USDA Announces $3.6 Billion in Funding for 82 Electric Projects
Posted on Oct 27, 2016 in Climate Change, Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on USDA Announces $3.6 Billion in Funding for 82 Electric Projects
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that the USDA will provide $3.6 billion in loans to electric utilities in 31 states to fund 82 projects. The loans, which will be provided through the Electric Program and the Rural Utilities Service, include $216 million for smart grid technologies, $35 million for renewable energy, $26 million for environmental...
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative Wins $360 Million Air Force Base Contract
Posted on Sep 29, 2016 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative Wins $360 Million Air Force Base Contract
The Defense Logistics Agency recently announced that Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO) will be responsible for owning, operating and maintaining the electrical grid at Eglin Air Force Base, which is located on the Choctawhatchee Bay near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The contract, which will increase the amount of infrastructure CHELCO maintains by approximately 10 percent,...
Wolverine Begins Construction of One of Michigan’s Largest Solar Arrays
Posted on Sep 29, 2016 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Wolverine Begins Construction of One of Michigan’s Largest Solar Arrays
Spartan Renewable Energy, a member-owner of Wolverine Power Cooperative (Wolverine), today announced that it will soon begin construction of a 1.2 megawatt solar array in Cadillac, Michigan. Wolverine will purchase 100 percent of the power output from the project. While this is Wolverine’s first foray into solar generation, Wolverine already has a substantial renewable portfolio...
D.C. Circuit Hears Challenge to Clean Power Plan
Posted on Sep 28, 2016 in Climate Change, Corporate Governance, Derivative Suits, Economic Downturn, Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Land Use, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Mergers/Acquisitions, Patronage Capital, Permitting, Project Development, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy, Tax, Technology | Comments Off on D.C. Circuit Hears Challenge to Clean Power Plan
Ten D.C. Circuit judges heard argument regarding the EPA’s authority to enact the Clean Power Plan and the rule’s constitutionality. All active judges on the D.C. Circuit, with the exception of Merrick Garland, heard arguments from state government, power industry groups, the federal government and environmental groups.
GridLiance to Purchase Transmission System from Valley Electric Association
Posted on Sep 27, 2016 in Grid & Infrastructure, Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on GridLiance to Purchase Transmission System from Valley Electric Association
The Board of Directors of Valley Electric Association has approved the sale of its 230 kV High Voltage Transmission System to GridLiance Holdco, L.P. (GridLiance). The acquisition consists of approximately 160 miles of transmission lines and related substation equipment.
Great River Energy and WH Launch Dickinson Solar Project
Posted on Sep 26, 2016 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Great River Energy and WH Launch Dickinson Solar Project
The Dickinson Solar Project constructed by Great River Energy and Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association (WH) is now operational and will generate 2.25 MW of solar energy for the members of WH. The project is the second largest solar installation in Minnesota and the largest solar array owned by Minnesota cooperatives. The Project was constructed on a 13-acre site owned by...
Coop-Friendly Railroad Reform Law Reportedly on Track
Posted on Aug 26, 2016 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Reliability | Comments Off on Coop-Friendly Railroad Reform Law Reportedly on Track
Federal regulators have reported that they are on track in implementing a railroad reform law intended to promote shipping efficiency and potentially competition among railroads. The NRECA and electric cooperatives generally have pushed for reforms, recognizing the impact that costs of hauling coal can have on electric rates.
Coops Offer Net Metering Alternatives
Posted on Aug 26, 2016 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coops Offer Net Metering Alternatives
Michigan’s Cherryland Electric Cooperative and its supplier, Wolverine Power Cooperative, have developed a plan that would allow customers to choose between three options for participating in solar generation—a community solar subscription, a “buy all, sell all” option, which would allow solar owners to sell all power they generate back to their provider and then buy all their...
Cooperatives Financing Efficiency Upgrades through Opt-in Tariffs
Posted on Aug 19, 2016 in Energy Savings Programs, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Rates | Comments Off on Cooperatives Financing Efficiency Upgrades through Opt-in Tariffs
Smaller, rural cooperatives have been experimenting with a model that gets around a customer’s inability or unwillingness to take on debt or invest in energy efficiency upgrades through offering a voluntary on-bill tariff. Cooperatives have been able to lead this innovation because shareholder interests and customer interests are aligned. Put simply, the customer chooses the upgrades...
Electric Coops Fuel Rural Broadband Growth
Posted on Aug 9, 2016 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Electric Coops Fuel Rural Broadband Growth
Electric cooperatives are helping to bring high-speed internet access to rural areas. Today, about 40 electric coops offer or are in the process of building networks to provide high-speed internet service, compared with just one in 2010.
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