Perhaps you noticed a half page article in the June 12th issue of the Cook County
News-Herald.
The article was a photo-op for Arrowhead Electric Co-op Inc.’s top two managers to show off the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) trophy awarded for the construction of their new headquarters in Lutsen.
AECI’s managers and board spent $2.5 million dollars on the project. More accurately they borrowed the funds, adding more debt to our member-owned nonprofit co-op debt, which stands at a current total of about $14 million. $14 million plus interest divided by 4030 members…well, you do the math.
The design and construction was completed by contractors from Duluth and Superior…no local contractors were involved; all the money will leave the county. The “innovative” technologies used—passive solar, heat pumps, solar panels, recycled materials and fly ash concrete mixes—have been around for years. If I’m not mistaken, Noah used passive solar on the Ark. (Sorry about the Bible reference, but I understand it’s now required in any News-Herald Letter to the
Editor)
While local co-op members (and then their children) will pay the bill plus interest for years to come, Arrowhead’s top manager won’t be affected….he’s not a co-op member. As a Grand Marais resident, he pays his electric bill to the Public Utilities Commission.
Was there a “NEED” for the extravagant space and trimmings, or was the LEED award foremost in the planning? CEO/ Manager Don Stead was quoted in the article: “When we started we were after the LEED Gold.” There was a checklist of items to be included in the project to qualify for the award.
Perhaps the AECI managers and board could pose for another photo-op? This time loading bags of money into a Brink’s truck headed for Duluth. I hope they don’t forget to “hold-up” their LEED award…the operative word being “hold-up.”
Maybe they could explain again why it’s actually federal regulations driving up our electric bills.
Bob LaMettry
Pike Lake Road
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