The Republican Party of Benton County held its monthly meeting in Siloam Springs on Thursday at Compass Church.
Every year, the Republican Party of Benton County hosts its August meeting in Siloam Springs. This year's meeting featured Rob Boaz the president and CEO of Carroll Electric Cooperative as the speaker for the meeting.
The meeting began with a prayer by Caroline Geer, the chairperson of the Siloam Springs Republican Women, followed with opening remarks by Barbara Tillman, the chairperson of the Republican Party of Benton County.
After the pledge of allegiance and reports from second vice chair Scott Richardson and treasurer Jim Kippen, Greg Day gave a civics lesson on the three branches of the Arkansas state government.
Boaz was then introduced by Mindy McAlindon the first vice chair of the Republican Party of Benton County.
Boaz spoke about the origins of the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and the Midcontinent Independent Service Operator (MISO) organizations that regulate power for multiple states, as well as gave a history of energy in the United States.
Boaz also spoke about how energy prices may rise soon and the impact that alternative energy has had on traditional energy resources like coal.
In his presentation, Boaz detailed how since 2005 intermittent wind and solar entered Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) markets and became "must take" resources by organizations like MISO and SPP because they cannot be increased or decreased on demand and they have a distinct advantage for tax subsidies.
The presentation also stated that natural gas plants could better adjust to the volatility of intermittent generation but, by doing so, adds to the plant maintenance.
In 2005, legislative, regulatory and judicial uncertainty are taking the future of coal and nuclear energy off the table, and a shortage of capacity is emerging, and natural gas is setting RTO market prices and will for the foreseeable future.
"Our industry is becoming captive to the natural gas industry," Boaz said.
Boaz also spoke about last year's winter storm and how he was relieved that he did not have to engage in mandatory blackouts to alleviate the power grid.
After his speech, Boaz took a few questions from members of the audience before the meeting adjourned.
Marc Hayot/Siloam Sunday Barbara Tillman made the opening remarks at the meeting of the Republican Party of Benton County on Thursday at Compass Church in Siloam Springs.