Texas Coops Purchase Wind Power
Posted on Dec 1, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Texas Coops Purchase Wind Power
East Texas Electric Cooperative and Northeast Texas Electric Cooperative recently signed purchase agreements for wind power generated by an Apex Clean Energy subsidiary’s wind project, set to come online in 2015. Click here for more.
WAPA Settles with FERC and NERC over Blackout
Posted on Dec 1, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on WAPA Settles with FERC and NERC over Blackout
The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a regional power marketer, has reached a settlement with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) over a 2011 blackout. FERC alleged that WAPA’s Desert Southwest Region was operating its portion of the transmission system outside of voltage limits when a 500-kilovolt line...
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...
ERCOT Report Predicts Rise in Prices under EPA Power Plant Rule
Posted on Nov 18, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on ERCOT Report Predicts Rise in Prices under EPA Power Plant Rule
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) published a report analyzing certain potential effects of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Clean Power Plan, which limits greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. Among other things, the report provides different estimates of the various increases in locational marginal prices based on different emissions...
Shots Fired at Pennsylvania Coop’s Substation
Posted on Nov 17, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Shots Fired at Pennsylvania Coop’s Substation
On November 5 gunfire struck a substation of Pennsylvania’s Northwestern Rural Electric Cooperative, causing a mineral oil leak and other damage that will require around $250,000 to repair and remediate. Police are investigating the incident. Click here for more.
Great River Energy Burns Lignite More Efficiently
Posted on Nov 13, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency | Comments Off on Great River Energy Burns Lignite More Efficiently
Minnesota-based Great River Energy (GRE) can now burn lignite coal more efficiently, thanks to a moisture-reduction process. Because of its high moisture content, lignite has traditionally been used only at “mine-mouth” plants located close to a production source, but a newly-patented refining process allows lignite to produce more energy and to be transported before use. Click here...
SMECO Completes Reliability Upgrades
Posted on Nov 13, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on SMECO Completes Reliability Upgrades
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) recently completed a line upgrade project to boost reliability, which included running a line under the Patuxent River. Click here for a Nov. 25, 2013 Sutherland posting concerning this subject. Click here for a recent story.
Coops Concerned about Coal Transportation
Posted on Nov 13, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Concerned about Coal Transportation
Electric cooperatives are expressing concern that railroads may fail to deliver all the coal necessary to meet winter’s heating demand. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s CEO, joined by other industry leaders, has reached out to the Surface Transportation Board (Board) to express these concerns and to request that the Board require BNSF Railway to provide a coal...
Southwest Power Pool to Integrate Basin Electric
Posted on Nov 12, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Southwest Power Pool to Integrate Basin Electric
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has accepted a proposal from Southwest Power Pool (SPP) to significantly expand its geographic footprint in the Upper Great Plains region of the United States. SPP’s proposal includes the integration of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, a portion of the Western Area Power Administration and Heartland Consumers Power District into SPP. ...
New Copper Theft Law Passes in in Pennsylvania
Posted on Nov 11, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Reliability | Comments Off on New Copper Theft Law Passes in in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania recently passed a law imposing increased penalties for metal theft, including stronger penalties for repeat offenders. The new law establishes three types of misdemeanors for metal theft under $1000, based on the value of items stolen. If the value of the metal stolen exceeds $1000, the metal theft will constitute a third-degree felony. If an individual is convicted of...
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