Arrington
Nelson County, Virginia
See you there!
HOT Weather For Next 2-3 Days
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
The weather over the next couple of days will be hot and Friday looks to be a real scorcher!
Stay cool!
CVEC Captures Lower Cost Energy for Members
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) announced newly negotiated energy contracts for up to 22% of the Cooperative’s energy needs through 2025. The first contract is with Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. for a 14 MW block of energy delivered 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for the calendar years of 2020 and 2021. The second contract is with American Municipal Power and it will deliver 21 MW of electricity in every hour of the years 2022 through 2025.
CVEC purchases energy for the future based on a hedging strategy intended to stabilize rates and avoid extreme jumps in energy prices. “The cost of the electricity itself makes up about two thirds of our members bills,” says Gary Wood, president and CEO of CVEC. “It is important for us to manage those purchases to the best of our ability to deliver a cost effective service to our members.”
Unlike most electric distribution cooperatives, CVEC purchases energy independently as part of a continuous process, choosing to diversify with a wholesale “power portfolio” strategy, buying blocks of energy from more than twenty different sources rather than one “all-requirements” contract from a single supplier.
“Last June, CVEC made the conversion to a purchased power portfolio, reducing overall wholesale costs by almost a penny per kilowatt-hour and offsetting rising operational costs during a period of slow to no load growth,” offered CVEC Senior V.P. and COO Bruce Maurhoff. “Those savings, combined with the newly negotiated baseload energy blocks, place CVEC in a favorable position to power our members’ comfort and convenience needs, while keeping rates steady, well into the future.”
COO Maurhoff added, “The timing was right for us to access the long term market. Prices right now are attractive and relatively flat in the five to ten year time frame.” He pointed out that for long term contracts, it is important to have counterparties that are financially strong and reliable. “With these contracts, we have partners who are dependable and trustworthy.”
“CVEC has established a goal of becoming one of the top-rated electric distribution cooperatives in the United States and we recognize that reliable service and stable energy prices are essential in delivering a great value to the members,” said Wood. “The addition of these two contracts is a big win for all.”
Headquartered in Lovingston, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative is a member-owned electric-distribution utility serving 36,000 meters in 14 counties across central Virginia. For more information, visit www.mycvec.com.
4th Of July 2016 – A Soggy One
Central Virginia Blue Ridge
Unfortunately the 4th of July weekend only had one really good day, Saturday. Both Sunday and Monday were more or less stormy and rainy.
The upside to the weekend was Saturday. The weather cooperated fully for the annual Sk8 Nelson fundraiser at RVCC.
Over in Lovingston, the story was pretty much the same for the annual 4th of July parade.
Regardless of the weather, it was a nice celebration across the area!
Virginia Distillery Company Continues With The Virginia Whisky Experience
Lovingston
Nelson County, Virginia
Not long ago the Virginia Distillery Company launched the Virginia Whisky Experience. It features a 1,000 sq. foot whisky museum, original video, walking tour of the distillery and, for those electing to sample, a tasting in our cask house and a cocktail demo in the Visitors Center. Prices vary from $12 to $24. Tours are offered daily with a variable schedule and may be booked online at www.vadistillery.com. Walk-ins are accepted based on availability.
“This is a truly unique experience and offers our Virginian stamp on whisky making, on par with distillery tours one might see in Kentucky and Scotland. We’re excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at whisky making in action,” said Marlene Steiner, VDC’s Brand Director.
Since the launch they are already getting great reviews!
VDC also recently opened their 2,000 square foot patio. The design and completion was done by Sam Saunders of Edge Design & Dig in Lovingston.
See you there!
Nelson : Signs Warning Against Atlantic Coast Pipeline Contractors Goes Up In Horizons Village
Horizons Village – Near Nellysford
Nelson County, Virginia
Late last week we were made aware of this sign that went up at the entrance to Horizons Village just off Route 151 in Nelson County near Nellysford. The sign declares the roads as private and “Atlantic Coast Pipeline Contractors Not Allowed”
The ACP has been a very emotionally charged issue in Nelson and neighboring counties.
Nelson Resident In Meeting With RVCC Responds About Dominion Grant To Center
Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
As we first reported on Thursday, the Rockfish Valley Community Center in Afton has accepted a matching grant from The Dominion Foundation for a windows project at the center. The grant, at times, has recently become a lightning rod of discussion since Dominion subsidiaries are also responsible for pursuing the Atlantic Coast Pipeline project through Nelson and adjoining counties.
