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...
Mohave Electric Cooperative Explains Necessary Rate Increase
Posted on Oct 3, 2012 in Rates | Comments Off on Mohave Electric Cooperative Explains Necessary Rate Increase
Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) has explained its recent rate increase, stating that it was necessary in order to accommodate increased operating expenses. MEC’s new system has a tiered rate structure, which will yield a higher rate when more power is used, a practice commonly used by power companies. Read more here.
North Dakota’s Electricity Case against Minnesota Survives First Legal Challenge
Posted on Oct 3, 2012 in Climate Change, Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation | Comments Off on North Dakota’s Electricity Case against Minnesota Survives First Legal Challenge
A federal judge has ruled that the state of North Dakota’s case against Minnesota can move forward, as North Dakota has a “plausible” claim that a 2007 Minnesota energy law is invalid due to preemption by federal law. Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Act bars new coal-fired power plants in Minnesota and restricts out-of-state imports of new coal-based power generation unless the...
Kentucky PSC Accepts Settlement in Big Rivers Environmental Case
Posted on Oct 3, 2012 in Environmental, Financing, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Kentucky PSC Accepts Settlement in Big Rivers Environmental Case
The Kentucky Public Service Commission (Kentucky PSC) has accepted a regarding a proposed environmental compliance plan and environmental surcharge request submitted by Big Rivers Electric Corporation (Big Rivers). Under the proposed plan, Big Rivers will not be required to construct the most costly emission control projects from its original plan, reducing the total cost from $283.5...
New Hampshire Electric Coop Lineworkers Threaten Strike
Posted on Oct 2, 2012 in Corporate Governance, Litigation | Comments Off on New Hampshire Electric Coop Lineworkers Threaten Strike
The union representing New Hampshire Electric Cooperative lineworkers says it is considering a strike after 117 bargaining sessions have failed to result in an agreement in the renegotiation of the lineworkers’ contract. The dispute involves wage and pension issues, and negotiators are scheduled to meet again Thursday. Read more here.
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.
California ISO Approves Participation by Nevada Coop
Posted on Oct 1, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on California ISO Approves Participation by Nevada Coop
The California Independent System Operator (California ISO) recently approved Nevada-based Valley Electric Association, Inc.’s (VEA) participation agreement to join the California ISO in January 2013. VEA is the first utility outside of California to join the regional market. The coop’s renewable generation portfolio will be used to satisfy California’s aggressive renewable energy...
NRECA Supports Expansion of the “Small Business” Definition
Posted on Oct 1, 2012 in Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Supports Expansion of the “Small Business” Definition
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) commented on the Small Business Administration’s proposed update to the definition of a “small business,” expressing the need for a size standard based on the number of employees and specific sector of the energy industry. Coops currently classified as small businesses will not be affected by any new standard, but additional...
Patent Litigation Defense Center for Innovatio Claims
Posted on Oct 1, 2012 in Litigation, Technology | Comments Off on Patent Litigation Defense Center for Innovatio Claims
We are pleased to announce the launch of the Patent Litigation Defense Center for Innovatio Claims. Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP defends clients against claims brought by the entity Innovatio IP Ventures, LLC, a non-practicing entity that contends it controls the patents on some of the most common means of wireless data transmission in commercial use today, including wireless...
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