Eversheds Sutherland Coop Law Blog
content top

NRECA Suggests Changes to Clean Power Plan’s “Safety Valve”

The NRECA filed a petition on December 21 requesting that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) include a more robust “safety valve” in its Clean Power Plan to allow power providers relief from emissions standards in the event that those standards will have adverse effects on reliability.  The EPA’s plan does include a “safety valve,” but the current structure may be insufficient...

Sutherland Represents EKPC in Gas Plant Acquisition

Sutherland recently represented East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. (EKPC) in its acquisition of a 594-megawatt natural gas power plant located in Oldham County, Kentucky from Bluegrass Generation Co. LLC.  The transaction, approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission last month, closed on December 29, 2015.

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

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

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.

Regulators Give Kentucky G&T Go-Ahead to Purchase Power Plant

Kentucky regulators have decided that East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. can purchase a gas-fired plant located in La Grange, Kentucky.  The plant includes three natural gas combustion turbines, each with a maximum output of 198 MWs.  The units are simple-cycle, meaning that there is no conversion of waste heat into steam to drive a secondary electric generator.

Coal Generation in the U.S. Down More than Expected

A survey conducted by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, which was recently presented during a Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee hearing, shows that a coal-fired generation for a significant majority of utilities surveyed is below forecasted totals.

U.S. Senate Passes Resolutions to Repeal Clean Power Plan

The United States Senate has approved two resolutions that express formal congressional disapproval of two rules promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency limiting carbon emissions from new and existing power plants, including the controversial Clean Power Plan.  The White House has threatened to veto the resolutions in recent policy statements.

Basin Asks D.C. Circuit to Stay Clean Power Plan

Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin) is among the electric industry participants asking the United States Circuit Court for the District of Columbia (D.C. Circuit) to stay the implementation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), arguing that preparing to comply with the CPP’s requirements while legal challenges are still pending would cause a significant waste of resources in the event...

Coops Protest Hydro-Power Rates

Following concerns raised by Arizona’s rural electric cooperatives, Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Energy questioning higher rates charged by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA).  Arizona’s Generation and Transmission Cooperatives were hit with a $1.5 million increase in WAPA rates between the beginning of 2013 and the end...

« Older Entries Next Entries »