Electric Utilities Retire Generating Capacity Faster Than They Bring it Online
Posted on Dec 16, 2013 in Environmental, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Electric Utilities Retire Generating Capacity Faster Than They Bring it Online
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported last week that the electric utility industry retired 11.1 GW of generating capacity from January through October of 2013, while adding only about 10 GW of capacity. Coal-fired and nuclear plants represent the largest and second largest shares of retired capacity respectively, the EIA reports. Read more here.
USDA to Provide More than $1.8 Billion in Funding
Posted on Dec 16, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on USDA to Provide More than $1.8 Billion in Funding
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide over $1.8 billion to fund electric utility infrastructure improvements in 25 states and one territory. The USDA-funded improvements include smart grid and renewable energy projects and the building or improvement of more than 6,500 miles of transmission lines. ...
Kentucky PSC Grants Rehearing on Big Rivers
Posted on Dec 13, 2013 in Litigation, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Kentucky PSC Grants Rehearing on Big Rivers
The Kentucky Public Service Commission will reconsider the revenues Big Rivers Electric Corporation (Big Rivers) is positioned to receive for its continued operation of a power plant required by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator for reliability reasons. Big Rivers’ opponents claim that the coop understated the revenues it will receive from continued operations by roughly...
Vermont Coop Ordered to Stop Net Metering Program
Posted on Dec 13, 2013 in Energy Savings Programs, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Vermont Coop Ordered to Stop Net Metering Program
The Vermont Public Service Department has directed Washington Electric Co-op (WEC) to suspend its net metering program after the coop attempted to change the program to limit projects to 5 kW due to an existing state cap. The regulator determined that WEC had not been authorized to make this change and therefore must stop accepting applications. The state legislature plans to address...
Columbia River Treaty Needs an Update
Posted on Dec 12, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Columbia River Treaty Needs an Update
Based in Eugene, Oregon, Lane Electric Cooperative is among the Northwest utilities pushing for an update to the 1964 Columbia River Treaty, which governs operations along the Columbia River between the U.S. and Canada. Due to changes in how the river operates, the pact that once provided an even split between the two countries now provides more of a 90-10 split in favor of our...
Second Hawaiian Coop on the Horizon?
Posted on Dec 12, 2013 in Project Development, Rates, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Second Hawaiian Coop on the Horizon?
Molokai may be the second island of Hawaii (Kauai being the first) to purchase its utility and establish an electric coop. High rates are at the root of current tensions between residents on Molokai and their utility Maui Electric Company, a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Company. Molokai is also considering a large generation project that would power the island using only renewable...
Ice Causes Mayhem in Many States
Posted on Dec 10, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Ice Causes Mayhem in Many States
Last week’s winter storm and resulting ice and snow caused mayhem for many electric coops around the country. During the worst of the storm, nearly 30,000 coop customers in the Midwest were out of power, and eight Virginia coops reported about 43,000 meters of power lines out of commission. To prepare for more hard winter weather, statewide associations have requested mutual aid...
Arkansas Grid Vandal Indicted
Posted on Dec 10, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Reliability | Comments Off on Arkansas Grid Vandal Indicted
An Arkansas man accused of damaging electric coop facilities has been issued an eight-count indictment on charges relating to sabotage of high-voltage power lines and power stations earlier this year in several cities. Among them: a terrorist attack against a railroad carrier and destruction of energy facilities, including a 115,000-volt transmission line owned by First Electric...
Kansas Coop Set for Largest Patronage Capital Return in Its History
Posted on Dec 10, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Financing, Patronage Capital | Comments Off on Kansas Coop Set for Largest Patronage Capital Return in Its History
Ark Valley Electric Cooperative (Ark Valley) will return more than $2 million in patronage capital to its members later this month. The return of patronage capital will represent Ark Valley’s largest retirement of owners’ equity since the cooperative was incorporated in 1939. Click here for more.
USDA Unveils Energy Efficiency Program for Rural Coops
Posted on Dec 5, 2013 in Climate Change, Energy Savings Programs, Financing, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Technology | Comments Off on USDA Unveils Energy Efficiency Program for Rural Coops
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide funding to rural coops and utilities to help boost energy efficiency improvements by commercial and residential customers. The Energy Efficiency and Loan Conservation Program plans to provide up to $250 million to rural coops which will, in turn, lend the money to customers to fund energy efficiency projects. To learn more, click...
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