Coop Leaders Join President Obama for Solar Event
Posted on May 12, 2014 in Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coop Leaders Join President Obama for Solar Event
Bob Marshall, general manager of Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative (Plumas-Sierra), and David Gottula, general manager of Okanogan County Electric Cooperative (Okanogan), joined President Obama at a May 9 event in Mountain View, California, at which the president highlighted electric cooperatives’ efforts to develop solar projects. Plumas-Sierra has plans for a community and...
Colorado Law Would Make Metal Theft from Coops a Felony
Posted on May 9, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on Colorado Law Would Make Metal Theft from Coops a Felony
A bill that would make theft of commodity metals, such as copper and aluminum, from electric cooperatives and other utilities a felony awaits the signature of Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. Commodity metal theft is punishable by up to eight years in prison under the bill. Click here for more.
New Mexico City Plans to Acquire Coop
Posted on May 9, 2014 in Legislative & Politics, Mergers/Acquisitions, Rates | Comments Off on New Mexico City Plans to Acquire Coop
The City of Socorro, New Mexico, has plans to acquire Socorro Electric Cooperative (SEC), said the city’s mayor, Ravi Bhasker. Recently energy costs have been significantly higher in Socorro than in other New Mexico cities. Click here for more.
Oregon Coop Faces Maintenance Permitting Delays
Posted on May 9, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Permitting | Comments Off on Oregon Coop Faces Maintenance Permitting Delays
Under federal law, Redmond, Oregon-based Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) must obtain permits to perform maintenance on its transmission lines located on public land. CEC has argued that the permits can make providing safe and reliable electricity more difficult. Click here for more.
TVA Rates for Coops 13 Percent Above Average
Posted on May 9, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Rates | Comments Off on TVA Rates for Coops 13 Percent Above Average
Michael Watson, president of Shelbyville, Tennessee-based Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC), told the board of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) that the rates DREMC pays TVA for the power it distributes are 13 percent higher than the average wholesale rate that distribution coops pay. Click here for more.
Federal Judge Strikes Down Minnesota Coal Law
Posted on Apr 21, 2014 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation | Comments Off on Federal Judge Strikes Down Minnesota Coal Law
A federal district court judge has struck down a 2007 Minnesota law that restricted the ability of Minnesota utilities to build new coal plants or import energy generated from coal. The court found that the Minnesota law effectively regulated out-of-state utilities that might wish to sell power in Minnesota and therefore “overreache[d]” by encroaching on the exclusive power of the...
Dairyland Receives White House Invitation
Posted on Apr 17, 2014 in Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Dairyland Receives White House Invitation
Nominated by the Rural Utilities Service, officials of Dairyland Power Cooperative will head to the White House for recognition of the coop’s ongoing efforts to promote and develop renewable energy projects. Approximately 13 percent of Dairyland’s energy resources are comprised of renewable sources, which exceeds state renewable energy requirements. Read more here.
Coop Pension Bill Now Law
Posted on Apr 10, 2014 in Corporate Governance, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on Coop Pension Bill Now Law
President Obama recently signed into law the Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act, which provides coops in the Retirement Security Plan greater stability and lower cost pressures related to the Pension Protection Act of 2006. To learn more about this development, click here.
Bipartisan Support Builds for Size and Flexibility of RUS Lending Program
Posted on Apr 7, 2014 in Financing, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Bipartisan Support Builds for Size and Flexibility of RUS Lending Program
One hundred sixty-nine House members—89 Republicans and 80 Democrats—have voiced their support for the Obama Administration’s proposal to set funding of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Loan Program at $5 billion for fiscal year 2015. However, they have also asked that the House agriculture appropriations subcommittee reject the Administration’s proposal to earmark as much...
Vermont Net Metering Frees Customers to Install Solar Panels
Posted on Apr 2, 2014 in Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Net Metering Frees Customers to Install Solar Panels
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin recently signed a new law that should help free customers of the state’s electric utilities and allow them to install solar panels on their homes. Previous legislation mandated a cap on the state’s net metering program of 4% of a utility’s peak demand. The new legislation increases this cap to 15%, allowing a greater number of Vermont customers access...
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