Two Iowa Coops Plan to Merge
Posted on Oct 31, 2011 in Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on Two Iowa Coops Plan to Merge
Humboldt County Rural Electric Cooperative and Midland Power Cooperative are moving forward with a plan to merge. The boards of both coops have endorsed the proposed merger and a vote by the members likely will take place in March 2012. The Fort Dodge Messenger has more about the planned merger.
Vermont Coops Become Customers of State’s Largest Wind Farm
Posted on Oct 31, 2011 in Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Coops Become Customers of State’s Largest Wind Farm
The largest wind farm in Vermont officially opened on October 26, and two of the state’s coops plan to be big customers of the facility. Washington Electric Cooperative and Vermont Electric Cooperative will buy a combined 60 percent of the output from the farm. The new $90 million, 40-megawatt, 16-turbine wind farm is the result of an eight-year planning and building process. To...
Montana Senator Proposes Bill to Encourage Local Generation
Posted on Oct 27, 2011 in Financing, Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Montana Senator Proposes Bill to Encourage Local Generation
In an effort to increase local energy production, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester introduced the Clean Transmission for Rural Communities Act, which broadens the electric power technologies eligible for municipal or cooperative bond financing. Renewable energy development, rural economic growth and new jobs are among the purported benefits of the bill. Read more here.
Environmental Groups File Petition against John W. Turk, Jr. Plant
Posted on Oct 26, 2011 in Litigation, Permitting | Comments Off on Environmental Groups File Petition against John W. Turk, Jr. Plant
The Sierra Club, National Audubon Society and Audubon Arkansas filed a petition on October 25 with the Arkansas Public Service Commission (Arkansas PSC) attempting to halt work on the John W. Turk, Jr. coal plant being constructed by the Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO). The petition alleges that by filing for a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need...
Trade Groups Oppose Pole Regulation Effort
Posted on Oct 26, 2011 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Trade Groups Oppose Pole Regulation Effort
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and other trade groups have made a filing with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a U.S. District Court’s holding that utility poles are not a “point source” under the Clean Water Act and, therefore, do not fall under its permitting requirements. For more details click here.
Coop Participates in Planning for Expected Increase in Central Oregon’s Power Needs
Posted on Oct 25, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Coop Participates in Planning for Expected Increase in Central Oregon’s Power Needs
The supply of reliable power to growing industrial load was the topic of a recent meeting in Central Oregon among Bonneville Power Administration, Pacific Power and the Central Electric Coop. The Facebook data center that opened earlier this year in Prineville is one example of a facility that requires a reliable source of power, and Central Electric Coop is in talks with at least...
Montana Coop Files for Bankruptcy Protection
Posted on Oct 24, 2011 in Corporate Governance, Financing | Comments Off on Montana Coop Files for Bankruptcy Protection
Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on October 21. Major creditors include the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation and PPL EnergyPlus. The Great Falls Tribune is covering this story.
North Dakota Coops To Receive Flood Recovery Grants
Posted on Oct 20, 2011 in Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on North Dakota Coops To Receive Flood Recovery Grants
Two North Dakota electric cooperatives, Verendrye Electric Cooperative and Capital Electric Cooperative, will receive a total of $3.4 million in federal grants to help with flood recovery. The Federal Emergency Management Agency funds will be used to repair infrastructure. For more information, click here.
Coops Ranked by Revenue-Earnings by NCB
Posted on Oct 20, 2011 in Financing | Comments Off on Coops Ranked by Revenue-Earnings by NCB
NCB, a federally- charted savings bank, released its annual NCB Coop 100, listing the nation’s top 100 revenue-earning cooperative businesses, including electric cooperatives. In 2010, the cooperatives on the list posted revenues totaling approximately $193.8 billion. This year, Basin Electric Power Cooperative was 29th on the list, with a reported $1.5 billion in revenue in 2010. ...
Hawaii Coop Looks to Reallocate RUS Loan to Solar Project
Posted on Oct 18, 2011 in Financing, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Hawaii Coop Looks to Reallocate RUS Loan to Solar Project
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative wants to use a Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan previously planned for a 10-MW renewable biodiesel plant to develop a 10 MW solar project. If approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the shift in financing will allow Kauai Island to double its solar generation capacity and take advantage of certain state and federal tax incentives. Read...
Subscribe
