Shots Fired at Pennsylvania Coop’s Substation
Posted on Nov 17, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Shots Fired at Pennsylvania Coop’s Substation
On November 5 gunfire struck a substation of Pennsylvania’s Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, causing a mineral oil leak and other damage that will require around $250,000 to repair and remediate. Police are investigating the incident. Click here for more.
Great River Energy Burns Lignite More Efficiently
Posted on Nov 13, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency | Comments Off on Great River Energy Burns Lignite More Efficiently
Minnesota-based Great River Energy (GRE) can now burn lignite coal more efficiently, thanks to a moisture-reduction process. Because of its high moisture content, lignite has traditionally been used only at “mine-mouth” plants located close to a production source, but a newly-patented refining process allows lignite to produce more energy and to be transported before use. Click here...
SMECO Completes Reliability Upgrades
Posted on Nov 13, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on SMECO Completes Reliability Upgrades
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently completed a line upgrade project to boost reliability, which included running a line under the Patuxent River. Click here for a Nov. 25, 2013 Sutherland posting concerning this subject. Click here for a recent story.
Coops Concerned about Coal Transportation
Posted on Nov 13, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Concerned about Coal Transportation
Electric cooperatives are expressing concern that railroads may fail to deliver all the coal necessary to meet winter’s heating demand. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s CEO, joined by other industry leaders, has reached out to the Surface Transportation Board (Board) to express these concerns and to request that the Board require BNSF Railway to provide a coal...
Southwest Power Pool to Integrate Basin Electric
Posted on Nov 12, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Southwest Power Pool to Integrate Basin Electric
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has accepted a proposal from Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to significantly expand its geographic footprint in the Upper Great Plains region of the United States. SPP’s proposal includes the integration of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, a portion of the Western Area Power Administration and Heartland Consumers Power District into SPP. ...
New Copper Theft Law Passes in in Pennsylvania
Posted on Nov 11, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Reliability | Comments Off on New Copper Theft Law Passes in in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania recently passed a law imposing increased penalties for metal theft, including stronger penalties for repeat offenders. The new law establishes three types of misdemeanors for metal theft under $1000, based on the value of items stolen. If the value of the metal stolen exceeds $1000, the metal theft will constitute a third-degree felony. If an individual is convicted of...
Tri-State Predicts Increased Load Growth
Posted on Nov 4, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Tri-State Predicts Increased Load Growth
On Friday Tri-State Generation and Transmission (Tri-State) filed a resource plan update with state regulators, forecasting load growth at a rate that is faster than previously expected. If growth occurs at such rates, Tri-State indicated that it would utilize several options to secure increased capacity and stated that it has made no firm commitments on timing, size or location of...
Biomass Plant Completed for Texas Coop
Posted on Oct 24, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Technology | Comments Off on Biomass Plant Completed for Texas Coop
Gemma Power Systems, LLC has completed construction of a 49.9 MW biomass plant in Woodville, TX for East Texas Electric Cooperative (ETEC) Woodville Renewable Power Project. The biomass plant, which features a Shin Nippon steam turbine generator and a Riley Power advanced stoker boiler with integrated air quality control system, has completed testing and been turned over to ETEC for...
Nevada Coop Launches Utility-Scale Solar Project
Posted on Oct 23, 2014 in Energy Savings Programs, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Nevada Coop Launches Utility-Scale Solar Project
Nevada’s Valley Electric Association, which has over the past few years implemented an award-winning solar water heating program, is planning a 15-MW solar generation project, which will include a community solar component. Click here for more information.
Midwest Coops Support Increased Regional Planning
Posted on Oct 20, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Midwest Coops Support Increased Regional Planning
Representatives from two large generation and transmission cooperatives, Minnesota’s Great River Energy and Indiana’s Hoosier Energy, urged state and federal leaders to engage in more coordination at the regional level at a recent conference sponsored by the Midwestern Governors Association. Coops suggested, among other things, that plans to comply with new Clean Air Act regulations...
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