December 11, 2007

Photo by Michelle Young of Endearing Studios

From Left: David B. Zelch, Zelch and McMahon, Architects; FKEC Board of Directors Members Craig Belcher and Jim Boilini; FKEC Board Treasurer Frank Hawkins; FKEC Board Vice President Gretchen Holland; FKEC CEO Scott Newberry; FKEC Board President David Ritz; FKEC Board members H.B. Barrett, Karl Wagner and George Hertel; FKEC Board Secretary Michael Puto; Craig Overholt, President, Overholt Construction Corporation; and Bill Sprague, Construction Manager, B.W. Sprague, Inc.

FKEC Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Storm Hardened Facility in Tavernier

Florida Keys Electric Cooperative held a Groundbreaking Ceremony today for its new storm hardened warehouse/office complex on the utility's existing bayside property in Tavernier. The Cooperative held the event beside the demolished old warehouse, a metal building that was not hurricane-rated.

"The most significant benefit of constructing this new facility will be its ability to withstand a major hurricane," said CEO Scott Newberry. "Our bucket trucks, equipment and materials will all be stored inside the new building during a storm to avoid damage so we'll be ready to restore power after a storm strikes. Our design also includes flexible space to house and feed outside restoration crews if necessary."

After four years of planning, the cooperative entered into a contract with general contractor Overholt Construction Corporation, Miami, for $13,667,134 in October. Construction will commence as soon as the final permits are issued. The completion date is scheduled for the Spring of 2009.

Once complete, all of the company's Upper Keys operations, including the Drive-Through Window, Member Services, Consumer Accounting and the Administrative Offices will be located in the three-story structure on the same side of U.S. 1.

The new Tavernier Operations Center was designed to improve FKEC's service to its 31,000 members by combining features for category five hurricane preparedness and survivability, operational efficiency and safety, and energy efficiency and conservation.

Hurricane Preparedness
Most of FKEC's current Tavernier buildings were not designed to meet today's hurricane codes and may not withstand a major hurricane. The new facility combines hurricane resistant features and post-storm restoration readiness so FKEC will be intact and better prepared to restore power quickly and efficiently.

First, the complex will be elevated above flood levels and built of poured concrete, including the roof. The new warehouse that will store the materials and supplies necessary for restoration will also be a much stronger structure than currently exists. The warehouse was also designed to store FKEC's bucket trucks inside during hurricanes to protect them from potential water and wind damage.

In addition, the new facility will contain adequate generation, fuel storage, water storage, food storage and food preparation facilities to allow FKEC to operate in a stand-alone mode for at least 72 hours. A large reinforced cafeteria/multipurpose room with moveable partitions and an attached commercial kitchen will be available to house and feed employees and any outside crews called in to assist.

Once the structure is complete, the co-op will be ready to restore power quickly if a major storm strikes our area.

Operational Efficiency & Safety
An additional benefit of the combined warehouse/office will be greater operational efficiency. FKEC's present administrative offices are on the oceanside in Tavernier and the operations complex is across the street on the Bayside. This means employees and consumers must cross U.S. 1 to access the company's services and departments. The new facility will combine these functions for greater operational efficiency, better member service and increased safety of consumers and employees.

Green Building
In addition to hurricane resistance and improved operations and member service, the facility will also provide the benefits of energy efficient design and environmental conservation features.

FKEC used LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) guidelines to help plan a "greener" building. Some of the green features include the following: high efficiency chillers in lieu of standard central air; a louvered "eyebrow" around the top of the building to direct natural light in while keeping heat out; solar-assist water heating; a cistern to collect rain water from the roof; recycled building materials where possible; and an efficient cross-ventilation system in the new warehouse.