Coops Avoid Public Protest by Picking Hard-Wired Smart Grid Technology
Posted on Nov 8, 2011 in Energy Savings Programs, Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Coops Avoid Public Protest by Picking Hard-Wired Smart Grid Technology
Public protest over the health effects of wireless smart grid technology have largely left two electric coops in Vermont unscathed. Those coops have elected to use hard-wired smart grid technology instead of the wireless systems because the hard-wired systems are less expensive and better suited to their rural territories. Click here for the full story.
Development of Tennessee Solar Farm Delayed
Posted on Nov 7, 2011 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Development of Tennessee Solar Farm Delayed
The West Tennessee Megasite Solar Farm, originally expected to open this month, is now expected to go online early next year. Roughly nine miles of electrical lines must be upgraded before the project is complete. These lines run from the solar farm to the Chickasaw Electric Cooperative substation, where the power will hook into the grid. Click here to read more about the farm and...
Coop Participates in Planning for Expected Increase in Central Oregon’s Power Needs
Posted on Oct 25, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Coop Participates in Planning for Expected Increase in Central Oregon’s Power Needs
The supply of reliable power to growing industrial load was the topic of a recent meeting in Central Oregon among Bonneville Power Administration, Pacific Power and the Central Electric Coop. The Facebook data center that opened earlier this year in Prineville is one example of a facility that requires a reliable source of power, and Central Electric Coop is in talks with at least...
Attorneys Plan to Sue Coop Over Las Conchas Fire Damage
Posted on Oct 10, 2011 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation | Comments Off on Attorneys Plan to Sue Coop Over Las Conchas Fire Damage
Two attorneys are joining together to file a lawsuit against Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, whose power lines sparked a fire after a tree fell on them. The Las Conchas fire was the largest fire in New Mexico’s history, charring more than 156,000 acres of land and damaging dozens of homes. The fire started when high winds caused a tree, which was located on private property...
Obama Administration Announces Plan to Fast Track the CapX2020 Transmission Project
Posted on Oct 7, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Project Development | Comments Off on Obama Administration Announces Plan to Fast Track the CapX2020 Transmission Project
The CapX2020 Project is one of the projects previously identified by the White House as essential to the modernization of the electric grid and the creation of jobs, and on Wednesday, October 6, the Administration announced plans to speed up the federal approval and permitting process. A spokesman for the CapX2020 Project sponsors, including Dairyland Power Cooperative, expressed his...
Texas Coops Facing Steep Fire-Related Repair Costs
Posted on Oct 4, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Texas Coops Facing Steep Fire-Related Repair Costs
Texas-based Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative estimates the infrastructure repairs stemming from the wildfires in Bastrop County amount to $17.5 million. Some of those funds may be reimbursed by a public assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Pedernales Electric Cooperative, which serves a neighboring area in Texas, reported that it has already spent $416,000 on...
Plans for North Dakota High-Voltage Line Move Forward
Posted on Sep 8, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Permitting | Comments Off on Plans for North Dakota High-Voltage Line Move Forward
Minnkota Power Cooperative recently obtained approval from the Sheridan County Zoning Board for a planned 345-kV transmission line that will carry power over much of North Dakota. Zoning approval is still required from three other counties and one township. The North Dakota Public Service Commission also approved a certificate of corridor compatibility for the line, which is expected...
North Dakota Service Territory Divided
Posted on Sep 8, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Rates | Comments Off on North Dakota Service Territory Divided
The North Dakota Public Service Commission has approved an agreement between Montana-Dakota Utilities and Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative to divvy up the Williston customer service area. An influx of new customers, due to the region’s oil boom, prompted the division. Read more.
U.S. Forest Service and Coop Argue Over Responsibility for the Las Conchas Fire
Posted on Sep 2, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use | Comments Off on U.S. Forest Service and Coop Argue Over Responsibility for the Las Conchas Fire
After determining that the Las Conchas fire in New Mexico was caused by a rotten tree falling onto power lines owned by Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, controversy has arisen over who should be held responsible. The coop has been maintaining its 20-foot easement along the path of the power line, but the tree in question fell from private property. The coop argues that it is...
Arizona Coop’s Irrigation Efficiency Study Ramping Up
Posted on Sep 1, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on Arizona Coop’s Irrigation Efficiency Study Ramping Up
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative (SSVEC) plans to send out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a study aimed at improving the efficiency of the local irrigator industry. SSVEC will apply data collected to improve the distribution utility business and wants irrigators to give their input throughout the study process. Read more.
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