NEBRASKA POWER REVIEW BOARD
November 16, 2018
The 798th meeting of the Nebraska Power Review Board (“the Board” or “PRB”) was held in the Liquor Control Commission hearing room, Nebraska State Office Building, 301 Centennial Mall, Lincoln, Nebraska. The roll was called and present were Chairman Reida, Vice Chairman Morehouse, Mr. Grennan, Mr. Hutchison, and Mr. Moen. Executive Director Texel stated that public notice for the meeting had been published in the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper on November 6, 2018. All background materials for the agenda items to be acted on were provided to all Board members prior to the meeting and a copy was in each Board member’s notebook. The executive director announced that a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act was on display on the north wall of the room for the public to review, and another copy was available in a three-ring binder on a table at the back of the room. A copy of all materials that the Board would consider was available for public inspection on a table in the back of the room, as well as extra copies of the agenda.
The Board first considered the draft minutes from its September 28, 2018, meeting. The staff did not have any recommended changes. Vice Chairman Morehouse moved to approve the minutes from the September 28 meeting. Mr. Grennan seconded the motion. Voting on the motion: Chairman Reida – yes, Vice Chairman Morehouse – yes, Mr. Grennan – yes, Mr. Hutchison – yes, and Mr. Moen – yes. The motion carried 5– 0.
The next agenda item was acceptance of the expense reports for the month of September and October. In September, there was $25,513.32 in personal services, $30,815.21 in operating expenses, and $1,029.62 in travel expenses. The total expenses for September were $57,358.15. In October, there was $22,824.26 in personal services, $3,325.20 in operating expenses, and $1,841.13 in travel expenses. The total expenses for October were $27,990.59. The executive director explained that although Mr. Grennan had incurred travel expenses related to his Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional State Committee (RSC) duties, the Board received the reimbursement from the SPP during October, also. Mr. Grennan moved to accept the expense reports for September and October. Vice Chairman Morehouse seconded the motion. Voting on the motion: Chairman Reida – yes, Vice Chairman Morehouse – yes, Mr. Grennan – yes, Mr. Hutchison – yes, and Mr. Moen –yes. The motion carried 5– 0.
The next item was a presentation on the Monolith facility near the Sheldon Station, Hallam, Nebraska. John Swanson, Nebraska Public Power District representative, gave the presentation. Mr. Swanson had previously given this presentation to the Scottsbluff Rotary Club where the Board’s Vice Chairman Rick Morehouse was present as rotary member. Vice Chairman Morehouse found the presentation very informative and felt that the Board members would benefit from hearing it. Mr. Swanson went through the construction phases I and II. Sheldon Station will be able to utilize the hydrogen created by Monolith’s production process once phase II is completed. The Monolith facility will be producing a substance called “carbon black”. There was discussion about the number of jobs created by Monolith’s facility and the process used to create the carbon black. The Board members asked numerous questions. Mr. Swanson said Monolith believes that Nebraska’s public power model was a good fit for its company and the new facility. The Board thanked Mr. Swanson for the presentation.
The next item on the agenda was the executive director’s report. Mr. Grennan discussed his involvement and meetings with HITT (Holistic Integrated Tariff Team). HE also said SPP recently created a report describing the history of the RSC. Mr. Grennan was given a copy of it and was told the PRB would be receiving one, also. This will be useful to show new Board members so they can understand the role and function of the SPP and RSC. Mr. Grennan said the SPP is also going to provide a copy of the report to the PRB’s previous RSC representatives, Mike Siedschlag and Steve Lichter. The next RSC quarterly meeting is scheduled for January.
The Board has scheduled its 2019 PRB meetings for the fourth Friday of each month except for the months of April, November, and December, which would fall on a State holiday and so were rescheduled to another Friday in each of those months. The May 2019 meeting has also been moved from May 24 to May 31. The executive director asked the Board if the May meeting could be rescheduled to May 31 to accommodate a family event.
The executive director noted that the next meeting dates are December 14, 2018, January 25, and February 22, 2019.
Mr. Hutchison moved to adjourn the meeting. Vice Chairman Morehouse seconded the motion. Voting on the motion: Chairman Reida – yes, Vice Chairman Morehouse – yes, Mr. Grennan – yes, Mr. Hutchison – yes, and Mr. Moen – yes. The motion carried 5 – 0. The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m.
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Timothy J. Texel
Executive Director and General Counsel
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