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September 2021
Great to see you!

by Bonnie Biocchi, Executive Director

I can’t count how many times I said and heard those words during our Annual Conference in Portland, Maine a few weeks ago. And it truly was great to see so many of you in person, despite the Hurricane warnings and concerns about the Delta variant of Covid-19. 

We were fortunate to have so many terrific speakers this year and we have received excellent feedback on the information shared. If you were not able to attend, please check out the presentations on our website. A special shout out goes to Duncan and Allen our Diamond Sponsor as well as all of our sponsors for enabling us to achieve such a meaningful event. 

During the Conference, we held our Annual Election. We welcome new Board members: Mark Biron, Groton Utilities, Ken Nolan, Vermont Public Power Supply Authority, Ken Stone, Middleborough Gas and Electric and Barry Tupper, Holden Municipal Light Department. New Officers include President Todd Shea, Kennebunk Light and Power, First Vice President Nick Lawler, Littleton Light and Electric, Second Vice President John Tzimorangas, Energy New England and Treasurer Jonathan Blair, Ipswich Electric Light Department. Joining them to round out the Executive Committee are Secretary Mike Cloutier, Middleton Electric Light Department and At-Large Members, Jim Bakas, New Hampshire Electric Co-op and Panos Tokadjian, Hull Municipal Light Plant

In addition, the Board of Directors adopted four new resolutions for the 2021-2022 legislative season. These will be the basis of our advocacy efforts for the upcoming virtual legislative fly-in during the month of October.

One of the highlights of every conference is our Annual Awards Ceremony. Congratulations to our award winners! Mike Cloutier, was named the Person of the Year for his long history of supporting public power and his concerted efforts to help NEPPA thrive. Last year’s winner, Steve Socoby was on hand to help present the award. To see who else took home top honors, click here.

Looking ahead to the fall, we are excited for our RodE&O. This is the first time we have combined the Lineworkers Rodeo with the Engineering & Operations Conference and it is shaping up to be a terrific event. To date, we have 12 teams competing in the Rodeo and there is room for more.  I want to thank Gil Finch of Groton Electric Light Department for stepping up to be our Master Judge this year. Gil and a team of folks from Groton, Littleton, Middleton, Groveland and Georgetown have installed new poles and spruced up the yard in advance of the event which will take place on September 21st.   If you would like to register a team for this year’s Rodeo, click hereWe are looking forward to welcoming back Altec as our Rodeo lunch sponsor – can’t wait to see them exercising their grill-master skills!

The E & O Conference promises to offer many top-notch speakers and you will not want to miss keynote speaker Gary Norland who will speak about the Impact of an Injury. For a look at our other compelling speakers, click here

And last but certainly not least, we kick off the fall sessions of Lineworker Apprentice Training with our Year One students on September 28th. September will bring a full house here at NEPPA and it will be truly great to see you!
Upcoming Training & Events
It's not too late...
Are you a leader trying to navigate the changing landscape of climate initiatives at the local, state or federal level? How are you involving key stakeholders in your community to address public perception and demand for a cleaner and socio-economically responsible utility?

Join us for a roundtable discussion about how we, as public power, can meet the clean energy goals of the future.  
 
At NEPPA, we are committed to helping our members enhance their safety awareness and develop effective training and risk management programs to better prepare and protect their organizations and employees.
 
As part of our commitment to our members to provide high-quality technical and safety training, particularly in the shadows of COVID-19, we are pleased to continue offering a new series of live, instructor-led @Your-Site Virtual Training sessions. 
 
September 21-23, 2021
Westford Regency & NEPPA Training Center
Westford, MA

October 5, 2021 - Virtual
9:00 am (EST)

October 19, 2021
8:30 am (EST)

October 20, 2021
8:30 am (EST)

November 8 - 10, 2021
NEPPA Training Center
Littleton, MA
 
November 30, 2021 NEW DATE
8:30 am (EST)
December 1, 2021 NEW DATE
8:30 am (EST)

Dec 7, 2021

Dec 8, 2021
 
December 14, 2021
8:30 am (EST)
 
December 15, 2021
8:30 am (EST)


*Please contact communications@neppa.org to be notified as soon as registration opens.

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In the News
Congratulations

to Jim Bakas named Interim General Manager at New Hampshire Electric Co-op!  
SELCO Announces Electric Vehicle Rebate Program
SHREWSBURY, MA September 1, 2021 – Shrewsbury Electric and Cable Operations is excited to announce a new electric vehicle rebate program. SELCO customers can get incentives for new or used (model year 2016 and newer) Battery Electric (BEV) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric (PHEV)
vehicles.

The Benevolent Fund gets a boost!

Portland, ME - August 24, 2021
It was a beautiful day to engage in our Benevolent Fund activities. Thank you to Utility Services Inc. for stepping up to be our Golf Sponsor again this year! Our trolley tour was equally well-attended and preliminary figures indicate that over $9500 was raised for this important cause. Thank you to all who participated or sponsored! 


Condolences:

We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Public Power legend Sharon Staz. Thank you to John Coyle for his eloquent words evoking Sharon’s spirit at the Awards dinner. Sharon will be as deeply missed as she was loved.
Joint Action Agency
MMWEC, CET Promote Electrification with Heat Pump Assessment Program
Holden, Ipswich, Paxton, Princeton, Shrewsbury, South Hadley, and West Boylston - Customers of select MMWEC Member municipal utilities now have the chance to learn more about heat pump technology and receive a free comprehensive heat pump assessment in their homes.

Northeast Public Power Association | communications@neppa.org | www.neppa.org
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