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Chief Executive Officer's
Report
October 2006...
FKEC Plans Ahead; Sees the Power of Going Green
When you live on a tropical island off the southern tip of Florida, there's something irresistible about the idea of running your air conditioner on the power of the Gulf Stream and heating your water by the energy of the sun. It just makes so much sense when you look around and see nothing but ocean and sunshine.
As a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative, part of FKEC's mission is to serve you, our members, efficiently and effectively in an environmentally responsible manner. Part of the October issue of FKEC News is devoted to this aspect of our company's mission.
One of the articles is about the potential of harnessing the energy of the Florida Current. A Miami-based company is working on creating and installing the first commercial-scale ocean current generation prototype, which is scheduled to be installed off the coast of Dania Beach in 2008.
As CEO of FKEC, I feel it is my responsibility to watch this project closely and determine whether or not this technology will someday provide a clean, renewable energy source for our members in the Keys. The Gulf Stream runs right past our front gate, and it's remarkable to think that it could someday provide enough power to energize FKEC's entire system and more, without harming sea life or polluting our environment.
Another article features the Green Living & Energy Education (GLEE) organization. FKEC is proud to be one of the founding members of this three-year-old effort to promote sustainable living and to have several employees volunteering their time to contribute to the group's "green" education committees.
GLEE is now planning a second Green Living & Energy Expo in the Keys, and we will include more information about that event in future issues of FKEC News.
Although terms like "Green Power" and "Sustainable Living" are just starting to enter the American consciousness, with fuel prices continuing to climb and energy shortages looming, the power of going green will soon be obvious to us all.
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ABOUT SCOTT NEWBERRY
Scott Newberry joined FKEC in 1990 as Planning, Rate and Budget Analyst and
was promoted in 1996 to Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, he oversaw all of
the financial, accounting, billing and information system functions of the
cooperative. He was promoted to CEO on January 1, 2006.
Scott is an active member of the Upper Keys community and is a past
president, current director and president-elect of the Rotary Club of Key
Largo, is a director for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce and is co-founder
and president of the Upper Keys Golf Association.
In 1994, Scott completed the three-year national electrical course for
apprentice linemen to further his education in cooperative operations. He
is a graduate of Leadership Monroe County Class XI and completed the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's Management Internship
Program in 2005.
Scott graduated from Arkansas State University with a degree in Agriculture
Business and Economics in 1986. In 1988, he began his career in the
electricity industry when he joined the Rural Electrification Administration
(REA) in Washington, D.C. With the REA, he worked first as a Commercial Loan
Specialist and was later promoted to Power Requirements Officer before
moving to the Florida Keys to join FKEC in 1990. |
