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Poudre High named National Science Bowl champs

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Five Poudre High School students, from Fort Collins, Colo., claimed the title "champions" April 30 in the 2007 U.S. Department of Energy's National Science Bowl®. The Poudre team defeated defending national champion State College Area High School from State College, Penn. in the final round. more.

Four Science Bowl teams from Western regionals make 'sweet sixteen'
Four champion Science Bowl teams from Western-sponsored regional competitions took home awards from the National Science Bowl. While Poudre High School reigned victoriously in first place, three other high schools from Western's regional competitions placed in the top sixteen teams in the country. In addition to the honor, the three high schools—Chaparral, from Scottsdale, Ariz., Mira Loma, from Sacramento, Calif., and Red River, from Grand Fork, ND—took home a $1,000 cash prize for their schools' science department.

Inspiring the next generation of engineers
How do we create the next generation of highly trained engineers? Western's Electric Power Training Center staff is starting locally by teaming up with Faith Christian Academy High School students to form a team and build a robot in six weeks. The team won the Engineering Inspiration Award at the FIRST regional competition in Denver, March 29 through 31, and qualified for the national competition in Atlanta, April 12 through 14. more.

Western names chief operations officer

On March 23, Western's Administrator Tim Meeks announced the selection of Tony Montoya as Western's new chief operations officer. Montoya currently is the Assistant Regional Manager for Power System Operations for Western's Desert Southwest Region in Phoenix. more.

Northern Arizona Energy Project seeks interconnection

Northern Arizona Energy, LLC proposes to construct the Northern Arizona Energy Project, a 175-MW, natural gas fired, simple-cycle power plant located on private lands about nine miles south of Kingman, Ariz., that would interconnect with Western’s transmission system. more in the March newsletter. (pdf 237 kb).

Annual Boulder Canyon Project rate process begins

Western is proposing an adjustment to the Boulder Canyon Project electric service base charge and rates. The proposed rates would result in an overall composite rate increase of about 10 percent and would take effect on October 1, 2007.

A public comment forum will be held May 9 in Phoenix. Written comments are welcome until the end of the consultation and comment period on May 15. more.