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Coop Industry Groups Seek Notice to Protect Critical Communication Systems

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Utilities Telecom Council, the American Public Power Association and the Edison Electric Institute have asked the Federal Communications Commission to require a 30-day advance notice period when a high-tech company deploys products or services that could disrupt a utility’s critical communication systems.  Progeny, a high-tech...

NRECA Opposes President’s Plan on Climate Change

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has launched a campaign against President Barack Obama’s proposal to use the Clean Air Act to regulate carbon dioxide and fight climate change.  The NRECA  released a video voicing its opposition to the President’s plan.  Click here for more.

Coops Challenge Lending for New Renewable Energy Projects

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has voiced opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to establish a new Rural Utilities Service (RUS) lending project aimed at renewable energy.  The USDA announced in early June that it would consider implementing the program under the Electric Loan program to fund renewable energy generation, even...

Coal Ash Bill Passes House – On to Senate

Backed by numerous coops and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the U.S. House has passed a bill that identifies states, rather than the Environmental Protection Agency, as the primary regulators of coal ash storage.  The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013 received bipartisan support and will allow utilities to continue selling coal ash to companies that...

NRECA Endorses Bipartisan Legislation Enabling Cooperatives to Continue to Offer Pensions

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has endorsed the proposed bipartisan Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act of 2013 that would make it easier for cooperatives to continue to offer pensions to their employees.  The proposed legislation would ensure that cooperatives, along with charitable associations, are not subject to the funding...

NRECA Asks FCC to Rethink Waivers for Technology

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has voiced concerns that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to allow the use of certain broadcast technology may be premature given the potential for interference in the operation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, given the key role that SCADA systems play in the management of...

NRECA Supports FERC Proposal

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) filed a formal comment in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) regarding the requirements of the Reliability Standard.  The NOPR proposes to reject and remand a proposed interpretation of BAL-002-1 Disturbance Control Performance, Requirements R4 and R5 filed by the...

Cooperative Research Network Studies Potential Uses for Coal Ash

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Cooperative Research Network (CRN) and the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research have spent more than two years conducting research on coal ash.  The research is important because coops rely heavily upon coal-based generation, and the Environmental Protection Agency has raised the possibility of regulating coal ash...

Proposed EPA Runoff Guidelines May Create More Costs Than Benefits

In compliance with a recent settlement agreement, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed effluent limitation guidelines for power plants.  The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is concerned that the proposed guidelines, which will affect coal-fired units with wet flue gas desulfurization systems or wet ash handling, could cost electric cooperatives...

Supreme Court to Consider Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to weigh in on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.  This rule aims to limit emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide produced from coal-generated power in upwind states, which in turn hampers downwind states from meeting national ambient air quality standards in accordance with the Clean Air Act’s “good...

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