Three Iowa Coops May Be Able to Recover Their Costs After All
Posted on Mar 23, 2016 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Three Iowa Coops May Be Able to Recover Their Costs After All
An ice storm in April 2013 required three Iowa coops and a municipal utility to spend $19 million for repair and recovery work. The coops requested reimbursement for those expenses from the Federal Emergency Management Agent (FEMA), but their initial request was denied in the Fall of 2013. However, the initial regional FEMA ruling denying recovery was recently overturned, paving the...
Sixth Circuit Agrees to Review EPA’s Waters of the United States Rule
Posted on Mar 4, 2016 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Sixth Circuit Agrees to Review EPA’s Waters of the United States Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit has agreed to review EPA’s Waters of the U.S. rule. The controversial rule has been criticized on the grounds that it would extend EPA’s regulatory authority to small streams and dry creek beds. According to Dorothy Kellogg, NRECA senior principal, the rule will result in more expensive permits for coops attempting to maintain or construct...
High Court Rejects Bid to Stay Mercury Air Toxics Rule
Posted on Mar 4, 2016 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on High Court Rejects Bid to Stay Mercury Air Toxics Rule
On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request to stay the EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule. The rule, which requires coal-fired power plants to greatly reduce mercury and other toxic emissions, was struck down in June because the EPA had not considered the $1 billion cost of imposing the rule. The D.C. Circuit left the original rule in place, however, while the EPA...
Supreme Court Grants Stay of Obama Clean Power Plan
Posted on Feb 10, 2016 in Climate Change, Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Supreme Court Grants Stay of Obama Clean Power Plan
The Supreme Court has granted a stay request from more than two dozen states, plus utilities and coal companies, to put on hold the implementation of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. The Court’s decision halts implementation but does not address the merits of the pending legal challenge to the plan, which asserts the Environmental Protection Agency has overstepped its powers. An...
SCOTUS Gives FERC Approval to Reshape Power Markets
Posted on Jan 26, 2016 in Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on SCOTUS Gives FERC Approval to Reshape Power Markets
In a 6-2 vote, the justices held that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had authority under the Federal Power Act to issue the so-called demand-response rule, reversing the D.C. Circuit’s decision that the rule usurped state authority over retail electricity markets. Writing for the majority, Justice Elena Kagan said that demand response directly affects wholesale...
House Resolves to Overturn EPA’s “Waters of the U.S.” Rule
Posted on Jan 14, 2016 in Environmental, Land Use, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on House Resolves to Overturn EPA’s “Waters of the U.S.” Rule
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a resolution to overturn the “Waters of the U.S.” rule issued last year by the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association praised the resolution, as coops nationwide have expressed concern over the rule’s dramatic expansion of federal regulation of waterways.
Illinois Coops Join Metal Theft Task Force
Posted on Jan 12, 2016 in Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on Illinois Coops Join Metal Theft Task Force
A new state law will give Illinois electric cooperatives a role in fighting metal theft through the creation of the Recyclable Metal Theft Task Force. Seats on the task force include representatives of Illinois’ electric coops, public utilities, scrap metal dealers, insurance companies, members of the state Senate and House and state law enforcement.
Power Generators Challenge Clean Power Plan
Posted on Dec 29, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Power Generators Challenge Clean Power Plan
A federal appeals court is considering whether to add six separate lawsuits to a claim filed by 26 states against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its proposed Clean Power Plan.
New Law Helps Coops Respond to Emergencies
Posted on Dec 15, 2015 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on New Law Helps Coops Respond to Emergencies
President Obama has signed into law bipartisan transportation legislation that helps electric cooperatives respond during emergencies. The law provides liability protection to electric utility operators from violations of federal, state or local environmental laws for a specified period while complying with a Department of Energy emergency order.
Congress Votes against EPA Clean Power Plan
Posted on Dec 9, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Congress Votes against EPA Clean Power Plan
The House and Senate each approved resolutions of disapproval regarding the EPA Clean Power Plan. The President is expected to veto the resolutions. The Clean Power Plan becomes law December 22, 2015.
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