Coop Reaches Deal to Buy 104 MWs of Power from the Shooting Star Wind Project
Posted on Sep 9, 2011 in Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coop Reaches Deal to Buy 104 MWs of Power from the Shooting Star Wind Project
Sunflower Electric Power Corp., a Kansas cooperative, will be able to satisfy up to 29 percent of its peak retail demand once the Shooting Star Wind Project comes on line in late 2012. The project will also provide revenue to landowners who are leasing their land to the project and approximately 250,000 hours of work for construction contractors. The Wichita Eagle has the full...
Digger Derrick Settlement Reached
Posted on Sep 8, 2011 in Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Digger Derrick Settlement Reached
Last month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and certain electric utilities, including coops, reached a settlement agreement on new OSHA rules for digger derricks used in electric construction. Many of the OSHA rules will still apply to electric utilities. The effective date for compliance is scheduled for November 2014. Click here for the full story.
Plans for North Dakota High-Voltage Line Move Forward
Posted on Sep 8, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Permitting | Comments Off on Plans for North Dakota High-Voltage Line Move Forward
Minnkota Power Cooperative recently obtained approval from the Sheridan County Zoning Board for a planned 345-kV transmission line that will carry power over much of North Dakota. Zoning approval is still required from three other counties and one township. The North Dakota Public Service Commission also approved a certificate of corridor compatibility for the line, which is expected...
North Dakota Service Territory Divided
Posted on Sep 8, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Rates | Comments Off on North Dakota Service Territory Divided
The North Dakota Public Service Commission has approved an agreement between Montana-Dakota Utilities and Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative to divvy up the Williston customer service area. An influx of new customers, due to the region’s oil boom, prompted the division. Read more.
North Dakota Officials at Loggerheads with EPA over Air Pollution Rules
Posted on Sep 7, 2011 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on North Dakota Officials at Loggerheads with EPA over Air Pollution Rules
North Dakota health officials are at an impasse with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the best technology to reduce the air pollution of two coal-burning power plants in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, one of which is operated by Minnkota Power Cooperative Inc. State regulators contend that the EPA’s preferred technology may not be effective and will be much costlier...
Green Mountain Power Starts Construction of Wind Project in Vermont
Posted on Sep 7, 2011 in Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Green Mountain Power Starts Construction of Wind Project in Vermont
Green Mountain Power has commenced construction of a 63MW wind facility that will provide power to the members of the Vermont Electric Cooperative. The Energy Business Review has more on the wind farm.
Delaware Utility May be Purchased by Local Coop
Posted on Sep 6, 2011 in Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on Delaware Utility May be Purchased by Local Coop
The city of Dover, Delaware’s Utility Committee has hired a consultant study the feasibility of selling the city’s electric utility to Delaware Electric Cooperative. The coop reports that it could be willing to pay around $100 million for Dover’s electric utility, and that its customers would save an average of 25 percent on their electric bills because of the coop’s...
Coop Offers Members Shade Trees and CFLs to Save Energy
Posted on Sep 2, 2011 in Energy Savings Programs | Comments Off on Coop Offers Members Shade Trees and CFLs to Save Energy
Mohave Electric Cooperative and Bullhead City, Arizona, are teaming up to sponsor Operation Cool Shade. For a discounted price, this program offers coop members shade trees that can withstand desert conditions, and each tree also comes with a complimentary CFL. Operation Cool Shade is in its sixth year, and it is estimated that the program saves approximately 1.4 million...
U.S. Forest Service and Coop Argue Over Responsibility for the Las Conchas Fire
Posted on Sep 2, 2011 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use | Comments Off on U.S. Forest Service and Coop Argue Over Responsibility for the Las Conchas Fire
After determining that the Las Conchas fire in New Mexico was caused by a rotten tree falling onto power lines owned by Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, controversy has arisen over who should be held responsible. The coop has been maintaining its 20-foot easement along the path of the power line, but the tree in question fell from private property. The coop argues that it is...
Dairy Farms May Provide Cheaper Fuel Source
Posted on Sep 1, 2011 in Innovation/Efficiency, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Dairy Farms May Provide Cheaper Fuel Source
Cooperatives may have an opportunity to obtain cheaper fuel through the use of anaerobic digesters on dairy farms. The digesters capture methane gas from cow manure, which can be used to generate power. Proponents of the manure-to-methane process spoke at the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives’ 2011 Emerging Technology Conference. The Oklahoman has the full story.
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