Coops among Recipients of Rural Economic Development Grants and Loans
Posted on Aug 23, 2012 in Economic Downturn, Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops among Recipients of Rural Economic Development Grants and Loans
The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced the list of recipients of grants and zero-interest loans issued through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG), and several electric coops were among the recipients. The REDLG program aims to promote economic development in rural areas. Click here for more.
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...
Federal Court Invalidates EPA Clean Air Act Rule
Posted on Aug 23, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Federal Court Invalidates EPA Clean Air Act Rule
In a 2-to-1 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down an EPA air quality rule related to emissions crossing state lines. The Court held that the EPA had impermissibly exceeded its authority under the rule by requiring upwind states to bear more than their share of reductions and failing to give states the opportunity handle emissions reductions...
Vermont Utility Merger May Lead to Higher Rates for Coop
Posted on Aug 21, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Rates | Comments Off on Vermont Utility Merger May Lead to Higher Rates for Coop
A merger between Central Vermont Public Service Corporation and Canadian-owned Green Mountain Power , Vermont’s two largest power companies, may cause retail rates to rise at one of Vermont’s smallest utilities, Washington Electric Cooperative (Washington Electric). The merger will produce a new, higher transmission charge, which Washington Electric estimates will be about...
Kentucky Aluminum Plant Notifies Big Rivers of Contract Termination
Posted on Aug 21, 2012 in Rates | Comments Off on Kentucky Aluminum Plant Notifies Big Rivers of Contract Termination
Century Aluminum Company (Century) has decided to terminate its power contract with Big Rivers Electric Corporation (Big Rivers) for Century’s 480-MW aluminum smelter in Hawesville, Kentucky. Closure of the smelter, which is one of the possible outcomes of ending the power contract, has great implications for all in the area. Not only would it affect the 700 employees of the plant,...
Tennessee Coop Opens New Solar Farm
Posted on Aug 20, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Tennessee Coop Opens New Solar Farm
Duck River Electric Membership Cooperative (DREMC), based in Shelbyville, Tennessee, is now the first electric coop in the seven state TVA service territory to offer members access to green power through a newly constructed solar farm. The DREMC Solar Farm, located in Shelbyville, allows its members to invest in solar energy without the cost of installing or maintaining their own...
NRECA Asks EPA to Tweak Standards for Small Emergency Generators
Posted on Aug 20, 2012 in Environmental, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on NRECA Asks EPA to Tweak Standards for Small Emergency Generators
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and a number of coops argued to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that fine-tuning the standards for small emergency generators could help coops ensure that the flow of electricity to rural America remains steady and reliable. The August 9 comments will likely be the final opportunity in writing to influence EPA’s...
CFTC Head Issues Statement in Support of Exemption for Coops
Posted on Aug 20, 2012 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on CFTC Head Issues Statement in Support of Exemption for Coops
The head of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued a statement last Friday in support of the proposed relief from the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) swaps provisions for certain electricity and electricity-related energy transactions between rural electric cooperatives and federal, state, municipal, and tribal power...
Alaska Coop Breaks Ground on New Plant
Posted on Aug 20, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Project Development | Comments Off on Alaska Coop Breaks Ground on New Plant
Matanuska Electric Association (MEA), Alaska’s oldest and second-largest electric cooperative, recently broke ground on a new plant site. The dual-fuel generation plant will sit on a 70-acre site northeast of Anchorage at Eklutna. MEA has been a CFC 100-percent Independent Borrower since 1995. Construction of the plant is being supported by bridge financing from the National...
Rate Increase for New Mexico Coop Customers on the Horizon
Posted on Aug 16, 2012 in Financing, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Rate Increase for New Mexico Coop Customers on the Horizon
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) approved a controversial rights-of-way agreement which will result in a rate increase for customers of Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative. The PRC and members of the public had previously raised concerns that Native American tribes and other pueblos had not been properly notified of the negotiations leading up to the agreement. The...
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