Coops Pleased as EPA Reaffirms NDDH Plan to Reduce Regional Air Pollution
Posted on Feb 13, 2015 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops Pleased as EPA Reaffirms NDDH Plan to Reduce Regional Air Pollution
Minnkota Power Cooperative and Basin Electric Power Cooperative received good news last week as the EPA reaffirmed the plan of North Dakota Department of Health (NDDH) to reduce regional haze and ruled that the equipment of both plants meets all environmental requirements. NDDH’s plan must be updated again in 2018 and then again every several years until 2064. Please click here to...
Solar Farm Generates More Power Than Initially Projected
Posted on Feb 10, 2015 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Technology | Comments Off on Solar Farm Generates More Power Than Initially Projected
The Colleton Solar Farm, located on a 15-acre site near Walterboro, South Carolina, completed its first year of commercial operations on December 20. The solar farm generated about 5 percent more power than initially projected, which is believed to be due to placing more than 40 percent of the solar panels on pivotal mounts that track the sun as it moves across the sky. Central...
NRECA Urges EPA to Maintain Current Ozone Standard
Posted on Feb 3, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Urges EPA to Maintain Current Ozone Standard
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed additional restrictions on ozone standards. The newer standards would be very costly to power plants, which might require owners to choose between implementing expensive emissions controls for coal and natural gas-fired units or shutting such units down. Carol Whitman, senior environmental principal at the National Rural...
EPA Files Brief in Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Dispute
Posted on Jan 21, 2015 in Climate Change, Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA Files Brief in Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Dispute
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently filed a brief in its ongoing suit against industry groups’ allegations of “overcontrol” of upwind states. The D.C. Circuit will hear oral arguments on the suit’s remaining issues beginning February 25. Please click here to read more.
EPA Delays Final Carbon Emissions Rules
Posted on Jan 12, 2015 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA Delays Final Carbon Emissions Rules
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on January 7 that it would postpone releasing final carbon emission rules until “mid-summer.” The EPA had been expected to finalize emissions standards for new generation on January 8 and existing generation on June 1. Click here to read more.
New Great River Energy CHP Plan Online
Posted on Dec 9, 2014 in Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development | Comments Off on New Great River Energy CHP Plan Online
Minnesota-based Great River Energy’s (GRE) Spiritwood coal plant came online last month in North Dakota. The combined heat and power plant is nearly twice as efficient as conventional coal plants. In addition to generating power for GRE’s members, the plant will produce steam energy for an adjacent malting facility and a soon to open biorefinery. Click here for more.
Iowa Coop’s Solar Farm Receives International Recognition
Posted on Nov 24, 2014 in Environmental, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Iowa Coop’s Solar Farm Receives International Recognition
The Solar Electric Power Association recently named Farmers Electric Cooperative’s (FEC) Kalona solar farm, launched in July 2014, a national leader in solar energy. Click here to read an earlier article posted August 1, 2014 by Sutherland regarding FEC’s Kalona solar farm. Click here to read the most recent article.
Alaska Coop Honored for Clean Energy Efforts
Posted on Nov 24, 2014 in Environmental, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Alaska Coop Honored for Clean Energy Efforts
Alaska’s Kodiak Electric Association (KEA) was one of only eight State Leadership in Clean Energy Awards given out by the Clean Energy State’s Alliance this year. KEA generated approximately 99.7 percent of its power from renewable (including hydroelectric) sources through the first nine months of this year. Click here for more.
Coops React to Rare Bird’s Status as a Threatened Species
Posted on Nov 21, 2014 in Environmental, Land Use, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops React to Rare Bird’s Status as a Threatened Species
Some electric cooperatives are unhappy about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to list the Gunnison sage-grouse as a threatened species, which entitles the rare bird to protection under the Endangered Species Act. The ground-dwelling bird resides in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah and has a population of less than 5,000. Electric coops in the bird’s territory...
EPA Clean Power Plan Raises Reliability Concerns, Says NERC
Posted on Nov 19, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on EPA Clean Power Plan Raises Reliability Concerns, Says NERC
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has released its first assessment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. In its report NERC identified several reliability challenges posed by the proposed rule, including the need for significant infrastructure requirements and pipeline expansions to maintain reliability. To read more please click...
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