Coop to Develop Largest Solar Array in Kansas
Posted on Mar 18, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Coop to Develop Largest Solar Array in Kansas
Midwest Energy, a rural electric coop in Hays, Kansas, and Boulder, Colorado-based Clean Energy Collective are collaborating on the development of a 1-MW solar installation to be spread throughout 41 counties in central and western Kansas. Coop members will be able to invest in a share of this community-owned solar project which will provide energy to Midwest. For more information on...
Dairyland Adding Commercial Solar Project
Posted on Mar 13, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Dairyland Adding Commercial Solar Project
Dairyland Power Cooperative (Dairyland), based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, has signed an agreement with Clean Energy Collective to purchase renewable energy produced by a planned 520-kW solar installation. The new solar facility, located in Westby, Wisconsin, will be developed, owned and managed by Clean Energy Collective. This project, along with Dairyland’s first commercial solar...
‘Social Cost of Carbon’ Raises NRECA Concerns
Posted on Mar 11, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on ‘Social Cost of Carbon’ Raises NRECA Concerns
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) recently reported to the Obama administration about the potential costs of federal regulations based partly on the social cost of carbon. Speaking out strongly against this idea, the NRECA pointed out that “the federal government would best serve the energy-consuming public by excluding an arbitrary ‘social cost of carbon,’...
NRECA Comments on OSHA Rule Regarding Silica Exposure
Posted on Feb 25, 2014 in Environmental, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on NRECA Comments on OSHA Rule Regarding Silica Exposure
In response to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) draft rule regarding crystalline silica, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) argued in its comments that an exemption for cooperatives is appropriate, given that distribution cooperative employees primarily encounter trace amounts of silica when digging and moving earth. For generation...
Coops Urge EPA to Expand Uses of Coal Ash Considered Safe
Posted on Feb 25, 2014 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops Urge EPA to Expand Uses of Coal Ash Considered Safe
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already recognized the benefits of certain uses of coal ash, and electric coops are now asking the EPA to conclude that it is safe for other uses. John Novak, Executive Director for Environmental Issues for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, has stated that the EPA “can do more to promote other beneficial uses of...
Kentucky PSC Approves Environmental Upgrades
Posted on Feb 21, 2014 in Environmental, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Kentucky PSC Approves Environmental Upgrades
The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) approved a $15 million project to reduce emissions at a coal-fired generation plant owned by East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC). EKPC will recover the costs of the project via an environmental surcharge paid by the customers of EKPC’s distribution cooperative members. The Kentucky PSC found that the upgrades will provide EKPC with...
North Dakota Joins EPA Haze Authority Case
Posted on Feb 18, 2014 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Litigation | Comments Off on North Dakota Joins EPA Haze Authority Case
North Dakota has filed a petition for certiorari at the U.S. Supreme Court hoping to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from denouncing the state’s emissions control plan in favor of a federal plan. Specifically, the petition argues that the EPA does not have the authority to review and replace state implementation plans for the Clean Air Act’s Regional Haze...
New White Paper Calls for Focus on Grid Stability
Posted on Feb 13, 2014 in Energy Savings Programs, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on New White Paper Calls for Focus on Grid Stability
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska recently issued a white paper warning that grid stability is complicated by coal plant retirements, environmental regulations and requirements for integrating renewable energy resources. Senator Murkowski’s paper, which has been praised by some in the industry, calls for policymakers to place grid reliability and affordability at the front of their...
Congress Seeks Changes to Endangered Species Act
Posted on Feb 11, 2014 in Environmental, Legislative & Politics, Project Development | Comments Off on Congress Seeks Changes to Endangered Species Act
A congressional working group report that cites electric coops’ costly struggles to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) concludes the law is ripe for improvement. Specifically, some impediments of the ESA as described in the report include the ability of coops to site and maintain power lines. The report seeks to update and prioritize the ESA. For more information, click...
Droughts Threaten 2014 Hydro Production
Posted on Feb 11, 2014 in Climate Change, Environmental, Reliability | Comments Off on Droughts Threaten 2014 Hydro Production
Total water flow to the Northwest river system is now the 11th lowest total since recordkeeping started in 1960. This lingering drought in the West is causing a decreased output of hydro production and is likely to persist or intensify through the end of April in parts of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Nevada. In those states, electric coops rely heavily on hydropower. ...
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