Recent Storms Impact Coop Territories in Multiple States
Posted on Mar 5, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Recent Storms Impact Coop Territories in Multiple States
On March 2, multiple tornadoes and violent storms moved through communities served by electric cooperatives in several states, claiming at least 36 lives, injuring hundreds and leaving thousands more without power. The communications coordinator for Indiana-based Clark County Rural Electric Membership Corporation described some areas as being “literally wiped off the map.” Click here...
EPA and North Dakota Closer to Agreement on Haze Reduction Plan
Posted on Mar 5, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on EPA and North Dakota Closer to Agreement on Haze Reduction Plan
Officials for the state of North Dakota announced last Friday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to approve the majority of the state’s regional haze air quality plan. The EPA had previously called North Dakota’s plan inadequate and had threatened to assume regulatory authority in the state, which relied heavily on coal power. The announcement comes as good news for...
NRECA Expresses Concern Over Compliance Deadlines for Utility Mercury Air Toxics Standards
Posted on Feb 17, 2012 in Environmental | Comments Off on NRECA Expresses Concern Over Compliance Deadlines for Utility Mercury Air Toxics Standards
In a press release, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) highlighted the problems coops face in complying with deadlines for new mercury air toxics standards for utilities. The NRECA warns of the higher costs that will result when coops have to purchase substitute generation in the wholesale markets in the event they are unable to comply with the ambitious...
Kansas Officials Working on Disaster Fund That Would Benefit Coops
Posted on Feb 13, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Kansas Officials Working on Disaster Fund That Would Benefit Coops
Kansas lawmakers are working with the state’s governor to establish a fund to cover the state’s share of expenses from federally declared disasters, after millions owed to electric coops from storms in 2011 went unpaid. Kansas governor Sam Brownback wants to use $12 million from tax collections each year to establish a rainy day fund to avoid the situation the state faced in 2011 when...
Arkansas PSC to Review Arkansas Plant’s Environmental Controls Plan
Posted on Feb 9, 2012 in Environmental, Permitting | Comments Off on Arkansas PSC to Review Arkansas Plant’s Environmental Controls Plan
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) requested the Arkansas Public Service Commission review the company’s environmental control installation plans for the Flint Creek Power Plant. SWEPCO and Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation each own 50 percent of the 528-MW coal-fired generation plant. The proposed controls would limit the amount of hazardous air pollutants emitted...
Endangered Houston Toad Impedes Bastrop Fire Clean-up
Posted on Feb 7, 2012 in Environmental, Permitting, Reliability | Comments Off on Endangered Houston Toad Impedes Bastrop Fire Clean-up
The process of collecting debris and connecting electrical service to customers in the Bastrop County burn area has slowed because the unseasonably warm weather and recent rain have increased the activity of the endangered Houston toad. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative must seek approval from federal officials before proceeding on work at most job sites around the county so the natural...
Alaskan Healy Clean Coal Project Approved
Posted on Feb 7, 2012 in Environmental, Permitting, Project Development, Rates | Comments Off on Alaskan Healy Clean Coal Project Approved
Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation renewed a key air quality permit to restart a mothballed 50-MW coal power plant in interior Alaska. Environmental groups that oppose restarting the plant are expected to file appeals before the permit is finalized. The plant, owned by Golden Valley Electric Association, an electric coop, may reduce rates to interior Alaska customers...
Idaho Company Seeks Landfill Gas PPA
Posted on Jan 31, 2012 in Environmental, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Idaho Company Seeks Landfill Gas PPA
Avista Corporation is asking the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to approve a purchase power agreement with Kootenai Electric Cooperative’s 3.2-megawatt landfill gas generating facility near Bellgrove, Idaho, 15 miles south of Coeur d’Alene. Under the agreement, Avista would purchase the project’s output at the lower of either 85 percent of the market rate or the...
Advocacy Groups Oppose New Power Lines for We Energies Plant
Posted on Jan 23, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development | Comments Off on Advocacy Groups Oppose New Power Lines for We Energies Plant
As the Sutherland Coop team reported on January 12, Wolverine Power Cooperative and We Energies have raised the possibility of a joint venture, which could help to avoid shutting down the Presque Isle coal-fired power plant in 2017 due to the added costs of the Environmental Protection Agency’s new environmental rules. Two advocacy groups now are opposing the addition of power lines...
Federal Court Denies Coop’s Request to File Separate Brief in Suit Against EPA
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 in Environmental | Comments Off on Federal Court Denies Coop’s Request to File Separate Brief in Suit Against EPA
According to a recent order, energy industry participants have until February 9 to file their briefs in connection with their challenge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. The federal court denied requests, including one request by East Kentucky Power Cooperative, to file separate briefs. Hearings are scheduled to begin in April. Click here...
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