Montana Coops Discuss Sage Grouse and Renewable Portfolio Standard
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Montana Coops Discuss Sage Grouse and Renewable Portfolio Standard
Efforts to avoid listing the sage grouse as an endangered species and changes to the Montana Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) were among the issues discussed at the annual Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association meeting. Efforts to save the sage grouse may require coops to reroute existing lines or plan new lines to avoid breeding locations, which may increase member rates. The...
Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Net Metering Dispute Heats Up
Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) seeks to resume its net metering program after reaching the state’s 4% cap on mandatory net metering. VEC’s tariff proposal would adjust credits downward for new participants due to the rapid increase in demand and the decrease in prices associated with net metered solar energy systems. However, Renewable Energy Vermont opposes VEC’s proposal,...
Colorado Wind Farm Expanded
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Colorado Wind Farm Expanded
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State) recently completed a 24-MW expansion to the Colorado Highlands Wind Farm. The expanded facility saw a 36% increase in generation,which, when combined with Tri-State’s other renewable resources, amounts to an estimated 18% of the energy produced by Tri-State for its member coops. The Denver Business Journal has...
Hawaiian Coop Explores Fuel Options
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 in Financing, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Hawaiian Coop Explores Fuel Options
With its fuel supply contract set to expire in April 2015, Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative has requested information from prospective fuel suppliers to determine whether alternatives to oil are feasible. State officials would like to see the coop turn to liquefied natural gas. The coop must also consider its goal of 50% or more renewable sources by 2023. Click here for the full...
Coop Uses Crowdfunding to Create Additional Wind Power
Posted on Sep 30, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coop Uses Crowdfunding to Create Additional Wind Power
East River Electric Cooperative (EREC), a supplier of electric power for rural areas of South Dakota and Minnesota, is using crowdfunding to add more wind power to its portfolio. Crowdfunding is a new method through which many writers, artists, designers, and entrepreneurs get their projects funded by strangers. EREC crowdfunded from the communities it serves to finance a portion of...
Distribution Coop Approves Community Solar Initiative
Posted on Sep 21, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Project Development, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Distribution Coop Approves Community Solar Initiative
The board of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), based in Colorado, recently approved a program where 10 or more members can apply to develop a community solar garden and sell the power back to the coop. LPEA is accepting proposals through year’s end. The Durango Herald has the full story.
Montana Coop to Purchase Energy from Biomass Facility
Posted on Sep 21, 2013 in Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Montana Coop to Purchase Energy from Biomass Facility
Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc. recently entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Stoltze Lumber. Sized at approximately 2.5 MW, the biomass facility will use woodchips, sawdust, and bark to create steam which is used in the process of drying lumber and also to generate electricity. KAJ News has the full story.
Louisiana Coops Hit Net Metering Cap
Posted on Sep 19, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Louisiana Coops Hit Net Metering Cap
The Louisiana Public Service Commission (PSC) set a September 30 deadline for retail customers to install generating devices (e.g., solar panels) in order to participate in net metering. The deadline applies only to customers of certain coops who have reached the 0.5% cap set by the Louisiana PSC at which the coops are no longer required to offer net metering. Instead, the coops may...
Virginia Has a New Biomass Plant
Posted on Sep 12, 2013 in Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Virginia Has a New Biomass Plant
Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative and NOVI Energy’s 49.9-MW biomass plant was recently connected to the PJM regional electric transmission grid and will continue pre-commercial operational testing for several more weeks. The $170 million plant uses waste wood from Southside Virginia’s logging industry to fuel the facility and will recycle wood ash. Read more here.
More Solar to be Built in South Carolina
Posted on Sep 12, 2013 in Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on More Solar to be Built in South Carolina
Santee Cooper is partnering with Central Electric Power Cooperative and other South Carolina coops to build a 3-MW solar farm scheduled to begin construction by the end of 2013. Renewable energy makes up roughly 1 percent of the state’s generation portfolio, and the new solar project would be the largest in the state. Click here for more information.
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