Coops in 18 States to Receive Federal Funding to Improve Services
Posted on Aug 10, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Coops in 18 States to Receive Federal Funding to Improve Services
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that multiple rural electric utilities will receive loan guarantees to make improvements to electric lines and transmission facilities, and to reduce peak electric loads by deploying smart grid technologies. The funds include nearly $29 million in smart grid projects. Click here for a list of the rural utilities that will receive USDA...
Pennsylvania Coop to Use $40 Million in Loans for Grid Upgrades
Posted on Jul 31, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Pennsylvania Coop to Use $40 Million in Loans for Grid Upgrades
The Adams Electric Cooperative, which serves counties in southeastern Pennsylvania, plans to use $40 million in low-interest loans recently awarded from the federal government to build and improve 200 miles of distribution line and to upgrade several substations. A portion of the money will also go to smart grid projects, such as the installation of automated switches that will allow...
Montana Seeks Federal Assistance for Wildfire Affecting Coop
Posted on Jul 27, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure | Comments Off on Montana Seeks Federal Assistance for Wildfire Affecting Coop
The governor of Montana recently requested that the area affected by the Ash Creek Fire be declared a Presidential Disaster Area. Tongue River Electric Cooperative suffered the most with $1.6 million in damages to its infrastructure. KTVQ has more on this story.
Iowa Coop to Receive $4.7 Million in Disaster Aid
Posted on Jul 25, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Iowa Coop to Receive $4.7 Million in Disaster Aid
Hawkeye Rural Electric Cooperative has been awarded $4.7 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Hawkeye is proposing to repair 142.7 miles of overhead electrical distribution lines damaged by storms, tornadoes and heavy rains that hit the state in 2008. Read more here.
Government Push for Grid Upgrades Receives Pushback from Coops
Posted on Jul 19, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Rates, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on Government Push for Grid Upgrades Receives Pushback from Coops
Several Montana-based coops called on the Secretary of the Department of Energy to withdraw a federal plan to upgrade portions of the nation’s power grid. The plan aims to move more renewable energy from rural areas like Montana to load centers like those found in California. The coops fear that the costs to modernize the grid will unfairly fall to rural communities, resulting in...
Utility Industry Groups Sue Over FERC Demand Rule
Posted on Jul 16, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Regulation & Policy, Reliability | Comments Off on Utility Industry Groups Sue Over FERC Demand Rule
Utility industry groups are claiming that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) exceeded its regulatory power when it introduced the compensation policy for power demand resources. The final rule allows demand response providers to receive the same compensation as conventional power plants, regardless of the type of power generated. The Electric Power Supply Association...
Oklahoma Coop Puts 18-Mile Transmission Line and Substation into Service
Posted on Jul 12, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development | Comments Off on Oklahoma Coop Puts 18-Mile Transmission Line and Substation into Service
Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, an Oklahoma coop, in conjunction with ITC Great Plains LLC, has energized its Hugo-Valliant high-voltage electric transmission line and substation. The 18-mile, 345,000-volt line and 345 kV/138 kV substation are located in southeastern Oklahoma. The Sacramento Bee has additional details.
FERC Transmission Rule Source of Controversy
Posted on Jul 12, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Litigation, Mergers/Acquisitions, Regulation & Policy, Reliability, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on FERC Transmission Rule Source of Controversy
An investor-owned utility association, Edison Electric Institute, has requested that a federal court review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) controversial rule meant to spur new transmission investment. The rule requires utilities to create regional plans and a framework for cost allocation. The rule also introduces competitive bidding and new compliance...
Colorado Coop Rebuilds After Fire Losses
Posted on Jul 12, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Colorado Coop Rebuilds After Fire Losses
Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, based in Fort Collins, Colorado, is now facing the daunting task of rebuilding a portion of its distribution system that the High Park fire destroyed. Worse yet, the coop recently completed a costly reliability update on this distribution system. The coop estimates it could take four to six weeks and more than $3.5 million to repair the...
CFC Funds Hydropower Plant 100 Years in the Making
Posted on Jul 5, 2012 in Environmental, Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Renewable Energy | Comments Off on CFC Funds Hydropower Plant 100 Years in the Making
Delta-Montrose Electric Association, based in Colorado, has broken ground on a hydropower plant whose plans date back to a visit from President William Taft in 1909. The $22 million in CREB financing will help pay for interest expenses for the plant. Natural Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) applied for the CREBs on Delta-Montrose’s behalf in 2009. The CFC...
Subscribe
