Impact of New GHG Rules on Planned Virginia Plant Uncertain
Posted on Mar 29, 2012 in Environmental, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Impact of New GHG Rules on Planned Virginia Plant Uncertain
New rules proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would limit greenhouse gas emissions for power plants that begin construction a year or more into the future. The effect of the new rules on Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s plans for a new 1,500-MW, coal-fired power plant in Surry County, Virginia, remains uncertain. The Daily Press has the full story.
Vermont Electric Coop to Kick Off Energy and Environmental Management Project
Posted on Mar 27, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Innovation/Efficiency, Technology | Comments Off on Vermont Electric Coop to Kick Off Energy and Environmental Management Project
Vermont Electric Cooperative is partnering with Kilawatt Technologies on an Energy and Environmental Management project. This project aims to reduce electric power waste in commercial buildings by tailoring supply closer to consumption. This effort will include collecting total energy consumption data across a building, determining the energy consumption patterns of that building,...
Coops Honored by J.D. Power
Posted on Mar 27, 2012 in Innovation/Efficiency, Rates, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Honored by J.D. Power
Three of the 50 companies selected as J.D. Power 2012 Customer Service Champions are electric coops: Jackson EMC in Jefferson, Georgia; Sawnee EMC in Cumming, Georgia; and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative in Hughesville, Maryland. The list was based on feedback from customers on what J.D. Power calls the “5 Ps” – people, presentation, price, process and product. Read more...
Coop Offers Members Right to Opt Out of Smart Meter Program
Posted on Mar 23, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Innovation/Efficiency, Technology | Comments Off on Coop Offers Members Right to Opt Out of Smart Meter Program
In response to some members’ concerns over privacy and security, Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative in Hawaii announced that it will give its members the option of whether or not to participate in the coop’s smart meter program. The coop remains committed to its smart meter program, but opponents continue to seek a preliminary injunction in federal court. See Smartmeter.com for the...
Senate Bill Aims to Increase Energy Efficiency in Rural Areas
Posted on Mar 22, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on Senate Bill Aims to Increase Energy Efficiency in Rural Areas
Sponsors of the Merkley-Lugar Rural Energy Savings Program Act (RESPA) hope the proposed bill will improve energy efficiency efforts in rural America. RESPA would authorize the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to offer loans to rural electric coops, which, in turn, would use the added RUS funding to provide low-interest loans to customers for energy efficiency investments. You can read...
Study to Determine North Dakota Power Needs
Posted on Mar 20, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Land Use, Project Development | Comments Off on Study to Determine North Dakota Power Needs
The North Dakota Industrial Commission, Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. are among the largest contributors to a study on how to meet the electricity needs of the state’s booming oil industry. The study is expected to determine whether utilities should develop additional electric generation and will also address related issues such as transmission...
Lea County Coop Dedicates New Gas Plant
Posted on Mar 20, 2012 in Financing, Project Development | Comments Off on Lea County Coop Dedicates New Gas Plant
Lea County Electric Cooperative, Inc., which serves New Mexico and West Texas, recently saw its first wholly owned generation plan come online. Construction financing for the 47-MW, natural gas-fired plant was provided by the National Cooperative Services Corporation and consisted of a $55 million secured bridge line of credit and a $10.4 million secured letter of credit to support...
Iowa Coop Honored After Speedy Completion of Wind Farms
Posted on Mar 20, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Iowa Coop Honored After Speedy Completion of Wind Farms
Estherville-based Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative has been honored by the U.S. Department of Energy as the 2011 Wind Cooperative of the Year after designing and building two wind farms in just 18 months. The coop built the wind farms near existing ethanol plants, which allowed it to use existing substation infrastructure and save approximately $5 million by not having to build a...
Revised Definition of “Bulk Electric System” May Benefit Coops
Posted on Mar 15, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Revised Definition of “Bulk Electric System” May Benefit Coops
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) submitted a revised definition of the term “Bulk Electric System” (BES) for approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If accepted, the revised definition may benefit coops by limiting the types of facilities subject to the NERC Reliability Standards. In particular, coops owning only radial facilities would likely...
Coop Faces Questions about Savings Potential from Renewable Energy
Posted on Mar 12, 2012 in Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coop Faces Questions about Savings Potential from Renewable Energy
The Massachusetts-based Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative, which is a regional agency created to pursue renewable energy projects for towns in the state, is facing questions about a recent initiative to pursue solar energy. Members of municipal energy committees in some towns have expressed doubt that they are getting the best possible deal from CVEC. The Cape Cod Times has more...
Subscribe
