New Power Plant Begins Commercial Operation in Arkansas
Posted on Dec 26, 2012 in Environmental, Project Development, Technology | Comments Off on New Power Plant Begins Commercial Operation in Arkansas
The 600-MW John W. Turk Jr. Power Plant, the nation’s first ultra-supercritical, coal-fired facility, began commercial operation this month after four years of construction and numerous legal challenges. The co-owners, including Southwestern Electric Power Company, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and East Texas Electric Cooperative, herald the plant as a shining example of...
Commission Suspends Planned Rate Increase for New Mexico Electric Coops
Posted on Dec 26, 2012 in Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Commission Suspends Planned Rate Increase for New Mexico Electric Coops
The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) has suspended a planned rate increase for several New Mexico electric cooperatives that are part of the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State). Tri-State will likely file suit protesting the decision, arguing that the New Mexico PRC has no jurisdiction over interstate wholesale power sales. During the pendency...
Sutherland Advises South Mississippi Electric on Purchase of LSP Energy’s Batesville Plant
Posted on Dec 21, 2012 in Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on Sutherland Advises South Mississippi Electric on Purchase of LSP Energy’s Batesville Plant
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP has advised South Mississippi Electric (SME) on the purchase of LSP Energy LP’s Batesville, Mississippi, plant. The transaction closed this week and involved the acquisition of three gas-fired, combined-cycle generating units with the capacity to produce up to 837 megawatts of electricity at a purchase price of approximately $332/kW. Read more...
USDA Announces $6.1 Million in Rural Project Funding
Posted on Dec 20, 2012 in Financing, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on USDA Announces $6.1 Million in Rural Project Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced its most recent series of grants and loans designed to boost economic development in rural communities. This latest round of funding will serve communities in seven Midwestern and Southern states and involves more than $6.1 million. See the press release for further details.
Report Finds Renewables on the Rise
Posted on Dec 20, 2012 in Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Report Finds Renewables on the Rise
A preliminary version of the Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook Report finds that renewable energy production, particularly wind and solar, is expected to rise over the next 30 years. The increase is largely attributed to state renewable energy requirements and heightened environmental regulations The final version of the annual report is scheduled to be released...
Alaskan Coop Decides Not to Buy Plant
Posted on Dec 20, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on Alaskan Coop Decides Not to Buy Plant
Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) will not purchase a 22.5-MW, coal-fired generation plant located at Clear Air Force Station about 80 miles from Fairbanks. Citing cost concerns, both from an environmental and efficiency perspective, GVEA determined that purchasing the plant was not in the best interest of its customers. Clear Air Force Station hopes to connect to the GVEA grid...
Judge Denies Sierra Club’s Challenge to $3 Billion Mississippi Coal Plant
Posted on Dec 19, 2012 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Judge Denies Sierra Club’s Challenge to $3 Billion Mississippi Coal Plant
A Mississippi judge has ruled against the Sierra Club’s attempt to invalidate the licensing for a $3 billion coat plant granted to Mississippi Power Co. Inc. and South Mississippi Electric Power Association by the Mississippi Public Service Commission. The court held that policy decisions on long-term solutions for fuel diversity and price stability of fuels used in electric...
New EPA Rule May Delay Plant Expansions
Posted on Dec 19, 2012 in Environmental, Permitting, Project Development | Comments Off on New EPA Rule May Delay Plant Expansions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently adopted a rule that reduces the limits on fine particle emissions by 20 percent. Experts say that this limit reduction could delay power plant expansions and similar projects in certain regions of the country. While most of the country’s counties will not need to adjust regulatory requirements to meet the new standard, the new...
Colorado Cooperatives Increase Solar Portfolios
Posted on Dec 19, 2012 in Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Colorado Cooperatives Increase Solar Portfolios
Two Colorado electric cooperatives are adding to their renewable energy portfolios by constructing solar arrays expected to generate a maximum of 3 MW of solar power for their member-consumers. United Power, Inc.’s 2-MW solar array was brought online last week, and San Miguel Power Association, Inc.’s (San Miguel) 1-MW “community” solar array will begin operations by the end of...
Southern Power to Supplement Cobb EMC
Posted on Dec 19, 2012 in Financing, Reliability | Comments Off on Southern Power to Supplement Cobb EMC
Starting in 2016, Georgia-based Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) will receive electricity from Southern Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company. The 325 megawatts of electricity to be provided annually will supplement Cobb EMC’s current generation resources for a seven-year period. Read more here.
Subscribe
