USDA Announces More Than $356 Million in Coop Loans
Posted on Jun 13, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on USDA Announces More Than $356 Million in Coop Loans
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced its latest round of funding for rural electric projects. The funding totals more than $356 million in loans and includes more than $15 million for smart grid investments. Click here to learn more about the coops that will receive the funding and the projects contemplated.
House Subcommittee Rejects Administration’s RUS Limitations
Posted on Jun 6, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on House Subcommittee Rejects Administration’s RUS Limitations
A House subcommittee supports a bill providing $4 billion to the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan program but opposes limitations on that amount proposed by the Obama Administration. The Administration would allocate $3 billion for renewable-energy-related projects and the remaining $1 billion to environmental upgrade projects. The House subcommittee would provide more flexibility...
North Carolina Coop Begins Hearings on Transmission Line Route
Posted on May 29, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Litigation | Comments Off on North Carolina Coop Begins Hearings on Transmission Line Route
This week Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) began hearings regarding the value of land in the Box Creek Wilderness area near Union Mills, North Carolina. REMC began condemnation proceedings in January in order to obtain a transmission line easement to connect various substations. The transmission line addition will provide supplemental transmission capacity to 5,000...
NRECA International to Form New Electric Utility in Haiti
Posted on May 28, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on NRECA International to Form New Electric Utility in Haiti
The United States Agency for International Development awarded NRECA International Ltd. a $24 million contract to form a new electric utility in Haiti under the Haiti Pilot Project for Sustainable Electricity Distribution. The proposed utility would be the only utility in Haiti providing continuous power, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about this project, and...
Agriculture Secretary Announces Award of Grants in 11 States
Posted on May 23, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development | Comments Off on Agriculture Secretary Announces Award of Grants in 11 States
Several coops in 11 states have received funding from the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. This round of funding highlights USDA’s continued focus on carrying out its mission to strengthen the rural economy. The coops that received funding include East Mississippi Electric Power Association, Western Illinois Electrical Coop., Three Notch Electric Membership...
Coop President Testifies on Cyber Security
Posted on May 23, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Reliability | Comments Off on Coop President Testifies on Cyber Security
Duane Highley, president of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, testified before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee in an effort to ease further cyber security mandates on power utilities. Highley stated that voluntary industry standards are working to protect the energy grid, but some lawmakers argued that mandatory compliance should be required. To read more about this...
Coops Help as Oklahoma Rebuilds
Posted on May 21, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Help as Oklahoma Rebuilds
Assisted by a dozen other coops, Oklahoma Electric Cooperative has begun repairs following the devastating tornados that hit the Oklahoma City area this week. At least six substations are reported to have lost power after 200 mph winds tore through the area. For more information about the scope of the outages and those involved in the repairs, click here.
Indiana Coop and CFC “Amend & Extend” Line of Credit
Posted on May 20, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development | Comments Off on Indiana Coop and CFC “Amend & Extend” Line of Credit
Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative (Hoosier), based in Indiana, and the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) have finalized a deal to “amend and extend” a $400 million line of credit. The line of credit, which has an original maturity date of August 11, 2016, will now remain in place through April 30, 2018. Hoosier’s plans for the credit line include...
Coops Concerned with EPA Proposal for Power Plants
Posted on May 20, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Permitting, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coops Concerned with EPA Proposal for Power Plants
Electric coops are asking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw its proposal which could greatly affect power plants under the Clean Air Act. The proposal, which would involve at least 36 states, would “fundamentally” change how power plants operate during startups, shutdowns and malfunctions. Electric Co-op Today has more details on the cooperatives’...
Texas Coop Positioned for Long-Term CFC Relationship
Posted on May 14, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development | Comments Off on Texas Coop Positioned for Long-Term CFC Relationship
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, located in Bastrop, Texas, has refinanced $92 million of debt to borrow wholly from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). Bluebonnet has decades of experience with the CFC, which has accommodated the coop’s changing financial plans and borrowing needs. To learn more, click here.
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