FCC to Allow Auction Entry for Coops
Posted on Jun 8, 2016 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on FCC to Allow Auction Entry for Coops
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has ruled that coops can have access to Connect American Funds (CAF), which are meant to promote broadband in rural areas. The FCC agreed, at the NRECA’s suggestion, that coops may satisfy the auction program’s technical qualifications by providing evidence of their capabilities to operate transmission or distribution systems. The FCC...
USDA Invests More Than $200 Million in Electric Infrastructure Improvements in Five States
Posted on May 26, 2016 in Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on USDA Invests More Than $200 Million in Electric Infrastructure Improvements in Five States
The USDA recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Rural Electrification Act and announced funding of more than $200 million to build and upgrade rural electric infrastructure in five states. East Kentucky Power Cooperative, Inc. will receive a $131.8 million loan to acquire the Bluegrass Generating Facility, a natural gas fired power plant.
Virginia Coop’s Permitting Dispute Drags On
Posted on May 19, 2016 in Environmental, Litigation, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Virginia Coop’s Permitting Dispute Drags On
A Pennsylvania environmental appeals board recently denied Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s motion for summary judgment in a permitting dispute related to a proposed gas-fired plant, citing the importance of a factual question—whether water discharged into a river after being used as coolant for the plant might end up in a local water authority’s intakes.
AEPCO CEO Testifies in Support of Great Rate-Setting Transparency
Posted on Apr 22, 2016 in Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on AEPCO CEO Testifies in Support of Great Rate-Setting Transparency
Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) CEO Patrick Ledger testified in support of a bill that would require federal power administrations to detail costs on wholesale electric bills. Ledger said after his testimony that AEPCO is fine with justified cost increases but does not have enough information to see what’s included in the bill and how costs are distributed between...
Minnkota Enters Into 35-Year Wind Power Purchase Agreement
Posted on Apr 22, 2016 in Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Minnkota Enters Into 35-Year Wind Power Purchase Agreement
In an effort toward compliance with anticipated federal regulations, Minnkota Power Cooperative (Minnkota) will purchase wind energy from NextEra Energy Resources 100 megawatt wind farm addition when the project begins operation in early 2017, at which point nearly 35 percent of Minnkota’s electric generation capacity will come from wind.
NRECA Asking Regulators to Exempt Coop Truck Drivers
Posted on Apr 12, 2016 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Asking Regulators to Exempt Coop Truck Drivers
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has asked regulators to exempt drivers of coop utility trucks from new standards that could subject them to the same entry-level training rules as drivers of 18-wheelers and other trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed the new regulations on March 4.
CIPCO Launches State’s Largest Solar Project
Posted on Apr 8, 2016 in Climate Change, Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on CIPCO Launches State’s Largest Solar Project
Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), a G&T based in Des Moines, just launched a new solar project. The first phase of the new utility-scale project will produce up to 5.5 MWs of power by late 2016. CIPCO will be adding to its portfolio of emissions-free sources of energy, which currently make up 54 percent of its energy mix. The decision to build a utility scale solar plant...
Wind Energy Strong in 2015
Posted on Mar 28, 2016 in Financing, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy, Tax | Comments Off on Wind Energy Strong in 2015
Data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that wind energy accounted for over 41 percent of generating capacity additions in 2015. Wind energy’s growth was strongest in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and North Dakota. But resource availability in windy states was not the only driving factor in the growth that 2015 saw, as the federal production tax credit continued to...
New USDA Program Supports Rural Economic Development
Posted on Mar 9, 2016 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on New USDA Program Supports Rural Economic Development
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new program to let electric cooperatives partner with regional organizations to boost rural economic development. The USDA has set aside $500 million for rural projects that support economic and community development plans.
Coop PCB Disposal Approved by EPA
Posted on Mar 9, 2016 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coop PCB Disposal Approved by EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a request to allow electric cooperatives to dispose of low-level PCB wastes in local landfills.
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