On November 16, 2009 our Advisory Committee Touchstone (comprised of 30 volunteer members) and other guests were able to tour the Thomas Hill Energy Center which is located southwest of Macon, MO.  We appreciate the time spent by the 17 members who took time out of their busy schedule to join us for the tour.  There were also eleven Keosauqua Light & Power and SIEC Directors and employees.
The Advisory Committee Touchstone’s purpose is the following:  
   1. To keep informed on items of vital interest to the membership such as construction, work plans, changes in policy, etc.
   2. Provide a source of “feedback” from members.
   3. Secure an understanding of the cooperatives objectives and principles.
   4. Serve as a sounding board to evaluate cooperative programs and activities.

Please make us aware if you would have interest in the future of joining the Advisory Committee Touchstone or learn more about your cooperative by visiting www.sie.coop.
The Thomas Hill Energy Center is comprised of three electrical generating units, built from 1966 to 1982 and totaling 1,153 megawatts, and a coal mine that is actively being reclaimed after closing in 1993.

   AECI employs about 260 people at the Thomas Hill Energy Center, which has received national recognition for its efficiency and successful conversion to low-sulfur coal that significantly reduced sulfur dioxide emissions.  
   AECI also will achieve a systemwide nitrogen oxides emission rate reduction of nearly 90 percent with completion in December 2008 of its $424 million environmental controls project at Thomas Hill to meet the Clean Air Interstate Rule.
   AECI and its employees are part of the community, and the Moberly Area Chamber of Commerce presented its Business of the Year award to AECI in 2006.
   Thomas Hill Power Plant pays several million dollars in taxes annually, helping to support local education and county services. 
   Thomas Hill Lake was built to help cool equipment at the power plant, but the public benefits from its 1.5 billion gallons of water too. Swimming, fishing and boating are popular on the lake, which also serves as a 5,000-acre wildlife refuge. 
   AECI also recycles fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion, from its Thomas Hill Energy Center. The fly ash is extremely fine and has a calcium content of 20 percent or more, which makes it a good substitute for cement in making concrete or as a soil stabilizer. 
   Recycling the fly ash provides a product to industries, produces revenue that helps AECI keep its cost to members low and saves landfill space and transportation costs. 

CAPTION:  1st row (L-R) Gary Foster, Larry Sylvester, Earl Thornburg, Cheryl Thornburg, Pam Strunk
2nd row (L-R) Raymond Zimmerman, JoElla Cossel, Dean Black, Gary Lorton, Oscar Bales
3rd row (L-R) Richard Ward, Ethel Williams, Rusty Lyons, Ray Charbonneau
4th row (L-R) David Boas, Alan Gaffney, Wayne Coffman, Donnie White

 
CAPTION:  (L-R) Trent Gregory, Darrel Downing, Travis Weis, Tommy Larsen, Mike Gerritson, Bill Sego

CAPTION:  1st row (L-R) Gary Foster, Larry Sylvester, Earl Thornburg, Pam Strunk
2nd row (L-R) Raymond Zimmerman, JoElla Cossel, Dean Black, Gary Lorton, Oscar Bales
3rd row (L-R) Richard Ward, Ethel Williams, Rusty Lyons, Ray Charbonneau
4th row (L-R) David Boas, Alan Gaffney, Wayne Coffman, Donnie White