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Coop Reaches Deal with Tribe on Easement

Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative and the Ohkay Owingeh Tribe are seeking approval from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on a deal allowing the coop to maintain its infrastructure on tribal land for 25 years at a cost of $11.25 million.  The negotiated agreement ends a previous arrangement that was largely based on oral agreements between the parties.  The coop says it...

Dairyland Power Announces Settlement with Sierra Club and EPA

In a press release, Dairyland Power Cooperative, based in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, outlined the terms of its settlement of alleged emissions violations.  Without conceding any violations of law, the coop has agreed to move forward with a number of emission reduction plans.  Click here for more.

New Mexico Litigation Involving Coop Moves Forward

A district court judge has allowed the filing of an amended complaint to replace an SEC board of trustees member with two other member-owners in litigation involving Socorro Electric Cooperative.  The judge ruled that Carol Auffrey of Quemado and Herbert Myers of Socorro could replace SEC Trustee Charlie Wagner as representatives of the class in the countersuit despite protests that...

Colorado Coop Rebuilds During Ongoing Fire

Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association is assessing fire damage and recovery efforts in the face of an ongoing wildfire that has burned more than 68,200 acres and destroyed 189 homes through June 21.  Nearly 2,000 firefighters from several states are on the ground trying to control the fire which has caused nearly $20 million in damage.  About 700 of the coop’s nearly 36,000 meters...

Missouri Coop Closes Deal with CFC

Butler-based Osage Valley Electric Cooperative recently became The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation’s (CFC) newest 100-percent borrower, closing two transactions this spring. The 30-year loans, totaling approximately $33 million, will reportedly be used to refinance existing debt.  To read more about the deal, click here.

Coops Seek Exemption from CFTC Reporting

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is among the electric coop and municipal utility groups requesting exemption from new Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) new reporting requirements. As part of its implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the CFTC has developed a set of recordkeeping obligations that...

U.S. Senate Rejects Measure to Overturn MACT Standard

The U.S. Senate rejected a Republican-backed resolution that would have overturned the Environmental Protection Agency’s utility maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standard. This rule will require coal-fired power plants to reduce their emissions of mercury and other pollutants by more than 90 percent in four years.  Click here for additional details (subscription...

Coal Makes a Comeback?

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is predicting a slight rebound for coal’s share of U.S. baseload generation in 2013 due to projected higher natural gas costs and record coal stocks.  In its July 12 energy forecast, the EIA calculated that electricity powered by coal will increase about 3 percent in 2013, compared to a projected 13 percent decrease predicted for 2012.  This...

North Dakota Coop to Open Natural Gas Plant

Basin Electric Power Cooperative, based in Bismarck, North Dakota, recently started work on a natural gas-fueled plant being built about 15 miles northwest of Williston.  Project manager Myron Steckler says the new plant will be capable of generating 45 megawatts of power.  The coop hopes to have the new facility operating by early 2013.  Bloomberg BusinessWeek has the full...

Illinois Coop Closes $65 Million Syndication

Marion-based Southern Illinois Power Cooperative (SIPC) and The National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) recently arranged a four-year, $65 million unsecured revolving credit facility.  CFC acted as lead arranger and lead lender in the transaction, which replaced a portion of an earlier syndication for SIPC.  The funds will be used for general corporate purposes,...

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