Obama Administration Proposes New Restrictions on RUS Financing
Posted on May 14, 2013 in Climate Change, Environmental, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Obama Administration Proposes New Restrictions on RUS Financing
The Department of Agriculture announced a fiscal 2014 budget of $4 billion for the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Loan Program. Of that amount, $3 billion would be earmarked for renewable energy projects with the remaining $1 billion held for environmental upgrades. The proposed budget provides no money for other distribution or transmission projects, a void that lawmakers...
Coop Leaders Meet with President Obama to Discuss Response to Grid Reliability
Posted on May 14, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Coop Leaders Meet with President Obama to Discuss Response to Grid Reliability
On May 8, nearly three dozen electric utility executives met with President Obama to discuss ways to improve the industry’s ability to respond to major disruptions or threats to grid reliability, such as the outages that occurred with Superstorm Sandy. The group discussed ways to better aid the collective response required at such times, including providing adequate food and lodging...
EIA Expects Near-Term Upswing in Coal Generation
Posted on May 9, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development | Comments Off on EIA Expects Near-Term Upswing in Coal Generation
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports that the electric industry will see an increase in coal usage in 2013 and 2014 due to higher natural gas prices. While coal will rise to approximately 40 percent of the industry’s fuel sources, production levels are expected to decline, largely due to reduced exports. Click here for more information.
Texas Utilities May Buy Surplus Solar Energy from Customers
Posted on May 7, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Legislative & Politics, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Texas Utilities May Buy Surplus Solar Energy from Customers
A bill passed in the Texas Senate proposes that utilities pay Texas customers that generate excess solar energy a fair market price for their contributions to the electrical grid. Under current law, if a utility does not voluntarily offer to buy excess solar energy, customers must negotiate directly with their providers to be compensated for the energy they add to the grid. Read more...
Illinois Coops Merge
Posted on May 7, 2013 in Corporate Governance, Grid & Infrastructure, Mergers/Acquisitions | Comments Off on Illinois Coops Merge
Two Illinois electric coops, Jo-Carroll Energy, Inc. and Farmers Mutual Electric Company, have merged. The integrated coop, Jo-Carroll Energy, will serve a combined 21,372 electric members and will be a 100-percent National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation borrower. Click here for more.
Coop Building Peaking Stations in North Dakota
Posted on May 6, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Project Development | Comments Off on Coop Building Peaking Stations in North Dakota
Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric), with headquarters in Bismarck, North Dakota, is building two new 45-MW, natural gas-fired peaking stations to help meet the increased demand for electricity. The Pioneer Generation Station, which is being built about 15 miles northwest of Williston, is scheduled for commercial operation in June. The Lonesome Creek Station, which is...
Four Coops to Receive RUS Loans
Posted on May 6, 2013 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development | Comments Off on Four Coops to Receive RUS Loans
Colorado-based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association (Tri-State), Georgia-based Blue Ridge Mountain Electric Membership Corporation, Texas-based Rio Grande Electric Cooperative and Ohio-based Logan County Cooperative Power & Light Association will receive more than $126 million in loans from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for infrastructure upgrades, including $20...
USDA to Provide More Rural Electric Project Funding
Posted on Apr 30, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Technology | Comments Off on USDA to Provide More Rural Electric Project Funding
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing funding for four rural electric projects in eight states to enhance reliable, affordable electricity for rural residents. These projects, which will employ smart grid technology, are the latest in approximately 650 rural electric utility projects funded since 2009. Specifically the USDA is providing more than $126 million in...
Out With the Old, in With the New – CIP Version 5 on the Horizon
Posted on Apr 25, 2013 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Out With the Old, in With the New – CIP Version 5 on the Horizon
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has proposed a rule to approve the long-awaited Version 5 of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Reliability Standards, which will overhaul the CIP regulatory framework and trigger new and revised compliance obligations for many users, owners and operators of the bulk electric...
Two Electric Cooperatives Rank in Top 10 for Solar Generation Wattage Per Member
Posted on Apr 24, 2013 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Two Electric Cooperatives Rank in Top 10 for Solar Generation Wattage Per Member
The Solar Electric Power Association included two electric cooperatives in its list of top 10 utilities incorporating solar generation wattage per member. Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative, which had been ranked at twelfth place in 2011, moved to second place, adding 282 watts of solar electricity capacity per member last year. Chickasaw Electric Cooperative, ranked fifth on the...
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