Page 14 - ES&G report 2021 final

Peregrines take flight

from power plant

Associated has successfully hatched peregrine falcon
chicks from a nest box on the Thomas Hill Unit 3
emissions stack. Four chicks were hatched in 2017 –
the fruition of a program that began in 2004 at the
cooperative’s New Madrid Power Plant to help restore
the once endangered peregrine falcon. The falcon
program was later expanded to Thomas Hill, where a
nestling pair is established.

2017 – Chief Operations Officer Ken Wilmot holds
one of the falcon chicks at Thomas Hill Energy Center
being banded by conservation officials.

• Associated works with Regional Conservation Partnership Program for soil improvement, erosion prevention
and habitat development.

• Associated received a $45,000 grant in 2017 from the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation for mon- Members – those families, business owners and industries at the end of their local
arch butterfly habitat. Matching the grant with funds and in-kind labor, Associated has developed a habitat co-op’s distribution lines – are what we’re all about. Those members drive this
on 32 acres at Thomas Hill Energy Center that it continues to cultivate and improve.
three-tiered system of cooperatives.
– Joe Wilkinson,
• Monarch butterfly populations have declined 90% in the last 20 years, putting them at risk for listing as an Senior vice president & chief member relations officer
endangered species. Cooperatives have allied to protect pollinators, which are important to agriculture, natu-
ral landscapes and quality of life. Staff continue to serve on the Missourians for Monarchs steering committee
and improve the pollinator habitat on Associated property. Proactive, evolving coal-ash handling ensures safety

• As a member of the national Avian Pow- Associated has a strong, proactive record of compliance with local, state and federal environmental regulations.
erline Interaction Committee since 2018, Efforts to continue to safely dispose of coal ash at its New Madrid and Thomas Hill power plants means all
Associated and its owner G&Ts have access power plant operation ash ponds – controlled reservoirs for disposing of ash that is the byproduct of gener-
to educational sources, meetings and more ation – will close by 2023. These plants are converting to dry handling and disposal of this ash in accordance
on best management practices for con- with federal and state regulations. Associated maintains a public website with coal ash data and information
struction and maintenance of transmission that provides information and transparency on our ash-handling facilities at https://aeci.org/clean/ccr/.
facilities, as well as electrical equipment. The In addition to disposal, New Madrid and Thomas Hill plants sell ash for beneficial reuse in construction materi-
goal is to prevent avian electrocutions that als, which reduces carbon and construction costs while improving the quality of materials.
contribute to avian mortality and unplanned
outages. As a member, Associated also Associated also has:
comments on proposed avian regulations to
ensure a win-win: avian protection and grid • Partnered with a University of Missouri scientist to create a super-strong “green” brick licensed
reliability. Collaboration is part of the co-op’s culture and extends to other for manufacturing.
environmental projects. Associated staff serves on the steering com- • Voluntarily removed polyfluorinated substances from firefighting foam.
mittee of “Missourians for Monarchs,” a collaborative group, and • Changed ozone-depleting refrigerants to non-ozone depleting refrigeration.
Associated has allocated 32 acres and funds to develop pollinator • Maintained small-quantity waste generator status.
habitat. In spring 2018, staff plant more than 2,400 milkweed plugs.
Photo courtesy of Rural Missouri.

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