Chamber highlights Wolverine; celebrates business

It was an evening of humor, appreciation, and welcoming as the Rogers City Chamber of Commerce celebrated its annual meeting last Wednesday at The Water?s Edge restaurant. Business people from across the county gathered for the event, which was highlighted by guest speaker Eric Baker, the CEO of Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative. Baker spoke of his small town roots, and the life lessons he learned from his immigrant grandparents.

?IN THIS day and age, it?s unusual to grow up in a small town, and end up back in that small town in a professional manner,? said Baker, who is a native of Cadillac. ?I was infected by something along the way?and that was working for a cooperative.? Baker said cooperatives got their start in the 1930s when the mission to create nonprofit entities began in order to create electricity throughout the United States. The Wolverine cooperative was formed in the 1940s with the single purpose of supplying power to its owners. ?It?s important to serve, and that is something I learned from my grandparents,? said Baker, who was an honors graduate from Michigan Technological University. Baker is currently enrolled at Western Michigan University to obtain his Master?s degree. He has worked for Wolverine for 20 years, holding various positions in management, engineering, rates, and planning.

A self-described ?science geek,? Baker said his appreciation for the area comes from knowledge. Baker said 50 percent of power in this region comes from coal. ?Most people think (a majority of power) comes from hydro, but there is very little of that in Michigan,? said Baker. ?Coal is an old fashioned fuel source, but there is hundreds of years of supply ? it?s right in our own backyard. It exists today.? Baker said the oldest coal plant in Michigan was built only twenty years ago. There has been one base load power plant and one nuclear plant built since then. Baker said the need for more power plants in Michigan is apparent when comparing megawatt (MW) numbers from 1984 to this year.

?IN 1984, there were 1,400 MW used in Michigan. To give you a comparison, Calcite uses about 10 MW,? said Baker. ?This summer, Michigan used about 2,200 MW. The need is growing.? A study showed two power plants would be needed in Michigan to keep up with the need by 2009. According to Baker, Governor Granholm ordered the study to be re-evaluated. The result stated one more plant was needed. ?So, how many plants are being built right now in response? None,? said Baker. ?The problem is, the plants are expensive. There is a one billion dollar starting cost for construction. It takes a long time; it?s very risky and complicated, but it?s really needed.? Baker said Wolverine is financially capable of constructing its proposed coal fired power plant in Rogers City, and truly appreciates the area for its small town ideals and way of life.

?This spring we drove up and took a ride around Rogers City before going to our meeting (with O-N Minerals),? said Baker. ?We could see the pride ? everyone?s yard was taken care of?and I could appreciate that.? Baker said the pride and history that exists in Rogers City is a good match with the pride and history Wolverine exhibits. ?This would be a wonderful fit,? said Baker. ?It?s important, and we want to be your neighbor. We are Michigan citizens?and Michigan natives. Some of the people working on this project have relatives who work at Calcite.?

ALTHOUGH BAKER is excited about the possible partnership with Rogers City, he warned those in attendance last Wednesday of the challenges that lie ahead of the project. ?We don?t know if it will be competitive or financially viable,? said Baker. ?I?d like to tell you that it will be, but we don?t know yet.? Baker said Wolverine would spend millions of dollars in the next two years to decide whether the proposed project will work. He said Wolverine is well aware of the positive results it could have on the community.

?Our goal is to have local men and women work at the plant,? said Baker. ?We are talking with Alpena Community College about offering training programs. This project gives us the opportunity to stop exporting smart kids, and keeping them right here in the area.? Baker said Wolverine cannot assure the community at this time that the proposed power plant will be constructed in Rogers City; however, it is willing to make one important commitment. ?I will commit Wolverine?s honesty throughout this process,? said Baker. ?You have my absolute commitment of our honesty?and our hard work to get this project done.?

IN OTHER RC Chamber news:

? The RC Chamber of Commerce website is up and running smooth. President Armand Loiselle reporte

d 18,100 hits to the website this year. That number is up 70 percent from last year.

? Tonya Skuse was welcomed as the new executive director of the Chamber. She expressed her excitement over her new position. ?We can work together to really put Rogers City on the map,? said Skuse. ?It?s time we gave up the secret.?

? Harry Whiteley was introduced as a lifetime honorary director. Loiselle said Whiteley is a critical member to the RC Chamber of Commerce.

? Tab Coseo was elected as the newest director. Along with Loiselle, Jackie Viegelahn, Becky Hanson, and Terri Beebe were elected to continue as directors.

? The RC Chamber currently boasts more than 300 members.

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