite television providers, who are limited by what their satellites can transport,

CentraCom also offers broadcasts of the Mountain channel, which offers a variety of Utah sports, including BYU and Utah football games.

A nationwide transition from analog to digital television this coming February has many residents wondering where their television will come from in the future, since TV sets without a digital tuner will no longer work — unless they subscribe to a paid television provider, such as CentraCom cable.  

Many locals are complaining that Sevier County’s digital TV coverage, which is paid for by area residents through Sevier and Six County governments, is comparably poor in quality, with fewer channels now available to many homes than were previously available.  

Digital television was supposed to offer channels at much higher quality, with many more channels available, and at ten times the reach of analog television.   “Not in Sevier County we don’t,” said one local resident.   The area received a $3 million grant to help make the digital TV transition.

Obama signals end of building traditional coal-fired power plants

Many in the coal industry are pondering what changes will come with President-elect Barak Obama’s incoming administration, which is said to be committed to “green” energy solutions.

For example, the Associated Press suggests there is cautious optimism among some in the coal industry, noting the United Mine Workers union’s support of Obama during his successful campaign for president, and Democrats’ traditionally strong ties to coal workers.

Yet a statement made by Obama to the San Francisco Chronicle about construction of traditional coal-fired power plants — meaning those which do not capture carbon dioxide emissions, such as the proposed power plant in Sigurd — is now attracting new attention:

“Let me sort of describe my overall policy.

“What I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive, if not more aggressive, than anybody else’s out there.

“I was the first to call for a 100% auction on the cap and trade system, which means that every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases emitted would be charged to the polluter. That will create a market in which whatever technologies are out there that are being presented, whatever power plants that are being built, that they would have to meet the rigors of that market and the ratcheted down caps that are being placed, imposed every year.

“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.

“That will also generate billions of dollars that we can invest in solar, wind, biodiesel and other alternative energy approaches.

“The only thing I’ve said with respect to coal, I haven’t been some coal booster. What I have said is that for us to take coal off the table as a[n] ideological matter as opposed to saying if technology allows us to use coal in a clean way, we should pursue it.

“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can.

“It’s just that it will bankrupt them.”

Deals for Thanksgiving 2008

Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving — is supposed to be the biggest shopping day of the year, and this year, there are some great deals out there to help make it so.  Here are links to sale items at our local stores:

• Gamestop
• Home Depot
• Kmart (after Thanksgiving sale)
• Kmart (on Thanksgiving Day)
• Radio Shack
• Sears
• Walmart

• And last but not least, here is a link to online “Black Friday” deals that are available now.

Sheriff’s Report: PI CRASH

INCIDENT: PI CRASH 100800763  

LOCATION: SR 89 Mile Post  282  1 mile south of Fairview

DATE:11/24/2008  

TIME:0902 

DETAILS:  The vehicle drifted off the right shoulder, the driver over-corrected to the left.  The vehicle crossed the center line and off the left shoulder.  The vehicle rolled once and landed on its wheels.  The driver was transported to Sanpete Valley Hospital 

Driver Adam Sherman  18 of Chester.  Seatbelt was used.

Vehicle 2003 Honda Civic

County Commission Meeting Agenda: Dec. 1, 2008

County Commissioners
Subject: Other
Meeting Title: Sevier County Commission
Meeting Date & Time: Mon Dec 01 09:00:00 MST 2008 – Mon Dec 01 14:00:00 MST 2008
Description/Agenda: SEVIER COUNTY COMMISSION
DECEMBER 1, 2008 AGENDA

9:00 AM Correspondence & Business
Set time and date for closed meeting to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation, or to discuss the character, professional competence, physical/mental health of an individual 45 Min
9:45 AM Planning and Zoning Commission Appointment 5 Min
9:40 AM Freedom Chairs for Soldiers Families 5 Min
9:55 AM Travel Council Recommendations; Business Licenses 5 Min
10:00 AM Department Head Meeting; Pledge of Allegiance 1 Hr
11:00 AM Matt Christensen, Forestry Fire and State Lands – Wildland Fire Budget Agreement for 2009 15 Min
11:15 AM Assessor Gail DeMille – Refunds and Assessor Adjustments 15 Min
11:30 AM Kent Nielsen – Temporary Judge 15 Min

LUNCH

1:00 PM Agenda Items 15 Min
1:15 PM Rick Peterson – Valuation of Property 3-317-1, 3-317-2, 3-317-3, and 3-317-4 15 Min
1:30 PM 15 Min

**Commission Meeting will be held in the Commission Chambers of the Sevier County Administration Building, 250 North Main, Richfield.

Fourth of July Fish Grab

The Fish Grab, held during the carnival at the Annual Fourth of July festivities at Richfield’s City Park.

