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Alabama Cooperatives Receive USDA Funding to Improve Rural Broadband

Four companies will use $62.3 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand rural broadband infrastructure to parts of Alabama. Specifically, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, Millry Telephone Co., Farmers Telecommunication Cooperative and National Telephone of Alabama are using grants from the USDA to improve e-connectivity. More than 8,000 rural households, 57 farms,...

USDA Invests in Rural Electric Infrastructure Improvements

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $1.4 billion in projects in 21 states to build and improve rural electric infrastructure.

VEC Provides Savings for Members

Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) has saved its members $90,000 in peak capacity market costs since it started operating a utility-scale lithium-ion battery in July. The system allows VEC to discharge 400 MWhs onto the grid when it’s most needed to reduce peak capacity market costs.

Minnesota Coop Receives USDA Funding to Improve Electric Systems

Meeker Cooperative Light and Power Association (Meeker) will use a $7.1 million loan to install a fiber backbone that will enable two-way communications between 14 substations and the coop’s headquarters. The funds are a part of the $22 million Meeker received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Electric Loan Program to improve its distribution system.

USDA Invests in Rural Electric Infrastructure

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it will invest $251 million to upgrade rural electric systems in 13 states. The investment includes funding to finance smart grid technologies that improve system operations and monitor grid security, as well as funding to help build and improve 1,971 miles of line to improve electric reliability in rural areas.

North Carolina Cooperatives Invest $1 Million in Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are investing $1 million to expand electric vehicle charging stations throughout the state. The cooperatives’ investment is being provided through North Carolina Electric Membership Corp., the state’s generation and transmission cooperative. The funding will be used to install 21 charging stations by the end of this year.

Cooperatives Decide to Join Southwest Power Pool Market

Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association announced their decision to join Southwest Power Pool’s (SPP) Western Energy Imbalance Service (WEIS) market. When SPP launches the WEIS in February 2021, it will become the market administrator for these and potentially other electric utilities in the west.

Mississippi Coops Approve Retail Broadband Plans

The boards of four Mississippi coops have approved plans for the coops to enter the retail broadband space following Mississippi’s enactment of the Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act.

Coops Awarded $181 Million for Metering and Line Upgrades

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded loans totaling $181 million to 11 coops and one solar farm that serve a total of 214,000 rural residents and businesses in 10 states.

North Carolina Coop Leader Touts Microgrid Projects at Senate Hearing

Lee Ragsdale, Senior Vice President of Grid Infrastructure and Compliance at North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives, recently spoke at a Senate hearing on energy innovation and economic growth regarding current initiatives to strengthen the energy grid. Specifically, Ragsdale spoke about using solar farms, demand-response programs, energy storage, and microgrids to strengthen the...

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