DOVER ― U.S. Rep. Invoice Johnson, R-Marietta, toured Dover’s municipal gentle plant on Wednesday and heard in regards to the challenges metropolis officers face in retaining the price of electrical energy reasonably priced for shoppers.
One of many greatest bills impacting operation of the plant is transmission prices, plant Superintendent Jason Corridor mentioned.
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The plant would not generate sufficient electrical energy to produce the wants of all of its prospects, so it purchases energy by means of American Municipal Energy, Inc. That electrical energy is then transmitted to Dover by means of the facility strains of AEP Ohio and First Power.
“The most important downside is transmission prices. That is what kills us,” Corridor mentioned.
As well as, the price of coal to gas the plant is on the rise, added Interim Mayor Shane Gunnoe. Final 12 months, a ton of coal value $60. This 12 months it is 20% increased and it’s anticipated to extend in 2023, he mentioned. “The worth of that straight impacts what our utility prospects pay.”
The sunshine plant makes use of about 50,000 tons of coal a 12 months.
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“Clearly inflation has affected the value of coal,” he informed the congressman. “We undergo a variety of coal at this plant. The worth of gasoline and worth of hauling ash away. All of these prices are up.
“We have performed our greatest to maintain costs down. It is a very dependable service in comparison with AEP. When we’ve a storm outage, it is a few hours for many of the group to be again on. We’ve our personal electrical guys who exit and work the strains as nicely. It is an excellent group service.”
The plant offers energy to almost 14,000 residents and virtually 1,000 companies in Dover. It has about 40 workers, working on the plant, within the Electrical Subject Division and on the utility workplace. Town is one in every of three in Ohio that function a municipal gentle plant. The others are Orrville and Painesville.
“Principally, the town runs a $30 million enterprise,” Gunnoe mentioned. “We’re shopping for coal domestically, we’re shopping for our gasoline from all through the area. We’ve native suppliers that come to depend on this facility.”
Johnson, whose Sixth Congressional District will embrace Dover starting in 2023, was invited by metropolis officers to tour the plant and listen to their considerations.
“You’ll be able to depend on me as an ally, and I am going to aid you any means that I can,” Johnson mentioned.
The congressman famous that power prices are what’s driving inflation in the USA proper now. “It takes power to fabricate merchandise, it takes power to move merchandise to market, it take power to handle the stores, whether or not it is grocery shops or no matter it’s, it takes power to do the whole lot on this nation. And the value of power is up as a result of we have resolution makers in Washington which might be attacking our very sources of power.”
Different metropolis officers on the tour included Council President Justin Perkowski, council members Kevin Korns and Gina House, Auditor Nicole Stoldt, Service Director Dave Douglas and Security/Human Assets Director Gerry Mroczkowski.
Following the tour, Johnson mentioned he was impressed by the sunshine plant.
“Dover has a treasure right here,” he mentioned. “I’ve simply set to work to verify individuals in Washington perceive the worth of one thing like this as a result of sustainable, dependable power is on everyone’s thoughts as of late.”
The price of supplies and distribution are each going up in worth.
“That is a no-win state of affairs for the buyer. In the end the price will get handed on to the buyer, and so these are self-inflicted wounds. It doesn’t must be like this,” he mentioned.
Gunnoe was happy with the congressman’s go to.
“It is nice for the town of Dover to have a sitting U.S. congressman come, tour our facility, perceive the benefits {that a} municipal electrical system presents and likewise the challenges that we face, that each group faces, that generates electrical energy or purchases electrical energy off of the nationwide grid going ahead,” he mentioned.
“It is good for the town that the congressman understands these challenges and may hopefully assist craft coverage in D.C. to help us with some aid in these areas.”
