USDA to Provide More Rural Electric Project Funding
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Technology | Comments Off on USDA to Provide More Rural Electric Project Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing funding for four rural electric projects in eight states to enhance reliable, affordable electricity for rural residents. These projects, which will employ smart grid technology, are the latest in approximately 650 rural electric utility projects funded since 2009. Specifically the USDA is providing more than $126 million in...
Texas Coop to Own and Operate Experimental Wind Energy Storage System
Posted on Feb 20, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Texas Coop to Own and Operate Experimental Wind Energy Storage System
South Plains Electric Cooperative will own and operate an experimental battery energy storage system at the Reese Technology Center in Lubbock, Texas. The storage system will focus on combining utility scale energy storage with wind generation and will be installed by Samsung SDI and Xtreme Power as part of a $27 million smart grid demonstration project. To read more about the...
Government Announces New Funding for Rural Coops
Posted on Feb 18, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Technology | Comments Off on Government Announces New Funding for Rural Coops
In a recent announcement, John Padalino, USDA Rural Utilities Acting Administrator, stated that rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 12 states will receive loan guarantees to improve generation and transmission facilities and implement smart grid technologies. The statement was made during the annual meeting of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association on behalf of...
FERC Notes Coop Smart Grid Growth
Posted on Jan 8, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Rates, Technology | Comments Off on FERC Notes Coop Smart Grid Growth
The use of smart grid technologies by coops is being recognized on a national level. A report issued in December 2012 by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) stated that coops are still national leaders in implementing advanced metering. According to the FERC report, advanced metering use among coops increased from 16.4 percent in 2008 to 24.7 percent in 2010 to 30.9...
Federal Grants to Boost Smart Grid Development
Posted on Oct 15, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Technology | Comments Off on Federal Grants to Boost Smart Grid Development
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $134 million in grant funding for rural electric coops and utilities to develop smart grid technologies. These funds will be added to the $250 million in financing announced by the USDA in August. (See previous Sutherland Coop team reports on this USDA grant funding from August 6, August 10, September 10, October 5...
USDA Announces Continued Funding and Support for Rural Electric Systems
Posted on Oct 5, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Technology | Comments Off on USDA Announces Continued Funding and Support for Rural Electric Systems
In a speech before the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will continue to make funding available for modernization and efficiency improvements, including smart grid technologies. This announcement follows USDA’s success in meeting its goal to finance $250...
Wisconsin Coop Receives Huge Federal Loan Guarantee for Renewable Power
Posted on Oct 4, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Wisconsin Coop Receives Huge Federal Loan Guarantee for Renewable Power
Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland) was awarded a $261.9 million loan guarantee from the federal government to reduce environmental impacts, update technology and improve distribution in a swath of the rural Midwest. Renewable energy sources make up about 12 percent of Dairyland’s electricity sales, which exceeds the state’s 2015 requirement that all Wisconsin utilities have at...
PSC Examines Smart Grid and Smart Meter Opportunities
Posted on Oct 2, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Innovation/Efficiency, Technology | Comments Off on PSC Examines Smart Grid and Smart Meter Opportunities
The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) is examining Smart Grid technologies, to include smart meters and electric prices that are tied to the time of usage, through an administrative proceeding. All electric utilities in Kentucky have been named as parties to the proceeding. For more on this story, including the complete list of utilities, click here.
NRECA Lobbies to Avoid Fee on Smart Meters
Posted on Aug 23, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Lobbies to Avoid Fee on Smart Meters
In early August 2012, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) argued before the Federal Communications Commission that electric cooperatives should not be required to pay a federal fee on smart meters and smart grid technologies. The fee would go to the Universal Service Fund, which was established to provide universal telecommunications service. Click here for...
Coops in 18 States to Receive Federal Funding to Improve Services
Posted on Aug 10, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops in 18 States to Receive Federal Funding to Improve Services
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that multiple rural electric utilities will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to electric lines and transmission facilities, and to reduce peak electric loads by deploying smart grid technologies. The funds include nearly $29 million in smart grid projects. Click here for a list of the rural utilities that will receive USDA...
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