Cooperative Living June 2021 - 7

Riding the Wave
PowerfulCareers | by Jim Robertson, Staff Writer
D
espite the misconception that he needed to be an
engineer, Andrew Cotter pursued his passion for the
power industry and serves as a power portfolio specialist
for Central Virginia Electric Cooperative in Arrington, Va.
When he talks with others outside of the industry who
ask about his job, Cotter replies, " I buy electricity for 38,000
people. " Basically, he uses his analytical skills to gather and
track data to provide critical support for a variety of the co-op's
operations personnel.
For example, these data points prove helpful when members
or others inquire about the duration of power outages during
the day versus night. Cotter's analyses also help determine
tree-trimming cycles throughout the co-op's rights-of-way.
" The primary reason why I'm digging through all this data
and information is to support our power portfolio, " explains
Cotter, " and making sure we are purchasing electricity that
can keep members' rates low, stable and affordable for as long
as possible. "
RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGY
Cotter was introduced to the electric cooperative industry
at the Business & Technologies Strategies group at the National
Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Advancing into a
management role with a renewable research program, Cotter
gained great exposure to the nation's 900-plus electric
cooperatives.
" I got to meet folks from all over the United States, and
even the world, who had the same sort of interest in new
technologies and renewables, " says Cotter, who, 20 years
MailBag
DIVISIVE PUNTOONS
I just received my May issue of
Cooperative Living magazine. I did not
appreciate your Puntoons cartoon in
this issue. It was obvious you were
making digs at Mr. Trump, and that
was uncalled for. I know that since you
are in the Richmond area, your politics
are different from ours in this end of
the state, but this only highlights the
divisions and serves no useful purpose.
- Alvin Clouse, Jonesville, Va.
DOGWOOD OR DOG DON'T?
In your May 2021 issue, Paula Steers
Brown makes a good case for kousa
dogwoods. Yes, they are beautiful, but
their beauty stops with their good looks.
According to an article by Barry Yeoman
in the April-May 2017 edition of
National Wildlife, the kousa dogwood
co-opliving.com
is most likely the source for dogwood
anthracnose that has weakened our native
dogwoods and killed many.
Kousa dogwoods are not a food source
for our songbirds nor our native insects.
In their native Asia, their berries are
considered " monkey food " and nothing
eats them in the U.S. because they are not a
part of the food web, according to Dr. Doug
Tallamy, a professor in the Department of
Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the
University of Delaware. Native dogwoods,
on the other hand, feed dozens of fruitloving
bird species, along with foxes,
skunks, beavers and black bears. Its berries
are high in calcium and the calcium in its
leaves nourishes land snails that songbirds,
such as wood thrush, eat. It is also a host
for the spring azure butterfly.
If you already have kousa dogwoods on
your property, keep them, but help restore
the balance of nature by working for a
70% native vs. 30% introduced plant
species biomass.
If you have questions about this
information, please contact your local
Virginia Agriculture Extension Service
and ask for contact information for your
local volunteer master gardener group.
- Sharon Rodriguez, Mt. Jackson, Va.
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June 2021 | Cooperative Living | 5
Andrew Cotter
Power Portfolio Specialist
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative
into his career, took the next step with his knowledge and
experience to a locally owned electric cooperative.
" That's when I found Central Virginia Electric, " he says.
" I immediately enjoyed and took to the cooperative culture. "
A team, or family, environment with ingenuity, Cotter believes
the co-op business model serves as a solution for many issues.
" You do so much at an electric co-op, because the staff is
small and you have such an influence, " he says. " The career
is dynamic enough where there's all sorts of things that
will change. "
SURF'S UP
Comparing his career to surfing, Cotter says, " You learn
more and you get better, but you're still just sort of riding the
wave. " A co-op career is anything but boring and provides
limitless growth and opportunities for continued learning
and advancing.
Cotter is excited to be part of an innovative solar-plusstorage
project CVEC has launched in Central Virginia. As
project manager, he looks forward to this game-changing tool
for managing the co-op's power portfolio. CVEC must be
nimble and remain current as it purchases power on the market.
Cotter believes a co-op career is perfect for those willing
to serve their community and eager to learn. 
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Cooperative Living June 2021

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