MEA Board Meeting, February 11, 2025
MEA Board Meeting, February 11, 2025
Meeting notes submitted by Allie Sargent and the Susitna River Coalition.
Board members in attendance: Directors Bill Kendig, Mark Masteller, Anastasia Buretta, Mark Hamm, Maxwell Sumner, Dan Tucker; Arthur Keyes arrived while meeting in progress.
Acceptance of Agenda
Addition to agenda: Further discuss moving date of March meeting due to board travel. Will be discussed in executive session.
Persons to be heard:
1.Name: Joel Wattum
Comment: Called in to communicate a conflict between MEA and users of the Jim Lake airstrip over responsibility for the movement of service lines near the runway. Joel mentions that the FAA suggested the lines be buried and that the private owners along the runway should contact MEA. Joel mentions they are in talks with lawyers about litigation over the matter.
Committee Reports
1. Committee: Election Committee
Presenting: Stew Graham
· Findings on changing board election system—should MEA move to a primarily electronic ballot system, with the option of requesting mail ballots?
· Mailing is expensive at $4 per ballot and a returned ballot costs around $50. Electronic election systems would save $125-140k per year. Members favored electronic voting on a phone/text survey completed in 2024 at 86%.
· Around 80% of MEA customers have a smart hub online account currently and receive all of their account notices digitally.
· Legal considerations for this change have been explored
o No issues with MEA bylaws.
o No legal issues pursuing a primarily digital voting system, as Chugach Electric does.
o MEA IT and election overseer supports this swap. The Election Committee has voted unanimously to approve the switch for 2026 and will bring it to the board later tonight for vote.
Director Mark Masteller raises concern for the current election timeline and if adjustments will need to be made in 2026 to allow members desiring a paper ballot ample time to request, complete, and return it. Julie Estey acknowledges this concern and assures that the election committee can make adjustments to their messaging and timeline to accommodate this switch.
Presentation:
Jason Motkya and Char Schleusner (General Manager) of Terra Energy Center presented on proposed coal-fired power plant with carbon capture storage in West Susitna area.
● Terra Energy is a proposed 100MW coal fired power plant that is seeking support for construction of a mine, power plant, and carbon capture storage facility in the West Susitna area.
● Terra comes today to assure the board that their technology is “clean coal” that would be cheaper and releasing less emissions than natural gas and wind generation.
● The project is applying for grant funding of $400 million dollars as a Topic Area 1 Carbon Capture Demonstration Project for the DOE (Department of Energy) OCED grant.
● The project is proposed to use CO2 as a commodity for sale in Alaska.
● The presentation inaccurately quotes the 2023 Energy Issue and Transition Alaska Public Opinion Survey data, citing the “65% of Alaskans support coal with carbon capture sequestration.”
Questions:
● Dir. Mark Hamm: Would the current administration’s “killing of the green deal”, put a risk to funding for carbon capture projects? Are you in contact with DOE about the viability of funding?
○ Terra is not actively in contact with DOE. The project is not dependent on the DOE award, but it would help support funding. Terra is a strong candidate for the award and feels confident it will receive it.
CEO’s Monthly Report:
1. Responded to the public comment by Wattum. Jim Lake was built after MEA and there is an easement in place. It is non-incumbent on the utility to bury the lines. Will not be swayed by threats of attorneys to underground the lines.
2. Audit is happening this week, and the results are stronger than projected. Picked up a few extra million in margins. Mild weather reduced margins, cold weather with no storms raised them. Equity ratio is above target.
3. Level 2 EV program is moving forward and looking forward to charging and usage data.
Unfinished Business:
1. Key Ratio Analysis--MEA is aligning in ratio analysis with other Alaskan utilities, and at a higher operational cost than lower 48 utilities, but is overall on target with ratio analysis.
New Business:
1.Early Retirement of capital credits to estates—approved $62,096.61
Motion by Dir. Dan Tucker motions, Dir. Maxwell Sumner seconds.
2. Simplified Rate filing--Request for no change in rate for the second quarter in 2025, due to higher margins.
Motion by Dir. Dan Tucker motions, Dir. Maxwell Sumner seconds
3. Board support of election committee report
Presented by Julie Estey
Voted to support election committee’s recommendation to move to an electronic voting process at MEA for the 2026 election
Motion by Dir. Dan Tucker, seconded by Dir. Mark Masteller
4. Close membership roll to be closed March 4th to give notice for annual meeting
Customer roll will be closed March 4th to allow time for voting material to be sent to members.
Executive Committee:
Items to be discussed:
1. Future Board Meetings
2. Strategic Project Progress
Left meeting at start of executive session, was not present for director comments.
