Bluebonnet to Sell Water Subsidiary
Posted on Apr 22, 2014 in Corporate Governance, Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Bluebonnet to Sell Water Subsidiary
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative in Texas has announced that it is selling its water subsidiary, Bluebonnet Rural Water Corp., to Corix Utilities (Texas) Inc. Corix Utilities is a water utility operator that already has a significant presence in Central Texas. Click here for more information (subscription required).
Sioux City Approves Franchise Fee Settlement
Posted on Apr 22, 2014 in Litigation, Rates | Comments Off on Sioux City Approves Franchise Fee Settlement
As cities across Iowa face lawsuits over allegedly excessive franchise fees, Sioux City, Iowa, has agreed to settle and absorb the cost of nearly $6.5 million in refunds to be paid to residents who were overcharged for franchise fees on their utility bills. The Sioux City settlement agreement stems from a 2006 class action lawsuit filed by those who paid franchise fees for gas or...
USDA Announces $150 Million Investment Fund to Grow Small Businesses in Rural America
Posted on Apr 22, 2014 in Financing | Comments Off on USDA Announces $150 Million Investment Fund to Grow Small Businesses in Rural America
Together with eight Farm Credit entities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the creation of a new $150 million investment fund that will facilitate private equity investments in agriculture-related businesses. This new fund, known as the Advantage Capital Agribusiness Fund, is the first of its kind. It will develop a balanced and diversified portfolio of junior...
Federal Judge Strikes Down Minnesota Coal Law
Posted on Apr 21, 2014 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation | Comments Off on Federal Judge Strikes Down Minnesota Coal Law
A federal district court judge has struck down a 2007 Minnesota law that restricted the ability of Minnesota utilities to build new coal plants or import energy generated from coal. The court found that the Minnesota law effectively regulated out-of-state utilities that might wish to sell power in Minnesota and therefore “overreache[d]” by encroaching on the exclusive power of the...
NRECA Reports Coop Renewable Capacity Has Doubled in Past Five Years
Posted on Apr 21, 2014 in Renewable Energy | Comments Off on NRECA Reports Coop Renewable Capacity Has Doubled in Past Five Years
Coops’ renewable energy capacity has increased to 5.9 GW as of early 2014, which is in addition to the 10 GW that coops purchase from federal hydropower facilities. Click here for more data from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).
Alliant and Minnesota Coops File Application for Sale with PUC
Posted on Apr 21, 2014 in Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on Alliant and Minnesota Coops File Application for Sale with PUC
Alliant Energy (Alliant) and a number of Minnesota coops filed an application with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for the sale of Alliant’s distribution business to the coops. The coops would increase their membership and have proposed rates that are more favorable to members than the rates projected by Alliant should it continue its distribution business. The Albert Lea...
Dairyland Receives White House Invitation
Posted on Apr 17, 2014 in Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Dairyland Receives White House Invitation
Nominated by the Rural Utilities Service, officials of Dairyland Power Cooperative will head to the White House for recognition of the coop’s ongoing efforts to promote and develop renewable energy projects. Approximately 13 percent of Dairyland’s energy resources are comprised of renewable sources, which exceeds state renewable energy requirements. Read more here.
SMECO Plans Another Solar Project
Posted on Apr 17, 2014 in Financing, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on SMECO Plans Another Solar Project
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently announced a new 20-year power purchase agreement under which it will purchase the full output of the planned 10-MW Rockfish Solar Facility. As it did with several previous projects, SMECO teamed up with the National Renewables Cooperative Organization to request project proposals and evaluate bidders. Click here for more...
EKPC to Deactivate Coal Plant
Posted on Apr 14, 2014 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on EKPC to Deactivate Coal Plant
East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC), a Kentucky generation and transmission cooperative, has announced its plans to deactivate one of its coal plants over the next year. None of the plant’s four coal-fired units currently meets the requirements imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) rule, and the changes required to bring them into...
Utilities Feel Effects of Rail Disruptions
Posted on Apr 14, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Rates, Reliability | Comments Off on Utilities Feel Effects of Rail Disruptions
On April 10, representatives for companies that rely on rail shipments appeared at a Surface Transportation Board (STB) hearing to highlight the problems that recent rail shipment disruptions have caused in their industries and to ask STB to take steps to reduce these disruptions. In the utility sector, delays in shipping coal could lead to higher costs for energy or a decrease in...
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