Friday evening BRL received a response from Marilyn Shifflett of Nelson County regarding the publicity on the grant. She met with the center’s Executive Director on Thursday. Ms. Shifflett’s remarks are posted verbatim below.
“Regarding the acceptance of the Dominion Foundation grant by RVCC for their Green Initiative, I’d like to clarify some points, as I dropped in to see Stuart on Thursday morning after hearing that RVCC has accepted $20,000 from the Dominion Foundation. First of all, be clear that my meeting was not as a representative of the groups I work with opposing the ACP. I went solely as a nearly 50-year resident of the Nelson community. Stuart was gracious and offered a detailed explanation at how the community center came to apply and eventually be offered this grant. He explained the need to match the funds from the Perry Grant and with a deadline looming, the center’s subsequent application to the Dominion Foundation. I agreed that the Nelson community is not in a position to fund such a project on its own, but questioned the approach with Dominion. Stuart explained that initially, the grant was turned down but the foundation suggested they work with the Atlantic Coast Pipeline as dollars for such community efforts are built into the ACP’s budget. He then stated that they took issue with this opportunity and explained to the Dominion Foundation that the pipeline was too controversial for the RVCC to consider taking such a donation/grant. He then told me that the RVCC board had collectively decided to remain neutral on the pipeline and they went back to the foundation and asked that they reconsider funding, in order to fulfill the “mission” of the foundation. The grant at some point after, was clearly offered.
Again, solely my views and not necessarily the views of the groups I work with in opposition to the ACP, I found this to be very disturbing. While I respect the RVCC’s decision to remain neutral on the pipeline, the acceptance of this grant generated the following remark, as quoted by Stuart yesterday:
“The Dominion Foundation is proud to partner with the Rockfish Valley Community Center and support the great work it is doing to provide a vital and thriving community center that serves as a safe and caring place for people of all ages and walks of life.”I find the word “partner” to be indicative of how this industry works in “targeted” communities to come forward as “good neighbors”. Their disrespect for private property owners all along this route is widely known and documented. Dominion, under the guise of the ACP, LLC has little interest in being a good neighbor. Good neighbors do not put lives and property at risk purely for profit. Good neighbors understand the negative impacts of their actions, and respond appropriately.
The RVCC will lose little by the loss of my support in the future, as I cannot afford to contribute the large dollars needed to fund their future needs, but I applaud Blue Ridge Life Magazine’s courage to come forward at great risk, to truly support this community.
And with all due respect to the dedicated folks at RVCC, how can the community center be viewed as “neutral”?
UPDATE 3: News Alert : RVCC Accepts Grant From The Dominion Foundation (7.1.16)
Scroll to the bottom for additional updates.
Afton
Nelson County, Virginia
The Rockfish Valley Community Center has apparently accepted a grant to the tune of $20,000.00 from The Dominion Foundation, an arm of Dominion Resources, which is spearheading the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline.
In a phone conversation with RVCC director Stu Mills, Mills told BRL publisher, Yvette Stafford that The Dominion Foundation initially turned down RVCC’s grant request and instead suggested the center reach out to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which has a budget for community projects. Citing the community’s distrust of the ACP, Mills suggested The Dominion Foundation would be a better donor, given its mission. The Foundation reconsidered, Mills said, and granted RVCC the matching funds. As word of the money exchange has leaked out, Mills said he has been fielding concerns from the community and currently has an email out to RVCC board members requesting feedback.
Above: Free Nelson’s post breaking the news of the grant.
Mills says he is planning to release a formal statement by the end of business today.
We will follow this immediately as details become available.
Update 5:35 PM 6-30-16:
At around 4:30pm, RVCC Executive director Stu Mills sent me the following email, a portion of which is redacted because of a mention to an official press release that remains embargoed.
Hi Yvette –
I appreciated your call earlier, particularly the fact that you reported on our conversation accurately on your website.
We have had only a couple of calls about this in addition to yours, but there has been some strong response that we have read on social media regarding the Dominion Foundation grant, and first, we would like to respond to a couple of inaccuracies that are floating around.
