Supreme Court Agrees to Review Significant EPA Rule
Posted on Dec 2, 2014 in Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Mergers/Acquisitions, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Supreme Court Agrees to Review Significant EPA Rule
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the new power plant emissions caps of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The suit was brought by industry trade groups and almost two dozen states, who argued that the EPA did not adequately consider the costs associated with complying with this regulation. The immediate effect of any ruling in this case may be limited, as utilities...
WAPA Settles with FERC and NERC over Blackout
Posted on Dec 1, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on WAPA Settles with FERC and NERC over Blackout
The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a regional power marketer, has reached a settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) over a 2011 blackout. FERC alleged that WAPA’s Desert Southwest Region was operating its portion of the transmission system outside of voltage limits when a 500-kilovolt line...
Coops React to Rare Bird’s Status as a Threatened Species
Posted on Nov 21, 2014 in Environmental, Land Use, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops React to Rare Bird’s Status as a Threatened Species
Some electric cooperatives are unhappy about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to list the Gunnison sage-grouse as a threatened species, which entitles the rare bird to protection under the Endangered Species Act. The ground-dwelling bird resides in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah and has a population of less than 5,000. Electric coops in the bird’s territory...
EPA Clean Power Plan Raises Reliability Concerns, Says NERC
Posted on Nov 19, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on EPA Clean Power Plan Raises Reliability Concerns, Says NERC
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has released its first assessment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. In its report NERC identified several reliability challenges posed by the proposed rule, including the need for significant infrastructure requirements and pipeline expansions to maintain reliability. To read more please click...
ERCOT Report Predicts Rise in Prices under EPA Power Plant Rule
Posted on Nov 18, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on ERCOT Report Predicts Rise in Prices under EPA Power Plant Rule
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) published a report analyzing certain potential effects of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan, which limits greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. Among other things, the report provides different estimates of the various increases in locational marginal prices based on different emissions...
Coops Concerned about Coal Transportation
Posted on Nov 13, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Concerned about Coal Transportation
Electric cooperatives are expressing concern that railroads may fail to deliver all the coal necessary to meet winter’s heating demand. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s CEO, joined by other industry leaders, has reached out to the Surface Transportation Board (Board) to express these concerns and to request that the Board require BNSF Railway to provide a coal...
Southwest Power Pool to Integrate Basin Electric
Posted on Nov 12, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Southwest Power Pool to Integrate Basin Electric
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has accepted a proposal from Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to significantly expand its geographic footprint in the Upper Great Plains region of the United States. SPP’s proposal includes the integration of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, a portion of the Western Area Power Administration and Heartland Consumers Power District into SPP. ...
Oklahoma Coop Board Faces Overhaul
Posted on Nov 3, 2014 in Corporate Governance, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Oklahoma Coop Board Faces Overhaul
Shareholders of the Choctaw Electric Coop have signed a petition to remove all nine of the coop’s board members citing, among other things, mismanagement and inconsistent administration of coop policies. Click here to read more.
Maryland Coop Earns Coop of the Year Award
Posted on Nov 3, 2014 in Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Maryland Coop Earns Coop of the Year Award
Southern Maryland Electric Coop was named “Electric Cooperative Utility of the Year” by the Solar Electric Power Association for its efforts to meet Maryland’s renewable energy goals. SMECO chose to build solar within its service area, rather than purchase renewable credits from a resource far away. Click here for more information.
Virginia Coop Successful in Pole Attachment Case
Posted on Oct 29, 2014 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Virginia Coop Successful in Pole Attachment Case
The State Corporation Commission of Virginia (SCC) has sided with Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC) in a dispute regarding the rates Comcast must pay per pole attachment. The SCC said that NOVEC met its burden of proof in demonstrating that its pole attachment rates were just and reasonable. To read more about this story please click here.
Subscribe
