Rural Coops to Receive Millions in Loans to Improve Infrastructure and Install Smart Grid Technologies
Posted on May 7, 2012 in Financing, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency, Project Development | Comments Off on Rural Coops to Receive Millions in Loans to Improve Infrastructure and Install Smart Grid Technologies
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that rural electric coops in 10 states will receive loans, worth $334 million total, to install smart grid technologies and make improvements to their facilities. The loans will be provided by the USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service. The new funding includes almost $20 million to install smart grid technologies. In...
SMECO Ready to Construct Transmission Project
Posted on May 4, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development | Comments Off on SMECO Ready to Construct Transmission Project
The Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) announced it anticipates breaking ground on a $100 million transmission project this May, which will feature upgraded line poles able to carry more power with a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. Developers expect a project in-service date of March 2015. Click here for the full story.
Minnesota Coops to Test Smart-Grid Technology
Posted on May 3, 2012 in Energy Savings Programs, Grid & Infrastructure, Innovation/Efficiency | Comments Off on Minnesota Coops to Test Smart-Grid Technology
Three Minnesota cooperatives (Great River Energy, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative and Lake Region Electric Cooperative) are participating in a $5 million demonstration project to pay for new smart-grid software in attempts to smooth (and track) their customers’ demand. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune has more on the story.
Montana Senators Seek Upgrades to State’s Power Grid
Posted on Apr 30, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Land Use, Legislative & Politics, Reliability | Comments Off on Montana Senators Seek Upgrades to State’s Power Grid
Two Montana senators, Max Baucus and Jon Tester, are asking U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu to create a timeline for implementing upgrades to the state’s power grid in order to aid cooperatives. The plan, if implemented, would affect the Bonneville Power Administration and the Western Area Power Administration, which serve electric coops that provide electricity to more than...
North Dakota Approves Minnkota Line Route
Posted on Apr 26, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Project Development, Reliability | Comments Off on North Dakota Approves Minnkota Line Route
The North Dakota Public Service Commission approved a final route for the state’s largest transmission line project in decades. Minnkota Power Cooperative will construct the 250-mile line from Center, North Dakota, to Grand Forks. The project is estimated to cost approximately $312 million. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. Click here for the full...
Five New Copper Theft Bills Signed Into Law
Posted on Apr 23, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Legislative & Politics | Comments Off on Five New Copper Theft Bills Signed Into Law
Governors in Georgia, West Virginia, Iowa, Washington and Kentucky have signed copper theft bills into law. The Washington bill was partially vetoed by Gov. Christine Gregoire who objected to the creation of a 24-member task force to study the issue of metal theft and make recommendations to the legislature. Gov. Gregoire did, however, approve the parts of the bill that make it...
Colorado Coop Sues EPA Over New Emissions Standards
Posted on Apr 23, 2012 in Climate Change, Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation, Regulation & Policy | Comments Off on Colorado Coop Sues EPA Over New Emissions Standards
Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. has filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new mercury and air-toxics emissions standards for coal-fired power plants. The coop, Colorado’s second-largest power utility, serves some 1.5 million customers in Colorado, New Mexico,...
Colorado Transmission Line Re-Energized
Posted on Apr 19, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Colorado Transmission Line Re-Energized
Mountain View Electric Association’s Big Sandy-Lincoln-Midway transmission line is back online after upgrades were made to improve resilience against storm damage. The improvements were completed in time to serve the irrigation loads expected along the eastern and southern Colorado power path. Read more here.
Oregon Coop Copes with Disasters; FEMA Helps
Posted on Apr 17, 2012 in Environmental, Grid & Infrastructure, Reliability | Comments Off on Oregon Coop Copes with Disasters; FEMA Helps
West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc., with help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has found a way to keep the lights on through storms. FEMA’s hazard mitigation funds have helped the coop repair storm-related transmission line damage and install new underground lines. As nonprofit agencies providing essential services, coops are eligible for federal disaster...
Minnesota Coop Hit with Stray Voltage Verdict
Posted on Apr 12, 2012 in Grid & Infrastructure, Litigation | Comments Off on Minnesota Coop Hit with Stray Voltage Verdict
A jury awarded $750,000 to a Minnesota dairy farmer for damages caused by stray voltage from the Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association electric system. The court also determined that electricity may be considered a trespass on property under certain circumstances. Whether the coop will appeal the verdict is not yet known. Click here for more information.
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