SMECO to Collaborate with LS Cable in Underground Cable Network Project
Posted on Jul 16, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Technology | Comments Off on SMECO to Collaborate with LS Cable in Underground Cable Network Project
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) will soon be getting underground cables and connectors for the power transmission and distribution networks SMECO operates, thanks to LS Cable’s $12.7 million deal to supply high-voltage underground cables to the United States. The project will create an extra high-voltage cable network across the Patuxent River for a length of 1.5...
FERC Rejects Challenge to Minnesota-Wisconsin Transmission Line
Posted on Jul 15, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on FERC Rejects Challenge to Minnesota-Wisconsin Transmission Line
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has rejected efforts to rescind federal approval for a proposed high-voltage transmission line connecting Rochester, Minnesota, with La Crosse, Wisconsin. In rejecting a petition against the $500 million project, FERC found that the petitioners lacked sufficient support for their claim that the line would risk grid reliability. ...
NRECA Asks FCC to Rethink Waivers for Technology
Posted on Jul 12, 2013 in Permitting, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on NRECA Asks FCC to Rethink Waivers for Technology
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) has voiced concerns that the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to allow the use of certain broadcast technology may be premature given the potential for interference in the operation of Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, given the key role that SCADA systems play in the management of...
Changes to Hydro Power Marketing Administrations Blocked by House of Representatives
Posted on Jul 12, 2013 in Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Changes to Hydro Power Marketing Administrations Blocked by House of Representatives
The U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment on July 10 to the energy and water appropriations bill that prohibits spending to expand the role of four power marketing administrations. These administrations have historically provided low-cost hydro power to coops and others, but the Department of Energy has been considering expanding their role to include energy efficiency and...
Arkansas PSC Approves New Environmental Controls for Coal Plant
Posted on Jul 11, 2013 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Arkansas PSC Approves New Environmental Controls for Coal Plant
The Flint Creek coal-fired generation plant in Arkansas will undergo a $408 million makeover to install air pollutant controls required by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Arkansas Public Service Commission (PSC) approved the request made by Flint Creek’s owners Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation. Read more...
Colorado’s New Renewable Energy Law Under Review
Posted on Jul 11, 2013 in Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Colorado’s New Renewable Energy Law Under Review
A committee organized to review Colorado’s new renewable energy law will consider whether the law is feasible and how costs associated with compliance may be recovered. The law requires that 20 percent of a utility’s power supply come from renewables by 2020 with no more than a 2 percent rate increase to pay for the associated costs. At the committee’s first meeting, Tri-State...
NRECA Supports FERC Proposal
Posted on Jul 10, 2013 in Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Supports FERC Proposal
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) filed a formal comment in response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) regarding the requirements of the Reliability Standard. The NOPR proposes to reject and remand a proposed interpretation of BAL-002-1 Disturbance Control Performance, Requirements R4 and R5 filed by the...
Coop Leads Campaign Against New EPA Plan
Posted on Jul 10, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coop Leads Campaign Against New EPA Plan
Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin) is leading a campaign against an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan to reduce atmospheric haze. According to Basin and other electric cooperatives, the EPA’s plan, which would place tighter restrictions on coal-fired power plants in Wyoming, would increase electricity rates for consumers by requiring additional pollution-control...
Cooperative Research Network Studies Potential Uses for Coal Ash
Posted on Jul 10, 2013 in Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on Cooperative Research Network Studies Potential Uses for Coal Ash
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Cooperative Research Network (CRN) and the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research have spent more than two years conducting research on coal ash. The research is important because coops rely heavily upon coal-based generation, and the Environmental Protection Agency has raised the possibility of regulating coal ash...
Proposed EPA Runoff Guidelines May Create More Costs Than Benefits
Posted on Jul 3, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Proposed EPA Runoff Guidelines May Create More Costs Than Benefits
In compliance with a recent settlement agreement, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed effluent limitation guidelines for power plants. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association is concerned that the proposed guidelines, which will affect coal-fired units with wet flue gas desulfurization systems or wet ash handling, could cost electric cooperatives...
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