City of Victoria Renews Tax Abatement Program Citing Coop as Example of the Program’s Success
Posted on Jun 20, 2011 in Economic Downturn, Land Use, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on City of Victoria Renews Tax Abatement Program Citing Coop as Example of the Program’s Success
When Victoria first adopted its tax abatement program in 2001, it was one of the reasons that South Texas Electric Cooperative decided to keep its plant in Victoria. Proponents of the tax abatement program point to the coop’s $126-million investment as evidence that offering property tax breaks through the program stimulates the local economy. The Victoria Advocate has the full...
Discovery Begins with Class Action Status Still to be Considered in New Mexico Coop Litigation
Posted on Jun 20, 2011 in Corporate Governance, Derivative Suits, Litigation, Patronage Capital | Comments Off on Discovery Begins with Class Action Status Still to be Considered in New Mexico Coop Litigation
After last week’s hearing, the litigation between Socorro Electric Cooperative and its members is progressing to the discovery stage of litigation. The initial focus of discovery will be on issues relating to the members’ class action status. The court has yet to address the members’ allegations that, among other things, the coop has wrongfully retained patronage capital owed to...
Landowners Comment on Minnkota Power Cooperative’s Proposed High-Voltage Transmission Line
Posted on Jun 17, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Permitting, Project Development | Comments Off on Landowners Comment on Minnkota Power Cooperative’s Proposed High-Voltage Transmission Line
Landowners commented on Minnkota’s plan for a 250-mile high-voltage transmission line during Minnkota’s presentation before the North Dakota Public Service Commission. Minnkota is in the in the process of obtaining easement options, and in order to address landowners’ concerns, it is pricing the easement options on a county by county basis. The Grand Forks Herald is covering this...
North Dakota Senator Introduces Energy Plan that Contains Incentives for Coops that Use Clean Energy
Posted on Jun 17, 2011 in Energy Savings Programs, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on North Dakota Senator Introduces Energy Plan that Contains Incentives for Coops that Use Clean Energy
Senator Kent Conrad recently introduced the “Fueling U.S. Energy Leadership Act” or FUEL Act as a broad plan to address energy independence and to provide a means to improve the economy. Among other things, the Fuel Act contains incentives for rural electric coops that make use of various clean energy technologies. See Senator Conrad’s press release for more.
Price Gouging Allegations Brought Against Railroads
Posted on Jun 16, 2011 in Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Price Gouging Allegations Brought Against Railroads
A coal mining company has sued two railroad companies alleging anticompetitive practices that result in unjustifiably high shipping costs for coal. Coops have made similar charges in the past and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association supports proposed legislation that seeks to end the railroads’ safe harbor from traditional court challenges. Read more.
Wildlife and Health Concerns Continue for Vermont Wind Project
Posted on Jun 16, 2011 in Permitting, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Wildlife and Health Concerns Continue for Vermont Wind Project
Co-developers of the Lowell Mountain wind-power project, Green Mountain Power Corp. and Vermont Electric Cooperative, face a continued backlash regarding the project’s possible impact on wildlife habitat and human health. The developers want to create new wildlife habitats before the project begins operations, but opponents say such habitats must be in place before the start of...
Renewable Energy Rebates Lowered in Arizona
Posted on Jun 16, 2011 in Energy Savings Programs, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Renewable Energy Rebates Lowered in Arizona
In May, the Arizona Corporation Commission approved Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative’s (SSVEC) 2011 renewable energy program. The plan will lower rebates available for residential renewable energy installations due to lower costs associated with the units and their installation. SSVEC hopes the reduced incentives will provide SSVEC staff time to catch up on a backlog of...
Report Shows Significant Coop Investment in Solar Power
Posted on Jun 15, 2011 in Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Report Shows Significant Coop Investment in Solar Power
A new report by the Solar Electric Power Association shows that coops are making impressive investments in solar energy in the United States. In the aggregate, coops increased their solar capacities by almost 690% in 2010. Electric Co-op Today has more details, and a link to the full report is here.
Partial Win For Oglethorpe Power in Georgia Nuisance Case
Posted on Jun 14, 2011 in Litigation | Comments Off on Partial Win For Oglethorpe Power in Georgia Nuisance Case
The Georgia Supreme Court has partially ruled in favor of both parties in a nuisance case in which local residents sued Oglethorpe Power Corporation over noise from the Polk County Sewell Creek Energy Facility. The Georgia Supreme Court held that the “continuing nuisance” began in 2004, which allows the Polk County residents within the statute of limitation to sue...
Florida Coop Gives Millions in Student Grants
Posted on Jun 14, 2011 in Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on Florida Coop Gives Millions in Student Grants
Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative has given out $5.3 million in scholarship money in the past 15 years. The scholarship program began in 1996, when the Florida legislature overturned a law that required unclaimed capital credits to be forfeited to the state. In 1997, the coop began using its unclaimed capital credits to fund the WREC Educational Foundation, a program that...
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