By CINDY LADAGE
Illinois Correspondent

CHATHAM, Ill. — On June 11 the Rural Electric Cooperative (RECC) held its annual meeting at Chatham High School.

The meeting was a combination of meet, greet, eat and learn about the happenings and future of electricity for this central Illinois cooperative.

Concerns over rising electrical costs due to climate change policy at the federal level prompted the RECC to pass out cards for members to e-mail or mail to Congress asking them to “support public investment that improves our nation’s ability to deliver affordable, reliable electricity.”

The card states: “I support wise investments that diversify our nation’s energy portfolio … I am very concerned about the rising energy costs … Please balance any votes you cast about electricity with the need to keep it affordable.”

The cooperative had three matters of importance to cover, beginning with the report of the officers, directors and president/CEO. Members were also electing directors to three-year terms to the board, and the meeting would allow members to take action on any other business before the board.

Chair Jimmy Ayers and President/CEO David Stuva led the meeting. Board candidates Lee Marten and Cassie Eigenmann ran unopposed in their districts.

Mark Bartolozzi, a Chatham resident who is the director of finance and human services with the Springfield Park District, ran against former member Ted Dowson.

Dowson, who has served since 1993, farms with his two brothers. They operate a grain, dairy and swine operation. While both Bartolozzi and Dowson brought good ideas to the table, in the end Dowson kept his board seat.

Highlights from 2008 included repairs from devastating ice storms, more substations and transmission lines purchased and a highlight about the GobNob wind project.

The GobNob wind generator near Farmersville was constructed in December, and started producing clean renewable energy on March 5. The 900-KW turbine from Emergya Wind Technologies (EWT) in The Netherlands stands 230 feet high on top of a 60-foot “gob pile” of coal waste at the former Freeman coal mine.

All power generated by the wind turbine is fed into the co-op’s Farmersville substation and used by members in the surrounding area. The official dedication was held April 20, highlighted by Gov. Pat Quinn, an early supporter of the project.

The RECC service area includes Morgan, Sangamon, Christian, Macoupin and Montgomery counties. The RECC has 1,342 miles of line with 5,771 meters, and the average customer uses 1,505 kilowatt hours per month for an average bill of $156.18.

Questions about this meeting should be mailed to the Rural Electric Cooperative at P.O. Box 19, Auburn, IL 62615.