USDA Announces New Rural Development Funding
Posted on May 9, 2014 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Technology | Comments Off on USDA Announces New Rural Development Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced funding of $540 million in loan guarantees to fund improvements to the rural electric system, including more than $35 million for smart grid projects. Awards for 2014 are contingent upon the recipients satisfying the terms of the applicable loan agreements. To read more about this story, click here.
DOE Issues New Cybersecurity Guidance
Posted on May 1, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Technology | Comments Off on DOE Issues New Cybersecurity Guidance
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released new guidelines intended to help manage supply chain risk and develop cybersecurity protections during the product design and manufacturing phases. The new guidance, titled “Cybersecurity Procurement Language for Energy Delivery Systems,” is intended to help energy sector participants and technology suppliers address supply chain...
Storms and Tornadoes Strike Coops Throughout the South
Posted on May 1, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Storms and Tornadoes Strike Coops Throughout the South
Throughout the South, electric cooperatives have sent crews and equipment to restore power to thousands of consumer-members after this week’s storms. For more on the repair efforts, click here.
Minnkota Contracts for Coal Deliveries Through 2037
Posted on Apr 29, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development | Comments Off on Minnkota Contracts for Coal Deliveries Through 2037
BNI Coal Ltd. (BNI) near Center, North Dakota, and Minnkota Power Cooperative (Minnkota) have reached an extended agreement to provide coal to the Minnkota Power Milton R. Young Station through 2037. This move extends BNI’s coal delivery schedule 10 years beyond the current contract, which would have ended in 2027. Click here for more.
Hawaiian Utilities Outshine Others for Adding New Solar Capacity
Posted on Apr 29, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Hawaiian Utilities Outshine Others for Adding New Solar Capacity
The Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) and the companies of Hawaiian Electric Company (Hawaiian Electric) have ranked among the top 10 utilities nationally for the amount of new solar power added to their grids last year. Hawaiian Electric added 329 watts of solar generating capacity per customer on the island of Oahu in 2013, which is the fifth highest of any utility...
Minnesota Coop Planning New Community Solar Garden
Posted on Apr 28, 2014 in Energy Savings Programs, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Minnesota Coop Planning New Community Solar Garden
Connexus Energy (Connexus), a distribution cooperative based in Ramsey, Minnesota, is planning to develop a community solar garden consisting of 792 panels with an output of 245 kW. Connexus customers will be given an opportunity to invest in financing the project in exchange for a proportional share of the output for 20 years. Click here for more.
SMECO to Add More Solar
Posted on Apr 28, 2014 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on SMECO to Add More Solar
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) will add 10 MW of solar power to its portfolio through a new power purchase agreement with Colorado-based solar developer Juwi Solar Inc. SMECO has agreed to buy all of the output from a new solar facility to be located within SMECO’s service territory in Waldorf, Maryland. Click here for more.
Coal Plant Retirements Raise Reliability Concerns for FERC Commissioner
Posted on Apr 24, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coal Plant Retirements Raise Reliability Concerns for FERC Commissioner
Commissioner Philip Moeller of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) expressed concern this week that the nation’s power grid lacks sufficient infrastructure to replace coal and nuclear generation plants scheduled to retire or go offline over the next few years. This winter’s extreme weather stressed the power grid, and there are increasing concerns that compliance with the...
South Dakota Coop Gets Reimbursement Funding from Winter Storm
Posted on Apr 23, 2014 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on South Dakota Coop Gets Reimbursement Funding from Winter Storm
The South Dakota Office of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will award roughly $20 million to Grand Electric Cooperative for the repair and replacement of more than 1,500 poles damaged by an early October blizzard. To read more, click here.
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).
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