Dairyland Power Cooperative Acquires Natural Gas Facilities in Illinois
Posted on Nov 11, 2025
Dairyland Power Cooperative has acquired two natural gas-fired power plants in Illinois—Elgin Energy Center and Rocky Road facility— to enhance energy reliability and sustainability and support its transition to a lower-carbon future. These investments align with Dairyland’s broader efforts, including retiring nearly 600 MW of coal generation, expanding renewable energy projects, and investing in critical transmission upgrades to improve grid resiliency.
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Kentucky Regulators Approve Co-Op Rates for Data Centers
Posted on Nov 5, 2025
The Kentucky Public Service Commission approved East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s request for a special tariff that sets rates and service terms for future data center customers across its 89-county service area. The decision includes new requirements for transparency and community engagement, aiming to support data center development while protecting other ratepayers from potential financial impacts.
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Google and NextEra Energy Partner to Speed Up U.S. Nuclear Energy Deployment
Posted on Oct 29, 2025
NextEra Energy and Google have announced a new collaboration to restart Iowa’s Duane Arnold Energy Center, with Google committing to a 25-year purchase of carbon-free nuclear energy from the facility to power its AI infrastructure in the state, and Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) purchasing the remaining output under the same terms. The collaboration is expected to strengthen local grid reliability, create hundreds of direct jobs and over a thousand indirect jobs, and deliver significant economic benefits across Iowa.
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Tombigbee Electric Celebrates Completion of $145 Million Rural Fiber Project in Alabama
Posted on Oct 16, 2025
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative has completed $145 million fiber infrastructure project, bringing high-speed internet across eight rural counties in Northwest Alabama. The 4,200-mile network extends connectivity to homes and businesses in underserved areas that previously lacked access to modern broadband services.
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DOE Cuts Threaten Co-Op Energy Projects Nationwide
Posted on Oct 10, 2025
The US Department of Energy announced its intention to terminate 321 funding awards across 223 projects. Among the affected clean energy initiatives, several cooperatives—including Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, United Power, and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association—face abrupt loss of federal support, leaving them in a state of uncertainty as they seek clarification or alternative funding.
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Meta’s South Carolina Data Center to Be Powered by Solar Through Partnership with Central Electric and Silicon Ranch
Posted on Aug 22, 2025
Meta is partnering with Central Electric Power Cooperative (“Central Electric”) and Silicon Ranch to build a 100-MW solar farm in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, to power its first data center in the state, aligning with its goal of 100% sustainability. The project, expected to be operational by 2027, represents over $100 million in investment and will generate more than $8 million in local tax revenue, while also contributing to Meta’s renewable energy portfolio of over 1,500 MW. Central Electric will purchase the energy and play a key role in delivering reliable, competitively priced...
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Kit Carson Electric Cooperative’s Green Hydrogen Project
Posted on Jul 3, 2025
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative (KCEC) is accelerating its timeline for the groundbreaking of the Questa Green Hydrogen Project, aiming to begin construction by December 2025 for eligibility for $150 million in hydrogen and solar credits. The project, which received a $231 million federal grant, will repurpose a federal Superfund site near a closed molybdenum mine in Questa, using treated wastewater and 100% renewable energy to produce green hydrogen. If KCEC is unable to secure the additional $50 million in funding needed to build a new solar array adjacent to the proposed site, KCEC will...
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Electric Cooperatives Connect Rural America to Broadband
Posted on Jun 3, 2025
More than 150 cooperative leaders are in Washington DC this week to discuss efforts to improve rural broadband internet at the NRECA Broadband Leadership Summit. Those conversations have highlighted the need for continued public investment to future-proof networks.
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Dairyland and GridLiance to Develop MariBell Transmission Project
Posted on May 14, 2025
Dairyland Power Cooperative and GridLiance Heartland have partnered to co-develop the MariBell Transmission Project, a 139-mile, 765/161 kV transmission line connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin, as part of MISO’s Long Range Transmission Planning initiative. Scheduled for completion in 2034, the project aims to enhance grid reliability, flexibility, and economic growth across the Upper Midwest.
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Minnkota Power Cooperative’s $60 Million Infrastructure Upgrade
Posted on Apr 18, 2025
Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc. (“Minnkota”) is strengthening its grid with the help of a $60 million federal loan, aligning with national efforts to enhance energy resilience and infrastructure reliability. The funding will support Minnkota’s strategic investment in modern technology for real-time monitoring and faster responses during outages. These improvements will ensure dependable service for over 153,000 member-consumers, position Minnkota to meet rising energy demands, and support rural economic growth well into the future.
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Co-Op Leaders Tout that New Executive Orders Enhance Electric Grid Reliability
Posted on Apr 10, 2025
President Trump signed new executive orders aimed at boosting the reliability of the electric grid by supporting coal-fired power plants and removing regulatory barriers. Electric cooperative leaders praised these actions, emphasizing the importance of always-available energy sources like coal to meet rising electricity demand. The orders are seen as part of a broader strategy to ensure affordable and reliable power for American families and businesses.
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Vermont Electric Cooperative Leverages AI to Strengthen Grid Resilience Against Severe Weather
Posted on Mar 28, 2025
Vermont Electric Cooperative is partnering with Rhizome, a software that uses AI and machine learning to identify vulnerable points in their power grid, to better prepare for severe weather events. This software will help the utility prioritize investments and mitigate damage from increasingly severe storms without significantly impacting rates for their low-income customers. Additionally, the co-op is using drones for post-weather event repairs and maintenance to enhance their response efficiency.
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Bandera Electric Cooperative Pilots Virtual Power Plants in Texas
Posted on Feb 18, 2025
Bandera Electric Cooperative qualified for a Texas pilot program allowing distribution members to contribute power from community energy resources such as solar panels, home device batteries and electric cars back to the grid.
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AEPCO Awarded $485 Million Under New ERA
Posted on Feb 7, 2025
The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $485 million to Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) through its New Empowering Rural America (New ERA) Program to invest in AEPCO’s large-scale solar and battery energy storage system projects. The funding will also support the retirement of AEPCO’s remaining coal assets by 2028, modernizing its energy infrastructure and reducing emissions by approximately 70%. The solar projects will generate 730 megawatts of power, and the battery storage will provide 2,910 megawatt hours of capacity to help cover peaks in demand.
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