Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Says Texas Coop Must Pay Taxes on Steam Generator Equipment
Posted on Sep 26, 2014 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Tax | Comments Off on Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Says Texas Coop Must Pay Taxes on Steam Generator Equipment
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has ruled that South Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. and several other power providers must pay property taxes on their steam generator equipment. The power providers argued that they were entitled to a state law exemption from ad valorem taxes which applies if the property is used to control pollution in compliance with state...
Coops among Recipients of USDA Rural Development Loans and Grants
Posted on Sep 25, 2014 in Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops among Recipients of USDA Rural Development Loans and Grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $59 million in funding to support businesses and promote economic growth in rural communities. Coops are among the recipients through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, which provides zero-interest loans to rural utilities that in turn lend to local businesses. Click here for more information.
Department of Energy Seeking Public Comment
Posted on Sep 23, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Department of Energy Seeking Public Comment
The Department of Energy has requested public comment on their newly released draft Energy Sector Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guidance and their draft Voluntary Code of Conduct for smart grid data privacy. Federal Register requests for comment are here: Framework Guidance here: Code of Conduct here:
CFTC Approves Exclusion for Utility Special Entities
Posted on Sep 19, 2014 in Financing, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on CFTC Approves Exclusion for Utility Special Entities
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) approved a final rule this week to exclude certain swaps used in utility operations from one threshold used to identify swap dealers. The rule change will give counterparties additional flexibility to transact with utility special entities while avoiding the regulatory burdens associated with the “swap dealer” designation. Power and gas...
Court Denies Review of FERC Demand Response Rule
Posted on Sep 19, 2014 in Energy Savings Programs, Litigation, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Court Denies Review of FERC Demand Response Rule
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will not review en banc a three-judge panel ruling that rejected the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s rulemaking on demand response compensation. The panel had found that Order No. 745 violates the Federal Power Act by impinging upon state jurisdiction over retail rates. Please click here for more...
Basin Electric Receives Federal Approval for Major Transmission Line
Posted on Sep 16, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Permitting, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Basin Electric Receives Federal Approval for Major Transmission Line
Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) recently received federal approval for construction of a 200-mile transmission line in western North Dakota. The project, which will include 345 kV transmission lines, two new substations and modifications to three existing substations, will start at Basin Electric’s Antelope Valley Station and end in Tioga, North Dakota. Basin...
Endangered Species Listing May Risk Reliability
Posted on Sep 15, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Endangered Species Listing May Risk Reliability
Several hundred distribution and generation and transmission coops may be affected if the northern long-eared bat is added to the endangered species list. The House Natural Resources Committee is considering this designation as the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and others argue that listing the bat will pose a risk to reliability because coops remove bat roosting...
Court Strikes Down New Jersey Power Plant Subsidy Program
Posted on Sep 15, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Court Strikes Down New Jersey Power Plant Subsidy Program
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has determined that New Jersey’s Long-Term Capacity Agreement Pilot Program impinges on the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission over wholesale sales of capacity in interstate commerce. The ruling is the latest in a string of similar cases in which state subsidy programs have been struck down on jurisdictional...
EIA Report: No Coal-Fired Sources Added in First Half of 2014
Posted on Sep 15, 2014 in Environmental, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on EIA Report: No Coal-Fired Sources Added in First Half of 2014
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that new generation capacity added during the first half of 2014 came only from natural gas and renewable sources, such as wind and solar facilities. No coal-fired sources were added during this time frame. Coops can expect more natural gas capacity and a risk of increased price volatility. Click here to read more.
EPA Preliminarily Approves Plan to Keep Arizona Coop Plant Open
Posted on Sep 11, 2014 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA Preliminarily Approves Plan to Keep Arizona Coop Plant Open
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has preliminarily approved a plan proposed by Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) to upgrade a power plant to lower emissions, keep the plant operating, and save hundreds of jobs. Congressman Ron Barber is recognized as leading negotiations between AEPCO and the EPA. Click here for the details.
Subscribe