There have never been any “strings attached” to the Foundation grant, and no quid pro quo. In response to our request for a comment from the Foundation regarding the grant for a planned press release, the Foundation president just said this: “The Dominion Foundation is proud to partner with the Rockfish Valley Community Center and support the great work it is doing to provide a vital and thriving community center that serves as a safe and caring place for people of all ages and walks of life.” There have been no other discussions of PR collaboration or further affiliation …
… Also, the discussion on Free Nelson’s FB page regarding “challenging the community” to match the Dominion Foundation money was not suggested by us. It was brought up by RVCC member Priscilla Sonne in my phone conversation with her this morning, and I told her that we would certainly (and gratefully) consider that as an alternative method of funding the Green Initiative if such an effort was undertaken by our community.
There are few foundations with the resources to, or the interest in, funding bricks & mortar projects such as the Green Initiative. We approached the Dominion Foundation (not vice versa) for assistance to match a challenge grant that was already received, and sought their help because 1) its mission is, in part, to “assist non-profit organizations to increase their energy efficiency,” and 2) because we were aware that it had helped fund a similar window-replacement project at Madison House at UVa several years ago. Dominion Foundation was one of a half-dozen funding organizations we approached for matching funds.
Our Board is very sensitive to the reactions we have received, and what we’ve read on line, and will meet next week (date and time TBD) to discuss our options going forward – and I think it is safe to say that all options are on the table.
Any comments or alternative suggestions that you or your readers would like us to consider in our deliberations can be sent to the BOD care of my email address.
Thanks, Yvette
– Stu
Stu’s email address is g-dot-stuart-dot-mills-at-gmail-dot-com.
Also worth noting: In my (Yvette) conversation with Stu earlier today, I told him Blue Ridge Life would suspend any and all donations and advertising associated with RVCC if it takes and uses money from The Dominion Foundation. Our reason is simple. We did the neighborly thing years ago when we launched the magazine and extended advertising support to RVCC, which was struggling as a non-profit to renovate the building and expand its services to the community. Knowing how many lives the proposed ACP has disrupted, and the blatant disregard to property rights such a project entails – not to mention the potential ecological fallout that could occur – I cannot in good conscience enable a relationship to continue between RVCC and Dominion Resources, a company that seeks to greenwash an important staple of our community. — Yvette Stafford
Update 11:15 PM 6-30-16:
Free Nelson just sent us this statement:
While we are disturbed by the controversy surrounding the RVCC’s acceptance of grant money from the Dominion Foundation for their Green Initiative project, we certainly understand the struggle to fund a non-profit committed to serving our community.
The Rockfish Valley Community Center has been a safe haven of sorts and a regular meeting place as we struggle through the major impacts that a large, high pressure pipeline may have on the health and safety of our community for years to come. We encourage members of the community to give to such a worthy project. That being said, we feel the RVCC should have understood the risk associated with applying for and accepting a grant from the Dominion Foundation.
Free Nelson remains committed to support the large number of private property owners who stand to lose so much, and our community as a whole. We hope the RVCC will continue to play a vital role in Nelson.
Update 1:15 PM 7.1.16 :
This afternoon we received the additional following statement from RVCC concerning the Dominion Grant.
“The Truth About the Dominion Foundation Grant and Your RVCC
• We have an old building with $35,000 in 2015 utility bills. This prompted our $52,000 Green Initiative to reduce our energy costs by refurbishing the geothermal system, completing insulation, and replacing 61 windows.
• Funding sources for the Green Initiative:
Perry Foundation: $21,317 (ONLY if matched by other sources)
Dominion Foundation Grant: $20,000
Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge: $6500
Schaeneman Foundation: $1617
Community Contributions: $2650
• The Dominion Foundation Grant is restricted to the replacement of our 78-year-old windows.
• The DF grant allows us to meet the requirements of the Perry Foundation $21,317 matching grant and complete the fundraising for our Green Initiative.
Your RVCC Board of Directors is meeting this Thursday, July 7, at 5:30pm. As always, these meetings are open to the public.
To read RVCC’s mission statement, please visit http://rockfishvalleycommunitycenter.memberlodge.com/Mission-Bylaws-and-Constitution.