Sheriff’s Report: PI Rollover Crash 11-17-2008

INCIDENT:  PI Rollover Crash

LOCATION: SR 28 mile post 2   (two miles north of Gunnison)

DATE: 11-17-2008

TIME:  0646

DETAILS:  The vehicle was northbound SR -28, when the driver was distracted.  The vehicle drifted off the right shoulder.  The driver over-corrected to the left and went off the left shoulder and rolled once.  The driver was transported to Gunnison Valley Hospital due to injuries.

Driver:  Janice Vincent 49, of Centerfield Ut no seatbelt used.

Vehicle:  1999 Oldsmobile Van

Sevier District Board of Education Meeting Agenda: 11-19-08

Board of Education
Subject: Public Education
Meeting Title: Sevier District Board of Education Meeting
Meeting Date & Time: Wed Nov 19 15:00:00 MST 2008 – Wed Nov 19 18:00:00 MST 2008
Description/Agenda:
AGENDA

SEVIER SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
SEVIER SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2008 – 3:00 PM

Welcome

1. PRELIMINARY – Patti Sanchez

2. SPECIAL RECOGNITION – 3:05

3. REPORT – 3:10
Principal Jill Porter

4.  CONSENT AGENDA – 3:45
A. Approval of Minutes
B. Approval of Employees
C. Requests for Out-of-State Travel
D. 2008-09 School Year Calendar – First Reading
E. Revisions to Policy #2280, Leave Without Pay –
First Reading
F. New Policy #3300, School Safety Plan: Video and
Audio Surveillance – First Reading
G. Revisions to Policy #2045, Leave – First Reading
H. Recognition of Students
I. Financial Summary
J. Consolidated Utah Student Achievement Plan (CUSAP)

5. PATRON DIALOGUE – 3:50

6. DISCUSSION – 4:10
A. Items from the Board
B. Items from Administration

BREAK – 5:00

7. EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:15

8. ACTION ITEMS

Notice of Special Accomodations: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Gail Albrecht, Special Services Coordinator, at 180 East 600 North, Richfield, Utah, 896-8214, at least three working days prior to the meeting.

Notice of Electronic or telephone participation: n/a

Other information:

Meeting Location: 180 E 600 N, Richfield, 84701

Contact information: Patti Sanchez, patti.sanchez@sevier.k12.ut.us, 435-896-8214

County Commissioners Agenda Nov. 17: Election, Right to Vote, Coal Ash Dump, & NEVCO/Sevier Power Plant to be considered

County Commissioners
Subject: Other
Meeting Title: Sevier County Commission
Meeting Date & Time: Mon Nov 17 09:00:00 MST 2008 – Mon Nov 17 16:00:00 MST 2008
Description/Agenda: SEVIER COUNTY COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 17, 2008 AGENDA

9:00 AM Correspondence & Business; Pledge of Allegiance
Set time and date for closed meeting to discuss pending or reasonably imminent litigation, or to discuss the character, professional competence, physical/mental health of an individual 20 Min
9:20 AM Appointment to Planning & Zoning Commission 5 Min
9:25 AM Bookmobile Contract 5 Min
9:30 AM County Attorney Dale Eyre – Bike Path Settlement 5 Min
9:35 AM County Attorney Dale Eyre – Victim’s Advocate Grant 5 Min
9:40 AM John Hunt – Code Red, Reverse 911 Contract 5 Min
9:45 AM Resolution 2008 -11-1 appointing UCIP Representative 5 Min
9:50 AM Secure Rural Schools funding discussion 10 Min
10:00 AM Claims 45 Min
10:45 AM Mark Rickenbach – Equipment, Road Department 15 Min
11:00 AM Kent Nielsen – County Property Use Regulations, Purchase of training materials, good driver rewards 15 Min
11:15 AM Ann Parkinson – USU, FYP 15 Min
11:30 AM Canvass of 2008 General Election 15 Min
LUNCH
1:00 PM Public Hearing: Consideration of a zone change request for Robert & Lois Moore, Burrville area. 15 Min
1:15 PM Tristan DeMille, Cason DeMille, Woody Farnsworth – Richfield City Sewer 15 Min
1:30 PM Right to Vote Committee – Request for recovery of reprint costs from Sevier Power Company 15 Min
1:45 PM Jim Kennon, SCCAW – Fly Ash Disposal 15 Min
2:00 PM Emery Polelonema – CIB List, Final Approval 15 Min
2:15 PM Thomas Rodgers – Safety issues with housing 15 Min
2:30 PM James Porter – Civil Air Patrol 15 Min
2:45 PM Ken Brown – Western Counties Alliance Update 15 Min
3:00 PM Jeff Nielsen – 911 Grant 15 Min
3:15 PM Matt Christensen, Ryan Jensen – Koosharem Fire Department 15 Min
3:30 PM Surplus Landfill Equipment Bid Opening 15 Min
3:45 PM Sevier Power Company – Planned Unit Development, Development Agreement 15 Min

**Commission Meeting will be held in the Commission Chambers of the Sevier County Administration Building, 250 North Main, Richfield.

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