Vermont Electric Cooperative Aims to Cut Gas Lawnmowers Short
Posted on Jun 14, 2019
Vermont Electric Cooperative just added a new bill credit to its VEC Energy Transformation Program. The new initiative will provide customers purchasing electric lawnmowers with either a $50 or $1,000 bill credit for residential and commercial mowers, respectively.
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Alaska Coop Announces New Battery Energy Storage System
Posted on Jun 13, 2019
Cordova Electric Cooperative, an Alaskan electric cooperative, unveiled a new 500 kW battery energy storage system. Energy leaders and from Washington, D.C. and Alaska celebrated the new system with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 9, 2019.
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FCC Commits Nearly $37M in Funding for Broadband in Virginia
Posted on Jun 13, 2019
Central Virginia Services, a subsidiary of Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, is one of the five companies to receive approximately $37 million in funding from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for broadband in Virginia.
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Alabama and North Carolina Laws Authorize Coops to Provide Broadband
Posted on Jun 12, 2019
The governors of Alabama and North Carolina have signed new laws that authorize electric coops to deploy retail broadband, pursue federal funds available for the task and allow coops to use their existing easements and infrastructure to deploy the service.
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Two Coops Receive Funding from FCC for Broadband
Posted on Jun 12, 2019
Two coops–Co-Mo Electric Cooperative and Callaway Electric Cooperative–will receive more than $24 million each from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand broadband in central Missouri.
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Colorado Coop Makes Lofty Renewable Energy Commitment
Posted on Jun 7, 2019
Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA) recently announced its “80 by 30” plan. The plan aims to have the cooperative run on 80% carbon-free energy by 2030. PVREA’s goal will include exploration of advancing technology like battery storage and grid management, as well as planned expansion of local renewable energy generation.
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Texas Legislature Clarifies Coops May Own and Operate Batteries Without Registration
Posted on May 31, 2019
The Texas Governor has signed a new law clarifying that electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in the state may own and operate batteries without registering with the Public Utility Commission as power generation companies.
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USDA Announces Continued Investments in Rural Electric Systems
Posted on May 31, 2019
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced yesterday that it will provide $858 million in funding for rural electric systems to improve infrastructure and invest in smart grid technology. Major recipients include the Carroll Electric Cooperative in Berryville, AR and the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority. The loans result in part from the recommendations of the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural...
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NRECA Praises House Bill Lowering Coop Pension Premiums
Posted on May 29, 2019
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) came out last week in support of the House of Representatives passing a bill to reduce premiums that coops pay to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for defined benefit pension plans. NRECA CEO Jim Matheson noted that the reduced premiums are in line with coops’ low-risk profile and will help coops continue to attract talent and provide for retirees.
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Dairyland Expands Wind Portfolio with Avangrid PPA
Posted on May 29, 2019
Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland) and Avangrid Renewables, LLC (Avangrid) have entered a new power purchase agreement (PPA) for renewable energy produced by the Tatanka Ridge Wind Farm. The 52 MW of power should support around 16,000 of Dairyland’s members, and the broader wind project is expected to generate upwards of $1.7 million dollars in local economic benefits annually.
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Texas Cooperative to Install Battery Storage System
Posted on May 29, 2019
Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) has signed an agreement with Aggreko, a provider of mobile and modular power solutions, to install and commission a battery energy storage system in Johnson City, Texas. The system will provide solar shifting from a nearby solar farm within the PEC service territory.
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Texas Cooperatives Agree to Purchase Solar Energy
Posted on May 21, 2019
Bartlett Electric Cooperative, Comanche Electric Cooperative, Heart of Texas Electric Cooperative, PenTex Energy and South Plains Electric Cooperative have signed agreements to purchase 7 MW of distribution-scale solar generation, providing an increased supply of cost-effective and clean energy to their members. All of the arrays are scheduled to begin operation by June 2020.
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FCC Appoints NRECA’s Matheson to Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee
Posted on May 20, 2019
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman, Ajit Pai, recently appointed National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) CEO, Jim Matheson, to serve on a Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee. The committee will identify new ways to encourage the expansion of broadband to rural communities, as well as aim to improve disaster response and recovery capabilities in the communications sector. The committee will meet for the first time on June...
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FERC Decision Draws NRECA Commentary
Posted on May 17, 2019
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) issued a statement criticizing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) refusal to reconsider rules on energy storage resources in wholesale markets. NRECA leadership noted that FERC’s assumption of discretionary authority may undermine local utilities’ and regulatory authorities’ management of storage resources for consumers.
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