City receives more than $10K from ACE

COOK, Neb. -- Revenue received by the City of McCook from the ACE natural gas selection program spiked to more than $10,000 this year, prompting city leaders to express their gratitude and encourage more residents to participate.

City Council was presented a check for $10,879 Monday evening, representing their annual contribution from the program. The city received just shy of $8,000 from the program last spring.

The Public Alliance for Community Energy, known more commonly as ACE, is a community owned, not-for-profit, natural gas supplier in Nebraska which participates in the Choice Gas program. ACE returns revenue above operational costs to its 72 member communities and since its creation in 1998 touts more than $1.2 million given back to communities.

City Councilman Gene Weedin represents McCook as a board member on the ACE Board of Directors. He presented the ACE revenue check to city staff Monday and said he was also pleased to report Black Hills Energy had committed to continue the Choice Gas program for at least the next three years. Black Hills Energy purchased Source Gas in February.

Councilman Weedin praised the ACE program and said the funds had been put to good use by the community in recent years, including contributions to the Bolles Canyon Skatepark and renovations to the Norris Park Bandshell, among other projects.

He encouraged McCook residents to sign up for the program this year during the Choice Gas Program selection period, running from April 15-28, 2016.

"The more people that sign up, the more the community gets back," he said.