Sara Taylor
Operations Manager
Rockfish Valley Community Center
434-361-0100 www.rockfishcc.org“
FLASH FLOOD WATCH – EXPIRED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1040 AM EDT MON JUN 27 2016
VAZ025-026-503-504-WVZ505-506-280245-
/O.CON.KLWX.FF.A.0007.160627T1500Z-160628T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-WESTERN HIGHLAND-EASTERN HIGHLAND-
WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…STAUNTON…WAYNESBORO…STUARTS DRAFT…
HARRISONBURG…HIGHTOWN…MONTEREY…RIVERTON…BRANDYWINE…
FRANKLIN…OAK FLAT…RUDDLE…SUGAR GROVE
1040 AM EDT MON JUN 27 2016
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…
THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR
* PORTIONS OF WESTERN VIRGINIA AND EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA…
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN WESTERN VIRGINIA…
AUGUSTA…EASTERN HIGHLAND…ROCKINGHAM AND WESTERN HIGHLAND.
IN EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA…EASTERN PENDLETON AND WESTERN
PENDLETON.
* THROUGH THIS EVENING.
* THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THIS EVENING. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO 1 INCH ARE
EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES
POSSIBLE. THESE AMOUNTS COMBINED WITH ALREADY WET CONDITIONS
FROM RECENT HEAVY RAINS WILL LEAD TO AN ENHANCED FLASH FLOODING
THREAT.
* HEAVY AMOUNTS OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME MAY CAUSE
CREEKS AND STREAMS TO QUICKLY RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
&&
$$
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
1040 AM EDT MON JUN 27 2016
VAZ027-029-036>038-507-508-WVZ055-502-280245-
/O.EXA.KLWX.FF.A.0007.160627T1500Z-160628T0300Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
SHENANDOAH-PAGE-NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE-CENTRAL VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE-HARDY-
EASTERN GRANT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…STRASBURG…WOODSTOCK…MOUNT JACKSON…
NEW MARKET…LURAY…SHENANDOAH…STANLEY…LOVINGSTON…
CHARLOTTESVILLE…STANARDSVILLE…BIG MEADOWS…WINTERGREEN…
MOOREFIELD…PETERSBURG
1040 AM EDT MON JUN 27 2016
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS EXPANDED
THE
* FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF VIRGINIA AND EASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA…INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN VIRGINIA…
ALBEMARLE…CENTRAL VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE…GREENE…NELSON…
NORTHERN VIRGINIA BLUE RIDGE…PAGE AND SHENANDOAH. IN EASTERN
WEST VIRGINIA…EASTERN GRANT AND HARDY.
* THROUGH THIS EVENING.
* THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON
INTO THIS EVENING. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS UP TO 1 INCH ARE
EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES
POSSIBLE. THESE AMOUNTS COMBINED WITH ALREADY WET CONDITIONS
FROM RECENT HEAVY RAINS WILL LEAD TO AN ENHANCED FLASH FLOODING
THREAT.
* HEAVY AMOUNTS OF RAIN IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME MAY CAUSE
CREEKS AND STREAMS TO QUICKLY RISE OUT OF THEIR BANKS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.
Supplies On The Way To Flooding Victims In West Virginia From Nelson Angel (Updated 6.29.16)
Beech Grove, VA – Richwood, WV
Since our original stories below, Nikki has returned from West Virginia on her first & now second drive over there. Here’s some updates from her Facebook pages below.
Original story below from 6.26.16 at 1:03 PM
We first told you about Nikki Chambers and her drive to help flood victims in West Virginia on Friday. Nikki put out an all call for help from our community for supplies, bottled water, diapers, clothes, canned food, bleach, and anything else that would help flood victims in West Virginia with their recovery from the catastrophic flooding.
We here in Nelson know all too well how a devistating flood can change life forever after the 1969 landfall of Hurricane Camille. You answered the call, and as of this very post, Nikki on the way to Richwood, West Virginia with the first load of several, going straight to victims. “We are off to Richwood. They went underwater when dam breached. Apparently help is making it to White Sulphur and Rainelle because of easy access from interstate. We’ve been told the National Guard will help us where to find the needs for our load,” Nikke told us and reinforced in her Facebook post below just before leaving Sunday afternoon for West Virginia.
We’re continuing to follow Nikki on her travels through West Virginia and will update as often as we can. As you know communication out of West Virginia is difficult right now with so many power, cell and landlines down.
Way to go Nikki! You didn’t wait for someone to help or organize, you just did it!!
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