Final EPA Carbon Rule Released; NRECA Weighs In
Posted on Aug 3, 2015 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Final EPA Carbon Rule Released; NRECA Weighs In
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially released its final version of the Clean Power Plan rules on Monday. The rules represent the first federal limits on power plant carbon dioxide emissions and require a 32 percent reduction (from 2005 levels) in carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 2030. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has voiced...
Obama Administration Considers Pushing Back Clean Power Plan Deadlines
Posted on Jul 30, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Obama Administration Considers Pushing Back Clean Power Plan Deadlines
On Tuesday the New York Times reported that the Obama administration plans to push back Clean Power Plan deadlines. Originally the Clean Power Plan required existing plants to develop a plan to cut emissions 30 percent from 2005 levels by the year 2030. The Plan further required states to present a plan for implementing Plan rules by 2016 and begin compliance by 2020. The Obama...
NRECA Study Links Higher Electricity Prices to Job Losses
Posted on Jul 29, 2015 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Study Links Higher Electricity Prices to Job Losses
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) recently released a study highlighting the relationship between higher electricity prices and job losses. The study shows the impact of a 10 and 25 percent price increase on the gross domestic product and jobs from 2020 to 2040. Please click here for additional information.
Arizona Appeals Court Allows Utility to Burn Trash for Renewable Energy
Posted on Jul 24, 2015 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Arizona Appeals Court Allows Utility to Burn Trash for Renewable Energy
Despite resistance from the Sierra Club, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled to allow the Mohave Electric Cooperative (“Mohave”) to burn trash for renewable energy, acknowledging the Arizona Corporation Commission’s (the “Commission”) constitutional authority to regulate such issues. Before the project was stopped by the Sierra Club, the Commission previously allowed Mohave to count 90...
Kentucky PSC Approves Big Rivers Sales into Nebraska
Posted on Jul 22, 2015 in Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Kentucky PSC Approves Big Rivers Sales into Nebraska
The Kentucky Public Service Commission (KPSC) has approved a plan allowing Big Rivers Electric Corp. (Big Rivers) to sell wholesale power to customers in the State of Nebraska. The settlement provides that, under certain conditions, the profits from these sales would be contributed to funds being used to ease the impact of recent rate increases. Big Rivers will begin sales in January...
CFC Requests Waiver Under FCC’s Financing Rules
Posted on Jul 17, 2015 in Financing, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on CFC Requests Waiver Under FCC’s Financing Rules
The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant it an exception to allow the CFC to issue letters of credit to its members that are selected for projects under the FCC Rural Broadband Experiment program. The letters of credit would allow CFC members to access loans at lower rates than they could get from...
Texas Requests Fifth Circuit Review of US EPA Action
Posted on Jul 10, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Texas Requests Fifth Circuit Review of US EPA Action
On Wednesday, Texas asked the Fifth Circuit to review an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision requiring it to tighten air pollution regulations governing large industrial pollution sources, including power plants. The EPA’s decision was based on the finding that portions of Texas’s previously approved state implementation plan do not meet the requirements of the Clean Air...
TCPA Litigation and Electric Utilities
Posted on Jul 8, 2015 in Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on TCPA Litigation and Electric Utilities
Like many businesses, electric cooperatives view automated telephone calls and text messages as an effective means of communicating with members. Cooperatives may consider using automated calls and text messages for any number of reasons, such as notifying members of low balances on prepaid accounts, annual meeting reminders or unplanned service outages. So, it is not surprising to...
House Passes Bill to Delay EPA Greenhouse Gas Rule
Posted on Jul 8, 2015 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on House Passes Bill to Delay EPA Greenhouse Gas Rule
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on June 24, for which the NRECA has voiced support, that would delay implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan until after courts have determined its legality. To read more about the bill click here.
EPA Mercury Emissions Rule Blocked
Posted on Jun 30, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA Mercury Emissions Rule Blocked
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the EPA’s mercury and air toxins emissions rules which have been in effect since 2011. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that the EPA acted “unreasonably” by foregoing a cost analysis when regulating emissions under the Clean Air Act. Please click here for more information.
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